A thunderous gobble shatters the pre-dawn silence and sends chills straight up your spine. Beads of sweat pool on your brow, a sure result of the anticipation of the ensuing hunt. Minutes later, that fat gobbler pitches from his limb and lands in the field beyond the decoys. A few soft yelps, and it stiff-legged struts right into the decoy spread. After a moderate display of bravery, it folds to a load of TSS.
The wild turkey is America’s most popular game bird. Each year, 2.5 million turkey hunters head afield to chase spring thunder. Other than whitetails, more hunters chase turkeys than any other North American species.
For those who’ve never went turkey hunting, or who haven’t experienced everything that it has to offer, it’s difficult to fathom just how adrenaline-rich it can be. If you’ve never seen the truest sights of the spring turkey season, or just want a fresh taste of it, check out the photo gallery below. It’s an example of the ultimate spring turkey hunt.
Turkey Tip: Set up with the sun at your back or perpendicular to your position.
The Playing Field
Choosing the right spot to set up and call to a gobbler is an important step in the process. Here, the author’s friend and Kentucky hunter, Logan Beach, ponders the right pick. Will he choose correctly?
Turkey Tip: Every situation is different, but a jake and hen decoy pairing is usually the best option.
Creating the Illusion
Calling without decoys can pull a bird right into range. However, a pair of proven decoys such as this H.S. Strut jake and Avian-X hen, can give that gobbler a visual to go with the sweet-nothings you send his way.
Turkey Tip: Set up with plenty of back and overhead cover, such as offered by the red cedar tree pictured here.
Gobble in the Distance
It’s important to take care of your hearing, which aids in hearing more turkey gobbles. But sourcing the direction of a heard gobble is a skill that takes time to develop. Here, Beach listens to a bird gobbling in the distance, which factored into how he set up for the hunt.
Turkey Tip: An open field close to a roost site is the ideal morning hunt location.
The Lay of the Land
The topography is ever-important in turkey hunting. Even a gently-rolling field can influence whether you see a turkey, or not. It also impacts whether turkeys can or can’t see you during your approach. It even impacts turkeys’ ability to see your decoy spread. Here, the decoys are positioned wisely.
Turkey Tip: Place decoys so they are visible to turkeys when they first enter the open.
Pieces in Motion
When you spot that turkey, gauge its dominance, mood, and more, based on its body language. This bird popped out, spotted the decoys, and immediately blew up into full strut. Game on.
Turkey Tip: A jake decoy plays on a dominant turkey's aggressive nature.
Attack Mode
Within seconds, the big dominant turkey covered 200 yards and bum-rushed the jake decoy. The presence of that male decoy stirred up the longbeard’s emotions enough to fight.
Turkey Tip: A hen decoy addresses a gobbler's innate desire to spread its genetics.
To Fight or To Love
Trying to decide between fighting or loving, this big gobbler went back and forth giving its attention to the jake and hen decoys. Eventually, it spent more time observing the hen.
Turkey Tip: Some hunters like shooting a front and back bead sight system. Others like a red dot sight or scope, such as this TruGlo atop the Savage 220 Turkey bolt-action shotgun.
A Mean Turkey Killing Machine
Beach was already ready for the shot, but a pair of decoys can keep the attention of a turkey long enough for hunters to get in position for shot opportunities. In this case, he shouldered that Savage 220 Turkey gun wearing that TruGlo red dot scope as soon as the gobbler appeared 250 yards away.
Turkey Tip: Wait until the turkey is out of strut before taking the shot.
The King of Spring
Few things are more charming than a full-strut gobbler with the light of a fresh sunrise in his eyes. Without question, the wild turkey is king of spring.
Turkey Tip: Learn the ins and outs of wild turkey body language to better understand America's favorite game bird.
Strutting His Stuff
The red, white, and blue of a turkey’s head is the icon of the species. Of course, that same head changes colors based on its emotions, mood, intentions, and more. Study the head coloration, in addition to its body language, to predict its next move.
Turkey Tip: Cheek down on that shotgun for accurate, consistent shooting.
Red Dot Meets Red Head
A red dot sight or red dot scope is the ideal sight system for turkey hunting. Paired with a sweet-shooting shotgun, it’ll fill turkey tags for years to come. It certainly did on this hunt.
Turkey Tip: Lead ammo in No. 4, 5, or 6 shot sizes, or TSS in No. 7 or 9 shot sizes, are the most popular selections. Try different options and see what patterns best with your shotgun.
Payload in Route
It’s a moment froze in time. The trigger has been pulled, but the turkey still lives. But in a millisecond, that turkey will be dead. (Pay close attention, and notice the wad of TSS shot barreling down on that turkey’s head and neck.)
Turkey Tip: Hold your bead or red dot just above the waddles at the bottom of the neck. This way, the top half of the pattern hits the head and upper neck, and the bottom half of the pattern strikes the lower neck.
Payload Delivered
A few leg kicks and wing flops, and that turkey is finished. A well-placed shot ethically bags the bird. It’s the climax to a time-honored tradition of putting wild turkey meat on the dinner table.
Turkey Tip: Always ensure the turkey is down before reaching down and grabbing the bird. (Those spurs are sharp, and can be dangerous.)
The Walk of Fame
The initial walk up to that downed gobbler is always full of anticipation. Is he down? How big is that beard? What length are the spurs? How heavy is that bird? These things and more run through the mind of a turkey hunter immediately upon reaching the turkey.
Turkey Tip: Most wild turkeys have 18 primary tail feathers.
A Bird in Hand
A bird in hand is a well-earned feat. Wild turkey feathers are full of intricate details, and when studied up close, reflect a wide range of beautiful colors.
Turkey Tip: Spur length is the best indicator of the turkey's age.
Hooks on Hooks on Hooks
A lot of turkey hunters focus on the beard, but the meat, and the spurs, are the true prizes of the turkey hunter. Long spurs indicate an older turkey. These birds are more difficult to hunt and point to a healthy flock.
Turkey Tip: Take well-composed images of your turkey harvest to remember the adventure by.
Basking in the Moment
The moments following the harvest are bittersweet. That’s bird’s life is over. It’s given its last breath for your next one. And that’s no small thing. Appreciate the turkey’s sacrifice. Honor its life. Celebrate its legacy. Conserve its future. Enjoy being a turkey hunter.
Turkey Tip: Early morning is the favored time to go turkey hunting. However, don't write off the mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours.
The New Day Rises
One hunt ends, even as the new day rises. But if you haven’t filled that tag, stay after it. The mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours (where legal) can offer dynamite turkey hunting action. The wild turkey won’t sleep until sundown, and neither should you. Keep pushing until you finish the day, or conclude it with the ultimate spring turkey hunt.
Gobbler Grades: The Best Turkey Hunting States in America
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