Turkey Scouting Today.....2-17-15

[ilovesprig]

Yep.....Camera has the wrong date again......I need a new camera...... :-[

Drove like a wild man this morning and got to as many traditional roost areas as I could.....Flydown for the hens was about 6:05 am.....The gobblers were already on the ground.....I used a box call to try and find where the birds had gone off the best roost area I have.....There wasn't a single bird in those trees.....But, while moving and calling, I had 3 longbeards and a jake walk in on me......Gobbled like crazy...... They just knew there was a willing hen there somewhere........ ???

Saw a lot of birds and saw fresh sign or heard birds in most spots (even public). Talked to a lot of folks too.....The numbers are way down, but they'll be some nice "longs" taken.....Again few jakes observed and the older birds are mostly 3 year olds it appears.

A few pix from today.......Including the flydown video at one spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1-IsAyP9x8

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[Matagi]

Man it's only mid February and those birds are acting like late March I sure hope we get some storms to roll through to slow them down. If not we will definitely see poults on opening day.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Nothing up where I am, haven't seen one in months. Drought's been tough on all the creatures.

 

[ilovesprig]

Nothing up where I am, haven't seen one in months. Drought's been tough on all the creatures.

Fred,

Hauled cheeks thru MG and only saw 2 roving gobblers..... Hope they're flocked up in some hidden canyon somewhere........... ???

 

[Matagi]

Fred, I Saw a group of Jakes across the street so hopefully the birds over in that area. If they are, I'm sure they will make their way towards ya.

 

[Fowl Play]

Great pictures Steve, those are some good looking birds. It'll be interesting to see how this season pans out...

 

[TRICER]

Is this what I am looking for. We found two of these this weekend. Didn't see any birds no sign no sound nada. Only found these. I talked to A hiker who frequents the area and he said he hasn't seen any turkey in about 3 years.

 

[Deleted member 27310]

I have a friend of a friend that says he has gobblers and hogs up in his land in the hills. never have tried to bag either maybe this will be the year to try? Steve, whats the season on both of these look like? great pics as always sir

 

[Matagi]

Scouted this morning didn't hear a single gobble on MCC land. Saw a lone Tom near Wynola and four lonely hens near Santa Ysabel. While checking out a spot near Ramona, I was able to get one half assed gobble from a lone Tom. Why is it looking more like the end of turkey season lol...

 

[ilovesprig]

Drew,

Yes, that's what you looking for......That's hooked gobbler scat......And I can guarantee you that newer than 3 years......

Here's hen scat.......

Richard (IV Hunter),

The season for turkeys opens March, 28th......This is IMO very late for SoCal.....The birds appear to be going into dispersal already......Meaning the 1st gobbling peak may have already come and gone......There's 2 peaks..... Ideally, you like that 2nd peak during the season.....Fortunately, not all birds or flocks progress at the same time (similar to our deer ruts).

Last year we were very early too......It didn't really effect our season much......Which was very good for 2 year olds......The problem this year will be the lack of 2 year olds (last years jakes)......I'm forecasting a fair season at best......But let's see what comes out of the woodwork......There's many areas we can't see.

 

[Lungpopper]

Eucalyptus hills two days ago

 

[ilovesprig]

Darryl,

Bow only?...................

 

[Lumpy]

Was that buck a hard horn??

 

[ilovesprig]

Was that buck a hard horn??

Yes, he was Shawn.........So was this guy...........

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[steveo007]

had my grandson with me so I couldn't do any real scouting , but heres some pics on our road scouting trip.
#1 descanso
#2 cuyamaca
#3 Julian
#4 julian

 

[ilovesprig]

I like the Turkey Vulture................ ;D