Turkey Hunting Questions

[Crazy Uncle Al Gore]

I want to start getting ready now that I'm a few months away from spring turkey hunting season. I've never gone turkey hunting though, so I need to know some things first.

1.) What am I looking for when I go scouting for turkey?
2.) In all the pictures the turkey hunters were wearing Real Tree or Mossy Oak camo? Do I need to buy those or can I just where a pair of BDU's? I can buy some if I have to but I'd rather save the money.
3.) What do I need to know about turkey calls? Do some work better than others? I know I need to practice with my caller. Do they have CDs with turkey sounds like they do for ducks?

Thanks

 

[redneck2]

Some of the bigger sproting good chains (Bass Pro, Cabellas) have seminars

Join NWTF and read their monthly magazine.

Get some videos that cover the basics

Turkeys have 10x better eyesight than humans and can see color. You make the call on the camo.

 

[Lennyjoe]

1. Turkeys are tough to find if they aren't answering back to calls. I like to go out in the evening before the hunt to the area I have selected just before sun down. Give a few calls on an owl hoot to shock call. Hopefully they will answer back. This way if they are roosted you can get an idea of their position. The next morning try to sneak in during darkness to about 50 yds from them. Don't try to get right under them either. Set up and don't call until you hear them come down from the roost. Turkeys like hardwoods to roost in for the most part. Scout an area that has water, open fields near hardwoods and wood lots that are not thickets. Look for droppings, tracks and scratch marks where they are digging for bugs ect.

2. Camo is very important when turkey hunting. More important then deer hunting for sure. Turkeys have excellent eyesight and I swear they can see you blink. LOL Find a pattern that blends in with your surroundings, sit up against a tree or something that breaks up your outline and have your gun up and ready if you have birds moving your way. A knee pad for your gun is a nice addition to your outfit.

3. I like a slate call for the most part. Box calls are nice too but if your in a moist area you need to keep it chalked alot. Diaphram mouth calls work well also but are harder to master and need alot of practice. If your hunting alone then a diaphram is pretty much the only thing you can use safely when the birds are close in so they dont see you move. There are tons of videos out there that will help you learn how to hunt, call and process a turkey.

Turkey hunting to me is the best hunt of all. Enjoy.

 

[308win]

1.) What am I looking for when I go scouting for turkey?

Look for dusting areas (the ground will be bare, the dirt will be loose, you will see loose feathers. Look for foraging sign (turkeys leave a V shaped sign in the leaves/ground cover where they have been foraging). Look around areas with Oak trees or other mast bearers. Turkey also will use harvested grain fields.

2.) In all the pictures the turkey hunters were wearing Real Tree or Mossy Oak camo? Do I need to buy those or can I just where a pair of BDU's? I can buy some if I have to but I'd rather save the money.

You need camo including a face mask, gloves and hat as well as boots that blend in (don't wear white tennis shoes). Your camo should match the surroundings you are hunting. In Ohio, woodland pattern may work quite well in souther Ohio depending on the weather conditions. Sit with your back against a large tree to break up your outline AND to prevent other hunters from sneaking up on you and shooting you int the back. LISTEN more than you call for turkey and other hunters.

3.) What do I need to know about turkey calls? Do some work better than others? I know I need to practice with my caller. Do they have CDs with turkey sounds like they do for ducks

Learn to use a mouth/diaphram call. They will keep your hands free and movement to a minimum. Keep your gun across your knees and ready. Turkey will sneak in on you often. Watch the Outdoor channel and you will get all of the calling examples you need. Don't worry if you make a false call once in awhile, Turkey do it all of the time. In fact, most callers can sound better than a turkey with practice. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is over calling.

 

[Crazy Uncle Al Gore]

I went out scouting for turkey this morning. This is the first time I have ever seen turkey tracks. Can anybody tell if this is a male or female? Is this track large or small? I was pretty excited to find these tracks. This is as close to a wild turkey as I've ever been (other than the grocery store variety).

 

[308win]

Must be a female, no male turkey I know has $10 to leave laying around. Seriously, could be either. Both will be active during daylight hours until laying season. Females are generally on the nest in the mornings once they have layed a clutch of eggs. Hens and jakes (young males) usually travel in flocks/family groups; gobblers are more solitary however they will group up as well except during breeding season and even then a gobbler may have immature or non-dominant toms with him. Turkey have a definite range and will travel a 'route' on a somewhat predictable schedule (every 7-10 days seems to be the rule). If they are in your area now they will be there during season unless lack of forage or hunting pressure moves them out. Now would be a good time to sit and listen; call a little and see if you get an answer - clucks, perts.

 

[Bitmap]

Where I hunt turkey in the fall they congregate in large (20+) groups. I find where they roost. Then find where they fly to and/or gather when they come off the roost. I set up a blind in that area and ambush them. The same blind will usually work in the evening as they are heading back to the roost. They walk up near the trees and when they are 5 to 50 feet they fly to the roost. I'll set up a blind 50 yards or so from the roost and ambush them.

This can also work in the spring but it isn't as exciting as calling in a tom.

 

[Crazy Uncle Al Gore]

Is there a type of tree they like to roost in? Or is it more dependant on the structure of the tree?

 

[Bitmap]

Is there a type of tree they like to roost in? Or is it more dependant on the structure of the tree?

I don't know. Most of the big (read 50+ feet tall) trees here are Chinese Elms. I don't know if the type of tree or shape matters. There are isolated bunches of these big elms here near the edges of cultivated fields or in the middle of pastures. A lot of them grew up around old homesites. Out of every 100-200 acres of farmland there are 2-20 acres of big elms, so that is where the turkeys roost in large numbers. If you are hunting in 200 acres of mostly wooded land the turkeys will probably be more spread out and the "ambush on the way to or from the roost" may not work.

I guess I've never thought about that before.

 

[redneck2]

Must be a female, no male turkey I know has $10 to leave laying around.

LMAO

here I hunt turkey in the fall they congregate in large (20+) groups. I find where they roost. Then find where they fly to and/or gather when they come off the roost. I set up a blind in that area and ambush them. The same blind will usually work in the evening as they are heading back to the roost. They walk up near the trees and when they are 5 to 50 feet they fly to the roost. I'll set up a blind 50 yards or so from the roost and ambush them.

Yep. I think they tend to be a little more predictable in the fall. There's a field maybe 1/2 mile from my house where a flock goes every day between maybe 9-10 am. Flocks of 50-100 are not uncommon around here. Sounds great, but you gotta figure that's 100 sets of eyes to see you.

I'd just suggest getting some good camo, good binoculars, and scout. You can get all the advice you want from books or the internet, but the birds don't read or have computers. They are where they are. Gotta find that.

FWIW...generally, you will not sneak up on them unless their view is totally obscured by a hill or solid woods. If you move, they WILL see you.

In my experience, if you hunt public land it's a real challenge. Lots of guys out moving around and the birds get real spooked. Last two years I've hunted private land less than a mile from my house and gotten birds within 2 hours each time.

 

[308win]

I don't believe the species of tree has anything to do with it but more location. Turkey avoid areas with thick undergrowth because it is more dangerous for them as predators can more easily stalk them. Look for roosting areas with mature growth forest that is open or lacking in undergrowth (think areas that have been used by livestock or have had the undergrowth burnt off). I often see turkey moving between forage areas using open fields instead of cover. I believe they do this because they can find protein more readily and they feel safer. As was stated in an earlier post you aren't going to sneak up on them - their hearing, sight, and wariness are too highly tuned.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

When it is raining out turkey tend to move to the open fields because predators can sneak up on them and they wont be able to hear them. Thye move to open fields to use their eye sight more. FYI go out the night before with a crow call to try and find where they are roosting for the night. Don't be surprised if a turkey you think is in front of you all of a sudden ends up behind you. They like to circle alot of the time. When you get a good shot at one that is atleast 30-40 yrds or less then take a head shot. The feathers are like kevlar and the only way to take them down is a good head shot. i use 3 inch winchester supremes for turkey. 4 or 5 shot works well depending if you want more pellets or bigger pellets(personal preference).remember, in ohio in the spring you can only shoot the toms. In the fall you can shoot toms or hens. When you clean the birds dunk them in hot water and all of the feathers will pull off easily. Good luck this year

 

[HuntingAintHuntingNoMore]

Nice To See

It's good to see that a new guy can come in and get sound advice without being talked down to. Most message boards I have been on are not so nice to rookies.

 

[Milkmaster]

TN Turkey

Come to Middle TN. The turkeys are plentiful since being repopulated a few years back. Now you can see them along side the roads and fences everywhere. Find a place somewhat near water, woodsy for roosting, and ask the owner to hunt. Takes about 10 minutes usually! My dad has to blow his horn to get them to move out of his way while going to the back of the farm checking on cattle! They like soy beans!