How to Roost a bird?

[Hardcorehunter]

I have never tried to nor do I know how to roost a bird. How is it done?

[BIG FOX]

all i know is you go out right before dark when the woods start calming down and try to get the birds to shock gobble at you by calling on a crow call, owl call, or you favorite call of choice,. once you have located them do not try and get closer or call to them alot as youu may spook them off..... best of luck,. i will be out there tonight before work trying to locate one myself..... hopfully have a good story in the morning for everyone about killing my first bird......

[BuckMaster]

I will try it after work today as well

[nybuckstalker]

Whenever I "roosted" birds I would sneak into an area where they typically roost on their own about 2-3 hours before sundown and just sit quiet. About an hour before dark, I would start calling softly, making a lot of clucks and purrs, just content feeding calls. As it got closer to the time they roost, I would get more aggressive and throw in some cutting and yelping. Sometimes gobbles would come right in close looking. When they don't see anything, and its getting dark, they fly up. Wait until it is completely dark and sneak out. If you can do that, you are in real good shape for the morning. Sneak in early, set up some deeks, and make a few soft calls. I think it is harder than it sounds and I have only been able to do that five or six times.
We always called it, “Putting them to bed”.

[bucksathome]

I have not had good luck roosting birds but in my 13 years hunting turkeys i noticed they like to roost alot on ridges over looking creeks in big oak or beach trees. I hunt in the zekiah swamp and find them alot near the big creeks.

[davep]

Rub down with Smithfield lard, put in pan on rack with water, cover with foil and 250F until juices run clear.

Oh, you said ROOST!
Nevermind! ;D

Like bucksathome said, they like to roost over water/swamps/etc

When I got started, and old timer told me they like to roost where they can hear their $#@! hit the water!

[hunter16]

i have had alot of luck roosting birds they like ridges and hight spots where they can see alot of land i really like using either crown calls or all hoots they like to be the loudest bird in the woods so if you give a owl hoot they usually will gobble to you. if you can roost a bird you know exactly where to go in the morning. usually a couple of soft calls and you can shoot one even before the sun comes up.

[bucksathome]

HUNTER16,

What is a crown call?? Do you mean a woodpecker call??

[hunter16]

my fault i meant to say crow call

[bucksathome]

10-4 . I use the same locating calls but i want to try a pleaded woodpecker call or a hawk. Have you ever used one of these calls??? And if you have , any luck??

[davep]

You want one to shock gobble?
Try a boat air horn!
Seriously,it works!

[bucksathome]

Big dave , man that sounds like a great idea . Do you use this ? i never heard this before , but that sounds very interesting! I am heading to boaters world!!

[davep]

I found it out accidentally one spring.Was getting the boat ready one day after work,right at the edge of dark,and tried the horn out. Had two gobble back at me. Tried it a few more times,and same result. Have heard them fire off at car horns,trains,anything loud and sudden.
And what's louder or more sudden than an air horn?

BTW I don't roost birds. It's hard enough for me to get out for an hour a couple times a week in the spring. Usually work til after dark that time of year. And I just don't like hunting that way as much.

[bucksathome]

Jan 12, 2008 21:13:44 GMT -5 davep said:

I found it out accidentally one spring.Was getting the boat ready one day after work,right at the edge of dark,and tried the horn out. Had two gobble back at me. Tried it a few more times,and same result. Have heard them fire off at car horns,trains,anything loud and sudden.
And what's louder or more sudden than an air horn?

BTW I don't roost birds. It's hard enough for me to get out for an hour a couple times a week in the spring. Usually work til after dark that time of year. And I just don't like hunting that way as much.

Big Dave, i tried out the air horn yesterday at 8:30 am .And sure enough i got ole tom to start gobbling! It does work and appreciate the advice, you can say i got a new turkey tool to carry in the woods. Thanks.

[nybuckstalker]

I can hear it already. Opening day will sound like an Olympic downhill skiing event. I’m sure you could slap a couple camo stickers on mini air horn bottles and make a mint selling them at Wal-Mart, Dick’s and Gander Mountain. (If it already hasn’t been done)