Top Tactics For "Shut-Mouthed Gobblers!"
All turkey hunters dream of stepping into the woods 15 minutes before daylight, hitting the eight note sequence of a barred owl call and having the woods open with thunderous gobbles. In fact, under the right conditions it can happen this way. The lovelorn gobbler pitches off the branch, gobbles his fool head off and strolls to the call as if on a string. Text book hunt right? Well, not always! What if the weather turns cold? What if its unseasonably wet? What if there are so many hens that gobblers won't play? Welcome to spring 2002' in northern New York. Here are some ideas that will help you take advantage of shut-mouthed gobblers.
The Ambush
There is no substitute for being in the right place at the right time in turkey hunting. Scouting is the key to being successful when ambushing wild turkeys, specifically long range observation. When gobblers won't talk, one recourse is to observe them and pattern their movements. Even in the worst conditions, gobblers will usually be vocal on the roost. Once you have pinned them down, stay back and watch as they pitch from the roost and interact with their lady friends. Its common for gobblers to strut in a high profile area as they seek the virtues of nearby hens.
These areas called "Strut Zones" are used time after time because of their geographic nature. Wise sportsmen can use this to their advantage.
Once a "Strut Zone" has been identified, its critical that the hunter does not bump the turkeys. Sportsmen should stay well back from the strutting area and view these birds at long distance. Take note of where the gobbler enters the strutting area and where he spends most of his time displaying.
Look for good cover and trees within shooting distance of his zone and pay attention to where the sun comes up as both cover and shadows will help hide the hunter on the morning of the hunt. Finally, watch the clock! Its important to know what time Mr. Big will be arriving.
Smart turkey hunters never allow birds to know they are being observed. The first time they are within gunning distance is the morning they intend to harvest the bird. f you have patterned your gobbler correctly, there should be little or no need for any type of calling. The most challenging aspect to this hunt is staying completely alert and motionless. When birds are not overly vocal, it can be difficult to stay in contact with them as they approach your location. Since the gobblers we are dealing with are shut-mouthed, concentration is a must. Once on location, treat every minute as though the gobbler is about to strut into view. When you least expect it, "EXPECT IT"! Finally, get to your set up location early and get comfortable. Ultimately, your comfort level will be the determining factor in your ability to stay motionless and wait out your gobbler.
Call the Ladies, Call the Gents
Many times we don't have an opportunity to scout our birds in advance. We enter the woods, strike a gobbler and eventually realize that he's in the company of hens and isn't responding. Gobblers will often exhibit limited vocalizations in this scenario. They are already in the company of many hens and gobbling to attract more ladies is not necessary. Staying in contact with a gobbler and his hens can often be the most difficult aspect of taking this bird. It takes a re-tuned ear to listen for hen talk but the high pitched yelping and clucking of the group can sometimes give them away.
Once you have established contact, watch the group to try to establish their direction of travel. It is always easier to call any type of wild game towards where they are already headed.
Topography can really be an asset to the hunter when moving in for the kill. Look at the lay of the land towards where the turkeys are moving. Look for the path of least resistance in the direction they are travelling. It's not a total guarantee that they will take this route but you have definitely hedged your bets. Try to maneuver in front of these birds without being detected. If time warrants, this is a good time to employ decoys. A couple of hen decoys as well as a Jake decoy would be in order here. Place the decoys in a visibly open area and take cover. Periodic yelping will make the approaching flock aware of your location. Don't be concerned if the gobbler does not answer your calls - he's shut-mouthed anyway. Try to establish a conversation with his hens. Veteran turkey hunters will imitate hen calls as closely as they can. This mocking will often arouse their curiosity and raise their level of excitement. After imitating hen yelping, I have personally seen hens aggressively begin to cutt. After switching to cutting myself, the altercation usually escalates as the hens approach ready to dole out a verbal scolding to the mocking intruder. Generally the gobbler is in tow and the hunt soon ends.
Years ago I was hunting with Lohman pro staffer Jody Hugill as we were faced with a henned up gobbler strutting but not talking in an open field. We set up inside the wood line in a location where we could watch the turkeys react to our calling. Jody excited the gobbler's hens with yelping but it was obvious that they weren't responding. He then employed a variation of a fall turkey hunting technique. It was early in the season and he began kee keeing (whistling) at the beginning and end of his yelping. To my surprise the hens lifted their heads and took notice. After a few more sequences, they began feeding our way with the gobbler following. Twenty minutes later we took that gobbler and Jody explained that by whistling in combination with yelping it appealed to the hens maternal instinct. All fall and winter, hens respond to the calls of young birds and this simple ploy made the hens respond in a comfortable and methodical fashion. The gobbler could have cared less!
Busting Gobblers off the Roost
The last tried and true technique for taking shut mouthed gobblers is to bust them off the roost. This requires knowing exactly what trees your gobblers are roosting in. This is best determined by letting the birds fly down and move off after the morning gobbling is over. Move into the roosting area and look for large trees with droppings and feathers on the ground beneath them. Once these trees have been located, look for a suitable set-up position within 60 yards of the trees and preferably in the turkey's direction of travel. It would be best to clean out your set up area during the scouting process so that you can move in quietly on the morning of the hunt.
On the morning of the hunt, arrive well before the sky begins to get pink. The gobblers should be asleep on the roost so don't worry too much about bumping them. Walk at a broken pace when you get close to the roost trees and hunch over simulating deer or other animals moving about. Place decoys close to your set up and wait for the morning's gobbling activity. Once gobblers are awake, offer subtle tree calling and perhaps a simulated fly down as your only calls. On many mornings, gobblers will pitch directly off the limb and into your decoys. The hunt doesn't last long but it can be one of the most effective ways to capitalize on birds that clam up after hitting the ground. It's all about invading their space and making a response irresistible.
The rain, cold and wind can be just a few of the variables that cause gobblers to be less vocal. If gobblers are henned up they can also be tight lipped so remember these tactics the next time you are faced with shut-mouthed gobblers.
