Turkey Hunting 101

[Chicken Dinner]

I've never been much of a turkey hunter as I was always focused on fishing or tax season in the spring. I've got access to a bunch of new ground and would like to give it a try. I've got both a box call and a pot call and have never been able to make a mouth call sound like anything other than a scalded dog. Can anyone share some basic tips? Stuff like where to look/how to locate them would be great.

[quercus alba]

Poultry aisle at Kroger, saves money and time for important things like fishing


You're welcome

[Chicken Dinner]

I hear ya. But I dearly would love to shoot at least one, once.

[Bwana]

If you can get to some high ground to glass at first or last light, you might be able to locate some roosting trees in the vicinity of clearing or farm fields. Other options include using locator calls such as coyote howls, crow call, etc. and expending boot leather looking for turkey sign like tracks, j-shaped big bird turds, or feathers. Bring your binocs, some snacks, and enjoy being out in God's awesome countryside.

If all that fails, simply ask the landowner where they are, most likely they can cut down on your scouting time.

[Big Muddy]

Just fish and work on taxes, all day....then, head to the woods around 4:00 p.m....sit under the tallest tree in the woods, and wait for 'em to roost....but, don't shoot until they're sound asleep on a tree limb, and sitting in one big cluster fokk....depending on how tall the tree is, you'll prolly need some double-ought buckshot....after they all fall dead to the ground, then you can decide, which ones have a beard....you'll want to select the one with the longest beard to haul back to your truck. ;)

I'm sure Cap can give some even better advice on corn usage, if you're hunting time is limited. ;)

[BarryBobPosthole]

Or you could use the Hombre method, which involves driving around drinking coffee and stopping every once in a while to listen for a gobble, then if you do set up a deke and start calling.

It works.

BKB

[Hombre]

Turkey hunting is probably my favorite season. Most of the key for me has been locating them early AM before sunrise or preferably the night before right after dusk. A lot of people use a hoot owl call, I'm not a fan. The issue I have always had is a hoot owl doesn't carry very far and if there's any wind or you've got a decent bit of ground to hunt its hard to locate quickly. Because of this I started using a coyote howl call, I had one that I used coyote hunting but honestly used it more locating turkey than anything.

Generally I go out at dusk make stops on the property. If I get a gobble back I leave it alone. Locating them on the roost is probably the most important so you can be in the right place early in the morning. Once those gobblers come out of the tree there's going to be one thing on their mind, if they get hen'd up before you start working them with a call its going to be tough.

My two favorite calls are a slate and a mouth call. I use the slate again because it is louder, if I get one heading my way and they get closer I switch to the mouth call. One I can use that without the use of hands, and two as they get closer there's less movement.

Final thing I'd say is decoys, I always use them. If for nothing else they've provided a lot of excitement. I've had a coyote put the sneak on a decoy....I've also had a jake puff up and start drumming around a decoy.

Basically what BBP said above :D

[Captain]

I deer hunt because it's something to do till Turkey season comes in.
I turkey hunt because I HAVE too!
I should come up there and call you a bird or 6

[BarryBobPosthole]

Do they have wild turkeys out there in Snowflakivania hombre?

BKB

[Thumper]

100% ditto what Hombre said, but I sometimes substitute a crow call just for the heck of it. I've also been amused by the antics I've seen around my decoys.

[HideHunter]

Scout.. and then scout some more..

[Sunshine]

I guess I'm kinda lucky.
Don't need to buy turkey caller's, they just show up!

Story:

Around this time last year, I was over at the property.

Came out of the 5th wheel door and a fricken turkey goggles at me.

Scared the crap out of me, because I didn't know he was around.

I goggled back at him and he kept goggling at me.

I could hear him most of the morning.

Here are some pictures of the turkey's and the one I named Thanksgiving.
8643
He's still alive. Catch him on the camera a lot.

2015 8644

Feb 2016 8645

What I want to know, is where do all these guys go?
They don't stay at the property all year.

[Thumper]

Ha ha ha! Ya' danged blonde! Ya' wear goggles, turkeys gobble. :)

They can move a few miles away, but they're probably still in the same general area, you just don't see them.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Goggle goggle!

BKB

[Captain]

Goggling is what Thumper does over them Adam apple wimmins...

[Sunshine]

Well heck!

I wrote gobble gobble and I even skimmed for misspelling.
I didn't even see I wrote goggle goggle!! LOL Or maybe my computer spell checker changed it.

At least ya got a chuckle out of it.

During turkey season, I have to really watch driving the highway.

Those dang things are so stupid.

They look up to see me driving down the highway, as they wander along the road, and they still decide to come right out in the road!!!
Just missed hitting several of them last year.
Even laying on the horn, don't stop them from continuing into the road.

I've got deer whistles on the truck...do they make turkey truck whistles?
???? lol

Wonder if I can keep them, if they are road kill??

I also see herds of them, during this time of the year and fall, in farmers fields!

Just never seen that many turkeys before.
I bet I counted over 200 on one trip to town, last year.

[HideHunter]

Neat pics.. Move around that state a little and you can take the "Mini Slam".