There are so many unpredictable details that can make harvesting a springtime tom either easier or more difficult. We have to deal with weather, time of the season, hunting pressure and natural turkey biology just to name a few. While there are numerous important points that can mean the difference between an unused tag and a 25-pounder hanging on a limb by its spurs, the following three subjects are among the most vital.
The Importance of Reconnaissance
Scouting is possibly the most important element of hunting anything, but especially turkeys. Learning roost locations, strutting zones, grit sources, bugging habitat and the lay of the land can mean everything. Now and again you may call a gobbler through a fence or blow-down, or over a creek or road, but don't count on it happening often. Ideally you want to position yourself within an area they have utilized before that’s easy for them to access. Scouting will teach you your best options.
Learning where the bird is going to be at certain times of the day is valuable. Keep a journal if necessary. If you get them to answer your calls, write down the time, place, and the call he answered to. If you "take their temperature" while scouting, it can make it easy when it's time to hunt.
Learn How to React to Natural Turkey Biology
Knowing what to do if a tom “hangs up,” stops gobbling to your calls or is traveling with live hens (as examples) is important if you wish to have consistent success. Natural turkey biology can sometimes make turkey hunting seem difficult. You can read about what to do or watch DVDs on how to handle different situations, but experience is the best teacher. Three attributes that will help you score day in and day out regardless; are persistence, patience, and hunter’s savvy.
Not every set-up is going to result in gobblers running into meet your arrow or load of shot. Persistence is important – trying again and again is how we learn. If you don’t give up, it will happen. Whether you back out, circle around and try again on the same bird, or go running and gunning to try and find one that feels like being social, persistence and patience are more important than being a good caller.
Get the Gear, Get the Gobbler
Having the correct equipment, knowing how to use it properly and how you will perform with it, is equally as important as our other points. Some of the most essential paraphernalia will be your camouflage, calls and decoys - and let’s not forget your gun or bow.
If you hunt with a bow, you must be able to hit a target the size of your fist at whatever distance you determine to be your maximum confident range, that will probably be moving. If you hunt with a shotgun you must know your boundaries and how different loads pattern. Either way, when you loose the arrow or pull the trigger, you must know your limitations and only take ethical chances that you determine will be a “killing shot.”
This article is courtesy of the GameKeepers Farming for Wildlife publication, a quarterly wildlife and land management magazine produced by the Mossy Oak GameKeepers. For more information on subscribing or joining visit Mossy Oak GameKeepers Club.
