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Author
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Topic: What's harder, coyotes or turkeys?
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 30, 2006 03:09 PM
Read an article recently. Many of the turkey tips would work on coyotes, except they don't normally roost in trees.
What do you think? Which is more challenging?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
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Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Baldknobber
Knows what it's all about
Member # 514
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posted March 30, 2006 03:38 PM
I once told another feller that if a turkey could smell it would be called a coyote. The turkey is a challenging adversary, but after hunting both, my hat is off to the coyote. I could fill a dumptruck with turkeys if I killed the ones I encounter in a single year of coyote calling. Granted, living here in Missouri I am in a turkey rich habitat. I just think that a coyotes three senses vs. the turkeys two tip the scales in favor of the coyote.
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JTBMO
Posts: 202 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jan 2005
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Rich
2,000th post PAKMAN
Member # 112
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posted March 30, 2006 03:43 PM
If turkeys could smell as well as a coyote, you probably would never get one. They have eyeballs like radar. Full camo is a must when hunting turkey. Spring mating season is the only time we have much chance of bagging a turkey here. No rifle hunting allowed. Shotgun or bow, that's it.
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If you call the coyotes in close, you won't NEED a high dollar range finder.
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted March 30, 2006 04:01 PM
Coyotes are harder, but Turkeys taste better.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted March 30, 2006 04:23 PM
If a centerfire rifle could be used on turkeys killing one would be no trick. Even with a centerfire rifle, I still consider the coyote a challenge. Turkeys are just over-grown grouse. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Turkey hunting has gotten very popular here the past twenty years. I've heard numerous turkey hunters compare it to hunting and bugling bull elk. Only turkeys are smarter and more of a challenge according to the serious bird chasers. All you have to do to prove this claim wrong is ask them if they bagged an elk the past fall, and then ask them if they bagged a spring gobbler?
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 30, 2006 04:46 PM
Good one, Lonny. According to that line of reasonng, I'd have to say that coyotes are very easy, compared to turkeys, since I have never killed a turkey. We don't have them where I hunt. But, I keep hearing how difficult they are to hunt.
Tim, that really clears things up. I assume you have tasted both coyote and turkey, or you couldn't say "which tasted better"? ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
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Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Locohead
World Famous Smoke Dancer
Member # 15
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posted March 30, 2006 11:17 PM
Lonny,
In Colorado You can centerfireify turkeys in the fall. You can also shoot either hens or Toms.
I always hear about how smart turkeys are. However, I've snuck up on so many dang turkeys over the years and in several states its pathetic. I usually fancy myself as a super sneeky predator when I get really close. I usually then discover that the STUPID birds realize I'm there the whole time and just don't give a gobble! I think if turkeys could smell you well, their teeny tiny little brains wouldn't tell them to fly away fast.
I've tried camoing and calling for turkeys but I am entirely too deaf to hear the turkeys responding. I have better luck driving roads in the fall, spotting them, chasing them, and popping them!!! Yummer Yumms!!!!
I caught a wild turkey once! LOL Fer real, Fer real!
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I love my critters and chick!!!! :)
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Andy L
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posted March 31, 2006 05:37 AM
IMO, Coyotes, hands down.
Turkeys are not smart animals. Actually dumb as hell. They are wary to the point of being scitzo. Scared of their shadows. They can see and hear very well. But, when the hormones are raging, as long as you use some basic hunting common sense, they can be tricked. If one decides not to come, it has nothing to do with being smart. Its more apt hens, ditch, fence, ect....
Movement scares the hell out of em. But on the other hand, I have talked to my son in a low tone, not whisper, when calling for him on many occaisions. And others as well, with a turkey in shotgun range. Doesnt phase them.
Fall turkey hunting isnt much of a challenge.
Thats been my experience. Turkeys are nuts, coyotes are smart.
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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TRnCO
FUTURE HALL OF FAMER
Member # 690
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posted March 31, 2006 06:36 AM
One big difference I've noticed is that when a turkey sees some slight movement that's out of place, they often simply stretch out thier necks and stand there staring, attempting to identify the movement, where as a coyote sees movement that's out of place, he often heads the other way without asking questions.
I agree with everyone else, coyotes are hands down more difficult to fool!
One other thing, look how many shows you see with guys sticking turkeys with arrow from a blind as they stand around struting infront of a decoy or two. Now let's see how long it takes for that many coyotes to be stuck with arrow while doing the same thing!! Turkeys have good eye sight, BUT thier minds don't register "danger" as quickly as a coyote does!!
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Is it hunting season yet? I hate summer!
Posts: 996 | From: Elizabeth, CO | Registered: Aug 2005
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted March 31, 2006 07:10 AM
I'm not so sure I'd hands down give the coyote the edge. Turkeys,like coyotes, can be incredably easy, (just sit down and call for a minute or two and then bang)or they can be one hell of a challenge. Lot's of varibles!
I'll be going after numbers 40 and 41 this spring. Over the years I know I've messed up on my fair share of turkeys.
Dennis
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 31, 2006 07:24 AM
Dennis. Are we "qualifying"? There are smart and dumb turkeys, and smart and dumb coyotes?
Danny, I think you can use a centerfire on turkeys in Texas? BTW, are those white turkeys you are sneaking up on?
The people I feel sorry for are those that must hunt with shotguns, only. For everything. Like Iran, and like Russia. I think there are a few states the same way?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted March 31, 2006 10:16 AM
Leonard
I don't know, maybe that's what I'm saying? I just have a hard time making a blanket statement that coyotes are more of a challenge. Some days turkeys can be difficult.
Dennis
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Jay Nistetter
Legalize Weed, Free the Dixie Chicks
Member # 140
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posted March 31, 2006 12:09 PM
I'd agree that turkeys can be pretty tough to call in July and December but during the Spring and Fall (if they're around) it's easy. They are the dumbest things there are. Even worse than a Liberal bunny hugger.
If you put them to bed at night, there are still there come daylight. They go to the same waterholes and chase bugs in the open field sunlight.
They respond to a call by answering, telling you how far and how many. They let you know which direction they're coming from and they let you know when to put your cigarette out and when it's time to sit still.
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Understanding the coyote is not as important as knowing where they are.
I usually let the fur prime up before I leave 'em lay.
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 31, 2006 12:31 PM
Jay, are you talking about turkeys or Honky Tonks?
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
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scruffy
Knows what it's all about
Member # 725
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posted March 31, 2006 01:13 PM
It's been my experience that some turkeys are easy to call in, some are hard, same as coyotes. With both it's easier to call the young pup's and jakes than the older more wary old toms and wary old coyotes. I've had times with both where they came running in and other times where they took forever to come in and alot of occasions with both turkeys and coyotes where they just didn't come in all the way.
I've heard it said coyote hunting is turkey hunting in fast forward, and I would agree with that. We sit 15 to 30 minutes for coyotes, we sit a couple to a few hours or more for turkeys.
In my area I think it's easier to call a coyote than call a mature tom in the morning. Most of the private ground I call turkey flocks seem to have 12 hens for every tom.... (results of only shoot toms I guess?) And the mature tom isn't going to go running off and leaving the hens for the jakes to "tend to" either. We've called jakes early in the morning, sometimes running in (man they look odd running, LOL), but if you want a mature tom, in the area we hunt atleast, your going to have to wait till later in the morning. We've placed ourselves withen 100 yards of where a tom and his hens (and jakes) have flown down multiple times and the tom wasn't the least bit interested in coming in our direction to our hen sounds until after all of the hens left for their nests. But by mid to late morning, when the tom was alone, he was more vurnerable to call in. So late morning and on through the day I'd say it's easier to call a tom that a coyote. At least in my area.
One thing we've learned the last couple of years is that if a tom is henned up, and you call alot, the hens will march the other direction with the toms in tow... And if you got a tom gobbling, well, a hen was on him like stink on a carcass... Two years ago after spending 4 days in the field and having probably 8 or more tom's gobble at us and not make it all the way in we did a little test. We had spotted a hen while glassing the opposite ridge of the valley with a creek and two fences to cross. We were going to go over there to call but decided to test her responsiveness to toms first. I put out my jake decoy, no hen decoys, faced it away from the hens location, and took the gobble call and started working it excitedly while glassing the hen. She was over 300 yards away and she stood straight up and started running at us, flew over the creek, over one fence, over the second fence, came running, sprinting, up the hill to us, ran around the jake decoy, and plopped down to be bread right infront of the jake decoy... ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
That pretty much answered what was happening when we got a tom gobbling.... ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
So IMHO each is challenging in their own way, and each is easy in their own way. I like it when a coyote pup comes running in to the call in late october, early november, maybe I'll just tag one of those eager jakes this year. Probably be better eating anyway...
later,
scruffy
[ March 31, 2006, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted March 31, 2006 01:40 PM
Iowa has,if not the highest, one of the highest hunter sucess rates of all states on spring turkey. I think it's around 45%.
Would it be safe to say that 55% of all turkey hunters are dumber than turkeys?
If coyotes are more challenging, could I assume a 25% success rate by coyote hunters on coyote? Would that indicate that 75% of all coyote hunters are dumber than coyote?
Dennis
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Rich
2,000th post PAKMAN
Member # 112
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posted March 31, 2006 01:54 PM
I called one of the biggest and ugliest turkeys in the world one time. I hesitated too long and missed my chance at a good shot. I had at first believed it was just good old Uncle Jay a strutting along there.
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If you call the coyotes in close, you won't NEED a high dollar range finder.
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted March 31, 2006 02:13 PM
Greenside said: quote:
Would that indicate that 75% of all coyote hunters are dumber than coyote?
You said it. Not me. LOL
Seriously, I've never hunted turkeys, so I'm probably spouting off with no basis here, but most of my friends do and we have so many damned turkeys around here that they refer to it as "turkey shooting" or "turkey killin'" rather than "hunting". I'm usually buttdeep in taxidermy or calling during either of the spring or fall seasons hereabouts. That, and the fact that they just don't appeal to me.
One thing I do notice is that most guys that carry on about how tough turkey hunting is have very little practical experience at stalking deer, let alone calling coyotes. To them, being within a quarter-mile of a living, breathing coyote is a real heart stopper. To most experienced coyote callers - the guys I feel are at the pinnacle of true hunting, mind you - calling a turkey just pales in comparison. Personally, I just don't get all the hype.
One thing is for sure, if I could spot a pack of coyotes numbering 150+ making their way across an open wheat field the same way we see flocks of turkeys around here, I could almost match Q for body count. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 31, 2006 03:33 PM
Wonder what keekee thinks?
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
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canine
Knows what it's all about
Member # 687
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posted March 31, 2006 04:00 PM
Coyotes are more of a challenge than a turkey,I think.
The only thing that makes a turkey hard to kill is if he has hens or not. I've had jakes within 3 feet of the end of my shotgun barrel. Lookin directly in my eyes and still bewildered. Lucky for that dumbass i was lookin for a bigger bird to put in the fryer. I've experienced kills on birds from Jakes to 3 or 4 yeard old tom's and if they are lonely and horny they will come straight to a call.
JD
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Hunting The East "back to Basic's" Part 1
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Andy L
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Member # 642
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posted March 31, 2006 04:36 PM
After reading Lances reply, I guess I may be in the same boat. We got tons of turkeys around here. Its not a problem to go kill a turkey. Biggest problem is hens, but as mentioned earlier, wait til 11am and problem solved. Fall is even easier.
I guess if you dont have the population, that may change it a bit. But as long as I can remember, the area I hunt, just about every morning in the spring season, you got anywhere from a half dozen to three times that to choose from gobbling in hearing range.
Coyotes are much tougher here by far. No doubt about that.
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Andy
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Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
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posted March 31, 2006 06:14 PM
I can't believe anyone is actually comparing turkey smarts(brain the size of a pea) to a coyote? Jeezus Christ!.....it's a damned turkey.
I expect to hear this kind of chatter come august or early sept.....but it can't be more than a couple weeks since most of us have killed our last coyote for the season....we're gettin bad:)
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted March 31, 2006 07:17 PM
I just got around to reading an article in American Hunter, and decided not to wait until August. Don't be so hard on me, Vic. I ain't never kilt one, so my opinion would be suspect, but some of these turkey guys lay it on a little thick. Just trying to separate the pepper from the fly shit
Good hunting. LB
edit: besides; it's a trick question
[ March 31, 2006, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted March 31, 2006 08:12 PM
LB,
You ever get the notion to whack one of the feathered beasties, let me know. Your welcome anytime....
Lord knows we got em.
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Andy
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JD
HONORARY OKIE .... and Tim's at fault!
Member # 768
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posted March 31, 2006 09:21 PM
If`n it don`t rain again I might go put an arrow through one this weekend, I agree with Vic....pea brained birds they are.
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Jason
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What do Obama & TA17Rem have in common........both are clueless asshats!!!
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