I got an oportunity to go hunt Turkeys in Louisiana this past weekend. Their season is about 2 weeks ahead of ours. Anyway, this was only my 4th time turkey hunting and it was awesome. It was about 3:30 in the after none and I was set up on a pipeline. I had one hen decoy out and I hit the call couple of times and boom a gobbler started calling back. He was easilly 250 to 300 yards away but behind me. I moved my set-up real fast and called again and then he answered. We talked back and forth for about 45 minutes with him getting closer and closer I was getting pumped! He sounded like he was with in about 50 yards(he was moving through deep woods I couldn' see him) and then he got quite. Being inexprienced I kept trying to call to get him to answer and I think I spooked him. The only other thing I can think is that maybe he didn't like my decoy or maybe he came across some other hens. What do you guys think and what would have done? Either way, it was an awesome hunt and now I'm hooked on turkey hunting for life.

The biggest mistake I see is not having me sitting there beside you! Seriously, you probably overcalled. If you can tell he is headed your way, lighten up on the calling. Try scratching you hand in the leaves to simulate a hen feeding.I have had the bring them in when they hang up a little bit.

Smart ole toms will often go silent when they get close and move in without making a sound. All the time eyeing their surrounding looking for some movement. Your tom most likley picked you off and moved away without you ever noticing him. When they get silent keep your calling down to a minimum and use your eyes to watch the direction he was traveling.
Nothing like that hair raising goble when they close the distance. Makes every hunt special. Good Luck on your next hunt.
Strut I like the idea of scratching the leaves with your hand, thats a great idea.

I'd bet he saw you while you were looking around trying to see him.

When they get close I quit calling or only call about every 2 or 3 times he gobbles. They are real good at telling where the call came from when they get close they'll find you (or you decoy that is)

If he was resonding to your calling and coming to you, he most likely found some real hens along the way. But, he also could have run across something else that spooked him as well.

He either got spooked, or you got picked. Not a good scenario either way, but it happens to all of us eventually. Tone the calling way down when you have a bird coming to you.

Gobblers have a way of slipping in silently and appearing magically. If you have a gobbler closinng, make sure that you visulaize the area around you for anything red, white , or blue, just like a gobblers head, and make a mental note of it's position. If any of those colors appear in an area that it wasn't previously, it's a good bet that an ol' tom has slipped in and is checking out the surroundings before committing.

The scratching in the leaves, just like a hen does when feeding is also an excellent finisher.

Gman

Turkeys in louisana usually get a good bit of pressure. In other words they hear a lot of calling. Killing a tough turkey is one of the most rewarding experiences in the turkey hunting world. All the advise given above is right on tarket. One other thing that helps on stubborn birds. Turn your head and cup your call and make the softest yelp you can as if the hen is leaving. If that doesn't do it, let him walk away and try to reposition on him.

I know its hard when your a rookie but once you know the bird is headed your way i quit calling. They know exactley were you are and i like to let them find me instead of catching me off guard or see me move.

You did nothing wrong. Our Louisiana birds are just too smart for you Texas boys, lol. When they get close and go silent, just give them a little silent treatment. It works sometimes, but be ready, because he will probably come in silent.

Everyone is probably right on target. If they go silent that may mean he is where he can see the decoy or you. Silence and no movement at all are the key then, or he just may have found a girl friend or an obstacle he did not want to mess with. But heck it is early and I can tell by your post it was a rush. Get back in the woods and get that guy. Man reading that post has me pumped. I am heading to the woods this weekend just to scout and sit and listen.

Thanks for the advice guys. Basically, I need to be more patient, quite down the calling, scratch the leaves some and be really still. It is good to know that this has happened to most Turkey hunters. I grew up in Louisiana and I didn't realize that the birds there got so much preasure. I was hunting around Forrest Hill, and man there was tons of sign of birds. I'm going back out there over Easter to try get that old bird! Like I said in my post, him calling back got me real excited and I'm hooked for good now. The wife is excited that I found yet another thing to spend money on!

Thanks again for all the tips.

I think I know your mistake. You decided to pick up a turkey call! Sounds like you got the fever. Good luck to you son and welcome to the club. Be sure and post up a picture of that sneaky son of a gun when you get him.

when they get close like that switch to the mouth call's and purr and cluck softly while sitting dead still and he will show himself and also be patient a million hunter's get up just when they think the bird is gone and bam there he will go runnin'