Scratching in the leaves...

Turkey hunting tips & tricks that have worked & can help others.
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turkeykiller12
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Scratching in the leaves...

Post by turkeykiller12 »

How many of you have had a bird hang up and you scratched in the leaves trying to mimic hens scratching to get the gobbler to commit. I had it work like a charm last year on my biggest bird to date. Bird was a little over 22 lbs, 1 1/4" spurs and 11 3/4" beard.
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Turkey Talker
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by Turkey Talker »

Awesome! Congrats on a fine kill! I have used the scratch here and there, not sure if it was the thing that sealed the deal, but it sounds natural and I like it!
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West Augusta
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by West Augusta »

Congrats on a fine trophy. I do scratch in the leaves from time to time. It does help.
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guesswho
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by guesswho »

I might have to try that.
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GOLD HUNTER
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by GOLD HUNTER »

:thumbup:
LET'S GO TROUT FISHING
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HuntnMa
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by HuntnMa »

more than once.....I learn so much from y'all on the internet and I apply it....that's an awesome bird :)
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ole5beards
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by ole5beards »

One of the best calls a hunter can make!! If all else fails you can always use "The Call", 50% of the time it works every time :turkeywave:
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by savduck »

That dude has a nice thick beard on him. Congrats.

I use scratching all the time. I use a gobbler wing, stick or my feet depending on the situation. When I sit down, one of the first things I do is get some leaves up next to me.
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3toe
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by 3toe »

I killed a gobbler this past spring only using scratching. I had fooled with him a couple days before and he did not like calling. I set up on him and did nothing but scratch. Worked him for at least an hour or so with him gobbling his head off. He finally broke and walked down the barrel. In fact, that's him in my avatar.
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turkeykiller12
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Scratching in the leaves...

Post by turkeykiller12 »

I have a wing I use sometimes but the day I killed that bird I was using a stick.
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3toe
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by 3toe »

turkeykiller12 wrote:I have a wing I use sometimes but the day I killed that bird I was using a stick.
I have a wing I use also. Scratching and flapping a wing like a hen adjusting her feathers can be a deadly combination. I'll rub or flap the wing against nearby trees or brush as well. It's a technique that I don't think a lot of hunters use and works on pressured birds. They hear all the normal calling and get shy, but the cold shoulder to conventional calls and using more subtle means might be what breaks that old gobbler to coming in.
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davisd9
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by davisd9 »

turkeykiller12 wrote:How many of you have had a bird hang up and you scratched in the leaves trying to mimic hens scratching to get the gobbler to commit. I had it work like a charm last year on my biggest bird to date. Bird was a little over 22 lbs, 1 1/4" spurs and 11 3/4" beard.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1355768044.003667.jpg

I have seen that bird before. Looks like a brute everytime though. :D
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hawglips
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by hawglips »

I use it often. I believe turkeys use leaf scratching as a "call" at times. And at other times they listen for it and recognize it and respond to it.
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by chatterbox »

guesswho wrote:I might have to try that.
See how much you have learned, Ronnie! 8-)
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by TRKYHTR »

Yep
Eph 2:8-9
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guesswho
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by guesswho »

Do you use your foot or hand? And do you use just three fingers and toes like a turkey foot? Is there any certain rhythm or do you just scratch away.
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Stinky J Picklestein
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Re: Scratching in the leaves...

Post by Stinky J Picklestein »

guesswho wrote:Do you use your foot or hand? And do you use just three fingers and toes like a turkey foot? Is there any certain rhythm or do you just scratch away.
Just pretend the leaves have a little itch...not a big itch like a skeeter bite, but a little itch. ;)
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turkeykiller12
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Scratching in the leaves...

Post by turkeykiller12 »

Usually take a small stuck or a turkey wing and scratch to mimic turkeys scratching.
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