It's been a tough season so far. Three weeks of hunting and only heard one Gobble. I've been using a Bear Grizzly I just bought and am trying some decoys but the birds are awful scarce. For the record I'm almost deaf so me not hearing birds is normal. Got one more week and three more hunts, I've had a lot of success the last Friday of the season so I'm not giving up yet. Getting too old for these hard hunts, guess I'm paying for those first day kills over the years.

Well Will, I’ve been in birds every time out but I spent months trying to find em. Killed one, missed one in a crazy way. Had others miss as well but it’s an extremely hard year. I didn’t hunt Pa but NY/NJ. So if you want the story on one I missed for a chuckle. I walked in 1.14 like of sight miles on a gps in really mountainous terrain. Took over an hour. Sunrise come the birds were out too far. I started to gather up camera, deke, gear. As soon as I did a bird gobbles getting closer so we dropped everything and just set up best we could rushed. 1-1/2 hours I worked the bird. Mostly contact clicks and leaf scratching but one time he left and I cutt at him to get him to return. I’m deaf in one ear so can’t triangulate direction. After and hour of the bird atrutting back and forth below is my buddy Donnie sneaks down to the right when bird struts left. I watch his eyes now cause he can’t point out where it is. When I see him panning his eyes right I sneak down left. I work him w the scratching mostly. I can hear drumming, feel the gobble, hear leaves drag as he struts and feet crunching leaves. I’m leaning on a giant rock, 2 dead ash trees leaning on it. I can’t get over so I’m crouching under, sitting on right heel, left leg straight. 1/2 hour passes I can’t see Donnie. I finally see tail feathers 15’ away just the other side of rock. Ugh my hip divit gets a cramp. Straightens me right out. Bird heard the thrashing and steps free, mostly behind a sapling, one eye watching the squirm. I try a wiggling contorted shot and miss. Was fun though and interesting story imo. All about the experience. I’m in Tenn now at my daughters grad. Birds all over, gobbling every morn. Nothing like home where things are scarce

Got some and certainly enjoyed it. Had some gobbling going on and called a few in, just no shot opportunity. Not really sure who toyed with who lol. Then allergies got to bad preventing me from being still.

Good luck!

I hear ya. First 4 days were pretty good then went down hill each week for me. Went today but man was hot at 87* and humid and mosquitoes were bad.

Should read got some time out and..

Bad year, never saw a bird.

Have located birds that gave only one gobble and then shut up. They never came to the field nor responded to any calls. I have only seen two hens in my hunts too. Yes... difficult season. Been hunting almost every day. I just don't see the birds I use too. Plenty of bugs!

I bought a leftover private land tag this season for the extra 3 weeks and the fact I have a place 5 minutes from home, rather than the usual public/private tag. Birds all over, shaved a bearded hens back from 3 yards through the blinds mesh screen (loooong beard!), early in the season. Since then I'll have hens and Jennys or Jakes around most sits, but I'm limited to mostly evening hunts after 4pm. I've called in a solo boss gobbler twice with no shots and a foursome of big boys, but they always stay outta range from the blind.

So, instead of the blind I tried the leafy suit and a gobble call. Forgot my stool, so was kneeling in the brush and figured I better use the leafy hood over my mesh facemask after I'd already gobbled a couple times. Well, the hood on that thing kept falling into my eyes and as I frustratingly yanked it back, I look over to see the foursome running away from the movement.

Still have another week and 2 days left to turn things around. I'm thinking my plan involves moving the blind near a hole in the fence and shutting my trap for an ambush.

Not many birds not gobbling very much.Saw 3 heard 1 more Saw a lot more on private land driving to or from public areas that i hunted on.It was an interesting year though.Hope the fall season will be better. Our spring season ended on the 23rd.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here