If
spring’s almost here, that means the spring turkey hunt is just
around the corner. It's time to brush up on turkey hunting tactics and make
sure that you’re prepared for the coming hunt. There are a few common mistakes
that turkey hunters, both beginning and experienced, seem to make every season.
These can be costly and troublesome mistakes; with the season just about to
start, you'll want to make sure you avoid them.
Not Scouting or Knowing Your Terrain
This
is likely the most common mistake turkey hunters make, as scouting can often
get tedious. If you want to even the playing field, scouting is one of the most
important factors in having a successful hunt. You can never know too much
about the turkey population or the lay of the land. Ask yourself a few simple
questions before you choose your hunting area: Does this area have a preferred
food source? Have you found movement patterns and strutting areas? Are there
any obstacles such as creeks or fences that could prevent turkeys from being
called in? Are there obvious signs that the area has been well-hunted by
others? By asking yourself questions such as these and putting in real time to
know your preferred hunting area, you'll be able to cross off quite a few
pitfalls that turkey hunters experience. Give yourself as much time as you can
afford to prepare properly and maximize your hunt.
Calling Too Much, Too Little, & Lacking Variety
Many
new turkey hunters have the tendency to call too often. This can sound
unnatural in many cases and can lead to you spooking away your gobblers.
Playing on the bird's curiosity can often lead to a better shot. It's just like
marriage -- sometimes you need to know when to shut up and listen. Though this
is a common mistake with new turkey hunters, the opposite is also true: calling
too little will also sound unnatural and could spook any potential birds. The
last thing you want to do is draw in a tom that is just out of range and not be
able to seal the deal. If you're heading out with only one type of call, you'll
probably want to have some other options. Most fisherman don't go fishing with
just one lure, they bring an entire tackle box full of options. You'll want to
have a few options as well, including [mouth, slate, and box
calls](https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting/decoys-calls-scents/calls/turkey-calls/c/cat100400). There isn't any secret pattern to calling turkeys, but if
you're just beginning, try using the strategy of playing hard to get. Start out
soft and test the waters a little. Give a few tree yelps, maybe a cluck or two
and some purrs. If your tom answers, wait about ten minutes before calling
again. Repeat the call again to verify that he's still in the same tree. Don't
call him too much when he's up there, you want him to come down. When you hear
him fly down or his gobble sounds a little more muffled you can make a fly-down
cackle, then use a few shot yelps so he knows you're interested. If he bites
and gobbles again, you'll know you’ve got his attention.
All Dressed Up with Nothing to Shoot
Let's
face it; most of us think that birds are rather oblivious and that a young tom
won't be able to distinguish one type of camo from another. Being [obsessive about your
camouflage](https://www.sportsmans.com/clothing/mens-outdoor/c/cat139692) is going to get you a lot farther in deceiving these birds.
Make sure that every part of you has some sort of camouflage; turkeys are great
at picking out lazy hunters who haven't applied face paint or
didn't put in the time or effort to properly hide themselves. Also, if you're
in a well-hunted area, be sure to have an article of blaze to keep yourself
safe, but hide it in your vest once you start calling.
Not Getting Up Early Enough
The
early bird might get the worm, but the lazy hunter won’t bag the turkey. You
need to have an early start if you want to make this a successful hunt. Calling
is most effective at daybreak. Roosts make a lot of noise when they come down
out of trees and that usually happens early in the morning. As a bonus, you'll
also be more likely to beat any other potential hunters to your preferred
hunting area.
Using Too Many Decoys
If
you're moving from waterfowl hunting to turkey hunting you may be shocked at
how few decoys you really need -- if any at all. If you're used to hauling in
bundles of decoys then you might have a hard time just setting out a few small
decoys. [Decoys are great in
the right scenarios](https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting/decoys-calls-scents/decoys/turkey-decoys/c/cat100391) and can really add to your hunt. You'll want to set them up
with some sort of obstruction or bend in order to get your gobbler into range.
There are also other reasons to use decoys sparingly. Decoys can add a lot of
weight to your vest; not to mention setting them up can also add time and noise
that may make your hunt all the harder. Set up decoys using the right angles so
that any turkey heading your way won't be scared off.
All in all, if you do your homework and prepare yourself for your hunt, you'll
have a good time and hopefully be able to call in a great bird. Give yourself
time to scout the area and make sure that you put in the time to practice
calls, dress in the proper camo, and make it to the hunting ground early.
Following these simple rules will give you the best chance to make your turkey
hunt successful.