Deer & Turkey Hunting Tips

There are a lot of variables involved when it comes to turkey hunting success. Many factors can make or break a hunt. There are changing weather conditions, there is added hunting pressure, whether or not the turkeys will even respond to calling. All these and more make turkey hunting challenging.

The turkey hunter’s goal is to try and seduce an old tom with a variety of calls. This sounds relatively simple in terms of the idea. Execution however is another story in itself. When going up against a wise old gobbler, every situation is different. Just getting a gobbler to respond to calls can be difficult. And if he does respond, getting him to come in close enough for a shot is a task in itself.

The weather during the spring time can play a major role during turkey season. The temperatures fluctuate from warm one day to cold the next. There are seasonal rain showers as well as those wonderful windy days when you can’t hear yourself call much less hear any response from a gobbler. These changing weather patterns make every day in the turkey woods an adventure.

Then there is the added pressure of more hunters in the woods. Turkey hunting has become a favorite of many outdoors men. This in itself is great for the sport, however for the individual, this sometimes can make hunting more difficult. If you are one of the many hunters that use public hunting grounds, you know how much pressure can be put on turkeys. The turkeys will often times become even more reclusive than they already are.

A good way to try and even up the odds a bit on these variables is to use good scouting and hunting techniques to better prepare yourself for a more productive hunt. Learn the area where you will be hunting. Get out before the season starts and pay attention to turkey signs in the woods. Find roosting areas, scratching food source areas, tracks, droppings, and strutting areas. Locating turkey signs will help you learn the patterns of the turkeys that you are hunting.

Once the season starts, knowing where these turkey signs are will better your chances for success. This is where your plan of action comes into play. Use your findings from scouting to better position yourself to locate the turkeys and increase your odds for a successful hunting experience.

Turkey Hunting Tip:  

The wild turkey is famous for having good eyesight. But don’t forget that the turkey also has great hearing. As a turkey hunter you should always be aware of the sounds you make as you are walking and sitting. If you walk through dry leaves searching for gobblers, make sure you walk as quietly as possible. While sitting, the same is true, any movement that makes noise can be detected by the elusive bird. Remember, the turkey can hear a soft cluck from hundreds of yards away so any noise you make needs to be kept to a minimum.

I have had gobblers from a distance respond to the slightest of calls. Sometimes when I have least expected as I was just attempting to quietly test the call. As a matter of fact I have had pretty good success calling turkeys while intentionally making each call sound as quiet as I could.  You may find that being quiet will work towards your advantage for a successful hunt. So take this turkey hunting tip with you the next time you go into the woods. Don’t over look the turkeys keen hearing ability.

Anyone that has ever spent any time in the woods turkey hunting knows that luck and a variety of circumstances play a major role in success or failure. Unfortunately, not everything can be prepared  for. You can however plan how you will go about preparing for the things that you can control.

There are many factors involved in preparation. Your experience in the woods and knowledge of the land that you hunt is important. One of the important, if not the most important factors is knowing or finding out where the turkeys are located. You have to hunt where the turkey is to be successful. This may sound like common sense but too many times I have heard stories of hunters walking into an area that is not known for turkeys and then wondering why they are never successful.

The only way to locate turkeys is by scouting. You have to put time in the field. Although turkeys can at times be patterned, they are a very cautious bird that will change up on you at a moments notice. That’s why you must be willing to put forth an extra effort if you want to be successful.

There is a lot of walking around involved in scouting and in the actual hunt itself. You need to be in as good a shape as you can. If you hunt in mountain terrain as I do, you know how tough walking up and down hill tops all day can be. If you are not in good physical condition, you are asking for a long day that will dampen your spirits.

Once you have scouted and located your birds, then you need to prepare for the hunt itself. You need to use a good concealment camouflage over your entire body with no skin or bright colors showing. This includes your hands and face. Turkeys have very good eyesight and will pick you out if you are slacking in this area. Turkeys are very familiar with the area in which they live so you have to be able to blend in as not to alert them.

You need to be well versed in the use of an assortment of turkey calls. There are a wide selection on the market today. Hand held calls such as slate calls and box calls as well as diaphragm mouth calls are popular. If possible you need to learn how to use a variety of them. They each have their own unique sound. Watch your favorite hunting show or buy a how to call DVD to help you.

You also need to be proficient with your choice of weapons. No matter how good a caller you are, if you get the turkey in range then you have to be able to make an accurate shot for success. The only way to make this happen is by practicing on a regular basis. Don’t take this for granted. A turkey is not an easy target.

Finally, you need to learn to be patient. There will be days when you will feel that the turkeys have packed up and left the country. If you have done your proper scouting, it’s just a matter of time before success happens. I don’t know how many times I have hunted all day and just when I was about to conclude my hunt, the sound of an eager gobbler has changed my mind.

Turkey Hunting Tip:

The wild turkey is famously known in nature for having a keen sense of eyesight. The best way to counter act this while turkey hunting is to blend in with the terrain that you are hunting. Make sure you conceal yourself with camouflage from head to foot. While in the field, try to set up your hunting location by using the natural cover provided. Use under growth, limbs, and shadows to your advantage. Never set up on the sunny side of a tree. If there is no natural cover locations available in the area, use a light weight ground blind that you can carry in your backpack. Use these concealment tricks to give yourself a better chance for a successful turkey hunt.