Strategies For Successful Spring Turkey Hunting

Written by Ken Ayers

Thursday, 11 March 2010 08:54

by KenAyers

If you are an avid hunter then one of the first things you are thinking about as spring closes in on us is Spring Turkey hunting. If you are new to Turkey hunting you are probably looking to learn about some of the different strategies needed to be successful.

Many people pick early morning as the prime time to attempt spring turkey hunting and for good reason. Turkeys are active and seeking companionship directly upon waking and will gobble profusely. This gives you a chance to get in position and draw out a gobbler.

Once you do locate the birds you will want to figure out your game plan. Decide which way you think they will go once they come off of the roost. Slowly and quietly start moving to a good place to set up your decoys and set, about 100 to 200 yards from where the birds are roosting. Then set very quietly and listen for flapping wings as the Turkey fly down to the ground. The Toms will usually be very vocal at this point. Once they hit the ground they will be looking for hen yo hook up with. Give a couple of soft, quiet clucks to let them know you are there. If you are lucky they will walk toward you. I know... if your an avid Turkey hunter your saying "it's not luck it's skill" and you would be right. The more you practice your calls the easier it will be to trick the all elusive Turkey.

Early morning calling needs to be very limited and soft. Being over aggressive will alert a Tom that something isn't right. Turkeys may stop gobbling a few hours directly after daybreak, even in areas with an active population. That is because the toms have hit their mark and the turkeys are busy with companionship. At this point you can either move or sit tight until the toms start a search for another mate.

However, if you're patient, the hens will quickly go back to feeding or laying eggs, leaving a restless group of gobblers at your mercy for spring turkey hunting. You can be much more aggressive with your calling at this time of day, as the gobblers will run to almost anything that offers promise. Also, most hunters stick to an early morning schedule, meaning you have the hunt almost entirely to yourself.

In some states, turkey hunting is only allowed at certain times of the day. However, other areas offer all day spring turkey hunting and you can make your attempt in the afternoon and evening hours. This can be a challenging time to land a gobbler, as males don't talk much during this part of the day.

One final strategy a number of Turkey hunters use is to locate your turkey the night before you plan to hunt. Listen for turkey after they have flown into the trees. The next morning you know exactly where to go and how to set up.

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