One tag gone! - (Long read)

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by specktator

Tried that Sunday afternoon. Got back to my camp Sunday morning about 10:30 and was cooking a stuffed chicken for lunch. Sitting on the couch watching basketball with the door open to camp and just screen door closed. I look up and there is a hen 40 yards from the door! It walks through my camp ground(10-15 yards from my trailer) and back into the woods. So I threw my gear back on. Got in the woods about 2pm. Sat down and heard 2 gobble, one in front and one behind me. Just called every 10 minutes or so. Finally about 4:30 one starts to close the distance and he is gobbling at me every time i yelp. he gets about 100 yards and hangs up. He started headin away again and my azz was getting numb so I left him alone and got outta there. Problem is with my place, it is very hilly and lots of creeks running everywhere. Hard to get them to come over a ridge to u or cross a creek. Went back to same area yesterday morning and hooted. Didnt hear a thing, so I decided to head back to work and give them a break.

I know doing this is lots of fun........but what I do is once the Tom answers my call..... I stop calling and wait. Maybe after 30 minutes I will make some soft purrs and a cluck or 2. Rustle the leaves a little with a stick to keep the movement to a minimum.

If he has not gobbled to let you know where he is located in say 45+ minutes.....then I would try this. It is time to get him fired up, call out with some agressive calling and then wait.........maybe use 2 different kinds of calls to make it sound like more than one hen.

If he is hung up 150+ yards away and not coming...... after 30+ minutes, maybe you could back out of that spot and circle him and set up on the other side of him. This might work.