Share your Ole Tom Tactic's

Silencer · March 13, 2008, 06:40:50 PM

If you're huntin some call shy birds and want to try a differ tactic, talk between your calls.

I'll take and put 2 diaphram calls in my mouth and "switch them up" between an ole boss hen and a young sassy thing.
I sometimes ignore the gobbling and just have hen talk...just like most females do

Scratching the ground with a stick now and then.
More than once I've applied this tactic and drove the ole boy crazy !!!!!!!

Get the 2 calls talking back and forth, this can even work with a slate/diaphram, box/slate etc etc etc

But I'm a diaphram man and it makes it much easier unless you have a dip of chew in ... lol.

edited: I forgot to add that I throw the calls with my hand, meaning to make them sound in differnt directions.

Share your tips/tactics if you would please !!! ( unless its too big a secret

)

HaMeR · March 13, 2008, 07:02:19 PM

I've done the same thing only I don't use 2 diapragms. I use one & either a slate if he's close or the box if he's out there aways.

cb223 · March 13, 2008, 07:48:03 PM

I also use two different calls, sometimes three. If you can get the hens fired up to come in, the tom's will follow.

The picture shows one of my favorite tactics. A jake and a hen decoy set in the breeding position. Drives them crazy!! They come running in all sorts of pissed off!!!

nailbender · March 13, 2008, 08:44:24 PM

Those are some good tips guys. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure theres a lot more you do with out even thinking about anymore that rookies like me would be happy to hear about.

HaMeR · March 13, 2008, 09:03:20 PM

nailbender-- I'm a 6 year rookie on these birds. I figure I'll end up as a total rookie when I'm done tho.

But if you ask I'll gladly try to help you!!

FinsnFur · March 13, 2008, 10:04:32 PM

I wanna know how silencer gets two diaphragm calls in his mouth :shck:

HaMeR · March 13, 2008, 10:42:00 PM

I don't!!

canine · March 14, 2008, 12:07:17 AM

One thing I found was, when you know where they are roosting. Setup about 100 yards from them , a few tree yelps,
(I use a primo's wing), scratch it up and down the bark on the tree, then do a fly down cackle. While flappin the wing, then flap it into the ground. Most of the time, but not always, you can click off your safety cause it won't take em long to be in your lap

Luckily I can't fit two calls in my mouth

JD

Silencer · March 14, 2008, 03:03:18 AM

Ever chew the big leaf stuff ? I keep one in the normal calling position and the other in my cheek

Another good tip if you're calling for someone else and the bird hangs up and cant see you, Leave the shooter in the same position and work back 50 then up to 100 yards making the tom think the hen is leaving.
Most, but not all of the time he will follow.

Canine, I do the same thing but use my hat as the wing.

HaMeR · March 14, 2008, 05:13:24 AM

Anytime I've ever tried to set up that close they would always fly the other way. That would be cool to get that close tho.

Sometimes I fall asleep waiting for the last 1/2 hour of darkness to give way to the new day.

RShaw · March 14, 2008, 06:47:49 AM

A lot of times you can walk right by or right under turkeys when it is still dark. Walking at a slow steady pace with no stopping is what allows this to happen. They are nervous anyways and when you stop you put them really on edge and then when you start your walking again, out they go.

Randy

HaMeR · March 14, 2008, 07:18:36 AM

I've never tried that before & it's good to know that. I like to know ahead of time where I'm setting up at so I don't have to stop on the way in. But if they were to move after I roost them it's good to know I can still get in there somehow. Thanks for the tip!!

KySongDog · March 14, 2008, 07:25:27 AM

I usually try to set up so that when I can see the bird, he is in shotgun range. But if he hangs up, as a last resort, I go to a pair of Fightin Purrs (Knight and Hale). Makes the gobbler think two other birds have moved in on HIS hen and that ticks him off. Usually he goes silent right after you do the fight sequence. Get your gun up and be ready. He is coming!

This doesn't work all the time but, over the years, I've killed several birds using this technique.

Semp

HaMeR · March 14, 2008, 07:55:07 AM

Just found this. I think it covers the basics fairly well. Sure wish I woulda had this when I started hunting turkeys.

http://www.knightandhale.com/Spotlight

I guess you could say I started turkey hunting

COLD TURKEY!!

FinsnFur · March 14, 2008, 08:15:53 AM

HaMeR...lets start you out with just one diaphragm call in your mouth at a time, K?

HaMeR · March 14, 2008, 10:04:11 AM

No Problem Jim!!

BigB · March 15, 2008, 09:38:13 AM

Quote from: HaMeR on March 14, 2008, 05:13:24 AM
Sometimes I fall asleep waiting for the last 1/2 hour of darkness to give way to the new day.

I've done this before, but won't ever again. I woke up once, and a HUGE possum was looking at me at about 4 inches from my nose. I screamed like a little girl and scared the birds away into the next county.

Quote from: RShaw on March 14, 2008, 06:47:49 AM
A lot of times you can walk right by or right under turkeys when it is still dark. Walking at a slow steady pace with no stopping is what allows this to happen. They are nervous anyways and when you stop you put them really on edge and then when you start your walking again, out they go.

Randy

Been there, done that too many times to count. It is some excellent advice, and really applies on those full moon nights/early mornings.

One of my favorite techniques utilizes the lay of the land rather that a calling technique. I'll hen call softly as I walk the creek bottoms, and pop my head up every once in a while as I meander down the creek. I usually have the toms spotted a few hundred yards away as I keep getting closer. This technique works pretty well if the toms have hens and won't leave em. You can also use the technique to get in front of the flock, and do a lost hen yelp to pull the hens toward ya. That'll pull the toms as well.

Brian

HaMeR · March 15, 2008, 10:17:46 PM

Now I can't sleep in the woods no more!!

Actually,,, I'm sure I will.

Coulter · March 16, 2008, 07:29:24 AM

Here are a couple of tips for you guys...

Don't give up at 8 or 9am and head home. This is the approximate time that the hens start to leave the gobblers and going on their merry way. That gobbler is still horny and looking for love. Stick to your guns. If you had a bird coming in early on and he decided to go elsewhere it was probably because some hens lured him away from your calling. It doesn't hurt to set up in that spot again later in the morning and try again...he will be cruising around looking to pick up a hot chick and may check back on a hen he heard earlier in the hopes that she is still in the area. There are way to many guys that leave the woods mid-morning complaining that the turkeys are all henned up.

QuoteAnother good tip if you're calling for someone else and the bird hangs up and cant see you, Leave the shooter in the same position and work back 50 then up to 100 yards making the tom think the hen is leaving.
Most, but not all of the time he will follow.

This tactic works when you're hunting alone as well. Just make sure the turkey is out of sight before moving . I only move twenty to thirty yards and make my calls towards the area of my own retreat - away from the turkey. It makes your calls sound like they are moving away. Plan your move before you do it and get set back up quickly.

Good luck everybody!!

Steve

HaMeR · March 16, 2008, 08:06:23 AM

QuoteDon't give up at 8 or 9am and head home. This is the approximate time that the hens start to leave the gobblers and going on their merry way. That gobbler is still horny and looking for love. Stick to your guns. If you had a bird coming in early on and he decided to go elsewhere it was probably because some hens lured him away from your calling. It doesn't hurt to set up in that spot again later in the morning and try again...he will be cruising around looking to pick up a hot chick and may check back on a hen he heard earlier in the hopes that she is still in the area. There are way to many guys that leave the woods mid-morning complaining that the turkeys are all henned up.

Good point Steve!! Some guys don't even get to the woods til this time.