Heirloom Turkey Calls

[XiBowhunter]

Seems like the harder I try, the more unsuccessful my hunts become. I am hunting my new farm, and I just can't get this place figured out. I get pictures from my trail camera every day, and there are some nice bucks in those pictures, but I am seeing almost nothing when I go out to the woods. I saw 3 does last weekend, but that has been it for the 3 week KY gun season. I have see two eight pointers on my trail cam, but I have never laid eyes on them in the woods or fields. I am beginning to wonder if I am cursed. My last buck was taken in 2005, but I usually kill at least a doe before now. I really think the reason is just sheer bad timing, but my superstitious side has convinced me I am cursed.

Here is a pick of what keeps me going, I get a renewed sense of hope every time I step out of the truck at the farm....

[Brian]

Use the moon my friend. By the time on your picture, this is a last light kind of deer. When the rut gets serious, he'll be around. Don't be afraid to grunt at him either. BUT, be wary, this deer weighs in around 200 I guess, If your grunt call is too low, he'll run away from it. Try this, adjust the o-ring just 2 notches from the end of the reed closest to your mouth. Blow short "doe grunts" durig the rut. Just a couple and wait for about 20 to 30 minutes before doing so again. This is the call of the doe just as she is ready to breed and accept a buck. If he's close, he'll come in. Move the Oring to the center spot and sound like a less dominant, "teenage" buck and he may come in to adjust it's attitude for being in HIS area.

[shaman]

If your farms are anything like mine. . .

1) Ike brought down a lot of the acorns early. Acorns were certainly not in play around any of my stands
2) What I saw was a lot of doe, spikes, and buttons out in the fields munching forbs. The big guys stayed away.
3) We've taken 5 deer so far this year, and none have been what I'd call fat. Also, none of them have had acorns in their gut-- it's all been clover and other salad.
4) I've been seeing more deer feeding at odd times.

Go find some pastures with deer poop, and then try and figure where the deer are making their transits. Set up a ways back and be waiting for them. Also be aware that the deer are not bulking out the way they do most years. They're probably hungrier and feeding more often than usual.