Prepping for Turkey Season

Prepping for Turkey Season

By Jessica Graham

Few things on this earth compare to hearing the gobble of a tom in the early morning as the sun begins to rise. The airtingles with anticipation, the woods hushed in the pre-dawn light. Soon, the forest will erupt with the thunderous gobbles of a strutting tom, his challenge echoing through the trees. It’s opening day of turkey season, and months of preparation culminate in these precious moments. Are you ready? Let’s ensure your gear, techniques, and knowledge are razor-sharp for a successful and ethical hunt.

Camo Up
Blending in is paramount. Turkeys indeed boast impressive vision that often surprises hunters. turkeys indeed boast impressive vision that often surprises hunters. Unlike humans, turkeys have eyes on the sides of their heads, offering a near 270-degree field of view without turning their heads. This expansive panorama helps them detect threats and opportunities throughout their surroundings. While humans have three types of cone cells for color vision, turkeys have six! This allows them to perceive a wider range of colors, including ultraviolet (UV) light invisible to us. This UV sensitivity might help them spot insects, berries, and even detect hunters’ camo treated with brighteners that “glow” in their vision. Their brains are wired for rapid visual processing, allowing them to react quickly to movement and changes in their environment. This agility makes them elusive prey and formidable opponents for hunters.

Because a turkey’s sharpest sense is their eyesight, you need to make sure you are doing everything you can to be still and blend in with your surroundings. Invest in quality, breathable camouflage appropriate foryourterrain. Wear leafy patterns in spring and remember face masks or paint, gloves, and head nets. Purchasing camouflage that blends in well with your particular terrain will help you deceive turkeys and get the drop on a strutting tom. People can overlook their barrels, having a skin over your barrel or purchasing a camouflage or mat finished barrel will help break up its outline and conceal the metal.

Turkey Blinds
If you’re hunting out of a blind, then you might be better off wearing black, and this includes a black glove. Turkey are not like deer, and will walk up to a new blind, however, you still want to be concealed and wear black to blend into the background. Choose a comfortable, portable blind if you prefer stillness. There are relativly cheap pop-up blinds or hub style blinds that can allow you the forgiveness of some movement.
If you’re likely to chase some birds in a run-and-gun style hunt, a portable mini blind might be more your type of blind. These usually have fabric or a poly material and stand about 24 inches high. The idea is to set it up in front of you to conceal some movement and part of your body.

Decoys
Alternatively, strategically placed decoys (hen, jake, and strut) can entice wary gobblers. There are a plethora of decoys on the market and from my experience a good, realistic looking decoy is gold. No decoy is effective 100% of the time, it depends on the mood of the turkeys, but having a few good decoys to set up will get you set. Additionally, you might be into “reaping” turkeys, which involves using a decoy to stalk and kill a tom turkey at close range. There are decoys that mount on bows or guns, or some that you can hold alongside your guns or bows to pursue turkeys. Some hunters have had success using just a fan. Regardless of what you choose, having a deco to reap is handy to have when a tom just won’t come in.

Calling Confidence:
Master the basics of turkey calling. It’s a good idea to practice along with some YouTube videos or attend some seminars if you can. You can pick up some really good tips from experienced turkey fanatics. Learn turkey vocalizations including yelps, clucks, purrs, and cuts. Start practicing early with diaphragms, mouth calls, box and slate calls. In my opinion, it is a good idea to have a couple calls with you to switch things up. A tom might not be interested in one call, and then come right in once you break out a different one.
They’re temperamental so a couple calls can help match their mood. Carry different calls to adapt to changing situations. Include locator calls to find birds, kee-kees and purrs to sound like a lost hen, and cutts to mimic an aggressive hen. Practice makes perfect, so record yourself and compare it to real turkeys. Seek feedback from experienced hunters or utilize online resources.

Guns & Ammo
Select a shotgun with a comfortable fit and smooth action. Tighten your shot pattern for improved accuracy at turkey hunting distances. Experiment with modified, full, or specialized turkey chokes. You need to shoot your gun with your hunting ammo to evaluate the patterns achieved with each choke. Before unleashing your inner gobbler whisperer, ensure your shotgun and ammo sing in harmony. Head to the range well before the season with different chokes and ammo selections. Fire at turkey-hunting distances (20-40 yards) and analyze the shot pattern on pa per targets. Choose the combination that delivers the densest pattern within an acceptable circle (10-12 inches at 40 yards). Choose high­ quality turkey loads with dense patterns and good penetration.

Consider TSS, Hevi-Shot, or copper loads for extended range. Lead Shot tends to be affordable and effective at close range, but illegal in many areas due to environmental concerns. Hevi-Shot offers dense tungsten pellets for tight patterns and good penetration, but can be expensive. TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) is even denser than Hevi-Shot, resulting in superior patterns and extended range, but at a premium price. Copper shot is an eco­ friendly option with good performance, comparable to Hevi-Shot in price and effectiveness.

Beyond the Gear
Remember, success hinges on more than just equipment. Scouting is king. Spend time locating turkey sign, roosting areas, and feeding grounds. Observe their behavior and learn their language. Respect the hunt and follow ethical hunting practices. Understand and adhere to local regulations and bag limits. Prioritize safety and the well-being of both yourself and the turkeys. Turkey hunting is a waiting game, so remain calm, stay focused, and don’t get discouraged. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest, and relish the thrill of the chase and enjoy being out in nature.
By meticulously preparing your gear, honing your calling skills, and practicing responsible hunting methods, you’ll be ready to greet the dawn of turkey season with confidence.

Remember, the journey itself is a rewarding experience, filled with learning and appreciation for the outdoors. So, gear up, gobble up knowledge, and embrace the wild symphony of the spring woods. After all, the greatest trophy is the memory of a successful and ethical hunt.

Article research assisted by Copilot AI