7 Ways to Outsmart Pressured Gobblers

Hunting gobblers that have been called to and even shot at is a difficult undertaking, but you can improve your success odds with the seven details outlined here. Photo by John Hafner.

Somewhere in Central Florida, I arrived at a wildlife management area (WMA) one hour before daylight, planning to hike more than a mile to reach a spot I’d scouted a few days prior. A dozen hunters were already in the parking lot, and more showed up as I grabbed my gear and began walking.

About 45 minutes later when I thought I’d out-hiked everyone, I tip-toed toward my spot. In the dim lighting, though, I noticed some decoys in the clearing where I intended to put mine. I was in the middle of another hunter’s setup. Deflated, I pushed deeper into the WMA. Eventually, I found a spot to myself but was met with silence rather than gobbles at dawn. I’m from Wisconsin and used to being around other hunters, but the pressure on that Florida hunt was unprecedented.

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Hunting pressure looks different depending on your geographic location and the number of hunters within it. Wherever it takes place, the moment turkeys sense they’re being pursued is when they become much more difficult to hunt and kill.

If you hunt on public land or private property on which the landowner grants several hunters permission, this article is for you. Following are some pointers that can help sway the odds of outsmarting a pressured gobbler in your favor.

1. GET THERE FIRST

Most hunters love to be positioned within 125 yards of a roosted gobbler at dawn, and there is competition to be the first one there. Give early rising a whole new meaning. If you know approximately where a gobbler will be roosted but are worried other hunters will reach him first, get there two hours before legal shooting light. There is nothing worse than arriving at the same time as or slightly after another hunter.

As you approach the roost, don’t use a flashlight once you’re within 200 yards, if you use one at all. And try not to make a ruckus. A little bit of noise is acceptable as long as it is good and dark, as the birds will likely assume you’re a coon or a deer. But avoid loud footsteps and breaking limbs.

2. BIDE YOUR TIME

Many hunters squeeze in quick morning hunts before work or school. The woods can be quite busy at daybreak, and when there are lots of other hunters afield, waiting for the timber to clear out and the chaos to fizzle isn’t a bad idea. Heavily hunted gobblers tend to get quiet shortly after they fly down, and hunters who can’t seem to drum up any gobbles will often leave the woods.

Waiting to hit the woods until the morning chaos fizzles is a good way to find a receptive tom. Photo by Bill Konway.

But the late morning, when toms break away from the hens, can be a good time to strike up a response, even in areas that get hammered. For calling, the key is to buy and use different calls than most. Avoid call brands readily available at box stores or on Amazon. Custom call brands that sound different will serve you well, especially mouth calls, if you’re skilled with them. Sounding different than everyone else really helps your cause.

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3. GET TIGHT

No gobbler has a knack for hanging up beyond shooting range like one that’s been called in and has busted another hunter. Now, most hunters pick pretty setups such as logging roads, clearings, fields, and other high-visibility areas. Pressured birds can often be called to within 100-125 yards where they can see where the calling is coming from. They might even be able to see the decoys, but they’re not coming in because they’ve been played with too much and are hesitant.

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So, set up in tight cover or just over a ridge. The goal is to make that gobbler hunt for the hen (your call). In order for him to see the calling location, he must poke his beak within shotgun range. In most cases, as long as you’re positioned in the right direction, he’s yours. I usually don’t use decoys in such setups, especially because I don’t want another hunter to mistake my decoys for real turkeys through the cover.

4. BE ALOOF

I’ve hunted tons of pressured gobblers that responded to my calls but held tight. It’s easy to call too much when a gobbler is answering, but he’ll eventually lose interest and fade away. He wants the hen to come to him. Often, the best thing you can do when a bird isn’t budging is stop calling. It builds his curiosity. Resist the urge to call, and occasionally toss some leaves to simulate a hen scratching. This is highly effective on pressured birds.

While it’s tempting to keep calling when a bird is answering you but not coming, sometimes the better play is to set the call down and let the bird’s curiosity bring him in. Photo by Bill Konway.

5. SKIP WORK

Although some hunting areas see hunting pressure all week long, it goes without saying that the weekends will be busiest. Monday through Thursday can be a great window to weed out some other hunters. With the reduction in pressure, birds are more likely to come and go, and the persistent hunter who puts in their time can have a great hunt before the weekend crowds invade.

6. SIT AND WAIT

If you have all day or even half of a day and you’re struggling to hear gobbles but have found fresh turkey signs such as mushy droppings, tracks in mud, or strewn leaves, a good strategy is to park right there and be patient. Call sparingly or not at all. There are no guarantees, but sooner or later, turkeys are likely to frequent that spot. Will you be there when they do?

If you’re having trouble striking up a gobbler but know turkeys are around, park near some fresh sign and be patient. Waiting in ambush takes determination, but sometimes it beats trying to call in birds that don’t want to respond. Photo by Bill Konway.

7. DITCH THE GROUND BLIND

Some hunters are determined to hunt from ground blinds. In highly pressured areas, gobblers have often seen hunters exiting or entering ground blinds. Some have even experienced hunters bailing out of blinds to collect flopping turkeys. Though unpressured turkeys are very susceptible to ground-blind setups, a handful of alarming experiences are all that it takes to make them blind-shy. If you have any inkling that birds are hanging up or skirting your setups because of your blind, ditch it.

Any successful turkey hunt can be satisfying, but nothing feels greater than harvesting a wise bird that has been outsmarting other hunters for weeks. Realtree photo.

ONE TROPHY TOM

Harvesting a gobbler is fun no matter what, but nothing satisfies like outfoxing one that has outsmarted other hunters and you. Pressured gobblers are tough to kill. They’re unpredictable. And they can be frustrating to hunt. But, when you overcome those obstacles and harvest a wise, old pressured bird, you’ll experience turkey hunting’s greatest reward.

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