The long-awaited wild turkey season officially starts April 23, and it'll stay with us until May 20. The Division of Wildlife predicts it'll be a good one, with big 4-year-old toms making up a majority of the kill. The question is: Will you be one of the lucky hunters?
Most of us know the basics. We pattern in the family shotgun, have proper camouflage clothing and know at least the rudiments of a hen cluck, but there are refinements. After years of interviewing state and national experts as well as by my own experience, I'd like to offer some of those refinements. They just might make the difference.
One expert who works for a major turkey call company had plenty of advice on this aspect of gobbler hunting.
"When I know there are birds around, hopefully fairly close, I like to start out with a few soft clucks and feeding calls," he said. "If there's no answer, I turn up the volume, and if I still hear no replies, I'll head uphill, across a ridge or to the other side of a clearing, and set up again."
When a bird answers his call, he hurries to get on the same plane because toms don't like to come far uphill or cross a ravine to reach a potential hen. They're more likely to come when it's a quick walk without climbing.
"Once he's near, it's time to play it by ear again," this veteran added, "using soft clucks and a feeding call. If the bird is cautious, replying occasionally, but not heading my way, it could be that the male already has a harem and won't leave it for one bird. So, I try to be several birds, using different calls and trying a mouth diaphragm while also using a slate call or other type.
"I get loud and aggressive, too, and sometimes those other hens will get curious and come over to see who's part of the new flock. The gobbler has to tag along, then."
When the bird is close, this champion caller goes back to soft clucks, then stops altogether, waiting quietly with his shotgun ready, and turns leaves over with his left hand to simulate a hen feeding in the ground cover.
"That scratching sound usually brings them right in."
What about decoys? Another expert who sells the imitation turkeys said (no surprise) he always uses a decoy or two, sometimes even half a dozen. A single hen often will bring in toms and frequently jakes, but a hen and a jake is better, and a good mix of each better yet.
Placement is important, too. He recommends hunters place their decoys about 15 to 20 yards out in the open and have the jakes and hens separate and facing each other.
"I've had big toms come in and flog the jake silhouettes half to pieces," he said. "It can be quite a show."
Another professional who's hunted turkeys in Ohio and many other states had words on how to find the big birds.
"If I'm hunting a new place and haven't had time to scout," he said, "I'll open before dawn with an owl call to try and get roosting birds to answer. When I get a reply, I'm going to move to the appropriate ridge top."
Why a ridge? Because he says you've got to make it as easy as possible for a tom to reach you. Some just won't bother to travel up and down a ravine heading your way. Gobbler strutting grounds often are on a nice flat ridge, too, and that's an extra bonus. Once he's located some birds and gotten to the right ridge, he takes a minute or two to find a good place to sit, usually against a large tree and opens up with a few friction calls, which is the call he likes best. He then lets opportunity take its course.
Here's a final thought. Every one of these veterans stressed scouting, scouting and more scouting. From season's beginning to season's end, take time during the afternoon to look for feeding areas and roosting spots. Scratches in the leaves, droppings, fallen feathers and more are indications of turkey presence, and such knowledge is a key to success.
"It's legwork that really makes the difference," one explained.
by Dick Martin
Most of us know the basics. We pattern in the family shotgun, have proper camouflage clothing and know at least the rudiments of a hen cluck, but there are refinements. After years of interviewing state and national experts as well as by my own experience, I'd like to offer some of those refinements. They just might make the difference.
One expert who works for a major turkey call company had plenty of advice on this aspect of gobbler hunting.
"When I know there are birds around, hopefully fairly close, I like to start out with a few soft clucks and feeding calls," he said. "If there's no answer, I turn up the volume, and if I still hear no replies, I'll head uphill, across a ridge or to the other side of a clearing, and set up again."When a bird answers his call, he hurries to get on the same plane because toms don't like to come far uphill or cross a ravine to reach a potential hen. They're more likely to come when it's a quick walk without climbing.
"Once he's near, it's time to play it by ear again," this veteran added, "using soft clucks and a feeding call. If the bird is cautious, replying occasionally, but not heading my way, it could be that the male already has a harem and won't leave it for one bird. So, I try to be several birds, using different calls and trying a mouth diaphragm while also using a slate call or other type.
"I get loud and aggressive, too, and sometimes those other hens will get curious and come over to see who's part of the new flock. The gobbler has to tag along, then."
When the bird is close, this champion caller goes back to soft clucks, then stops altogether, waiting quietly with his shotgun ready, and turns leaves over with his left hand to simulate a hen feeding in the ground cover.
"That scratching sound usually brings them right in."
What about decoys? Another expert who sells the imitation turkeys said (no surprise) he always uses a decoy or two, sometimes even half a dozen. A single hen often will bring in toms and frequently jakes, but a hen and a jake is better, and a good mix of each better yet.
Placement is important, too. He recommends hunters place their decoys about 15 to 20 yards out in the open and have the jakes and hens separate and facing each other."I've had big toms come in and flog the jake silhouettes half to pieces," he said. "It can be quite a show."
Another professional who's hunted turkeys in Ohio and many other states had words on how to find the big birds.
"If I'm hunting a new place and haven't had time to scout," he said, "I'll open before dawn with an owl call to try and get roosting birds to answer. When I get a reply, I'm going to move to the appropriate ridge top."
Why a ridge? Because he says you've got to make it as easy as possible for a tom to reach you. Some just won't bother to travel up and down a ravine heading your way. Gobbler strutting grounds often are on a nice flat ridge, too, and that's an extra bonus. Once he's located some birds and gotten to the right ridge, he takes a minute or two to find a good place to sit, usually against a large tree and opens up with a few friction calls, which is the call he likes best. He then lets opportunity take its course.
Here's a final thought. Every one of these veterans stressed scouting, scouting and more scouting. From season's beginning to season's end, take time during the afternoon to look for feeding areas and roosting spots. Scratches in the leaves, droppings, fallen feathers and more are indications of turkey presence, and such knowledge is a key to success.
"It's legwork that really makes the difference," one explained.
by Dick Martin
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