Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Let's see if we can get a thread going of some tips to kill more birds this year that has nothing to do with calling. Lots of new hunters could benefit and even some old dogs can learn new tricks.

Mine is don't negate scratching in the leaves when a gobbler is within 100 yards or so. Maybe further if it's quiet. In the MS big woods this has killed me several birds. Scratch (when he can't see you) to the cadence of scratch-scratch....scratch. Repeat.

Hard to mess that up even as a novice. It's something normal and calming for them to hear that has nothing to do with yapping away on your call to him.

What else?

Patience.....resist the urge to move when things are quiet.

Quote from: northms on February 09, 2022, 10:09:11 PM
Let's see if we can get a thread going of some tips to kill more birds this year that has nothing to do with calling. Lots of new hunters could benefit and even some old dogs can learn new tricks.

Mine is don't negate scratching in the leaves when a gobbler is within 100 yards or so. Maybe further if it's quiet. In the MS big woods this has killed me several birds. Scratch (when he can't see you) to the cadence of scratch-scratch....scratch. Repeat.

Hard to mess that up even as a novice. It's something normal and calming for them to hear that has nothing to do with yapping away on your call to him.

What else?

I believe your dead on with the scratching. I've had real good success from just scratching in the leaves without calling, especially around mid day and the afternoons. I've also had success with just slowing down the pace, maybe sounding like a turkey walking myself instead of just hauling fast around the woods. I learned my lesson many years ago from walking to fast and running up on birds I didn't see until it was too late. "northms" is this a good post. It'll be interesting to see what others have to say.


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Don't go back home. If you can get a bird to gobble in the afternoon you'll be more likely to get him.

Load the gun.... :o

Practice shooting off hand.

Quote from: strut on February 09, 2022, 10:34:41 PM
Load the gun.... :o

This sounds painful haha. I've had a shell snap on me before. Not fun.

Do your scouting. Your odds of success go way up when you're hunting where the birds are


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Hunt alone the creek bottoms, those places usually green up first ...

Set up some camo screen/netting in front of you. It hides your movements, including those you will make during your morning nap!

Practice shooting left hand, if your right handed

Stay out there as long as you can. My 2 MO birds were killed at 10:35 and noon last year. Both mornings my roost hunt plans didn't exactly go the way I'd envisioned.

Scouting and Knowing where they like to be, get a head of them and wait

Don't miss

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Set up. If you don't have this no calling will work. In some cases, its all you ever need.

Calling is neat but the set up is meat!


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Bobcat

Silence is golden, don't make noises that don't belong in the turkey woods

Don't be afraid to leave him versus staying there and messing him up. I cant hunt them like deer and just set there so if he's  not cooperating I'll slip out and try him again later.

Might sound stupid, but listen to the people on this forum, there is a wealth of knowledge here and they were instrumental in helping me get my first turkey 2 seasons ago. Thanks again all.

Never hunt where there are no birds.

NEVER EVER GIVE UP!
Hunt as long as your law will allow to the bitter end...

Pay attention. Picking up on small details and patterns can make a huge difference. Also have a good attitude. Its spring and the time of year many of us highlight on our calendar. Appreciate it every minute of it even if you are currently getting your hindparts handed to you by the turkeys.

Hunt every day you can no matter the weather. Rain, snow, wind or whatever.

Know the terrain your hunting and what is between you and the bird your working and don't be afraid to move on him if necessary.

Quote from: ol bob on February 10, 2022, 09:02:53 AM
Never hunt where there are no birds.

:D  ...And conversely, hunt where there are lots of birds (preferably dumb ones)...and no other hunters   ;D

Work methodically through the woods and do not blow through it. Just cause he does not gobble right away does not mean he is not there.

One tip on set up. The set up will make or break killing the bird. Ideally, (not always possible) try to have some obstruction (hill, rise in terrain, brush pile, thick trees) of some sort where the bird can't see you (the hen) until he gets 40 yards from you. This is why often times setting up on the side of a field and trying to call a bird to you without decoys can be an exercise in frustration.

In hill country if you can get just over the crest of a rise and call him to you where he's within gun range as soon as he pop his head over....that's perfect. But don't expect him to keep walking all the way into your set up if he can visually look and see there is no hen there.

just like selling real estate. location, location, location. KNOW YOUR AREA and where to set up. Knowing what is between you and the bird is VERY important. and like others have said....stay patient, stay still and don't be afraid of the bird. calling a bird is rewarding and listening to him respond will help you know how to call to him. listen and learn. I've been doing this a long time and every year I think I learn something new. It just never gets old.

Pay attention to other critters making noise. Squirrels, blue jays, crows etc. sometimes when they are fussing they are fussing at turkeys.

Time in the woods:
If you see turkey sign and/or have been hearing birds in an area in recent weeks, be assured the birds are still there - even on the days you are not hearing turkey talk.  They ARE there, hearing and/or seeing all that you do well and all that you do poorly.  If time permits, slow down and hunt later into the morning.  You'll bump less birds and you never know what will flip the switch on a previously quiet bird (be it the hen(s) leaving to nest, weather change, etc.).  I've actually killed way more birds after 8:30 in the morning than I have off the roost.  You likely won't hear as much vocalization, but when you do get one going in late morning, in my experience, he is likely to be taking a ride home with you.

Setup:
As others have said, this is a huge difference maker between just talking to birds vs. killing them.  Always use terrain and cover to the extent possible to make it so the gobbler is unable to see you until he is very nearly or already in range.  If he can see your calling position from a far and does not see a hen there, it is likely he will not close the distance.  You will become amazed at how well they pinpoint your calling location.  If you have chosen your setup well and are totally motionless, trust your camo.  I've had some birds pass within a few yards of me and never known I was there.

Gun/Choke/Load Choices:
I have way more choke tubes and turkey load types than I will be able to shoot up in my remaining lifetime.  It is important to pattern your shotgun to know the POI vs POA, and to know what kind of pattern density that you will get from a given choke and load combo.  I get a great deal of enjoyment experimenting with various gun/choke/load combinations during the off season.  BUT...  when it actually comes to killing a bird, you really do not NEED the capability provided by the technology of todays chokes and advanced loads.  IMO, if you are truly keeping your shots WITHIN 40 yards, the high performance offered by todays loads and chokes can even be a bit of a handicap.  Patterns can be so tight that it is easier to miss birds that work in very close, or move their head just as you are squeezing the trigger, or you may not be as steady if you are twisted like a pretzel while trying to shoot.  If the vast majority of your shots are within 40 yards, you can get by with and possibly even be better equipped with old school type lead turkey loads and less choke restriction than loads and chokes that are capable of totally shredding a 10" circle at 40 yards.  The advanced loads and chokes shine in situations where a 40 plus yard shot may be taken or in sub gages.

Calls and Other Equipment:
IMO, you may be better off to spend your money on a couple of very well made calls than on buying large quantities of cheaper commercially available calls.  Tote two or three well made, great sounding calls that you can use well versus carrying large numbers of cheaper calls.  In general, I've really paired down the number of calls and or other equipment that I tote around versus what I carried in my early days of hunting.

Good luck and check into this forum frequently - great advice and entertainment can be found here.

ODT

I'm not telling any of friends where I seen all the Turkeys.

Preparation and adaptation.

Another thing on set ups. Always try to set up in the darkest shade possible with the sun to your back. Remember , a gobbler will very seldom walk in to you head on. Most times he will come to the left or right. Be sure to make sure you can shoot in a full 180 without much obstruction. If you can see him bet your last buck he dang sure can see you. Move very slow and smooth. You move in a jerky motion , most times your done.

Never think to yourself that you have on figured out

Keep movement to a minimum, otherwise you will miss out on all those silent birds that were sneaking into gun range.

Make friends with farmers who have free ranging broad breasted bronze turkeys


This subspecies seems to require the least realistic calling I have ever hunted

  Get near the Top of the Mountain on the Southeast  Facing side early.

Quote from: crow on February 10, 2022, 03:54:14 PM
Make friends with farmers who have free ranging broad breasted bronze turkeys


This subspecies seems to require the least realistic calling I have ever hunted

:TooFunny: :fud: :OGani: :TooFunny:

Sit in a spot turkeys want to be!

Quote from: crow on February 10, 2022, 03:54:14 PM
Make friends with farmers who have free ranging broad breasted bronze turkeys


This subspecies seems to require the least realistic calling I have ever hunted

Does the farmer's wife count also... that is making friends .... :TooFunny:

 Very good tips. Most of the best are already in print right here in this thread. I will add mine

When setting up "I am left handed" when I set down imagine beIng squared up with where you know the turkey is at. I turn my body slightly to the left. Have my right knee at 10 o'clock to the turkey with my gun across it. This gives me a little wiggle room if the turkey comes in left, but my right side I can swing until I hit the tree I am setting against.

If it's far left I switch hands easily.

Lots of good tips guys.

Team up.   Someone sitting back and calling has been the death of many turkeys.  He can hang up at 75 yards if the shooter is 40 yards from you. 

 They can peck you on the ear and kick sand in your face. Durn'em

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Always have a spare


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I have an old piece of camouflage material 8 inches wide by 18inches long. The size is not important. I take it in both hands, pull it back and forth between my arms, kind of snapping it.... It makes a perfect wing-beating sound. That coupled with moving my feet in the leaves has killed the toughest gobblers in my years. No calling, I hear a gobble, that's all I do. Works unreal.....

Quote from: Ol timer on February 10, 2022, 01:38:02 PM
I'm not telling any of friends where I seen all the Turkeys.

You saw turkeys?   Not sure what they look like

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

Do your pre-season gun and load checks every year.
Settle on one choke and one specific load based on pattern testing for each gun you intend to use. Do not vary ammo, chokes, or optics without thoroughly proofing out an acceptable pattern. Even if you make no changes from season to season, shoot a test pattern pre-season to assure your firearm is still on target and lethal.

GunRunner
  :turkey:

Boots on the ground before season,  walk every road you can before season. Gotta find tracks and mark them on your map.  Do not be the guy who rides a road, shuts off the truck and whales on a crow call or hoot tube  then jump back in the truck and drive off.  Bitds know the sound of vehicles. Especially on gravel roads.  They will shut up when they hear that.  Turkey chairs will allow you to sit longer then turkey vests.  Don't forget a pair of hand snips in your vest.   2 thermacells and refills.  Keep a close eye on weather conditions and barometric pressure.  Makes notes of that.

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

Wear dark socks if you hunt in hiking boots - when sitting the socks will most likely be a little visible - white sure sticks out!!????

Quote from: WV Flopper on February 10, 2022, 06:38:59 PM
Very good tips. Most of the best are already in print right here in this thread. I will add mine

When setting up "I am left handed" when I set down imagine beIng squared up with where you know the turkey is at. I turn my body slightly to the left. Have my right knee at 10 o'clock to the turkey with my gun across it. This gives me a little wiggle room if the turkey comes in left, but my right side I can swing until I hit the tree I am setting against.

If it's far left I switch hands easily.

Lots of good tips guys.

This! Not sitting like this (but inverse for right handed) definitely costed me a couple of gobblers in the past. Hard to believe they don't come in the exact direction you expect, right!  ::)

 More than once when I first started turkey hunting. I had gobblers answer me from behind. Some close some far but my inexperience told me to sit still. I lost a few because they came on in right behind me and I was stuck. Couldn't move and or had them bust me because I tried. You can bet youre TSS that if one answers from behind, I'll be turning around immediately. Of course, this depends on if I think I can without being seen.

At the very least run a rear sight. That old adage, "You don't aim shotguns," has no bearing in the turkey woods.


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Pretty simple one, but my brother after giving him a good spot to go to kepttelling me he wasn't hearing any birds.I finally found out he was not hitting the woods until nine o'clock and they had already gone quiet.Get out early especially if you going into a new spot to pinpoint birds.

Hunting in more states. 


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Learn how to read Topo maps and what terrain features birds like to use


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Be patient when listening for the first bird or the one your after to fire off on the roost in the mornings. I painstakingly snuck into a spot last year where a gobbler and hens had been roosting. I got in early and quiet. At light I waited and heard nothing until finally a bird gobbled a few hundred yards away. I stood up to go to him and blew all the turkeys out of the trees right where I was sitting.  That one hurt real bad. If I had just sat there I would have been in the money.


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Walk and sound like a deer or turkey. GO slow when you need to go fast when you need to.

Do your homework. Scout, watch them fly up the night before, get in early and let them fly down right in front of you.

Quote from: freakyhen on February 12, 2022, 10:02:54 AM
Learn how to read Topo maps and what terrain features birds like to use


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That is great advice for many areas.  In FL or where I hunt it doesn't much apply.

Quote from: Will on February 10, 2022, 08:50:42 PM
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Always have a spare


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Invest in a good butt cushion.

Create a network of non hunting property owners. They can help us pattern, know numbers of birds on a piece of ground. They may even know roost areas. Hunting pressure and often by whom. Having several of these can help keep us on birds the entire season. Sending a Christmas card won't hurt either. Trapping their place will help you both.

Another that is calling related. We can often prime Toms on the roost the evening prior to the next morning with great success. Hard clucks often start a fire.

I consider scratching a call, and i know its already been mentioned. very effective tool no doubt. patience is key...chances are if you killed in excess of 30 eastern gobblers in the woods you have patience so thats nothing new. scouting.....well, thats a tough one. I try to actually stay out of the woods as much as possible in the weeks leading up to turkey season...i know many do not do that. Here is my take on that. If you know where a winter flock is pretty consistently during deer season, especially in the southern eastern timber...theres only so many draines and places they can really spread out to. I do listen before season and try to locate birds, but i save most of my scouting for in season....i dont go walking around in the woods i plan on hunting , and on many years some of the winter birds havent quiet busted up yet anyway by the opener so any scouting you would have done would be short lived anyway. I do listen like i said, my form of scouting is during deer season. I learn the woods during deer season or at least by scouting before or after deer season. I take notes of turkeys i see in deer season, and look at areas from an aerial view to determine spots they could potentially be in when its time to listen. I may go in the woods to listen...but i try to keep my distance from the turkeys i plan on hunting. There may be better methods of scouting, but its pretty difficult in many of the places i hunt to find good sign even in places where i know there is turkeys. Not per say muddy roads and such all the time. This may not be good advice for all areas, but in the places i hunt this has payed off verses walking  entire blocks of timber the week before the opener.....this is by no means out of laziness, trust me id love to burn some boots up, its more so out of caution

Quote from: WildTigerTrout on February 10, 2022, 04:39:09 PM

Quote from: crow on February 10, 2022, 03:54:14 PM
Make friends with farmers who have free ranging broad breasted bronze turkeys


This subspecies seems to require the least realistic calling I have ever hunted

:TooFunny: :fud: :OGani: :TooFunny:

This is funny stuff right!  And good advice. ;D

Quote from: Gooserbat on February 13, 2022, 12:09:24 AM
Invest in a good butt cushion.

Gooser knows his stuff  :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 12, 2022, 11:31:13 PM

Quote from: Will on February 10, 2022, 08:50:42 PM
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Always have a spare


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:morning: Hey what you all laughing about  ??? ::)

Quote from: dzsmith on February 13, 2022, 08:32:37 AM
I consider scratching a call, and i know its already been mentioned. very effective tool no doubt. patience is key...chances are if you killed in excess of 30 eastern gobblers in the woods you have patience so thats nothing new. scouting.....well, thats a tough one. I try to actually stay out of the woods as much as possible in the weeks leading up to turkey season...i know many do not do that. Here is my take on that. If you know where a winter flock is pretty consistently during deer season, especially in the southern eastern timber...theres only so many draines and places they can really spread out to. I do listen before season and try to locate birds, but i save most of my scouting for in season....i dont go walking around in the woods i plan on hunting , and on many years some of the winter birds havent quiet busted up yet anyway by the opener so any scouting you would have done would be short lived anyway. I do listen like i said, my form of scouting is during deer season. I learn the woods during deer season or at least by scouting before or after deer season. I take notes of turkeys i see in deer season, and look at areas from an aerial view to determine spots they could potentially be in when its time to listen. I may go in the woods to listen...but i try to keep my distance from the turkeys i plan on hunting. There may be better methods of scouting, but its pretty difficult in many of the places i hunt to find good sign even in places where i know there is turkeys. Not per say muddy roads and such all the time. This may not be good advice for all areas, but in the places i hunt this has payed off verses walking  entire blocks of timber the week before the opener.....this is by no means out of laziness, trust me id love to burn some boots up, its more so out of caution

An older gentleman on this forum posted something along the lines of this last year. Silvestris, I think he was quoting from a book when he said' "The number one sin in Turkey hunting is letting them know you exist".

That statement fits well into my style of hunting. Public land during the mid to late season pressured birds tend find areas that are hard to access. I'm constantly on the search for these areas. When I find them in spot like this there is a good chance nobody is hunting them. I will do everything in my power to make sure make sure they have no idea there is a hunter after them. If it don't happen that day I wont force the issue because I will be back! I'll live to fight another day with hopes that other hunters don't find the birds I'm hunting and the birds will still think they area is somewhat safe and will continue to use it.

I would imagine a strategy like this would greatly benefit an exclusive private land hunter even more.

 I'd like to add my preseason scouting is done from the road,with my ears, if I can help it. I'll study the area on topo and satellite imagery. Boots on the ground usually don't come into play until hunting season.

Scouting during the season usually consists of going into an area blind and hunting.

Quote from: Gooserbat on February 13, 2022, 12:09:24 AM
Invest in a good butt cushion.

Amen to that!


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When it's slow, cover ground, ive had several completely dead mornings that went from zero right into finding a screaming hot bird after double digit miles.

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Fluids and snacks.

I pack two Gatorades with me, jerky and the large rice crispy treats. You can't hurt jerky and you can mash the rice crispy's without hurting them.

About 10 o'clock I am looking for something to eat. If I don't have, it is on my mind. So derail the hungry belly and carry some snacks.

I have been regulated by 12:00 cut off laws most of my life. When I get out of state and don't get back to the truck until the afternoon I set and have a sandwich and drink before I ever start my ride.

Don't go this year where youtubers went last year.

Dead on target, scratching leaves to birds that answer but won't come to your calling has gave me several happy endings.
Also watching behind you has added more filled kill tags.
I've had numerous toms go quiet and circle behind my hide.

Woodsmanship: Defined as the essential skillset of the outdoorsmen/hunter.

The best woodsmen have extensive knowledge about their targeted quarry. They learn their hunting areas intimately and interpret animal sign almost unconsciously. Learn turkey biology, understand their habits, and the social structure of turkeys. Patience and persistence fall into this as well.


MK M GOBL

Appreciate all the tips! Lots of good info!

Quote from: paboxcall on February 13, 2022, 07:57:51 PM
Don't go this year where youtubers went last year.

Lol unfortunately this is probably pretty good advice!


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Learn how and be willing to belly crawl when needed. Even crouching provides a silhouette of you while moving that turkeys can pick up quickly from a distance. When you crawl into a position, you use the ground cover to effectively hide your movements.

Get in the woods early!  If your not situated well before daylight you are putting yourself at a disadvantage.  I've had too many mornings to count where an eager gobbler lets one rip 45 minutes before sunrise and gives me plenty of time to move in on him. 

Call from where he wants to go.

Your setups matter! Make sure you can shoot at all angles if needed!


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I'm really fortunate to have an odd schedule with a lot of weekdays off to hunt. There's always way less people around during the week on public ground.

When I get a bird located in the ground I make an aggressive setup so that I can be aggressively patient.
So many times I think we either hang way too far back and call, or just  set up and walk Away after 15 minutes of silence.

If the bird is gobbling hard every call I'll call back at him; otherwise I'm doing soft calls and scraping the leaves and waiting. Most times if you sit long enough silent and then give a series of cuts he will gobble wherever he walked off to so you can set up again.

Lots of good advice found in this thread. 

Here's another one that hasn't been brought up yet (I think):  (This advice applies more in situations where the hunter is moving and calling rather than sitting in one spot). Don't hunt with the mindset of always sitting when you set up.  There are times when you are better off either standing, or even laying prone.  Always evaluate the immediate conditions you face if you think a gobbler will come to the location you are calling from. 

For instance, in open woods with little ground cover, laying prone will greatly decrease the chances of being detected by an approaching gobbler. 

On the other hand, in "hilly" or rolling terrain, and/or terrain with a lot of waist-high ground cover, sometimes it is best to remain standing and just tuck yourself in behind a tree or bush that has adequate growth on it to break up your outline.  Your line of vision will not only be cleared of the ground cover, but your shooting distance for a gobbler that may be approaching through "undulating" terrain will likely be increased, as well.

Before just plopping down on your rear end on any given set-up, take a moment to ask yourself,..."would I be better off laying prone or standing in these conditions rather than sitting?"     :icon_thumright:

When you're areas aren't producing, try somewhere different even if it's well hunted state land. So many guys hunt the same spots over and over again and when they're not hearing gobbles blame everything but themselves. Things change and good spots stop being good for no apparent reason. That doesn't necessarily mean the number are low and the predators got them all. You can drive 20 minutes away and find turkeys.


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Quote from: Will on February 10, 2022, 08:50:42 PM
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Always have a spare


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I remember seeing these advertised when I was just a kid flipping through my dads hunting magazines. I'd love to find one to keep as a conversation piece!


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Hunt where the birds have never encountered an artificial  turkey call nor another human LOL. They'll run in to you!!! Being a bit facetious perhaps. The more you deviate from this, the more "challenging" it becomes.

I agree with the above post about hunting where turkeys haven't heard a call or been pressured. Opening day my son and I are going to run the boat 10-15 minutes up the river where we know birds are roosting. Find one gobbling, quietly go to shore, and set up. Try to avoid other people.

If you shoot high dollar shells (and $3 per shell is high dollar to me), when you have your gun all set up and shooting right on, shoot some cheap dove or target loads at about 15 yards. This will tell you where your gun hits with those cheap shells when it is right on with the turkey loads. They don't always hit in the same spot as your magnum turkey shell.

Then if you ever suspect your sight is off, for whatever reason, you can check POA/POI with the cheaper shell and not have to use up your good turkey shells. You can even get the gun back close to right on with the cheap shells if you do need to re-sight in. Maybe just shoot 1 turkey load to confirm any adjustment.

Same goes for guys that just shoot beads and no sight. You can practice from various positions (like extreme right or left, or off-handed) with cheap shells if you know where they should be hitting in relation to your turkey load. Costs less and is less punishing on the shoulder too.

Quote from: Tony Hawkins on February 15, 2022, 05:38:35 PM
I agree with the above post about hunting where turkeys haven't heard a call or been pressured. Opening day my son and I are going to run the boat 10-15 minutes up the river where we know birds are roosting. Find one gobbling, quietly go to shore, and set up. Try to avoid other people.

as a kid, and even today, i'd be super pumped for that hunt

good luck!!!