Trey Dixon

Turkey hunting is considered by many to be about the most challenging of all game hunting. The turkey’s extremely keen vision and ability to notice even the smallest movement creates a challenge that makes for much fun and excitement, and accounts for the

ever increasing popularity of the sport. When you’re dealing with turkeys, proper preparation is essential if you’re looking to bag the big Tom.

Patterning your shotgun

It’s important to understand the patterning of your shotgun before you hit the field. Using a paper target (homemade is fine) mounted two or three feet above the ground, measure off about 40 yards and assume a natural position for turkey hunting (probably sitting). Fire off a shot at dead center of the target and examine the pattern at point of impact. The concentration of your pattern will most likely be off of dead center whether low, high, left, or right. Mark that target as “Center” and replace it with another. Take the shot again adjusting for the pattern and repeat until you have the most concentrated part of your pattern at dead center of the target. Spend some time experimenting with different loads and chokes at different ranges to establish the best load for your gun in the range you plan to shoot. The effective range for most shotguns is 20 – 40 yards for a good, clean kill. Most manufacturers make turkey-specific chokes with recommended loads.

Scouting

For constant success in turkey hunting you need to learn where and how they move. This is mating season for turkeys, so they will be vocal. Try to find a central point before daybreak and listen for gobbling to pinpoint where the birds are roosting. Visual signs such as feathers and droppings serve as good roosting locators. Study the feeding area for similar signs and tracks. Other good signs to look for are wingtip marks left by turkeys when strutting which will appear as two lines in the dirt with tracks in between. Observing where turkeys are roosting and where they go to feed lets you know where they are naturally moving and will give you a much higher success rate than trying to call them to a foreign area. Before the hunt you may even observe the birds for a few days from a safe distance with a scope or binoculars and make notes of their activity.

Decoys

When talking with avid turkey hunters you will get two completely different schools of thought concerning decoys; those who swear by them and those who swear at them. This is something you can decide for yourself. If you do opt to use decoys, just make sure you use them safely and correctly.

Turkey decoys come in many styles from photo image silhouettes and fold-outs to inflatable. There are even decoys you can add motion to with a string. The inflatable decoys are particularly handy because they are surprisingly realistic, and can be quickly inflated and then deflated for easy storage. Don’t overdo it with your decoys. Too many will actually be counterproductive. A good spread is a pair of hens and a jake. It’s a good idea to set up the jake facing you, so when the gobbler squares off with him his back will be toward you allowing for aim adjustment.

Remember safety when working with decoys. They are designed to look realistic and can fool another hunter as easily as a turkey. It’s best to inflate them once you are at your stand rather than carrying them across a field.

Calls

A good turkey hunter won’t rely on a single call. There are many types available and it’s best to learn as many as possible, because turkeys are fickle about which ones they will respond positively to. The same call that got the job done a week ago may have little to no effect this week. Having several with you on the hunt gives you a better chance of finding the magic sound of the day.

Some of the available styles of calls:

Friction Calls: These are probably the most popular because of their ease of use and realistic sound. Friction calls use a “striker” to produce sound and are typically made of ceramic, slate, or aluminum.

Box Calls: These use friction to produce sound as well by sliding the top along the surface of a box. Because of the box structure these calls are capable of producing a louder sound than other calls.

Tube Calls: These are a little more advanced to use, but can create a very realistic call.

Push-Pull Calls: Possibly the easiest of all calls to use and creates a very realistic sound.

Wingbone Calls: These were some of the earliest calls and although not as common anymore, they are still available. As the name implies, they were originally made out of turkey wing bones. Some makers still stay true to the bone construction.

Diaphragm Calls: These will make the most realistic turkey sound of any call you can use. They are inserted into the users mouth and require practice to use effectively.

Locator Calls: These calls aren’t intended to bring turkeys to you, but to tell you where they are by making him gobble. Loud calls that mimic an owl, hawk, or crow will cause turkeys to give out a “shock” gobble. Coyote howls work well for this purpose also.

Again, which call or combination of calls you use will vary even if hunting in a confined area. Learning to effectively use a variety of calls will increase your chances of success.

Camouflage

No matter how well prepared you are, if the turkey sees you it’s all over. When dealing with a bird with such amazing eyesight, camouflage must be taken seriously. If possible, it’s a good idea to use a blind whether its one you buy or make out of surrounding limbs and bushes. Anything to minimize the turkey’s ability to catch your movement will be worth it. Since you want to blend as much as possible, use of camouflage hand and face covers are recommended. To test how well your outfit is working, dress out and have a friend view you from 40 or 50 yards away to point out any flaws. If your friend can see them, rest assured the turkey will.

Turkey hunting can be the most exciting, rewarding, and addictive sport out there. Play it safe and enjoy the hunt. Good luck!

~ Trey