51 of the. Tips, Tricks & Tactics for Spring Turkey Hunting Success. From Havalon s Turkey Hunting Experts

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "51 of the. Tips, Tricks & Tactics for Spring Turkey Hunting Success. From Havalon s Turkey Hunting Experts"

Adam Rose
5 years ago
Views:

1 51 of the Tips, Tricks & Tactics for Spring Turkey Hunting Success From Havalon s Turkey Hunting Experts Editor: Steve Sorensen Managing Editor: Robyn Rex Reed

2 If you could cancel all the mistakes you've ever made in the turkey woods Fewer mistakes mean more beards and spurs. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) You'd multiply the number of hero shots in your photo album by a factor of three or four. Your string of spurs and the number of gobbler beards you've carefully preserved would likewise multiply. 2

We make mistakes before we ever go into the woods.

3 A last-minute New York gobbler that fell to sneaking and speaking. Turkey hunters probably make more mistakes than any other hunters. And we find countless ways to make them. We make mistakes before we ever go into the woods. We make mistakes with our calls, mistakes with our shooting, mistakes with our set-ups. We can t quit making mistakes. Turkey hunting is a game of trial and error sometimes, mostly error. With that in mind, here are 51 ways to stop making those mistakes and increase your success rate this spring! 3

2. If you can find signs of a hungry turkey, chances are you ll run into one. Leftover corn from last fall will draw turkeys. So will acorns, beech nuts, wild grapes and other mast crops.

4 1. You have to hunt where the gobblers are! Sounds basic but do you know where your turkeys are? So, while you shouldn t overlook the convenient places, your pre-season scouting should focus on giving yourself as many options as possible. Some companies with large land holdings welcome hunters. 2. If you can find signs of a hungry turkey, chances are you ll run into one. Leftover corn from last fall will draw turkeys. So will acorns, beech nuts, wild grapes and other mast crops. Some woods might look turkey-ish, but if food is absent, turkeys will be, too. Remember that turkey food doesn t always look like food to you turkeys find bugs, worms and other invertebrates under leaf litter, and turkeys give away their presence by their tell-tale scratchings for these food sources. 3. Don t bet the farm on finding vocal gobblers. You ll be finding gobblers other hunters locate just as easily. And if they re not far off a road, you can bet they ll get plenty of pressure. 4

4. Find the strut zones. When we say strut zones, we don t always mean specific places where gobblers strut. In some areas those are almost impossible to find.

Think of areas with high turkey activity. You can often watch them from a distance with a good pair of binoculars. 5. Don t ignore public land just because other hunters might be there.

Those hunters often give up early, or sleep in, or stay home on rainy days. So, public property can be very productive. 6. Know what your shot pattern looks like at 30, 40, 50 yards or more.

5 4. Find the strut zones. When we say strut zones, we don t always mean specific places where gobblers strut. In some areas those are almost impossible to find. Gobbler tracks and parallel drag marks where the strutter has dragged his wingtips don t show up in grassy meadows. So when you re thinking strut zones, don t think too literally. Think of areas with high turkey activity. You can often watch them from a distance with a good pair of binoculars. 5. Don t ignore public land just because other hunters might be there. Most hunters live near federal or state properties that hold good populations of turkeys. Don t ignore them just because other hunters might be there. Those hunters often give up early, or sleep in, or stay home on rainy days. So, public property can be very productive. 6. Know what your shot pattern looks like at 30, 40, 50 yards or more. If your pattern is off-center, or a certain choke or cartridge tends to leave baseball-sized holes in your pattern, you re going to have turkeys get away. The point is this: Know your shotgun, and don t shoot beyond its range. 2 3/4, 3 & 3 1/2 shells are all capable turkey takers at the right range. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 5

Remington s ShurShot stock offers a comfortable hold. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 8. Do not lift your head above the line of sight while aiming. That will cause you to shoot over the target.

6 7. Stretching your shot yardage is never a good idea. Limit your shots to 60% - 80% of your shotgun s range. That does two things: One, it will compensate for a common mistake badly misjudged distances. And two, it will almost guarantee every time you shoot at a gobbler, you ll cancel his next date. Remington s ShurShot stock offers a comfortable hold. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 8. Do not lift your head above the line of sight while aiming. That will cause you to shoot over the target. A scope can correct that tendency. So will discipline. 9. Do not take a shot at an extreme angle. Sometimes a gobbler comes in from behind you. Be patient, and don t take a shot at an extreme right or left angle. Don t settle for shots that aren t comfortable. You won t hit where you think you ll hit. 6

10. Practice all of your calls several times over the course of a week. Find out which ones sound the best, which are easiest to run, and which you are most confident using.

7 10. Practice all of your calls several times over the course of a week. Find out which ones sound the best, which are easiest to run, and which you are most confident using. Commit to three of them, and hide the rest from yourself. 11. Invest in gear that will keep you comfortable. Get a thick seat pad, or maybe a stool that will keep your derrière a few inches off the ground. Otherwise, a jutting root or rock will make its point ten minutes into a three-hour sit. These turkeys came to within 10 feet of us in an open field proof that you don t need much cover if you remain still. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 12. When a gobbler answers, listen for his second gobble before making your second call. Is the gobbler coming closer, moving away, or do you have two coming in? Be patient and maybe you can pinpoint the gobbler s location. 7

Knowing when to fold em one day, made this gobbler vulnerable another day. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 13. Don t set up and hide so well that you can t see more than a few yards out.

You have to give the gobbler a reason he can t see the hen that s calling him, or he won t be comfortable coming to you. Take advantage of a rock, a fallen tree or some kind of vegetation. 15.

8 Knowing when to fold em one day, made this gobbler vulnerable another day. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 13. Don t set up and hide so well that you can t see more than a few yards out. You can t shoot a gobbler you can t see. 14. If you have no decoys, set up where the turkey can t see everything. You have to give the gobbler a reason he can t see the hen that s calling him, or he won t be comfortable coming to you. Take advantage of a rock, a fallen tree or some kind of vegetation. 15. When calling gobblers uphill, set up on top. Again, you want the bird to think there s a reason he can t see the hen. Set up 30 yards from the edge so when he comes up on top he ll be in range. 16. Don t worry about calling mistakes. Turkeys have incredible hearing, but they aren t that great at distinguishing between the sounds of a real hen and a reasonable fake. Most hunters make fewer calling mistakes than they think they do. 8

If you re anxious about your calling, you re likely to convey that mood to the gobbler you re calling. A hen sounds comfortable when she calls, and she conveys that attitude to the gobbler.

9 17. Be comfortable and confident when calling. Don t worry that you re not a great turkey caller. Most successful hunters won t ever win a calling contest, but actual hens shouldn t win a calling contest either (nor do they care). If you re anxious about your calling, you re likely to convey that mood to the gobbler you re calling. A hen sounds comfortable when she calls, and she conveys that attitude to the gobbler. You do the same. 18. Take the gobbler s temperature. If he s hot, you only need to encourage him. If he seems slow to respond, call softly. Make soft purrs and clucks. Convince him you re a hen, but not an aggressive hen. If he goes silent, wait an hour he might be coming in. Steve Sorensen says, The Piranta Torch is my favorite Havalon knife for dressing turkeys. When you're working on a turkey, space is tight. Sometimes the feathers make it harder to see your blade, so you'll unconsciously do a little more twisting. That's where the thicker blade is a plus. Also, the aluminum alloy handle design of the Torch gives you a better feel in tight places. I carry the Brick Red Torch as my everyday knife, but "fashion-conscious" hunters will notice how photogenic the Light Copper Torch looks against the feathers of the big bronze bird! Hey -- you gotta make that hero shot look good! 9

19. Turn up the volume. Get him excited. Give a command performance. After all, you re trying to reverse the natural order of hens coming to gobblers. Be the boss hen.

If you choose the right call and use it well, turkey hunting can sometimes be as easy as falling off a log. Usually it isn t, so don t get discouraged.

Sometimes patience simply makes you bored and tired. In the words of Kenny Rogers, You gotta know when to hold em, and know when to fold em. 21.

10 19. Turn up the volume. Get him excited. Give a command performance. After all, you re trying to reverse the natural order of hens coming to gobblers. Be the boss hen. Order him around. Switch calls. Sound like a flock. You have nothing to lose. If you choose the right call and use it well, turkey hunting can sometimes be as easy as falling off a log. Usually it isn t, so don t get discouraged. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 20. The tool that takes more gobblers than any other patience. But while patience can bring success, it can also spell failure. Sometimes patience simply makes you bored and tired. In the words of Kenny Rogers, You gotta know when to hold em, and know when to fold em. 21. It doesn t always take a dead gobbler to make a lively story. Sometimes, stories about our mistakes are as good as stories about our successes. Without mistakes, turkey hunting wouldn t be so much fun. 22. The first rule for every call, whether friction or air-operated, is to offer ease, comfort and confidence. If a call fails on these points, don't carry it. 10

23. After those three qualities, select calls for a variety of tones low-pitched, high-pitched, smooth, raspy, soft, sharp. Many hunters suggest carrying a box, a pot and a couple of diaphragms.

You never know what a gobbler will respond to, so when you re switching calls in an attempt to trigger a response, make an intelligent decision. Switch from smooth to raspy.

11 23. After those three qualities, select calls for a variety of tones low-pitched, high-pitched, smooth, raspy, soft, sharp. Many hunters suggest carrying a box, a pot and a couple of diaphragms. But what if your slate sounds a lot like your box call? Are you really giving the gobbler something different when you switch? 24. Don t change calls just for the sake of changing calls. You never know what a gobbler will respond to, so when you re switching calls in an attempt to trigger a response, make an intelligent decision. Switch from smooth to raspy. Or high-pitched to lowpitched. Or a soft sound to a bright, sharp sound. 25. Try to make your gobbler think he hears more than one turkey. After all, every turkey grew up as a member of a flock, so the most ordinary thing in the world is for a turkey to hear the voices of more than one turkey. It will seem realistic to him. When you re switching calls, make sure you re giving the gobbler the voices of more than one turkey. (Photo by Steve Sorensen) 11

26. Always carry at least one box call. Box calls come in many styles and designs. Some might be easier to run. Some might be louder or softer. Some might be more durable.

12 26. Always carry at least one box call. Box calls come in many styles and designs. Some might be easier to run. Some might be louder or softer. Some might be more durable. Box calls are great on windy days, and whenever you want to call aggressively. They reach out with lots of volume, but you can tone them down, too. Any friction call is capable of producing aggressive turkey talk, but use aggressive calling only when the moment is right. (Photo by John & Vikki Trout) 27. Test different strikers on your pot calls. Hunters Specialties ( offers a three-pack of strikers made from different materials, so you can test different combinations of surfaces and strikers to master the illusion of multiple turkeys. 28. Diaphragm calls are not easy to master but are worth the effort and expense of finding the right ones for you. Once you find one that fits, master the soft contentment calls like purrs, clucks and whines. These are the calls that will convince your gobbler to take a few more steps into your killing range while your hands are free to make a careful shot. 12

Even a tight-mouthed tom might gobble after hearing aggressive hen talk. (Photo by John & Vikki Trout) 29. If using locator calls, the crow call can make a gobbler speak when nothing else can.

Aggressive calling is not recommended for the early morning hours. This is when the hens are social and they stick with gentle tree yelps and clucks, so it s a good strategy for you too. 31.

13 Even a tight-mouthed tom might gobble after hearing aggressive hen talk. (Photo by John & Vikki Trout) 29. If using locator calls, the crow call can make a gobbler speak when nothing else can. Barred owl call is an effective locator call at roost time and in the morning. Learn to make these calls with your voice and you ll travel lighter, as well as impress your friends. 30. Aggressive calling is not recommended for the early morning hours. This is when the hens are social and they stick with gentle tree yelps and clucks, so it s a good strategy for you too. 31. Always assume a gobbler is nearby even if you don t hear one. Hunters are always looking for the hot turkey, the one gobbling like there s no tomorrow. But gobblers are not always vocal, so don't overlook the silent ones. Many gobblers will hear your calls and check them out without calling back. 13

32. In the spring, gobblers accompanied by hens are always tough customers. Most gobblers will not leave hens to come to you, regardless of your gentle calling or aggressive language. 33.

14 32. In the spring, gobblers accompanied by hens are always tough customers. Most gobblers will not leave hens to come to you, regardless of your gentle calling or aggressive language. 33. Don t get aggressive with calling if you already have a gobbler coming. If a bird responds to your subtle talk, stick with the same sounds and get forceful only if he gets bored and holds his ground. Aggressive talk could lure in the hen that accompanies the gobbler. (Photo by John & Vikki Trout) 34. When gobblers hang up, cuts often work. Cuts are simply a series of sharp, rapid yelps. Instead of offering a sequence of four yelps equally spaced, start with three rapid yelps and taper it off with a few more in a staccato style. 35. Rapid assertive clucks can work well when a tom gobbles but insists upon moving farther away. This may stop them, allowing you to close ground. 14

36. Creating the sounds of fighting hens can lure stubborn gobblers, as well as the hens that accompany them. Several call manufacturers offer fighting purrs that can fire up a contented gobbler. 37.

15 36. Creating the sounds of fighting hens can lure stubborn gobblers, as well as the hens that accompany them. Several call manufacturers offer fighting purrs that can fire up a contented gobbler. 37. Don t just jump into the first place that seems right when that gobbler almost knocks you out of your boots with his first gobble. Calls must come from a place the gobbler is normally comfortable and where he can see and be seen. But the hunter must be comfortable too. Carefully choose your spot when setting up. Gobblers are easier to call uphill than downhill, but set your decoys where tom can see them as soon as he crests the hill. 38. Toms are easier to call uphill than down. But if he can t see the hen that s calling him, he ll get suspicious and hang up. Set your decoys where tom can see them as soon as he crests the hill. 39. Be on the lookout for big obstructions that toms won t go around, no matter how much you call. Big blow downs, steep cliffs, sometimes these are too big or too wide to encourage your gobbler to move past. 15

16 40. Small obstructions, however, can work in your favor. Gobblers will walk around logs, rocks and bushes. Plus those small obstacles give him something extra to focus on instead of just honing in on the spot where the calls are coming from. 41. Turkeys like open fields because they can see danger from a distance. They especially like to hang out in fields in the rain. Decoys set up along a field edge often work because old tom likes to be seen in all his glory when approaching his hens. 42. Seek the bachelor pads. These are usually high points where gobblers can be seen, heard and feel safe. When you call from a known bachelor pad, tom thinks the hen has beaten him to their meeting place. Open fields give turkeys a feeling of security because they can see danger at a distance. 16

17 43. Gobblers prefer to travel the easy way. They often follow some kind of trail or a service road. When hunting trails and roads, set up on a curve. You have a built in advantage because tom doesn t expect to see his hen until he comes around the bend. Hopefully, you re set up to be in range when this happens. 44. Don t rush the shot! When the gobbler has fixed his attention on your decoys, he usually won t notice slow movement on your part. Take your time with your shot. 45. Try to set up with the sun at your back and position yourself in the shadows. Not many hunters can remain unseen if they are bathed in sunlight. 17

18 46. Pre-position your shotgun across your knees in the general direction of the decoys. This will minimize gun movement as the gobbler approaches. 47. If your tom is moving in, don t change your calling style. Soft purring with a few muted clucks gives the impression of a contented hen and will usually keep a gobbler coming in. 48. Double-teaming can work great on late season toms that are reluctant to come in. Hunters working together can pay off by placing the shooter 25 yards in front of the caller. A gobbler may not come within gun range of the caller, but he still might be in range for the shooter. Only shoot when you know what you are shooting at. 49. Don t give up on mid-day hunting (where legal). Most other hunters are gone after 11:00 am, and most of the gobblers are alone since the hens will be off looking for nesting sites. 18

50. Get comfortable when you set up to call. Be ready to sit for long periods two hours or more without major movement. If you can t sit still, use a blind. 51.

19 50. Get comfortable when you set up to call. Be ready to sit for long periods two hours or more without major movement. If you can t sit still, use a blind. 51. If you aren t deep-frying your wild turkey, then brining overnight is highly recommended. You can brine the whole bird, or only parts. Use a solution of 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of sugar to each gallon of water. This is all you need for a great brine, but it s a good idea to add items for flavoring such as chopped onions, sliced lemons, rosemary, bay leaves, white wine and so forth. Make sure not to skip the salt because it s an active ingredient that helps seal in moisture. For a Wild Turkey Brine recipe from the National Wild Turkey Federation, click here: One more thing Good Luck and Stay Safe! 19

20 About the Authors Steve Sorensen Outdoor writer and speaker Steve Sorensen edits the Havalon Sportsman s Post and writes an award-winning newspaper column called The Everyday Hunter. He publishes in Deer & Deer Hunting, North American Whitetail, and many other top magazines. Invite Steve to speak at your next sportsman s event, and follow him at Vikki Trout Vikki is a full-time freelance writer and photographer from southern Indiana. She loves hunting turkey, deer, bear, and small game. When she s not hunting, she loves capturing wildlife thru the lens of her camera. Please visit her website at John Trout Jr. Southern Indiana hunter John Trout, Jr. is a fulltime freelance writer and photographer specializing in whitetail deer, wild turkey and black bear. He has authored eight books and his work has appeared in nearly every publication in North America. You ll enjoy a visit his website at Judd Cooney For the past 30 years Judd has been writing, photographing, and running his guiding and outfitting operation, trying to avoid working an 8-5 job. He says, I wouldn t change it for the world! He has articles or photos in many outdoor magazines each month, covering bowhunting, muzzleloading, big game, small game, plus turkeys, predators, waterfowl and upland game. He can be reached through his website, William Clunie A registered Maine master guide, outdoor writer, and nature photographer, William Clunie is living the dream in the rugged mountains of Western Maine. He can be reached at: william.clunie@gmail.com. Havalon Knives,

CURRICULUM BOOK. Second Edition

CURRICULUM BOOK. Second Edition CURRICULUM BOOK Second Edition EXPLORE BOWHUNTING TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 IT S ALL IN THE CHALLENGE.... 9 Build a blind and play a game to realize how blinds can help people get close