A series of unfortunate decisions and Working Field Birds

[Fisherhunter460]

Today was almost a great day, well it was a great day, but the birds still eluded us. I decided to take a couple days off work with the plan to head up to the Delaware River to hit up some morning turkeys and shad. Unfortunately the prediction of pouring rain kept us from our annual pilgrimage. So we decided to head south to MD for morning turkey hunt. It was wet and drizzly, but there were a few birds going. My dad and I took off after what sounded like 3 birds. Navigating the woods proved to be difficult, lots of thick underbrush. We chose to try and get above him on an opposite hill. We didn't make it, mistake #1. The bird gobbled what seemed like right in our face. We set up immediately, stuck a decoy out. Total visibility maybe 20 yards, mistake #2. The bird came off the roost in our direction right at the bottom the hill. We had crossed a fence earlier on in our trek, mistake #3. The bird worked back and forth for a solid hour before he stopped gobbling. We waited awhile and finally decided to go after a different bird, mistake #4. We stood up and walked down to the decoy just to spook the Tom just beyond a fence, right beside a creek that he wouldn't cross, all of which we couldn't see.

After that we headed up the hills to fields we started in and sat for awhile. About 30 minutes later we saw a gobbler about 500 yards through the field. We called and he looked at us, turned away and walked into a waist high hay field. About 10 minutes later he came back out for a few minutes and disappeared. By now the rain was really falling. Then he came back out into the field. We called again and he started working his way towards us along the edge of a plowed field. Then he disappeared into the woods and never saw him again. What a fun morning!

[cut_un]

Well, you guys were definately in the game! Sounds like a good morning,sometimes the turkey just have to win....

[ICDEDTURKES]

Turkeys will cross that same creek and fence 100 times a day, until you try to call them across them..

[Thunderbolt]

I've been a turkey hunter since 1972 and i've taken more then my share of gobblers over the years...but i can tell you by experience Field birds are the hardiest of all to hunt....they always pick the best roosting trees..ussally where the can see and hear for ways and just when you've think you've got them...they fly off the roost the complete opposite way that you setup...as for fences....barriers their all over..the field bird is the most stubborn of all...he'll make excuses and find barriers he just won't cross over...He loves to gobble and he'll gobble his brains out for you for sometime...but when he hits the ground he'll break your heart...believe me i know...i hunted one for 3 years with my brother inlaw...i had him pegged...20 yards from his roost tree...watching him for sometime...my brother inlaw set up where we thought he was going to go...and i was near the roost...could have plucked him from the tree...but the old boy gained my respect and i did'nt...we never did kill that bird..and we're sure he died of oldage...so sometimes you can do all the scouting and planning and mother nature will beat you too the punch...that was a lesson that i learned and till this day...I'll have to be talked into going after a field bird...cause the drive me crazy...!!! Thunder..

[BigAL64]

Your story sounds allot like my frustrating year fishshooter!

[Fisherhunter460]

This year has been nothing but frustrating. We did get that one for my Dad in Wv. Yesterday was the first day that I have heard a turkey gobble since. Yesterday was the only day this season that I have heard more than one bird in a day. Also heard more gobbling than all season combined. Then to have one hang up on a creek/fence and another bird that could easily see our decoy and not even come close! Some days I just cant wait for the season to be over!

[DoubleBullKilla]

Been frustrating for me also. Got drawn for the 1st week in May here in Minnesota. We only get 5 days to hunt turkeys. Day 1, had 2 gobblers (field birds) coming to us, saw B-Mobile, and walked the other way. Day 2, Had birds sounding like they were coming hard and would then hang up at 100 yards. Day 3, High winds/heavy rain, (sleep in). Day 4, Never heard a gobble and didnt see a bird. Day 5, didn't hunt, had to be back to work.

I love the challenges of turkey hunting, but my gosh, a turkey can really get under my skin and piss me off. LOL!

[cut_un]

Don't let em get under yer skin DB...... it's a game we play,sometimes we win, most times, the spoils belong to the turkeys..... Speaking for myself...win just enough to keep me coming back

[vt.honker]

Worked a field bird I had targeted yesterday morning.Located this bird , with his harem,back in early April.Because of the fields close proximity to a heavily traveled road,this tom was low on my priority list ...too many other hunters were ALSO seeing this bird.Before the season opened ,I drove by this field many times without any NEW sightings ....this field is a 10 minute drive from my house and is part of my nitely windshield RECON .Bird finally showed up the other nite with the company of 3jakes and a hen feeding on dandelions .After watching the birds go to roost,I came home and looked up the hourly weather forecast on my computer....70% chance of light rain ALL nite and THRU the next day .Since the moon would be obscured by the rain clouds and the wet grass would silence my approach to the roost, I decided to go for it ANYWAY !!Long walk in so I only carried 1 hen decoy,a ground blind(too far to carry a pop-up)my gun and a seat to keep my butt off the wet ground .Managed to get within 50 yards of the roost...put out the decoy...set-up the blind...with all ready by 4:30 am.Legal shooting was at 4:43 but with the rain and all I figured on no gobling and a late departure off the roost ....WRONG .. .first goble came at 4:45.Birds could not see the location of my decoy so I announced my presence with soft yelps that were barely audible...goble goble goble...was the response.Next I did a few soft clucks and purrs...like a contented hen feeding.....goble,goble ,goble.They knew where to find me so I stayed quiet from then on even tho the gobling continued .When the birds came off the roost,there was no fly-down cackling...just the sound of beating wings.15 AGONIZING minutes later,a parade approached my decoy led by 1 hen,3 jakes,and FAR BEHIND a cautious tom.By the time the tom was 35 yds and coming, the hen and the jakes,were 8 yds and looking in my direction.Jakes were too close together to take a shot ( MY GUN WAS ALREADY UP AND POINTING TO WHERE I WOULD TAKE THE SHOT AT THE TOM).The tom was still coming, but waiting became my DOWNFALL ....suddenly that sound that all turkey hunters dread ...putt,putt,putt.Tom never raised his neck,just crouched and showed me his best roadrunner imitation.Fired 2 shots at his bobbing head and missed ...TWICE!!!AT 5:15AM,THE AIR WAS FILED WITH THE SMELL OF GUN POWDER AND THE SOUND OF MULTIPLE....Fornication Under Consent Of The King !!!Packed up my gear and came home to dry everything out.Slept in this am but have another prospect in mind for tomorrow...a nice DRY AND SUNNY day too .

[cut_un]

Good hunt VT... seems like you plan came together,sorry the outcome was different than you hoped for..... Tomorrow will be different Go get em brother!