Deer and Turkey Hunting Tips

Archive for the ‘Turkey Hunting’ Category

I had been turkey hunting for several years and had been some what successful. My cousin had just started turkey hunting and asked if I would go with him. We met at our property at daybreak. I had been monitoring a roosting area near the swamp edge.

As we arrived in the woods, I let out a few soft yelps to see if a turkey was near by. There was a very loud response just across the swamp. The swamp was full of water and deep. From previous experience hunting on this section of our property, most of the time the turkeys would circle around the swamp instead of flying over it.

We decided to be quiet and circle around the swamp in a shallow location. Upon making our way across, I again let out a few soft yelps with a diaphragm call followed by a slate call. The explosive gobble response let us know we were on the right path. The gobbler was heading towards us and fast. I told my cousin to move ahead about forty yards while I stayed back.

I continued to soft yelp while my cousin put a decoy out and found a tree to  lean against. Actually I didn’t think we needed the decoy since the gobbler was only about 100 yards out. As I watched nervously, I hoped my cousin would get situated before it was too late. I stopped yelping and began only purring on the slate call. With each purr, the gobbler would respond with a loud gobble.

As I watched my cousin, my heart started pounding as I knew the gobbler was just out of sight. My cousin raised his gun to his knee. I purred again and another explosive gobble answered. I saw the barrel of my cousins shotgun began to move as his knees began to shake. One more purr, one more gobble, bang!

My cousin jumped up and ran out of sight. He started yelling “I got him”. As I walked over to him I could see he was still shaking. He had a big smile on his face. He shook my hand and thanked me. We both knew that he was a turkey hunter for life now. As we left the woods he couldn’t stop talking about the morning hunt. It was truly a successful turkey hunting experience for both of us. 18 pounds, 10 inch beard, 1 inch spurs.

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It is very easy to take things for granted, especially in this fast paced, I need it now world we live in. We get caught up in day to day stresses and often forget about our blessings. What does any of this have to do with hunting? Well, because of our daily issues, we often forget to enjoy our hunting trips.

I have found myself falling into this situation in the past. Hunting is supposed to be something that takes your mind away from problems and allows you to relax. I know for me at least, I use my time in the woods to clear my mind and rejuvenate my spirits. I use hunting to de-stress. For me, hunting has very little to do with the taking of game animals. Although I have been very successful over the years, I pass up many more shots than I take.

Instead, I use my time hunting to enjoy nature and all that comes with it. There is nothing like the feeling of sitting high up in an oak tree when the sun rises. Watching the rays slowly lighten up the woods with all its beauty. Breathing the crisp air of the fall or watching acorns drop from mighty oaks. I enjoy observing the many creatures that wander through my field of view.

It is very easy to forget about these wonderful aspects of nature. Just the other day I was talking with several hunters prior to the opening day of turkey season. As I walked away it struck me that for the most part, all I heard was wining and complaining. Not hunters looking forward to a new hunting season. For me, I couldn’t wait to get back out there and enjoy nature, hunting, and the real joys of life.

So remember, try and put everything else aside for a while and enjoy your hunting trips.

After a long morning of dealing with chilly, damp conditions and no luck, I had stopped on the side of a ridge to reevaluate the situation. The area I was turkey hunting was known for having an abundance of  turkeys. I had hunted there in years past with regular success. Today however was not going as I had planned.

As I stood there, I took out an old mouth call and began softly clucking just to remind myself of its sound. As luck would have it, apparently I was loud enough to be heard. A gobbler answered from a distance. Actually he answered rather aggressively with three gobbles. I was excited for the first time all morning.

I pulled my face mask down and found a nice spot to lean against a tree. There was a little bit of under growth to help aid in my set up. I began my calling again and again was greeted with several more gobbles. The gobbler appeared to have gained ground and was headed my way. After several minutes the gobbler had made his way within about seventy five yards. I could not however see the turkey.

For the next forty five minutes, the gobbler zig zagged from side to side in front of me. Moving up a little closer, then moving back away. Apparently I had located a wise old gobbler that wasn’t quite ready to show himself. Then, the gobbler went quiet on me. I changed the tone and frequency of the mouth call and once again the dance was on.

This time the gobbles were more consistent and the gobbler was moving in on me rapidly. About the time I thought I should be seeing the gobbler, silence once again returned to the equation. A long silence. I sat there expecting a head to pop out at any second, but it didn’t happen. I made a couple more soft clucks with no response.

Suddenly, as it happens so many times, the gobbler popped out of no where. I was looking directly at him. My heart rate increased rapidly. I made a minor adjustment in my position and let loose with an accurate shot. I was able to successfully take a nice twenty pound gobbler with an eleven inch beard and inch and a half spurs.

This just goes to show you how quickly a bad day can turn good. The thing about turkey hunting is nothing is ever the same. No matter how many times you go into the woods, always be ready for the unexpected. There have been many a successful turkey hunts made on the last set up of the day after not even having heard a bird all morning long.