The most important part .... imo

[G-man]

The most important part of spring hunting imo...

https://projectupland.com/turkey-hunting/a-how-to-guide-to-roosting-turkeys/?fbclid=IwAR0MDKYA1NcpHuYG1VYa6rLWdKe3pz3KjwpMXLVztOpwk9SewnH-G-94n9M

[Water Rat]

Saw this gobbler go to roost a couple of weeks ago from my garage. He’s way up there.

[mowin]

I really don't think roosting is as important as they make it out to be.  Now, farms that are 1000's of acres, it might come in handy.  But then you risk bumping toms as you walk in to check different areas. 

The most I do is drive by in the evening and try to see where they are heading. 

[G-man]

3 hours ago, mowin said:

I really don't think roosting is as important as they make it out to be.  Now, farms that are 1000's of acres, it might come in handy.  But then you risk bumping toms as you walk in to check different areas. 

The most I do is drive by in the evening and try to see where they are heading. 

I think on smaller properties they are way more  important. Especially generational roost areas....  Large acreage allows run and gun till noon. (public land  Is a good example of this) If you have a roost area  on smaller acreage you can effectively hunt it early and if you don't get bird by 8 830 am, simply leave and try another morning no reason to push a bird by chasing them around all morning..  if you don't have a roost on a small parcel you are subject to  food patterns and  hope another hunter doesn't cut off or bump birds before they get to you later  in the am..  

[Fab]

If u have a few small properties it’s essential for the am hunt.  
 

saves u time in the am   Better to hunt a bird where u no what tree he is in and usually the direction he is headed once he flies down 

 

I will say   40 plus years of roosting the evening before    We get one maybe a season to reply once may 2 comes     Don’t no if it’s daytime pressure mating season   Early  Mid April’s we usually get one every other evening     

 

 

[Fab]

Best quote ever.   By Ben lee

“ it’s easy to call an old gobbler in when that’s the direction he is already going “.  
 

that’s why scoutings important.  
 

but having room and access is more important.   
 

I got a spot.  It’s 100 by 300 yds. Wide between to HUGE Fields 

 

birds are usually in their 25 out of 31 days in May.    I have only ever killed one Tom their.   It’s impossible to hunt always hens in their.   The darn things fly down into the field or right near the edge n then walk out  I can’t get to  exactly where they are going    It’s so frustrating I often stop hunting it to find birds I can set up on 

 

[mowin]

11 minutes ago, G-man said:

I think on smaller properties they are way more  important. Especially generational roost areas....  Large acreage allows run and gun till noon. (public land  Is a good example of this) If you have a roost area  on smaller acreage you can effectively hunt it early and if you don't get bird by 8 830 am, simply leave and try another morning no reason to push a bird by chasing them around all morning..  if you don't have a roost on a small parcel you are subject to  food patterns and  hope another hunter doesn't cut off or bump birds before they get to you later  in the am..  

On Small properties with generational roost, I see no reason to roost.  I'm going to know where they are within 50 yrds.

Running and running large tracts is very effective, but has nothing to do with roosting the night before.  

Most toms will go to a high point, and pitch into the roost tree because its much easier and expends less energy than flying from a lower elevation up too a roost. This makes it easier to find potential roost sites. 

[Fab]

Them darn things usually at roosted like 3/4 the way up the steepest ridges we have around me 

 

I agree with mowin.   They ,at least by me. Walk up to the highest ridge or very near the top n just fly straight out or even slightly down hill     It’s funny to watch them pitch down when they r flying back up hill.  It’s a few flaps then a little glide to the ground.   I have seen them land and make almost no noise.   Then I have seen and heard them where it sounds like a quad fell out of the tree.    
 

 

[Buckmaster7600]

Although I haven’t done it in years roosting is very  successful, one thing that many get wrong in roosting is they think they’re good if they hear him and have an idea what woods he’s in. I want to know what limb he’s on. Back when I roosted birds, if I knew the limb he was on my odds of killing him was probably close to 50-50. 

[G-man]

5 hours ago, blackbeltbill said:

    I know Roosting works for alot of Turkey Hunters. If you enjoy that- go for it.

   One of the Big Reasons early on,I found while walking around 1 Hour before Sundown- ( That is the latest,I have stayed once in a Blue Moon)- is running into other Turkey Scouters on Public.

   Even getting ready to leave at 1 hour before Sundown,I have gotten some Bold Questions from guys just going in.  Others have been Bold enough to say-- Tomorrow Morning, I am going to be at " such + such a place". Where are you going??

   I might have that same area in mind because through my Decades on Public,I know where they will Roost-( the general area).  

  Early Bird Gets The Worm or " The Area".  And 99% of the time,I am parked first . Last thing you want to happen is to run into the Scouter or the pair of them usually the next Morning.  

   I take this equation out by not attempting to Roost. 2nd reason is that Roosting is going to Add alot of extra time to your Day. 

 

I've never walked around to roost  usually set  up  1/4  to 1/2 mile away and listen.  Can get it down to what tree or within 50 ft of a specfic tree,the bird  is  in at that range.  My experiance birds don't  like pressure  human or otherwise. And will abandon a roost site  if bumped , sometimes for the entire season.  Another reason I rarely stay out past 830 9 am..   there is always tomorrow to try and get them off the roost headed  my way..

[Belo]

roosting birds always felt a bit like cheating. I know it's not, but for me it's less sporting and I don't feel anything towards someone who wants to roost one. Just me.

2 nice toms of equal weight, beard and spur length, 1 shot off the roost and the other called in... those are only equal in the frying pan

Edited February 13, 2024 by Belo

[mowin]

56 minutes ago, Belo said:

roosting birds always felt a bit like cheating. I know it's not, but for me it's less sporting and I don't feel anything towards someone who wants to roost one. Just me.

2 nice toms of equal weight, beard and spur length, 1 shot off the roost and the other called in... those are only equal in the frying pan

Shot off the roost?  I'd never consider it.   

I've shot many that lived less than a minute after their feet hit the ground though.  Most of them were not roosted the night before, but just knowing where they normally roosted. 

[G-man]

1 hour ago, Belo said:

roosting birds always felt a bit like cheating. I know it's not, but for me it's less sporting and I don't feel anything towards someone who wants to roost one. Just me.

2 nice toms of equal weight, beard and spur length, 1 shot off the roost and the other called in... those are only equal in the frying pan

I wouldn't shoot one off a limb but setting  up close to where they are increases your odds 80x 

[Belo]

28 minutes ago, mowin said:

Shot off the roost?  I'd never consider it.   

I've shot many that lived less than a minute after their feet hit the ground though.  Most of them were not roosted the night before, but just knowing where they normally roosted. 

I always understood shooting off the roost to be as you described, when their feet hit the ground. My bad if I used that term wrong. Shooting them in the tree is a whole different ball of sporting wax lol.

[Belo]

and i've shot them as they hit the ground. I'm never sad about it, but calling them in feels a lot more rewarding.