Turkey hunting tactics

[Gobblergetter2.1]

What is your favorite turkey hunting tactic to use during the spring under normal conditions when the birds are commiting to calls and gobbling their heads off? Usually (because my dad is hard of hearing), i hunt using the ambush technique. This is a great technique (as i have learned). If you have more than one favorite technique, what are they?

[tomcat]

If hunting public ground, I like patterning birds...ie. strut zones, and feeding areas. If hunting private, I love to run and gun...this is by far my favorite. I have been successful at both. Remember, the turkey really dictates how they should be hunted...it's up to you to figure them out!

[turk2di]

Well, if he's committing to the calls, i would simply stay put and be ready. Otherwise, i always have taken the fight to the bird.

[SixPack07]

I usually stay put for most of the morning, then find some of their strutting areas, and then head to where they like to be at the end of the day. If they aren't responding to the calls real well, I'll move faster then if they are responding.

[skin_dog1]

If they aren't henned up and are responding, I like to nail them just after flydown. Already in place, a few soft tree yelps, flydown cackle, a few nice yelps, maybe some quick sharp cutts, then BANG!!!!!!!!

[ryan hickey]

i like to buddy-up on them, put your shooter in front (the directiuon u THINK the bird is coming from) and then the caller behind. if a bird decides to hang-up on you, he's normally already in range when you use this tactic:cool:

[buckfever]

I use the buddy system alot when I hunt with others. When I'm alone in the mornings, it's usually roost sites and flydown areas with light calling (just enough to get responses). After flydown, I like to engage birds and get them to gobble several times (usually w/ aggressive cutting and excited clucking). If they move to me or show genuine interest, I'll usually not call again and give them 1/2 an hour to find me.

[schuyler olt]

If the birds are gobbling their heads off and committing to my calls, I try not to jump up and down with glee!

Seriously, I tend to be a run and gun kind of guy, but most of all, I tend to let the birds tell me what tactics that given day have the best chance of success.

If the birds are gobbling back at calls, I will call on a fairly regular basis so I can guage where they are. I don't overcall, but I'd prefer they didn't slip in unnannounced, either. Besides, the show is a big part of why I'm out there--I love hearing them thunder, so I like to make them thunder.

On another tangent, if I'm hunting with someone, I want them right there next to me, especially if they are inexperienced. First and foremost, it's safer by far. Second, it gives us both a chance to kill. Third, I can tell them what's going on, what they should be doing, etc. Fourth, and also importantly, I can explain to them what I'm doing so that they maybe learn a little in the process.