Ghost Hunting

Ok, not really hunting ghosts, but it sure feels like it.

First weekend of turkey season, and I've been hunting hard since Thursday evening. It's now Sunday, and it already feels like I've been at it for weeks. I've had some really great set ups, and have been very successful in calling hens up. So far I've called or seen 11 hens.

But the bearded ghost of the woods has so far eluded me. I thought I had a pretty good idea of where the roost is, and I still think I know. During pre-season scouting I purposely kept away from the area and trying to find the roost tree because the public land I'm hunting gets a lot of pressure, and I didn't want to push the birds to another area. I've been set up at the edge of the woods near dark and have had hen after hen walk right past me into the creek bottom, so I know I'm within 200 yards or so.

Where the toms are going after fly down continues to elude me. I'm seeing hens at all times of the day, and common knowledge leads me to believe the toms aren't far away from the hens.

The weather here in Oklahoma has been incredibly dry and incredibly windy. We're in the middle of an extreme drought. Personally I think the toms are staying in the creek beds. There is still some water there, but they are high banked so they are out of the wind and they still have easy access to food, water, and hens. The hens I've been seeing I believe are feeding and nesting.

Tomorrow I switch up tactics. I've found a strut zone down in the creek bed, so tomorrow morning I'm going to ease in there well before daylight, keep quiet, and see who shows up. Might just be that old bearded ghost.