Becoming a better turkey hunter...

[silvestris]

BowBendr has it figured out.  Turkeys have a language.  If they did not, they would have no vocal chords.  Nature does not tolerate useless characteristics.  Learning the language is a lifetime endeavor.  It is relatively easy to learn to produce turkey sounds; it is extremely difficult to know what, when and how to produce those sounds to consistently attract gobblers, hence the shortcut gimmicks.

[fallhnt]

Hunting spring and fall made me the killer I am today.

[MK M GOBL]

There is a lot that will make you a better hunter by learning and adapting to the situation. I am pretty much the self taught version, no one I knew turkey hunted. Learned a bit from some of those old Primos Truth VHS Videos. You sound like you have an excellent source of information to learn from. I have learned a lot of my turkey hunting skills by learning turkeys, from the biological and social order structure these birds live by from day to day. Woodsmanship is a big player in this game and some calling skills. No matter how much I have learned I always listen to others on what works for them, I work in the business and hunt stories are part of my job

This post summed it up 100%!

The 3 things I have learned to be a better turkey hunter is
1. Patience
2. Be where the turkey wants to go
3. Know when to shut up

What I would add in "Success requires a positive mental outlook" which is all about confidence. Would really say it took me 5 years till I had this in my head.

MK M GOBL

[chcltlabz]

I hunted for quite a few years by tagging along behind my father.  Shot a few birds, thought I learned a few things, but I never learned a thing until I started hunting on my own.  Until you are the one calling the shots, talking the language and making all the decisions, you're just pulling the trigger.

The ultimate teacher is making mistakes.  How do you know how close you can get until you got too close?  I go through this every spring where I think I'm too close, only to find out I'm not nearly close enough.

I'll throw a little twist into this from my style of hunting.

Patience kills time, not always turkeys.  If I wanted to sit in one spot all day, I'd be deer hunting.  Burn some boot leather and find the bird that's ready to play.  Having that bird sneaking in silent is great, but not nearly as exciting as that full strut, gobbling, spitting, drumming, slobbering bird that almost runs you over he's so horny.  THOSE are the hunts that are burned into my mind's eye.

Where a turkey wants to be changes, so if you spend too much time where you think they want to be, it won't be where they want to be anymore.  I watch countless guys every year set up their decoy spreads where they see birds strutting.  I call it goose hunting for turkeys.  I'm sure they kill some birds, but how many of them get to really experience turkey hunting?  I say, be where they are willing to go, and make them think that you are where they want to be.

Knowing when to shut up is great and has its time, but I say know when to lay it on them, and HOW to get them really fired up.  Playing hard to get kills some birds, but playing hard to resist kills a lot more.

I would say the critical link in any type of hunting is whatever factor you are in need of.  If you're a poor caller, its easy to say that calling isn't that important, and vice versa.  Get out from under people's wing and learn your style and what works best for you.

[Crawl79]

Yes you have to be where turkeys want to be, but if he isn't there or not talking I am the type of hunter that will use my boots and go find him.

I have also learned if he doesn't want to play go find one that is, and if not can always come back later to check if he is ready to play.

Turkeys talk to each other... sometimes a little other times allot. I have calls and plan on using them to kill birds. But every situation and place is different. Have to figure out what works not only for you but for that particular place and time.

But take my advice with a grain of salt, I have become fairly proficient at filling tags but with allot of luck, work and allot more mistakes that I am hopefully learning from.

[cuttinAR]

I can sympathize with you on the decision making.  I'm self taught and I remember in those early years my head would be spinning when trying to find the right setup, if I should move, etc.  Over time it will become easier just through experience and confidence gained but when you find yourself all mixed up, take a few seconds to just slow down.  Most times you'll have the time to figure things out.  Also, if you strike a gobbler lay off him until you are confident in your setup. 

Biggest thing to remember is SLOW DOWN!!!

[turkey_slayer]

I hunted for quite a few years by tagging along behind my father.  Shot a few birds, thought I learned a few things, but I never learned a thing until I started hunting on my own.  Until you are the one calling the shots, talking the language and making all the decisions, you're just pulling the trigger.

The ultimate teacher is making mistakes.  How do you know how close you can get until you got too close?  I go through this every spring where I think I'm too close, only to find out I'm not nearly close enough.

I'll throw a little twist into this from my style of hunting.

Patience kills time, not always turkeys.  If I wanted to sit in one spot all day, I'd be deer hunting.  Burn some boot leather and find the bird that's ready to play.  Having that bird sneaking in silent is great, but not nearly as exciting as that full strut, gobbling, spitting, drumming, slobbering bird that almost runs you over he's so horny.  THOSE are the hunts that are burned into my mind's eye.

Where a turkey wants to be changes, so if you spend too much time where you think they want to be, it won't be where they want to be anymore.  I watch countless guys every year set up their decoy spreads where they see birds strutting.  I call it goose hunting for turkeys.  I'm sure they kill some birds, but how many of them get to really experience turkey hunting?  I say, be where they are willing to go, and make them think that you are where they want to be.

Knowing when to shut up is great and has its time, but I say know when to lay it on them, and HOW to get them really fired up.  Playing hard to get kills some birds, but playing hard to resist kills a lot more.

I would say the critical link in any type of hunting is whatever factor you are in need of.  If you're a poor caller, its easy to say that calling isn't that important, and vice versa.  Get out from under people's wing and learn your style and what works best for you.

I don't think I've ever read something that fits me to a tee so perfect as to your post. Very well said and love this sentence
"I say, be where they are willing to go, and make them think that you are where they want to be"
I've never been able to ask a bird where he's going. I'm a little shy tho 

[JK Spurs]

I hunted for quite a few years by tagging along behind my father.  Shot a few birds, thought I learned a few things, but I never learned a thing until I started hunting on my own.  Until you are the one calling the shots, talking the language and making all the decisions, you're just pulling the trigger.

The ultimate teacher is making mistakes.  How do you know how close you can get until you got too close?  I go through this every spring where I think I'm too close, only to find out I'm not nearly close enough.

I'll throw a little twist into this from my style of hunting.

Patience kills time, not always turkeys.  If I wanted to sit in one spot all day, I'd be deer hunting.  Burn some boot leather and find the bird that's ready to play.  Having that bird sneaking in silent is great, but not nearly as exciting as that full strut, gobbling, spitting, drumming, slobbering bird that almost runs you over he's so horny.  THOSE are the hunts that are burned into my mind's eye.

Where a turkey wants to be changes, so if you spend too much time where you think they want to be, it won't be where they want to be anymore.  I watch countless guys every year set up their decoy spreads where they see birds strutting.  I call it goose hunting for turkeys.  I'm sure they kill some birds, but how many of them get to really experience turkey hunting?  I say, be where they are willing to go, and make them think that you are where they want to be.

Knowing when to shut up is great and has its time, but I say know when to lay it on them, and HOW to get them really fired up.  Playing hard to get kills some birds, but playing hard to resist kills a lot more.

I would say the critical link in any type of hunting is whatever factor you are in need of.  If you're a poor caller, its easy to say that calling isn't that important, and vice versa.  Get out from under people's wing and learn your style and what works best for you.

Everyone that has replied to this post have provided great info but this one is fantastic!. Thanks everyone...I'm addicted to the OG Forum!

[VAHUNTER]

one thing is for sure. you will not learn if you are not in the woods.
like others have stated. you learn more and find what works for you by flying solo.

you will make mistakes but if you pay attention you will learn from them.
Fall hunting is a great time to be in the turkey woods. birds are very vocal in the fall.
you will have a opportunity hear and learn every call in a turkey vocabulary.

[Fan Club]

flying solo...you will make mistakes but if you pay attention you will learn from them.

This is about as boiled down as it gets. Everyone needs a mentor or a place to start, ie;  (following Dad).  But the turkeys always have been and always will be the best teachers. Learn their daily routines, habits, their language and their body language.

You will eventually find whatever hunting method suits you best!

[TRG3]

I've been a turkey hunter for nearly 30 years. After watching umpteen hunting videos, almost all of which have a guide making all of the decisions, even telling the "hunter" when to shoot, I always ask "Well, Mr. Hunter, what did you learn from this hunting trip?" I'm afraid that the "hunter" learned that success equals bagging a turkey and to do so you have to pay someone to provide the expertise needed for you to succeed. For me, bagging the turkey is only worthwhile if it is me who did it on my own. That's not to say that I don't do a lot of reading and watching videos to gain knowledge, but the knowledge that I take to the field is what I judge to be worthy to try out, modifying it as necessary from the experiences that I have. For instance, for the first 10 years that I hunted turkeys, I only took one bird every 2-3 years on three permits annually. I could seldom get the gobbler to come in the last few yards needed to be in range. Then one day I read an article by Ray Eye that pointed out the peck order within a flock of turkeys and suggested that calling to challenge the gobblers and hens in the flock could result in bagging more toms. To my pleasant surprise, with a Pretty Boy gobbler decoy and a couple of hen decoys I started filling two and often three tags annually by sounding like an intruder gobbler that was challenging all other gobblers for the right to breed the new hens that had also moved into the area. The answers to being a better turkey hunter are out there, just waiting for us to find and try them. For me, the joy of hunting is trying to meet the challenge to take the animal for which I'm after.

[tha bugman]

Sounds like you are well on your way!  A realization that you are student of an unending game.  I don't care what anyone says..the best turkey killers out there continue to get whipped at some point or another.  Letting the turkey teach you and learning from the mistake is what makes you better.  Remember, to you its a game to him its life itself. Oh, and by the way it is still OK to cuss and stomp and kick yourself in the rear parts and say "Dang it!  I knew I should have done something else!"   Its always post viewing the battlefield and seeing what happened afterwards is what makes you second guess your actions time and time again.quote author=JK Spurs link=topic=61761.msg602648#msg602648 date=1457799156]
My uncle introduced me to the sport years ago and I consider him one of the best, if not the best turkey hunters in our community. The state of PA is full of champion turkey hunters that are unknown in my eyes. My goal is to be considered among these gentleman that chase this beautiful elusive specimen each and every spring. I've killed a good number of birds, most that my uncle called in and some with outfitters, but over the past few years I've chose to run solo and I've found some success. It's made me a better hunter and forces you to make the decisions. I find decision making extremely difficult because often you have very little time to make the "right" decision. I'm always second guessing myself...should I call? Should I get closer? Is he close enough to shoot? This set up is bad...should I move to this tree? Should I use a decoy? I'm always running multiple scenarios in my head and by the time he's standing there presenting a shot I'm a hot mess! This year my goal is to relax, breath, live in the moment and make the best decision...then learn from that decision, whether it was right or wrong. How have you guys become a better turkey hunter over the years? Good luck and be safe this year.
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[boatpaddle]

Lots of good info. shared in this topic....

     The one thing, I've done for years is keep a log on my day to day hunts.

     1. I record the weather conditions before I go....
         a. Weather plays a huge role in this sport.
     2. How many gobblers, I heard.  What time were they gobbling....
     3. How many hens, I heard......Raspy or clear voices...
     4. How many other hunters in the area....How much calling they are doing & if I can tell, what calls, they were using...
     5. Gobblers worked and or killed.....
         a. Calls used & response from hen or gobblers.....
     6. I usually scout, while I'm out hunting.....Look for dusting sites, scratching, & water sources.
         a. Strut zones get marked on the topo.....
     7.  NEVER leave this book lay out around other turkey hunters....

      You get the idea...... That book holds those facts allot longer then my memory can....Reference is a great thing....

      These books get taken to camp after I'm gone......

      In parting wisdom......NEVER say NEVER, when dealing with turkeys !!!!!

      Best of luck to all of you.....