deerhunter1984
6 pointer
No doubt! All that breeding prior to season wore the Ol' boys out, now they're hanging out with one another again.. don't know what the old ladies are gonna do aside from keeping their nest warm!
Did I really see poults today???
- Thread starter rustyspinner21
- Start date
No doubt! All that breeding prior to season wore the Ol' boys out, now they're hanging out with one another again.. don't know what the old ladies are gonna do aside from keeping their nest warm!
ky.longbeard
10 pointer
- May 15, 2010
- 1,691
Well some say that the first week of May is the best and the gobbles are gonna start ringing out. I went this afternoon and had a longbeard in the field at 125yds. No gobbles ...No struting!!!!!!! All he would do is pick around..I'll be glad when that May gobbling starts I would love to fill my 2nd tag.
deerhunter1984
6 pointer
I've been reading & hearing that too, thing is, that's never happened around here that I can recall. My dad can't remember a time it happened either, & I couldn't tell ya how many years he's been hunting. Been trying to call in a bird for him & the brother-in-law for the past 2 weeks with no luck. The birds that do respond, it's like what gobbling they are doing is a laugh.. one that's saying; "I aint' got time for you, I was with your two sisters & mother last month..I'm wore out! HAHAHA (Gobble) Besides, I'm meeting up with the other boys later so we can watch the WoodChucks race downstream in the flood waters! HAHAHA (Cya Later Gobble)." Lol
- I'm with you on the not being able to wait for these May gobblers, if it happenes here..it would be a first! Good luck on filling your 2nd tag, & God bless!
dray223
10 pointer
- Mar 11, 2010
- 1,050
I've been reading & hearing that too, thing is, that's never happened around here that I can recall. My dad can't remember a time it happened either, & I couldn't tell ya how many years he's been hunting. Been trying to call in a bird for him & the brother-in-law for the past 2 weeks with no luck. The birds that do respond, it's like what gobbling they are doing is a laugh.. one that's saying; "I aint' got time for you, I was with your two sisters & mother last month..I'm wore out! HAHAHA (Gobble) Besides, I'm meeting up with the other boys later so we can watch the WoodChucks race downstream in the flood waters! HAHAHA (Cya Later Gobble)." Lol
Went last night to hunt with a buddy, called had abird answer, probably 100 yards away, thought to myself i might just eat crow on this may= best thing! Na, next time he gobbled, he was 200 yards away, then 500 yards then nothing. All this took place in about 3 minutes. One big tom in the field by himself that would not even look our way unless i hit the gobble tube, even that only lasted a couple minutes before bugs went back to the top of the list for him again.
Neck Banded Coot
6 pointer
I don't think the "best" is yet to come but we did have two different birds work like they should, got hot, did the dance. Etc. They were bad camera angles on both. One didn't clear the brush and get a "kill him" from the camera man and the other was poor lighting due to the time and clouds. You have to find theright bird. The gobbling has def dropped off!
turkeyhunter1943
Fawn
- Apr 15, 2011
- 22
Finally a thread that makes sense.
I couldn't believe the people that were/are talking that stuff about how good it was going to get and how the best was yet to come. I know better but I don't see the need to argue with armchair hunters. They ALWAYS know best.
If some people were told the best way to hunt turkeys was to put on white clothes and run through the woods screaming here turkey here turkey you would be surprised to see the white streaks going through the woods.
For people to think that a tom that has been breeding for 3-4 months is going to work better than one that hasn't been breeding for almost a year is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Well, next to the ones that think killing a hen in the spring will hurt the population anymore than one killed in the fall. Dead hens don't breed no matter when they are taken.
This thread has actually made me glad to know there are people out there that actually hunt and do have the common sense to know when breeding season is over....it's over....
I wish the KDFWR would open it up a month earlier. Will they? I doubt it. Will I spend my tag money in another state next year...Bet on it. I have some friends inTN that peobably will let me hunt some of their farms and or steer me in the direction of some public land to hunt. I am not going to waste any more time money or energy hunting post breeding birds. I could do that in the fall.
Last year I had a gobbler that would gobble a few times EVERY morning during gun deer season. I could have probably taken him home if I had tried. They will gobble in the fall but just like right now they aren't likely to come to a hen call. They aren't breeding. Like someone said. The birds taken now will just be luck or retards. The days of working in a breeding tom is over for another year.
Hope you all have a good rest of the season.
I couldn't believe the people that were/are talking that stuff about how good it was going to get and how the best was yet to come. I know better but I don't see the need to argue with armchair hunters. They ALWAYS know best.
If some people were told the best way to hunt turkeys was to put on white clothes and run through the woods screaming here turkey here turkey you would be surprised to see the white streaks going through the woods.
For people to think that a tom that has been breeding for 3-4 months is going to work better than one that hasn't been breeding for almost a year is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Well, next to the ones that think killing a hen in the spring will hurt the population anymore than one killed in the fall. Dead hens don't breed no matter when they are taken.
This thread has actually made me glad to know there are people out there that actually hunt and do have the common sense to know when breeding season is over....it's over....
I wish the KDFWR would open it up a month earlier. Will they? I doubt it. Will I spend my tag money in another state next year...Bet on it. I have some friends inTN that peobably will let me hunt some of their farms and or steer me in the direction of some public land to hunt. I am not going to waste any more time money or energy hunting post breeding birds. I could do that in the fall.
Last year I had a gobbler that would gobble a few times EVERY morning during gun deer season. I could have probably taken him home if I had tried. They will gobble in the fall but just like right now they aren't likely to come to a hen call. They aren't breeding. Like someone said. The birds taken now will just be luck or retards. The days of working in a breeding tom is over for another year.
Hope you all have a good rest of the season.
JDMiller
12 pointer
I'm pretty much known to have the same opinion on this subject...had it for years now..as well as several others on here. Not much really left to say that has'nt. Overall...yes the weather has sucked...hunting pressure..and many other factors have played a roll....does every year..but I've never seen it get better later in season....at least where I hunt. I'm sure theres areas where this does happen pending the phase / gegraphical location.....but overall it should'nt be considered as the norm everwhere. Just as the "peak" breeding occurs everywhere on the same time frame.
So....I'll just add for future reference....KDF&WR's Commission last year proposed to set the Spring season to open on a traditional date....the second Saturday of April. Which overall.....would'nt have mounted to a hill of beans. The earliest ever would be an 8th opener...pending the callender year and be later each year after. Which honestly I thought was a fairly decent alternative giving a "slightly earlier" date to areas of the state that may be ahead of the game but overall not affecting the famous 15th by much.
However....... the Commissions proposal ultimately was stifled by a desented few.... that basically just will desent on about anything the KDF&WR's commission proposes. I'll even go as far to mention... the Ky state chapter of NWTF responded by stating "they were neutral on the earlier opener" and overall left it to KDF&WR's decision.
Again... ultimately it got shot down ....so were back to opening the weekend nearest to the 15th..not really KDF&WR's fault . Just an issue of squeeky wheels ..with pet politicians...get the grease.....and a good portion of us unfortunately get "lubed" in the process. To say it nicely.
So....I'll just add for future reference....KDF&WR's Commission last year proposed to set the Spring season to open on a traditional date....the second Saturday of April. Which overall.....would'nt have mounted to a hill of beans. The earliest ever would be an 8th opener...pending the callender year and be later each year after. Which honestly I thought was a fairly decent alternative giving a "slightly earlier" date to areas of the state that may be ahead of the game but overall not affecting the famous 15th by much.
However....... the Commissions proposal ultimately was stifled by a desented few.... that basically just will desent on about anything the KDF&WR's commission proposes. I'll even go as far to mention... the Ky state chapter of NWTF responded by stating "they were neutral on the earlier opener" and overall left it to KDF&WR's decision.
Again... ultimately it got shot down ....so were back to opening the weekend nearest to the 15th..not really KDF&WR's fault . Just an issue of squeeky wheels ..with pet politicians...get the grease.....and a good portion of us unfortunately get "lubed" in the process. To say it nicely.
ky.longbeard
10 pointer
- May 15, 2010
- 1,691
For those who think that May is the best..Go the KDFW and check the telecheck review for your county...the numbers don't lie!!!!!!! There was 0 turkeys checked in in my county yesterday May 3rd ..3 the day before that and 5 the day before and I live in 1 of the best counties in the state and there are still plenty of hunters here after em!! I have heard several people say that they killed a turkey,but had to belly crawl or make a mad dash to get in front of 1 because he completely ignored them and I"m to old and have to many health problems for that.
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turkeyhunter1943
Fawn
- Apr 15, 2011
- 22
I do not understand the politics.. nor do I want to. BUT one would think that with it being a no brainer that the hunting season is LATE to say the very least we [the actual hunters] could get something done. I mean I live in the country and the birds were ready to be hunted in Feb. this year. They were on the downslide during the youth hunt and by the time season opened it was a joke.
I mean if we are going to have a season....let's have a season. Who are they trying to fool? We already can't harvest but 2 birds in the spring. That obviously isn't going to hurt the population. Don't get me wrong. I do want to preserve game for my kids and grandkids. It is hard to get new people to be interested when you take them and the birds are done breeding as a whole.
I don't know what the answers is but it certainly isn't to hunt post breeding birds. Granted the warm early spring made it worse this year but let's at least back it up to where we have a CHANCE to hunt when a higher percentage are still actively breeding. I saw 3 grouped up the first week of season, feeding. That alone tells me something isn't right.
I mean if we are going to have a season....let's have a season. Who are they trying to fool? We already can't harvest but 2 birds in the spring. That obviously isn't going to hurt the population. Don't get me wrong. I do want to preserve game for my kids and grandkids. It is hard to get new people to be interested when you take them and the birds are done breeding as a whole.
I don't know what the answers is but it certainly isn't to hunt post breeding birds. Granted the warm early spring made it worse this year but let's at least back it up to where we have a CHANCE to hunt when a higher percentage are still actively breeding. I saw 3 grouped up the first week of season, feeding. That alone tells me something isn't right.
ky.longbeard
10 pointer
- May 15, 2010
- 1,691
I agree with ya turkeyhunter...you know if I go and turkeys are gobbling there heads off and they walk off thats fine at least I still know that sometime during the day I might have a chance.If you'll notice on the Turkey hunting shows on TV when the turkeys are running in and gobbling there heads off no green on the trees.I have heard that it was suggested that the limit be raised to 3,but I would rather they open it up after youth season.
deerhunter1984
6 pointer
You will always have those whom disagree with us that season comes in too late. They kill birds every year & they will never see a reason to bring it in earlier. Congrats to them & good going, but one day that luck will run out. Just like you turkeyhunter1943 the birds around here were ready 2 months ago, now they could really care less. I just like yourself ask the same question, "who are they trying to fool?" The birds are here & they are more than many, but with these season dates it's hard enough to kill one much less two. If you kill one, you're lucky, if you kill two, you're VERY lucky. Again though some will not agree with that, it's nothing but obvious. the early spring did make it worse, but it seems to be coming earlier year after year... why are we the only one's noticing or taking notes of these changes is my biggest question. It's their place to do the research, conduct studies etc. But I'm starting to believe it's not about that anymore, it's all about money. They know we will purchase license & permits no matter how bad it was the year before...all because we're curious enough to see what has changed. BUT it's eventually going to come down to people being so disgusted with their hunts becoming blanks, that we're not going to want to throw that money away. It's hard enough with the way times are now...to even keep a roof over your head, & knowing most of us love our hunting it's ashamed that it's going to come down to not having the strive to hunt. These turkey's aren't going to change & they'll keep doing what they do, they don't care if it's Feb or April...we as hunters do though!
turkeyhunter1943
Fawn
- Apr 15, 2011
- 22
Yeah, I don't know about raising the limit. My main complaint is timing. I, again am glad to know I am not the only one who can see this. I was taking a beating for awhile. All I was getting is they are going to get better and May is the month. It really made me wonder what kind or "hunters" were on here. They sure ha a different view from what I do. I go and am in the woods and I KNOW, where I hunt they are done.
Like someone said....the numbers do not lie.
Like someone said....the numbers do not lie.
ky.longbeard
10 pointer
- May 15, 2010
- 1,691
I know that there are lots of folks that work with my son that have said there gonna lay it down if they don't change something. When you only have a few days in the season to hunt it would certainly be nice if you thought you had a fighting chance.Hunting now is like fall hunting..I hope 1 walks by.I've been at this for 25 yrs. and in my opinion it gets worse each year.
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swampchicken
Fawn
I also agree that season comes in too late. I usually manage to scratch one out every spring or two, but in order to kill one I have to use every tactic I know and it usually resorts to an ambush. We use to go down to TN and hunt, before their NR license went through the roof, and we called several birds in down there. Season came in TN around the end of March. We would come back to KY and hunt 3 weeks later and it would feel as if it was over. My dad had tame turkeys for several years, and our old gobbler would breed the hens every morning starting about the middle of Feb.!!! Just my 2 cents.
CSS archer
BBBC Members
Ya'll make me laugh... If you can't kill a turkey with a gun in the 3 weeks of season we have now, earlier season ain't gonna help you anyway. Take up fishin and quit complainin, today is the good ole days...
I worked 2 birds this morning, they probably gobbled 200 times, one of them, a 25 pounder is in the fridge as I type. The weather has sucked this year, period. I can't remember the last turkey I killed in April, I like getting close with the cover available in May and calling them in my lap. It wouldn't bother me if season opened earlier, as long as we still have a week or more in May.
I worked 2 birds this morning, they probably gobbled 200 times, one of them, a 25 pounder is in the fridge as I type. The weather has sucked this year, period. I can't remember the last turkey I killed in April, I like getting close with the cover available in May and calling them in my lap. It wouldn't bother me if season opened earlier, as long as we still have a week or more in May.
