HELP---Turkey hunt setup?

[Allsup]

I need some help on where to set up on some birds. Going turkey hunting in the morning, but I don't have time to tree them tonight. It's Private ground so there shouldn't be anyone there in the morning.

The place is a creek bottom with high ridges (50 feet) on each side. There is about a 1/4 mile of flat mowed prairie grass in the creek bottom. Big hardwoods on the ridges (about another 1/4mile worth) and then the tops are rolling cattle pasture. The Birds normally roost on the ridge, but some times will roost on the trees of the creek it's self. My question is,

1) do I setup in the flat of the creek bottom? So the birds fly down to the bottoms.

Or

2) do I setup on the upper flat cattle pasture next to the woods? so the birds would fly more straight of the roost to high ground.

Or

3) blindly moving and setup on one the ridge spines. Closer to the roost.


Big decisions Help please.
3)

[BucksnBass525]

Since you can't roost them tonight I would sneak in before daylight in the morning about 200 yards from where you think they may be roosting, don't get too close or you might spook them. Take a locater call with you like a crow or owl and hit it a few times just at daybreak-chances are you will get a Tom to respond. Hit the call rather early BEFORE he has a chance to fly down. When he responds you can move to within 150 yards of him and sweet talk him down and into range. Many times you won't have to do a thing except get in before darkness, listen for the roosted birds gobbling and move accordingly. One thing I would not do is move around on top of that ridge, your silhouette will get you busted so maybe use the creek bottoms to get into position. good luck.

[Bassman25]

I'm no pro but I have hunted a lot of turkeys in texas, kansas, missouri and colorado. In my opinion you want to do what bucksnbass525 said and that is get there really early, use an owl call. Call the birds and see where they are roosting. then set up within 150-200 yards of the birds in a nice clearing. Make sure to use decoys but also do not get seen. if you are seen, the deal is over and you wasted your morning. good luck...make sure to call the birds at first light and then stop when the toms are on their way to you. do not over call

[Stompy]

I would set up at the edge of the woods and the cattle pasture, birds will strut in more open areas. Dont call much, hen purrs and maybe 1 or 2 gobbles well after daylight. Hen purrs early but about 10 minutes after they hit the ground. Do not let them see you set up or do any calling until after they hit the ground. Maybe a crow call or coyote call in the roost. I do a cow call and usually get them going. Camo up all the way and don't move if you think they are coming your way, about half the gobblers come in quite so be prerared. Main thing is hide good and stay still. Good Luck

[Allsup]

Thanks guys. I just can't decide whether to setup high or low.

[DJ13]

i would say go with all of their advice! i would think they will fly into the cow field before flying to that little clearing... They might go down there after they have strutted for a while... Opening day we hammered a couple good gobblers and we got the to respond to an owl call bout 30 mins before shooting hours and still had way enough time to setup without them seeing us!

good luck!!!

[Luke]

we hunt a conservation area thats really hilly and has a lot of blufs and a river that runs through it.....what Bucks said is exactly what i would do and try and crow or hoot to get them to show you their location but most of the time that i have hunted hilly areas they fly down...not up...easier to call them down than up too...just my experience and im by far no pro with the Thunder Chickens

[jseasor]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BucksnBass525 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Since you can't roost them tonight I would sneak in before daylight in the morning about 200 yards from where you think they may be roosting, don't get too close or you might spook them. Take a locater call with you like a crow or owl and hit it a few times just at daybreak-chances are you will get a Tom to respond. Hit the call rather early BEFORE he has a chance to fly down. When he responds you can move to within 150 yards of him and sweet talk him down and into range. Many times you won't have to do a thing except get in before darkness, listen for the roosted birds gobbling and move accordingly. One thing I would not do is move around on top of that ridge, your silhouette will get you busted so maybe use the creek bottoms to get into position. good luck. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Couldn't of said it better....great advice!!!

[Allsup]

WELL...........

Turkeys one, Paul zero.

Not a peep out of them this morning. Not one, not even a mile away and it was a beautiful dead calm morning. ohwell

[BucksnBass525]

That can change like a light switch. Keep going back, turkeys can be quiet one day and all fired up the next. Minute to minute for that matter. good luck.

[moto]

considering your question, it is important where they roost, but a more important observation needed would be where they put their landing gear down regularly. i've had birds fly 1/2 mile down from their perch to the strut zone on a regular basis. without knowing any of that and going in blind, i'd take the high ground trying to leave easy access to the other areas. go in early and DARK and let loose on a owl call and see what happens. if ya can get some reaction, and its dark enough carefully maneuver yourself to within 100yds going easy. OR..........if you get a reaction and are afraid of busting them or there is a ton of hens, get him hot as all hell and go right in at just about pitch down and bust the entire flock tracking where your long beard goes. give 1/2hr or so and start cranking. fall techniques do work in spring too.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BucksnBass525 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That can change like a light switch. Keep going back, turkeys can be quiet one day and all fired up the next. Minute to minute for that matter. good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

right about that

[breadslinger23]

Well..I always try to set up as high and as close as I can once the birds are located......Its very hard to call a turkey downhill....