Scouting before opening day

[greenhorn]

I have a property I hunt that I know the turkeys have been for the last 2 years. I was wondering if I should scout the area. I know where they have traditionally roosted.
I was wondering if it would do more harm than good to check it out this weekend. If I do, should I stay away from roost areas and not disturb there area. Is there a distance I should stay?

I have an ameristep outhouse I planned to sit in, and check out the activity. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I sure can't wait! 16 Days!!! yeah!

"A bad day hunting still beats a good day at work!"

[Tim Morris]

I would go just in case they have moved, but I would stay a good distance(300 to 400 yards)! There is no sense in getting any closer in my opinion. If you scare them all away by running into the trees right at daylight holloring "15 days till season, 15 days till season," I dont think that you would ruin your hunt, but I dont see the good in it either.

"Shoot em' in the face!"

[turk2di]

I haven't scouted in a couple years now, primarily because i hunt public ground and i know where im going anyway. Ne sense in walkin around bumping birds until i have too[:I] Don't even try to roost on public ground either! Why hunters do it is beyound me[?] Why make a bird gobble that is sure 2b heard by others who will no doubt b plottin that bird in their mind all the night long(or long night)[;)]I would say that those birds will b right where u expect them 2b. LOL!

what u get out, is what u put in

[Multidigits]

Turk has it right. Less scouting is better. If you know there are birds there, and you know the land, scouting isn't a plus. Making 'em gobble is not smart either, unlss your ready to kill one. They wise up quick.

[Grant]

I have to respectfully disagree with you Multi. You don't have to scout to kill birds by any means, but its a huge plus, espically on days when you can't seem to get them to gobble. Knowing some sort of routine they follow isn't going to do anything but help you. I wouldn't recomend busting the birds, but glass fields, go early and listen to them gobble, see where they go after they hit the ground, find out where they spend the noon hours during the day, I promise you that will help put more birds in the bag.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/097735.jpg

[Remington12]

I would recommend attempting to put some birds to bed the night before the opener. If you already know the general pattern of the birds (roost, fields, trails, water source, strut zones) I would not "wear out the woods" prior.

But it does get the juices flowing when you see strutting toms the size of Volkswagen Beetles out in a field with their lady friends.

[RutNBuck]

alot of these decisions depend on how much pressure the farm you hunt is going to get..if your the only one hunting a farm i would go out days prior to opener and watch/listen and look for set up locations that offer the best view points or travel routes for turkeys . i suggest not going out to roost one the night before unless you can do so from a distance your taking a risk of busting the bird to another farm....Get there before daylight at the first gobble head to one of your set up locations and call and hope for the best....
few Tips i have learned from the hard way

** even if the bird shuts up resist the temptation to move give him at least another hour then move ,often times when a bird shuts up you'll hear another gobbler and think its the one your after when in fact its another bird
** early season birds can see much further then you think
** late season they will be closer then they sound.

and hunt defensively try not to place yourself where another hunter can sneak up on your set up this could spell diaster


and last but not least enjoy the hunt each hunt is a success bird or not and the dogwoods will make things so beautiful we'll soon be in that dreaded summer transition where to me everything turns ugly and hot

this will make my 17th turkey season and i get the same excitement as if it was my first good luck to all

"A wise indian once said,the more you move the less you will see,the less you move the more you will see"

" I live to hunt, but my wife says i may be hunting a place to live"

[ril7572]

I scout turkeys every day, I don't get in the woods, but I'm out every morning before work listening. During the day I glass several fields to see where they are at different times. It may not be necessary, but I love to hear them gobble, and enjoy the spring. I'm also lucky to hunt a few spots close to home and work.

[Deer Hunter]

Grant,

I can tell by your reply that you know what you are talking about. And that you have probably killed allot of birds in your day ?[;)]

[Grant]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Deer Hunter</i>
<br />Grant,

I can tell by your reply that you know what you are talking about. And that you have probably killed allot of birds in your day ?[;)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

One or two[;)]

I hope I'm not comming across as a know-it-all. I'm just sharing what has worked for me over the years.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/097735.jpg

[GSP]

I know within 5 acres of where the birds will be this season. I have not stepped foot on that land since I killed out last year. I'll be there opening morning though. I would much rather hunt hill country than flat land on turkeys. You can move alot easier on them.

[turk2di]

Right on GPS[;)] I love the rolling hills. Litterally get in a birds lap.

what u get out, is what u put in

[Multidigits]

Just remember, birds will only gobble X amount of time each season, when you use them up before hunting season even gets here, what are you going to hear? Not much is the answer. Anyone who has hunted a lot on public ground knows this, and these are the same birds that are on private ground. Scouting, knowing the lay of the land should have been done long ago. Leave them alone now, and wait for a gobble and go after it with your shotgun.

[deadaim]

ive had birds every year in the same feild for 3 years in a row on opening day so im going in this sat with my son and my double bull blind and a jake and two hen decoys and hope he gets a big one!!

[ChuckBeav31]

greenhorn if I were you, any scouting should be done now! don't wait any closer to opening day. If not, and you think you know where they are remotely going to be...use you a locater call of some sort early in the morning to get them to gobble, find out which direction they are in, get close (but not too close) set up shop, call them in and blast one....easier said than done by any means but just a little advice[:D]

Grant is a know it all!!! haha just kidding He's a good guy. Hey man if you want someone to hunt with you give me a holler. You ought to see the bruise on my shoulder from pattering my shotgun the other day...its green!!

[dgc4]

GSP,
I had a question about hunting hill country vs. flat land. I understand your point about how moving on them is easier, but how do you deal with birds that roost on the highest hill in an area, and don't seem to come down the hill. I normally do not get the chance to hunt hill country, but occasionally do. When I do I can not seem to get close enough to entice a bird, on a consistent basis. Some say that you cannot call a bird down hill, I do not believe that, but the vantage point that these birds already have on me is incredible.

[Remington12]

Chuck,

Remember that the youth weekend is THIS weekend so be careful about scouting (especially public areas). It wouldn't be a bad idea to wear a little orange when moving around. I read that recommendation in a recent turkey mag and am going to try it this year.

[Grant]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ChuckBeav31</i>
<br />

Grant is a know it all!!! haha just kidding He's a good guy. Hey man if you want someone to hunt with you give me a holler. You ought to see the bruise on my shoulder from pattering my shotgun the other day...its green!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

CF, your always welcome with me. Holler at me sometime, we will go. I will probably have to take Keith opening weekend but other than that I should be good to go!!!

http://www.hunt101.com/img/097735.jpg

[GSP]

dgc4,
The reason I said what I did was I hunted flat land last spring. It was hard for me to judge the distance of the birds gobbling (my hearing SUCKS, that is why I almost always take a kid along they have 20/20 hearing[:D]).
If you have one that is gobbling on a high knob, he only has one way to go. Downhill. Don't call to him, let him set the course and play along. I have found it much easier to call a bird to where ever he wants to go than to somewhere he doesn't.
If he is on a ridgeline (which they normally roost a the alee side of) use the ridge as cover and set up on the other side of the ridge. That way you give him a chance to pitch out to high ground and you will be set up in a working range.

[dgc4]

Thanks GSP
I will agree that it is hard for me to judge the distance of gobbling, but unlike you it is because I have only been doing it for a couple of years. What is the alee side of a ridge, the south side maybe?
Have you tried the Game Ear or something comparable, if so do they work.