How can a clown-headed gobbler with a pea-sized brain cause so many problems for us? We constantly have to deal with hang-ups, hush-ups and break-ups that leave us clinching our fists and cursing under our breath. In many cases, poor decisions and ineffective hunting tactics are what prevent us from consistently harvesting gobblers. Many of those sins can be avoided with a little planning and the right strategy.
SIN 1:
Sweet-talking limb-locked gobblers Harold Knight of Knight & Hale Game Calls feels hunters calling and working a turkey on the roost is a monumental mistake that occurs every season. “Without question, it’s extremely hard for a hunter not to call to a gobbling longbeard right at daylight,” K night said. “However, if the gobbler is still on the roost, it ends up being a situation where the longbeard is working you instead of you working the longbeard.” K night says calling to a roosted gobbler keeps the bird on the tree limb longer. “The hen is supposed to go to the gobbler and that is what he is waiting on with this scenario,” Knight said. “Making a longbeard gobble on the roost increases the chances of attracting another hunter or a live hen, which can ruin your hunt. In this situation, I prefer to set up as close as possible to the roost and wait until f ly down before calling to the gobbler. Fighting the urge to call and staying quiet until just the right time can dramatically increase your chances of busting a roosted gobbler.”
SIN 2:
Burning up a longbeard’s ears Singing sensation and hunting fanatic Craig Morgan enjoys serenading his fans and lovesick longbeards during spring. This country boy spends a lot of time on the road rocking the stage and knocking gobblers into the dirt. Morgan feels overcalling is undoubtedly one of the biggest mistakes made by hunters every season. “Heck, all of us are guilty of burning up a longbeard’s ears or calling too much,” Morgan said. “Every turkey hunter loves hearing that booming spring gobble.” Morgan believes sweet-talking a lonesome longbeard too much is a common blunder that can easily be avoided. “When filming for my show, ‘Craig Morgan’s A ll Access,’ we want to capture action packed turkey hunts with a lot of gobbling,” Morgan said. “However, overcalling can cause gobblers to hang up and lock down just out of range, which is exactly why I try to tone down my calling once the gobbler has committed. Hitting a longbeard with just enough pillow talk to keep him coming is what I recommend in this situation. In tough hunting conditions, I may even rely on soft and subtle calling tactics or go completely silent.”
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