Hit and Miss Season

[rjhulbert]

Well we are just half way through the season and the birds have been very much hot and cold..... Whats everyones opinion on this subject is it the temp, ahead of scheduale growing season or what? Good luck and be safe out there

[upstatehunter]

I'm not sure, but the toms are still with hens and not responding well. I wonder if areas with healthy populations of hens are causing the toms to not have to look for them much. Like deer when the doe to buck ratio is out of wack. The bucks don't display a lot of rutting activity because the doe are right there. Or if they simply are on the back side of mating and we are late trying for them?

[Stuck-on-Seven]

I'm not sure, but the toms are still with hens and not responding well. I wonder if areas with healthy populations of hens are causing the toms to not have to look for them much. Like deer when the doe to buck ratio is out of wack. The bucks don't display a lot of rutting activity because the doe are right there. Or if they simply are on the back side of mating and we are late trying for them?

I think your right i think its a mix of everything. I have only had a tom answer my call maybe 5 times this yr. They are not responding at all. They have been gobblin at everything but the call so far. Kind of a screwy season. I had a tom the other day come out in the field all by himself, answered my call twice but would not come in not sure what the deal is. Luckily my bird landed pretty much in range right off the roost or i probably would still be birdless.

[bogmanjr]

Yep real screwy here too. I have had hen's come in to calls almost every time out. Tom's have not been near as vocal as usual. I blame the weather mostly, I think the earlie spring has us out of sync too.

[Coach]

Running into the same problem, all kinds of gobbling when fly down and they nothing. They flew down in the field just in front of me, had all kinds of gobbling and then not a peep. Did manage to put up a nice jake, but I am still looking to get the Tom in my area.

[rjhulbert]

sorry to hear that im right for once would much rather me the odd ball in this subject guess its not just me, another question that i have just come up with running the season through my head anyone been hunting in the woods and having success?? I have not had many come in the normal feilds but have heard them on the hot "gobbling" days in the woods or on wood lines nothing in the fields though good luck and be safe

[Stuck-on-Seven]

sorry to hear that im right for once would much rather me the odd ball in this subject guess its not just me, another question that i have just come up with running the season through my head anyone been hunting in the woods and having success?? I have not had many come in the normal feilds but have heard them on the hot "gobbling" days in the woods or on wood lines nothing in the fields though good luck and be safe

actually yes. In the spot i shot mine in they always fly into the plowed field but the last 2 times they have flown about 200 yds down into a huge ravine  nothing down there at all except the creek. Not sure what their deal is this yr.

[Coach]

My trail cameras are snapping away in the woods, but every time I go out there to that spot, it's the day they decide to to take a different route and come back that way in the late afternoon. lol Going out tomorrow, hopefully they will be there in the morning and not in the afternoon.

Here are a couple pictures from that camera.

[Stuck-on-Seven]

Haha thats pretty sweet seeing them up that close

[drobertsinMaryland]

That feather dusting shot is awesome Coach. Thanks for sharing.

[Coach]

Well again yesterday and today they decided to go the other way. Really wish I could go in there after them, but the land is posted.

I like how in a bunch of these shots that I have seen, they are right up close posing for the camera. lol

[rjhulbert]

hope they come your way soon coach had a great day out the other day with my niece actually was working birds for almost half the morning but that was it for the day but she was happy to be out and glad to hear them being worked good luck out there and be safe

[Coach]

hope they come your way soon coach had a great day out the other day with my niece actually was working birds for almost half the morning but that was it for the day but she was happy to be out and glad to hear them being worked good luck out there and be safe

Unfortunately I don't get to go every day, work gets in the way. But I took this Friday off, so I will have Friday, Saturday & Monday to close the deal. I could have taking a small jake, but I am after that Tom in the picture.

[rjhulbert]

well as the new york spring season has come and gone I hope that everyone enjoyed their season as much as I did although was one frustraiting season with the weather and how the birds were acting just hope we all learned yet another thing from these amazing animals and most importanly stayed safe to go do it again next year. I ended my season bagging my limit although just an average tom and a small jake but more proud of my jake than the tom for its my frist double bearded bird so yet another personal milstone reached till next spring be safe and get out and enjoy the outdoors that produces so much fun and challenging creatures to hunt and fish.