All About Turkey Hunting

January 27, 2008 by: Zach

Ah as the days go by we get closer and closer to that time of year. The time of year when the sweetest sound to a hunter is that roaring gobble through the light mist of a cool spring morning. Every year more and more hunters are getting “hooked” by those mysterious deceiving birds known as the wild turkey. Fortunately we live in a country where there is lots of opportunity to hunt these birds. This article will provide you with information about turkeys, and how to prepare for an upcoming hunt this spring.

Five Options
Thanks to conservation organizations and sound management practices, wild turkeys offer some of the most widespread hunting opportunities available today. With only two species; the North American (Meleagris gallopavo) and Central American or ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) in existence, five subspecies are found throughout the United States and Canada. The five subspecies include Eastern, Merriam’s, Rio Grande, Osceola, and Gould’s turkey. With this kind of variety available across the continent, hunters can target their destination based on bird of choice.

Merriam’s turkeys are generally found throughout the mid-west states and Canada’s westernmost provinces and then south through Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Typically inhabiting foothills regions laced with ponderosa pine, they are masters of the hide-and-seek game. States like Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and even California are well-known places to hunt Merriam’s. Recently the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta too are generating fine spring turkey hunting opportunities.

Eastern turkeys are considered most widely distributed, inhabiting the eastern half of the U.S. and parts of Canadian provinces including Ontario and Manitoba. Easterns are considered to the most abundant, accessible and consequently most hunted subspecies. Found roaming variable forest habitats from Canada south to Florida, eastern turkeys have been successfully transplanted in many different areas.

Osceola turkeys are only found in the state of Florida. With the exception of color variations and distinct markings on feathers, osceolas are considered to be similar, but smaller and darker in color, to easterns. While most hunters generally consider mid-April to early May peak breeding season for the other subspecies, osceolas breed slightly earlier with eggs being laid in April and hatching in May.

Rio Grande turkeys are another of the more prolific subspecies. Found only in the U.S., Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are well recognized as home to the Rios. Western seaboard states also host scattered populations of Rio Grande turkeys. Thought to prefer more open country, Rios favor brushy areas close to rivers, streams, mesquite, pine and scrub forests.
Gould’s turkeys are the largest and least populated of all of the North American subspecies. Sparsely populated in parts of Arizona and New Mexico, they are similar to Merriam’s in that they prefer higher elevations.

By studying the subspecies you plan to hunt and learning as much as you can about where they live, their tendencies and vocalizations, you will inevitably tip the odds in your favor. In my experience, the first hour of daylight can be most critical. If a gobbler is going to make noise, the most likely time is right at sunrise. As the sun ascends higher in the sky, vocalizations can become sporadic. Once the temperature rises, it often becomes more difficult to trick a tom into giving away his location. That said, I usually manage to find birds throughout the day by covering plenty of territory and calling frequently.

Research & Scout Your Area
Most of us have some idea of where we want to hunt turkeys. Some of us have healthy populations living right out our back door. Others enjoy traveling to other states or provinces to hunt alternate subspecies, perhaps in hopes of achieving the North American turkey Grand Slam (taking all five subspecies). Regardless of your destination of choice, it can always be helpful to place a call to the local DNR. Local biologists can provide a wealth of information about areas that perhaps hold greater numbers than others or where access to productive lands is open to the public.

If you want to hunt public land, you’re probably off to the races. If its private land you’re eyeing, you’ll have to get permission. Once access is secured, it’s time to take a closer look. Topographic maps, access/forestry maps, and aerial photos will serve you well. One of my favorite online resources for aerial photos is www.googleearth.com. On this site you can type in your location and satellite imagery is instantly brought to your desktop. By analyzing maps and photos you can learn where drainages, ridges, hillsides, meadows, fields, and other important structures are located.

Then comes the legwork. The absolute best way to learn an area is of course by hiking it. By walking through the woods, you can look for tell-tale signs like turkey tracks, droppings and feathers. Your primary focus should be on locating roosts. These will be obvious as branches are often worn smooth and turkey droppings are piled or spread out on the ground beneath the tree. When I first began turkey hunting, the best advice I received was from my father. Working for U.S. Fish and Wildlife at the time, he taught me to scout the area and find a good roosting spot. He also taught me to do the legwork, find the sign, and if you can find a roost. His advice to sneak in close and call relatively close to the roost itself has proved to be very effective over the years.

Pattern Your Shotgun, Muzzleloader or Bow
Determining where and how your shotgun, muzzleloader or bow is shooting is another important step in preparing for your turkey hunt. Too few hunters take the time to pattern their guns. Some loads will shoot differently out of different guns. Using a poster target of a turkey head and firing at variable distances from 10 to 40 yards you will learn what kind of spread and pattern is occurring upon impact. Count the number of pellets impacting the head and neck region to ensure that it is accurate and effective.

For bowhunters, archery practice is critical. Pre-season practice on 3D turkey targets in invaluable. Turkeys have an excruciatingly small kill zone. Archers have to aim for the body versus the head and neck area. Even still, it’s a very small zone. 3D targets offer a marked kill zone as a point of reference to help bowhunters determine the potential effectiveness of their arrow placement. Further, remember that broad heads generally fly differently than field tips. Adjusting sight pins accordingly and then practicing with hunting tips is necessary prior to your hunt.

Understand Calls & Decoys
As you prepare for your spring turkey hunt, be sure to practice with your calls and pick up a good set of realistic looking decoys. Remember, trying to hunt turkeys without a call might best be called an exercise in futility. That’s not to say calling is the only strategy that works, but it can certainly be the most fun and productive. Yes, it can be done and in fact many hunters do find success spot-and-stalk hunting turkeys. But more often than not, with amazing eyesight, wild turkeys will invariably give you the slip. By nature, they are vocal and this gives the hunter both an advantage and an opportunity. By calling to locate and then closing the gap, then setting up and calling to entice one or several gobblers to inspect your hen calls, well to many, that’s simply the right way to get the job done.

Probing for turkeys in April and May is like hunting elk in September; the time and miles can pass quickly. Some days the action is hot, on others it’s not. But all it takes is one bird to give up his location. If pressured they’ll shut down. When they choose not to yelp, purr, putt, cluck, or gobble - it can seem as though they’ve been beamed off the face of the earth.
April and May are prime breeding months for turkeys. During this period, jakes, toms and even hens become increasingly vocal. A plethora of varied sounds are made by both sexes. Each has its time and place and more importantly knowing when to mimic which sound can bring a turkey on the run; and let me tell you, when they get cranked up, the guttural gobble of a mature tom is spine-chilling!

Turkeys can be located using hen calls, gobbles, or other types of locator calls. If they’re in the right mood, gobblers will come in on a string. If they’re reluctant to approach, learning to vary your call can make all the difference in the world. Adding purrs, clucks, picking up the cadence of your call to express excitement and calling both loudly and softly can all work in variation to excite eager toms. One strategy that has worked for me is echoing or matching calls. Highly effective with jakes, by mimicking their call at the same pitch will often get them excited and in turn draw them in for a closer look.

Locator calls emulating a crow, owl, woodpecker or coyote howl are commonly used by proven turkey hunters. In my experience locator calls can be effective, but usually more so in areas where turkey numbers are high. I’ve seen locator calls work well on some days and in certain locations. I’ve also seen days where locator calls didn’t do a thing.

With many calls on the market, the discerning hunter can choose from a wide range of diaphragm, push-pin, tube, slate, box, and other calls. For projecting calls with the greatest volume, for instance on windy days, a box call can be just the ticket. Even for hunters new to the turkey game, box calls are simple to use and capable of producing a variety of different sounds. Slate calls are equally, if not more popular and, in the hands of someone who knows how to use one, they can generate a wide range of realistic turkey sounds. Diaphragm calls on the other hand, are most versatile allowing the hunter to call while keeping hands free.

As you prepare for your spring turkey hunt, research the different types of calls made by hens, young turkeys and gobblers. Chances are you’ll be after a long beard, so consider what you need to do to attract a mature tom to your set up. And remember, as important as calls are, combine them with a quality decoy set and you’re well on your way to knocking down your turkey.

As far as decoys are concerned, some hunters like to use one jake and two or three hens. In my experience one of any sex is sufficient in most circumstances. Once I’ve located an eager gobbler and moved in as close as I dare undetected, if I have time I will set up my decoy roughly 20 yards from a tree or my blind and then commence calling. Decoys serve two purposes; first they provide a visible attraction and second, they distract the gobbler, hopefully long enough to allow you to take the shot.

Know the Rules
As you plan for your spring turkey hunt, be aware that although many turkey hunting regulations are similar, every jurisdiction has its own list of do’s and don’ts. For instance, in some places turkeys can only be hunted after a certain time of the day. I’ve also heard of some states implementing rules whereby it is unlawful to hunt within a designated distance of a roost. Other localities may allow you to shoot the turkey up in the roost. Alternatively other jurisdictions may outlaw these same things. Equally important and usually considered both a written and an unwritten rule, never wear red while turkey hunting. The bottom line is to review and understand what is allowed and what isn’t in the area you plan to hunt.

For more Information
With some basic information under your belt, you’re well on your way. For more facts on hunting wild turkeys and turkey conservation programs, visit the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) web site at www.nwtf.org or call them at 1-800-THE-NWTF.
Beyond the research, securing permission, pre-season scouting, and patterning your gun or sighting in your bow, it’s really a matter of practicing your calls and putting them into action. With an endless supply of instructional videos, books and magazine articles, there is no shortage of tips and advice available for turkey hunters desiring to learn more. Remember to hunt legally and ethically in any given situation and don’t ever be afraid to get out there and do the legwork.

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