Is there ever...

[KPcalls]

 a time when a mature gobbler/gobblers  will let there guard down.  I'm talking other than in sight of a strutting decoy......   ?? 

[Bulldogmikey]

Yes, there are several times I have noticed. Right after coming off the roost. (If you are this close you are too close). And when they are feeding in the late day. And in the act of course.

Mike

[Porter]

I witnessed them last year... that was after Daryl blew their ear drums out!  Honestly (everyone has heard the story) but Daryl and I walked up on about 15 birds sleeping in Kansas.  The wind was blowing so hard, we never did see them and we had just called about 15 yards away.  Daryl whipped out his copper pot and started cutting and yelping aggressively.  We were a mere 10 yards from the birds when they woke up. 

They were all asleep on the GROUND...  Now Daryl and I were not even walking quietly and we were definitely cutting up and laughing loud.  I've never seen anything like that!  Most of the times here in MO... if that wind is howling, the birds are in the middle of the field watching!

[silentk]

I witnessed them last year... that was after Daryl blew their ear drums out!  Honestly (everyone has heard the story) but Daryl and I walked up on about 15 birds sleeping in Kansas.  The wind was blowing so hard, we never did see them and we had just called about 15 yards away.  Daryl whipped out his copper pot and started cutting and yelping aggressively.  We were a mere 10 yards from the birds when they woke up. 

They were all asleep on the GROUND...  Now Daryl and I were not even walking quietly and we were definitely cutting up and laughing loud.  I've never seen anything like that!  Most of the times here in MO... if that wind is howling, the birds are in the middle of the field watching!

klick yer heelz dorothy.......itz time to go home.....



....i'v seen it happen once.....but he waz gettin hiz groove on...

[Gobbleking57]

I have seen them come charging in like the light brigade to a purr fighting call followed by a gobble...

[Mzlhunter]

I never really have. They seem to always be on their game when i'm around.

[Zumer]

Never saw that happen here in PA.....Way to much hunting pressure

[KPcalls]

 I hunted Tennessee last year with a friend, and at daylight on the first morning we worked a group of birds that were roosted in between two fields.  The birds pitched down in the field at about 100yds are so.  I called to the group and had them working my way.  A single hen walked within 5 yds and got nervous and starting putting softly.  The three long beards were a smooth 40yds at this point and started to leave.  I squeezed off on the biggest, and flat out missed the bird......the first in a very long time.  I had drove nine hours to hunt with a guy I had never met and flat out missed a bird....I was SICK.  I shot the gun later that morning and found my scope had been bumped and was way off at 40yds.

 The next morning they were no where to be found, but later that day we found them.  They were on the side of the road fighting in the ditch, all three.  They were fighting through a fence at one time.  I honestly believe I could have got out of the truck and grabbed that bird by the neck.  We watched them for at least 10mins, while taking pics.  Honestly....all three were very mature birds, at less than 20yds we could see the spur and beard length.  

 My friend killed one the day after I got back home, it had 1 3/8 spurs and 11.5 inch beard.  He thinks it was the smallest one, I agreed.

I did manage to kill two good long beards before I left.  

[Mzlhunter]

Cool pics Kenny.

[silentk]

Cool pics Kenny.

[drabndouble]

I like that ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,not the missed shot ,,,,,,,,,,,,,the pics.

[charlieparrish]

Really nice pictures...have to be real lucky or stay in the woods a long time to see neat things like that.
As to turkeys sleeping on the ground, I have seen that before..the first time I thought he was dead..not from any doings on my part. Just laying there with his head flat on the ground. Lykes Brothers Fisheating Creek on the west side of hwy 27...the old WMA at Palmdale..can't put an exact date..but mid to early 70's
   Charlie

[Blackfalcon]

Charlie, he must have had one of those days or nights like I had a few of in my youth (mid 70's)!!
Those are some cool pictures Kenny!!

[KPcalls]

 Thanks Dave,  I still can't believe that those birds let us drive up on them.  They were only worried with each other.....

 I did get out of the truck and push them to a more huntable area.....     It didn't do any good... Two of them pitched out in the middle of a field the next morning before daylight, and went back to the same patch of woods that I moved them out of.....    There were also several hens in the same field that morning, an they coud care less.

[GR8CALLS]

 Things have changed over the years.. At one time, the best time to catch a gobble w/ his guard down was when the hens were sitting. Now a days, there are so many hens (my area) that there are always some that seem to never sit.   

Bill