Will Merriams Turkeys Return to same roost if bumped?

[Nickofthewoods]

This morning I was set up right near the roost of two Toms and 4 hens but just out of range when they flew down and I could not get either of the strutting Toms to leave those hens and come to my calls. They eventually got about 250 yards away from the roost and I tried to use some terrain features to get closer but I ended up bumping them and they ran away. What are the chances they return to that same roost now? Anyone with a similar experience have any insight? I cant get out this evening to try and confirm in person so I'm trying to decide if its worth going out tomorrow morning again. This is public land and probably semi-pressured birds.

 

[atmat]

I grew up hunting turkeys out east and have only been hunting mountain merriams for two years, so take it with a grain of salt.

But I think it’s unlikely. They cover quite a bit of ground and are pretty flighty birds in my experience.

 

[LongWayAround]

Merriam's often roost in the same general vicinity, but not always the same stand of trees. Especially if you are dealing with mountain birds.

I would keep hunting them where you know they are. They might not recognize you as a human hunter. They get hunted by coyotes and cats all year.

Creek bottom birds that have one big cottonwood are going to the same tree.

Edit: I reread your post. Initially, I thought you bumped them in the evening on the way to the roost. You bumped them in the morning and they had all day to do turkey stuff. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Trogon]

My experience is no way. They are gone. How far depends on a lot of things.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

So one yes and a couple of no's so far. Thanks for the input. I scared them away about 45 minutes after fly down and like I said a couple hundred yards from the roost so I'll hope for the best. I'm currently trying to rearrange my schedule so I can try to re-roost them this evening instead of going in blind tomorrow morning.

 

[LCguy]

I find that Merriams generally roost in the same areas year after year, and they have more "historical" roosting sites. While those birds might not roost in that area the same night you bumped them, the likelihood that they, or another group of birds, will roost in the area in the future is high.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I ended up going out this evening and was able to relocate the exact group 600 yards from where they busted me this morning. They were definitely not going for the same roost and I was able to follow them from the ridge above for about an hour at which point I got in front of them, only to miss a shot at one of the gobblers from 40 yards. The point at which I took the shot was over a half mile from where they roosted last night. Whether they didn't use that roost again because of my actions this morning will remain unknown but they were still in the area acting normally.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I think they will use it again, but it might be a little bit, a few days , depends on pressure and the birds. I had some on a draw tag by eagle that were consistently using the same dang tree, but they were very close to unhuntable private, scored one off the roost after several mornings of trying but those birds were returning when not bumped.