Terrain

[Tom21inNM]

Great advice Gobblerman, with as dense as the forest in some areas can be, figuring out where the birds are first is definately critical. You can wander the mountains for hours at a snails pace being as carefull as possible, but if there are no birds in the area, your just hiking. I think over the next couple months I am going to take some day trips to new areas just to see what I can find, (tracks, droppings etc) no pressure on the birds just look and listen for them. And get some areas in mind for the Season, I just went to Sportsmans and had to buy some ore gear. I mean it was all just calling me, I do have a good Crow locator call and 2 good Gobbler calls, so the back pack is getting pretty full.

[az native]

I am also fairly new to turkey hunting ( 5 years) and hunt similar country as you do, pinion,juniper and steep canyons. I have taken a few birds running and gunning and have found one of my most valuable pieces of equipment are my binoculars. I like getting up high and glassing, when I locate a bird I plan a route and try and get ahead of it and in a good position for a shot. I don't know if it makes a difference, but the birds I hunt aren't pressured by other hunters.

[Fan Club]

I don't know if it makes a difference, but the birds I hunt aren't pressured by other hunters.

Az-

That can and will make all the difference. Highly pressured birds that have been spooked by humans, called to and then shot at, often times develop lock jaw and won't gobble much once they leave the roost. If you're calling does elicit a gobble, pressured birds are are also more apt to respond with "courtesy gobbles", that is...I'm over here if you want to join us, but I'm not coming to you.

On the other hand, lonely un pressured birds without hens may readily respond and come running to a call. Of course there are exceptions to these circumstances, but on the whole, count yourself lucky!

[xcal1ber]

I too am from the eastern part of Kentucky, well more south eastern I guess but everything relicminer said is true. It is always a fun hike early in the morning before daylight trying to get where these birds roost and every step you take you are bumping your forehead on the ground because its so steep! but with the help of logging roads, you can really narrow down where a turkey is gonna travel. All you can do is hope and pray that you aint sitting down the ridge from him and he flys off the roost, down in some deep hollar where it doesnt get daylight til around noon. Then you are faced with a horrible decision and most likely screwed lol. Just listen to what these western specialist have to say and you should be fine.