Pattern Gobblers For Turkey Hunting
The ability to pattern a gobbler often is the only way for a hunter to find success. During times when gobblers do not respond to calling or are with hens, turkey hunting can be tough. This is when patterning a gobbler will come into play.
To pattern a turkey for hunting, the hunter must learn the daily habits of the gobbler. This is done by being in the field while listening and observing the turkey. Basically one is gathering information as to where the gobbler is likely to be throughout the day.
Often a gobbler will fly off the roost without ever making a sound. This may be the result of turkey hunting pressure. It could also mean that the gobbler is already with the hens. The hunter must then use patterning skills to locate the gobbler.
In order to find the gobbler, look for signs left behind that indicate that the gobbler frequents the area. This may include tracks, wing or tail fan feathers, strut marks, scratchings, or droppings. Hunting in these areas or along food source areas increases the chances of seeing a turkey.
Another advantage of patterning a turkey is finding strutting areas. These areas are excellent for hunting. They may be found near field edges, agricultural or logging roads, or other open type terrain.
By patterning the turkey prior to hunting, one will have a good indication of where the turkeys will be headed. Set up in these areas and wait patiently for the gobbler to arrive. Use soft yelps, purrs, and clucks calling methods to entice the gobbler in.
A Look At Turkey Hunting
Often many new and some experienced hunters think that there is some big secret to turkey hunting. The reality is that there are basic tactics that anyone can follow to increase the odds of turkey hunting success.
Now this is not to say that by following the best tactics will guarantee a turkey. It does not. However, it does position the hunter to have a better chance. The turkey will have the final say in the matter and sometimes nothing that the hunter does will result in success. This is why it is called turkey hunting.
The basic tactics are fairly simple. Locate areas that have or are most likely to have turkeys at some point in time during the day. Set up in these areas and wait patiently for the turkey to arrive. This is turkey hunting in the simplest of forms.
Now obviously this is often not as easy as it sounds. The hunter must be willing to spend many hours in preparation. The hunter should have the ability to understand turkey habits, activities, and movement. The hunter gathers this information through scouting the area to be hunted. The more time spent preparing, the better chances of success.
The hunter then must be positioned in the best possible location to see the turkey. These areas include roosting trees, feeding and watering areas, strutting zones, dusting areas, and anywhere a hen may be found. These locations can only be found by spending time in the field observing the turkey or at least finding the turkey sign.
Another ingredient is the ability to call a turkey into a set up location. Although it is not necessary, most hunters prefer this method. This requires the hunter to become familiar with turkey sounds and then be able to mock these sounds through the use of a turkey call. This is also when patience, practice, perseverance, and a little luck come into play.
And there you have a look at turkey hunting. It is as simple as can be. Now obviously, all of this information can and should be broken down more thoroughly for each individual tactic. There are plenty of articles on our site that do this.
A Pie For Turkey Hunting
There are many tips and tactics that can be used for turkey hunting. But what does pie have to do with turkeys? To keep things on the humorous side, try eating or rather using, pie for turkey hunting success.
P.I.E. stands for patience, information, and execution. These are the fundamentals to becoming a skilled and successful turkey hunter.
Patience
One of the best qualities for any turkey hunter to have is patience. In the field, patience is needed to endure long days when the turkeys don’t want to cooperate. Patience is needed to persevere on those wet or windy days. Patience is needed in order to be persistent while on the hunt for that gobbler. Patience is needed to continue calling when the woods are quiet. Patience is needed to sit still and stay put when waiting for the gobbler on his final approach.
Information
There is a lot of information that can be used while hunting the wild turkey. This information is gathered by spending time in the woods scouting and observing turkey activity. Knowledge obtained through experience also provides helpful information. Learn how to hunt by becoming familiar with turkey habits and movement. Use this information to make good decisions on where to locate, where to set up, when and how to call, and when to make the shot.
Execution
Once knowledge is gathered, the hunter must then learn to execute proper tactics for turkey hunting. This begins with practice. The hunter must learn to use a variety of turkey calls. He must be proficient with the weapon to be used. The turkey hunter must be able to conceal himself in the woods. He must be able to endure the physical activity needed to roam the woods in search of a turkey. The hunter should be able to locate set up areas. He must be able to use calls to bring in the turkey. And finally, he must be able to make an accurate, clean, and ethical shot on the turkey.
So use a slice of pie to become a better turkey hunter. By doing so, one will come to understand that pie often equals success. Maybe it should have been P.I.E.S.
Turkey Hunting Safety
In any hunting situation, safety should be at the forefront of the hunter. Turkey hunting is no different. All hunters that plan on being in the woods should be familiar with and execute proper safety measures.
Weapon Safety
Regardless of the choice of weapon to be used, the hunter should always be experienced in how the weapon operates.
- The hunter should be proficient with the weapon and take advantage of any safety features.
- Always spend quality time practicing with the weapon prior to using it in the field.
- The hunter should never use a weapon that one is not familiar with. This also includes shells, arrows, bullets, and muzzle loading equipment.
Physical Safety
In most cases, turkey hunting can often be a very physical activity. The hunter frequently spends a lot of time on foot. For this reason, the hunter should be alert to physical safety health issues.
- Try to be in or get into proper physical shape prior to the turkey hunting season.
- Speak with a doctor about any health concerns prior to hunting.
- Always monitor any current health issues, such as diabetes, that may result in dangerous situations in the field.
- Start the day with a good breakfast and bring along extra food and water if planning to stay in the field for extended periods of time.
- Be extra careful while walking in areas that are sloped or inclined, crossing ditches, crossing fences, crossing water, or on uneven ground.
Personal Safety
There are also issues related to personal safety that the hunter should plan accordingly for.
- Always make others, such as family members or friends, aware of planned hunting events.
- Let someone know where the location of the hunt will take place.
- Leave your expected time of return.
- Having an emergency plan already setup in the event that the hunter does not return within a reasonable time period can also be helpful.
Clothing Safety
The hunter should also consider safety when dressing for the hunting event.
- Dress in full camouflage from head to toe.
- Make sure to cover the hands and the face.
- Wear dark colored socks and or tuck the pant legs into boots to prevent skin from being exposed.
- Never wear items of clothing that have the colors red, white, or blue. These are the predominant colors of the neck and head of a turkey.
Equipment Safety
Turkey hunters use a wide variety of equipment in the field. There are a few safety measures that can be used as a result.
- Although most items will usually come with a camouflage print or a dull finish, any equipment to be used that does not should be colored accordingly.
- A dark permanent marker can be used on small items when paint is not available.
- Although it is not necessary to have a camouflaged weapon, it should be at least be dull finished to prevent glare.
- Again, do not use or at least change the color of anything that has the same colors as a turkey neck and head.
Decoy Safety
The hunter should take safety precautions whenever using decoys in the field. It is easy to mistake a decoy for a real turkey.
- Place decoys in areas with a clear field of view.
- Try to position the decoys in a way that does not put the hunter in a direct line of fire. This is helpful should another hunter mistake the decoys for being real.
- When transporting the decoys, make sure they are carried in a vest or hunting bag and are completely covered and not sticking out.
Calling Safety
The need for safety when using turkey calls should also not be overlooked. Remember, the hunter is attempting to sound like a turkey and may be mistaken for one by other hunters.
- Keep a watchful eye out for other hunters in the area.
- Verbally identify yourself if approached by other hunters.
- Use extra caution if using turkey calls to make a gobble sound.
Public Land Safety
Because of the availability to all, it is important to use extra caution when hunting on public land.
- Whether required or not, it is helpful to use hunter orange hats or a vest while walking to and from hunting areas.
- If possible, make contact with other hunters parked in the same area. This way one can determine roughly where each hunter will be.
- Often it is possible to go deeper into the woods and avoid any conflicts with others.
- Make sure to be familiar with the area, or at least have a quality map to reduce the chances of getting lost.
After The Shot Safety
Many hunters prefer to run to and step on the harvested turkey neck and head after the shot. While this is fine, just remember to think safety. A mature turkey generally has sharp spurs that can cause damage.
- When carrying the turkey from the woods, place the turkey inside the hunting vest or inside a carrying bag. Make sure the turkey is completely concealed.
- Although commonly seen on television, it is best not to tote the turkey over the shoulder.
General Safety Rules
There are also general safety rules that should be followed while turkey hunting.
- Always identify and know what one is shooting at before taking the shot.
- Never shoot at any movement in brush.
- If other hunters approach your setup area, call out to them to let them know of your location.
- Use common sense and never take unnecessary chances.
Emergency Safety
Although rare, there may come a time when the hunter finds himself injured or lost in the woods.
- Carry a small first aid kit for minor injuries.
- Carry a loud whistle so others will be able to find you.
- Carry a cell phone to call for help.
- Carry a good map of the area and keep track of your location throughout the day.
- If injured or lost, it is best to stay put in one location and use the whistle and cell phone to aid others in finding you.
Safety Gear
- Whistle
- First Aid Kit
- Food and Water
- Cell Phone
- Sharp Hunting Knife
- Flashlight with fresh batteries.
- Maps
- Compass
- Bug Spray
When it comes to safety, it is always better to be more cautious than less cautious. Never assume anything and don’t take unnecessary chances. When in doubt, remember safety first.
Turkey Hunting And Turkey Talk
An important skill involved in turkey hunting is the ability of the hunter to learn the wild turkey vocabulary. This knowledge allows the hunter to imitate the turkey sounds in an attempt at luring in a gobbler.
Turkey vocabulary from a hunting point of view revolves around each sound that the turkey makes, understanding what the sounds mean, and how to use this information in the field.
Although there are many turkey sounds, the below list is the most commonly heard. Some of the sounds, such as the yelp, have different variations.
Turkey Sounds
- cluck
- purr
- yelp
- cutt
- cackle
- putt
- gobble
To listen to how these sounds are made by real turkeys, live wild turkey sounds at the NWTF.org.
Understanding Turkey Sounds
Turkeys, for the most part, make noise almost constantly under relaxed conditions. The purr and cluck are used to show contentment.
The yelp is used in different situations such as while on the roost, when attempting to locate other turkeys, during the breeding season as an attractant for gobblers, or while tending to daily activities.
The cutt is a more explosive and excited sound. Although not exclusive to the breeding period, it is used by hens during this time to draw attention from gobblers.
The cackle is used as the hens fly up to and down from their roosting tree.
The putt is used as an alarm call to acknowledge some form of danger.
The gobble is often heard during the spring in response to sounds made by the hen.
How To Use Turkey Sounds
Turkey calls can be used to make the sounds of a turkey. This requires the hunter to become proficient with the call.
In most cases, learning when to call and what sound to make is more important than sounding perfect.
This knowledge will allow the turkey hunter an increased chance at being successful in the hunting field.
Turkey Hunting After Fly Down
Once gobblers fly down from the roost the real challenge for the hunter begins. Sometimes the hunter is in a good enough position to call the turkey in.
However, there are many times that the hunter will have to go and locate the gobbler as the day progresses.
One approach to hunting after fly down is to slowly move through the woods or around open areas while stopping often to scan the area. A good pair of binoculars is required.
Use the terrain for concealment. Avoid walking in wide open areas. Thoroughly scan the areas before proceeding forward.
Usually its a good idea to move in fifty yards or so increments. This reduces the chances of being busted by the turkeys.
It is also a good idea to be familiar with the terrain and to know the areas in which the turkeys are most likely to be.
Generally agricultural fields or other food source locations are good choices. Also strutting zones and watering holes can be other choices.
Once the turkeys have been located, try to find a good setup area and begin working with a turkey call.
Another approach to finding after fly down gobblers is by using locator calls. An owl hooter or crow call can be effective but there are many other locator calls that may work as well.
Whenever possible, try to move along ridge tops or other high ground areas. This will provide the best positions for the call sounds to carry further and allow for better hearing as well.
Again being familiar with the property will help both with cover as well as being able to pick good setup areas once the gobbler is located.
Again move slowly as not to be detected. Usually moving 100-200 yards at a time, then stopping to call, will be appropriate.
Hit the locator call a few times and listen for a response gobble. If no response occurs after a few minutes of calling, move on.
If the gobbler does respond, slowly move towards him. Get positioned in a good setup location within 100 yards or so.
Once setup, switch to a hen turkey call and begin working the gobbler. This may bring the gobbler in either gobbling or silently so be patient.
Regardless of which approach is used to locate turkeys, there will always be different variables to any turkey hunting situation. Experiment and be patient to see what works best.
Windy Day Turkey Hunting
Spring turkey hunting often comes with a variety of conditions. A windy day is one of those that frequently occurs. The wind can make things a little more challenging.
Windy days create hunting issues for both the turkey and the hunter. The turkeys will have limited hearing abilities. They will also have sight issues due to the steady movement of leaves, limbs, or bushes.
The hunter will also have sound issues. They will not be able to hear clearly as sounds will be muffled by the wind. So hearing any gobbles will be limited if at all.
To combat windy day concerns, hunters can rely on previous turkey scouting knowledge. Being familiar with the terrain and habits of the turkeys will be a plus.
Hunt near areas frequently visited by the turkeys. Also search for open type areas such as fields that are surrounded by trees to help block the wind.
Other places such as low bottom areas that are surrounded by ridges can also be considered. Often the south side of a ridge can be effective.
Sometimes being more patient is the key. Find a good setup area and wait on the turkeys arrival. There will also be times when moving slowly from one area frequented by turkeys to another may be better.
When calling, use high pitched loud calls. A box call or an aluminum striker call can be effective during windy day conditions. Remember that the wind will muffle sounds so the distances will be reduced.
Also stay alert for movement. If by chance a gobble is heard, remember that due to the wind, the sounds will usually be closer than they appear.
Another windy day location could be a turkey strut zone area. Regardless of conditions, at some point during the day, turkeys may show up at such locations.
Although turkey hunting in the wind does create issues, being in the woods regardless of conditions will often be beneficial to the hunter.
Related:
Turkey Hunting Strut Zones
The strut zones can be primary locations for turkey hunting. These areas are used frequently during the spring season. Here are a few tips for strut zone hunting.
What Are Strut Zones
Strut zones are areas that gobblers go in order to locate hens. These areas generally will be located near a primary food source. They may include ridge tops, flat bottom areas, logging trails, or agricultural fields.
Identifying Strut Zones
There are many characteristics of strut zones. There are usually an abundance of hen and gobbler tracks. There may be large amounts of hen and gobbler droppings. There may be dropped feathers. There are usually gobbler strut marks.
Note: A gobbler strut mark usually consist of three lines on both sides of gobbler tracks. They are made when gobblers drag their primary feathers on the ground while strutting.
How To Locate Strut Zones
Strut zones can be located by spending enough time scouting the turkey hunting areas. Look for food source areas and confirm the locations by finding the markings related to strut zones.
Observing fields or other areas with binoculars can also be effective. Making contact with land owners, other hunters, or wildlife officials can also be helpful.
Hunting Strut Zones
Strut zones are high trafficked areas used by hens. Gobblers instinctively know this and generally will keep check on these areas.
Sometimes the gobblers will go to these areas and gobble while waiting for the hens arrival. Other times the gobbler may only strut without ever making a gobble sound.
Under normal conditions, strut zones will be used from year to year. Even if a gobbler is harvested in such areas, another gobbler will generally take his place.
By finding these locations, hunters can setup accordingly and wait for the gobblers arrival. Decoys and calling tactics can be used but are not always necessary.
There may be one or several strut zone areas on any given tract of land. By hunting these areas throughout the season, the odds of seeing gobblers usually improves.
By understanding what strut zones are, identifying and locating them, and hunting these areas, the chances of success are generally better.
Turkey Hunting Decoy Setups
The use of decoys for turkey hunting at times can be beneficial. Decoys provide a visual object for the gobbler to see upon approach. Often decoys can be the deciding factor on whether or not the gobbler comes close enough to a setup area. Here are a few examples of how decoys can be used.
Single Hen
The single hen decoy is often very effective. It is one of the more frequently used decoy setups. Single hen decoys can be used throughout the spring season but work well as the season progresses. They are very good for both mature and young gobblers.
Single Jake
The single jake decoy can also be effective on gobblers of all ages. Young gobblers will come to jake decoys out of curiosity or companionship. Mature gobblers will come in often to rid the intruder from the area.
Single Jake Single Hen
The use of a single jake and hen combination can lead to excitement. A mature gobbler will approach such a setup with the intentions of beating up the jake and leaving with the hen. This is an often used style when hunting aggressively.
Strutting Gobbler With Hens
Decoys of a strutting gobbler with a single or several hens can also be used. The idea is to irritate or challenge a mature gobbler into thinking his hens are being stolen away. This is often a confrontational type setup. Not as effective as other setups but occasionally is ideal under certain situations.
Breeding Gobbler And Hen
The breeding gobbler and hen decoys can sometimes work as well. A mature gobbler will often approach looking for a fight. Probably one of the least used types of setups but in the right situation can be effective.
Several Hens
The use of several hen decoys offers a variety for gobblers. In the simplest form, the more hens there are, the more likely one will be ready to breed. This type of setup can be effective in the spring but also can be used during the fall season.
Decoy Tips
The decoy should be placed in areas with high visibility. It should be about twenty yards away from the hunter. By facing the decoy in the direction of the hunter, gobblers often will come in between the two. Make sure the decoys are secure and do not spin around during wind gust.
How To Aim At Turkeys
Proper Turkey Hunting Aiming Tactics
Regardless of their large size, turkeys are not an easy bird to harvest. There have been, and will continue to be, many blown chances due to a variety of hunter mistakes. Here are a few aiming tactics for a successful turkey hunting harvest.
Proper Distance
Before attempting any shot on a turkey, the hunter must know the proper distance of where the turkey is standing. This issue can be resolved by walking off distances around the set up area and marking this distances with a rock or stick. The use of modern range finders can also aid in this task.
Proper Gun Form
How the hunter holds the gun will impact the shot as well. The use of proper form is important. The gun should be held snug against the shoulder. The hunter’s cheek should be down and resting against the gun stock. The hunter should be looking directly down the gun barrel. The use of special turkey sights or scopes can help with alignment issues.
Obstacles
Sometimes there are obstacles such as limbs or bushes that may prevent a clear shot. Since a turkey may come from any direction, it is best to set up in areas that offer many shot opportunities. This way the hunter will have several options to choose from.
Proper Aim
In order to make a clean shot on a turkey, the hunter must hit the turkey in the neck and head areas. Aim at the center of the neck between the head and the bottom of the neck where the feathers start. This should allow the pellets to spread throughout the head and neck areas.
Making sure to aim properly, use good gun form, know your distances, avoid obstacles, and the odds of a successful harvest will improve.
