Setting up on roosting turkeys:

[turkeyhntr]

Lets say you have some turkeys roosted and they are not moving a lot from roost to strutting area and the area they are strutting in and hanging out in is almost off limits to get in on without scaring the turkeys out or bumping them...Do you think if they start gobbling at 5am that you could go in and set up on them around 3am and not bump them...I talking about being within 40-50 yards of them roosted...I have set up on turkeys close before but have 4 turkeys (gobblers) roosted in an area all the time and they do not move much from that area all day....it is a very rolling and deep pocket of woods that they have made their little spot...(they are not two year olds)Never afraid to ask others opinions...Never to wise to learn!

[hardcore bowhunter]

Ive never tried to get that close or that early, im afraid to get closer than about 75 yds to a roosted bird,thats a tough one if they arent moving much at all, this past weekend we had a similar situation except the 3 big birds were traveling ab 75-100 yds from the roost, back and forth, so we made a big circle and came in on the other end of their strutting zone snuck up as close as we could and just called and called, it took an hour and a half of calling ,(doing exactly what the hens were doing)but one of the big boys finally couldn't take it anymore and came in running, he came to ab 40 yds and hung up and strutted but the kid only had a single shot 20 ga. so it was a little far, the moral of the story is to mimic the hens and be persistent and patient. Dont give up because he has hens with him because the hens came in with this big guy.

[fireduck]

If the area you are hunting is big enough go in the night before and bust them up. You can not does alot becuase they will leave. If they fly out and the gobblers are not with hens the next morning you can call them right in. Just get between them and the strut zone. People will frown at this but it works.;)

[WoodsWhisperer]

Don't know how you might be able to get that close without spooking them or making them very nervous, but if you do spook them (break them up) wait for an hour or 2 set close to where you broke them up and start doing some cackles and grouping calls and they may come in to group back up..

[stikbowhuntr]

I'd sneak right in there on em real early if I knew were they were gonna be like you do.If you give yourself enough time to quietly approach the area well before first light that's what I'd do(no flashlight after you get so far....),because chances are there not gonna leave there strut zone,I'd rathre be were they wanna go when they fly down,if your real quiet they'll never know you from a deer if you get in there early......Just my opinion........:D

[mcdenney]

I agree with Stik on this one. Get in there early, way before the sky is even thinking about breaking day. More than likely they will think you are a deer if you walk accordingly. I would only get as close as I needed to be though, say near the end of their strutting zone but within comfortable gun range of the area they use. Slowly sneak in being as quite as possible and without using any kind of light (unless you think this will be unsafe in this area). I would also think about doing this on a dark night to limit visibility (not a full moon) and using as much cover (hills and valleys) as possible to limit your entry. Don't let them sky light you though. You might even be able to sneak in a few decoys depending on the situation. If they bust then you can still work them as others have described later that morning. Good luck.

[Gobblergetter2.1]

Well if theyre staying in that area all day, get in there and hour before daylight, and setup a blind, or make one. Make sure you are comfortable. If you know the birds are in there all day, they will walk in front of you some time or another. Dont make any calls and dont set up any decoys, You wouldnt want anything to be out of the ordinary. You dont have to get too close to them on the roost, and if it were me, i would stay 60-75 yards away. Be as quiet as you can going in there. If you are patient, you will get your bird.

[schuyler olt]

I always try to get that close, but I sure don't go in that early. From what I've read, turkeys don't have night vision as good as their day vision. I go in when it's still dark but the woods are beginning to wake up a little, and I stay out of sight as long as possible, even if that means going a longer distance. I go as quietly and as slowly as possible, letting wind, birds, and what ever else at hand mask the noise of my movements.

[Multidigits]

I don't think you'll have much trouble getting with in 50 yards of his roost tree, as long as you know exactly what tree it is. That makes it a two day deal. Plus, the morning of the hunt, you'll need to not call till he hits the ground, because he'll know where his hens are and if any of them are already in his strut zone. One things for sure, if your there, and he's not, you'll know that he has other places he likes to be.

[richarr3]

I don't think you'll have much trouble getting with in 50 yards of his roost tree, as long as you know exactly what tree it is. That makes it a two day deal. Plus, the morning of the hunt, you'll need to not call till he hits the ground, because he'll know where his hens are and if any of them are already in his strut zone. One things for sure, if your there, and he's not, you'll know that he has other places he likes to be.

I would have to agree with Multi. That would be option 1, except if I'm within shooting distance of his strut zone, I might not call at all. If I did, I would do so very, very, sparingly. Option 2: bust up the hens in the early morning then sit down call and wait. They will come. Option 3: previously stated, bust up the gobblers the night before.

Ain't it fun!!!!!:)

[HappyHunter]

I always try to get that close, but I sure don't go in that early. From what I've read, turkeys don't have night vision as good as their day vision. I go in when it's still dark but the woods are beginning to wake up a little, and I stay out of sight as long as possible, even if that means going a longer distance. I go as quietly and as slowly as possible, letting wind, birds, and what ever else at hand mask the noise of my movements.

I agree...also I think if you take your time and keep your profile low, the birds will likely think you are a deer if they do see or hear movement. I killed a nice bird like this 2 years ago. I eased to within 50 yard of his roost tree about 45 minutes before fly down. But I have busted them off the roost when it was still plenty dark. The key is to take your time.