A couple Turkey Questions

[Bills Custom Calls]

Looks like windy and rain Friday evening and stay windy for Saturday,and youth season starts saturday

Where I was planning on setting up was on top of the ridge about 15 yards in the wood line,Can't hunt the field behind me.With it being windy I am guessing the birds will roost low in the valley.Will the birds come to the top of the ridge with me calling or should I set up in the valley and try to keep the birds down there and risk them flying over us onto the other property I can't hunt

Any and all input welcome

[HaMeR]

   Got any pines near where you're gonna be?? I would try hunting them from the lower side if I could. Kurtis won't have much fun up in that stuff I don't think. Sunday might be better. And Youth season is til dark both days so you still have options for the afternoon.

I wasn't sure you knew the hours so I stole this from the ODNR site. If you did,, Sorry. 

A special youth-only turkey hunt for those ages 17 and younger will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18. Young hunters must have both a youth hunting license and a youth spring turkey permit in order to participate. They must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. The young hunter's turkey season is open statewide with the exception of Lake LaSuAn State Wildlife Area in Williams County which requires a special hunting permit. Legal hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset each day during the two-day youth season.

[Bills Custom Calls]

I didn't know it was all day just figured it was till noon


Young hunters must have both a youth hunting license and a youth spring turkey permit in order to participate.

Now how can Kurtis get a youth hunting license when he hasn't taken the hunting safety course and I feel he is not ready to take

I thought he could still hunt under the apprenticeship program

[alscalls]

Do you know where they are roosting For Sure ?  and which direction they want to go when they fly down?
These are two things you need to know if you can find the time to sit and listen.  

Down where we worked that big Tom last year would be ideal Bill, only this time sit on the other side of the holler from where we sat last year.............
If it rains and then stops they will most likely head for the fields.

Always try and be at least a little uphill from the birds if you can....... your less likely to get busted and they tend to come easier.

[Bills Custom Calls]

Al The birds were roosting in the woods across the road from where we worked the tom last year,and the one  I spooked flew into the woods where we hunted.I really want to hunt that spot but if you remember what happened last year while we were hunting the 2 amish boys came into the woods where we were calling just to do some bird watching 

I had a Tom fly off the hill behind the house last evening and landed 20 yards from the back door just about where you parked your truck while you were here 

Glen there are some pines in that woods I want to hunt just not very big

[Silencer]

Most of the time when they're soaked they head for open field as well.  IMO since they're heavier with the feather soaked they cant fly as well  and can see predators coming further off.  

[Bills Custom Calls]

I found it If we would be staying on Family owned property he would only need a youth turkey tag
but since we are planning on crossing line fences Kurtis will get his first youth hunting license and his first turkey tag I sure hope we can fill a tag

[HaMeR]

Pines offer more protection from the weather. If they are 30-40 feet tall they might use them. Otherwise I think you & Al might be onto something. I also think they like the open fields in the rain & wind because everything in the woods is moving & looks like a predator coming their way.

[iahntr]

Flip a coin    They usually do the opposite thing I think they're gonna do. 
Or I could give you some advice, and you could do the opposite.   

Good luck and have fun !

[alscalls]

I would hunt day break in the same spot I spoke of in the AM............. and behind the house in the evening.......
Those birds where we saw the amish boys........seem to always go that same direction as the big Tom we worked...... Must be a good strutting zone up there.......... Be ahead of those birds and call softly and sparingly. A slate call would be perfect on those birds.

I think the birds go that way to avoid the over calling amish.......so be in front of where they want to go.......and you might not even have to call.......

[bambam]

turkeys love to head for the fields on rainy days. If you know where they roost you could intercept them before they get there.

[kyfuzzyface]

Bill I like to (put them to bed) the night before and know witch way they go when they fly down, they uselly just follow the hen.
If its windy I hunt the low places> Raining in the fields ,watch for where they strut and try to get there or cut them off on there way. JMO
Hope this helps You and Curtis

Good Luck