I like my glass slate the best.  If I need to make a long distance call, I have a custom slate that is loud.  It makes my teeth tickle when I scratch it.   I don’t gobble. I don’t mouth call. My mouth dries out when a bird comes in. From nerves. 

I use a box call.  But I only call minimally, as previously stated.  I haven't done any calling the past two days at all.  I could tell the first day that calling was doing more harm than good.

 

I had the same issue this morning.  They fly down into a big open field, and walk across it.  No where near shotgun range.  Before I left, I moved my blind right into the middle of the field.  Literally.  It sticks out like a sore thumb, but a friend said they aren't bothered by a blind, even in an open field.  I hate the way it looks in the middle of nowhere, but I have to try something else at this point.

7 hours ago, gim said:

I use a box call.  But I only call minimally, as previously stated.  I haven't done any calling the past two days at all.  I could tell the first day that calling was doing more harm than good.

 

I had the same issue this morning.  They fly down into a big open field, and walk across it.  No where near shotgun range.  Before I left, I moved my blind right into the middle of the field.  Literally.  It sticks out like a sore thumb, but a friend said they aren't bothered by a blind, even in an open field.  I hate the way it looks in the middle of nowhere, but I have to try something else at this point.

They’re dumb but smart at the same time if that makes sense. They’re dumb have great eyesight but at the same time they have tiny brains so if you set up in the middle of a field they don’t think twice about it. They don’t have the processing power to think about you setting up in the middle of the field.

 

The wife and I got home and Liam is loading up our stuff for tomorrow. He comes out and he can. Purr and gobble with a mouth call! I wish YouTube was around back in our day.

My patience paid off.  3.5 days of hunting and over 90 turkeys later, 3 hens and 2 toms came past at 45 yards around 8am.  I dusted one of the toms.

 

The wildlife is thriving out there.  I saw over 90 turkeys, about 25 deer, and too many pheasants to count in a few days.  They are flourishing.  It must be these snowless, mild winters we've had recently.

 

 

11 minutes ago, gim said:

My patience paid off.  3.5 days of hunting and over 90 turkeys later, 3 hens and 2 toms came past at 45 yards around 8am.  I dusted one of the toms.

 

The wildlife is thriving out there.  I saw over 90 turkeys, about 25 deer, and too many pheasants to count in a few days.  They are flourishing.  It must be these snowless, mild winters we've had recently.

 

 

 

Congrats and Awesome Pic! 

A-Jay

Nice work @gim!

 

We went out this morning and had six gobblers talking in the trees and one maybe two hens. Once they got down they continued to gobble and respond to our sporadic calls (didn’t want to over call). Then for no reason they shut down. We continued to sit and call with no response. Oh well, we’ll be back again in the morning.

Wash, rinse, and repeat from our previous outing. We heard a ton of toms gobbling and they kept it up after flying down. This time we could hear them moving away from us and we couldn’t get them to come in. This late in the game I’m feeling like our window is closing.

Right now in Minnesota, it’s season D. Which is always the one that coincides with fishing opener. So basically no one is turkey hunting.

 

Plus it’s supposed to be near 90 degrees now for a couple days. Not exactly enjoyable.

Our season in my unit goes from mid April until the end of May. 
 

I’ve hunted in upper 80’s low 90’s before and you’re right, it’s not enjoyable.

Have a hen up behind the house on a nest. 

She actually keeps the Border Collie at bay.

7 hours ago, Bird said:

Have a hen up behind the house on a nest. 

She actually keeps the Border Collie at bay.

I imagine she does. I wouldn’t screw around with a turkey that’s for sure.