Apr 21, 2018 5 min read

When deer hunting, I tell young hunters think nose.

The sense of smell is the primary defensive detector used by deer. We humans probably use sight as a primary sense. When it comes to turkeys, however, like the human, it depends mostly on sight to detect danger. The bird’s sense of hearing is good but it has superior eyesight.

Find a spot that has turkeys and stay put. If there is a lonesome gobbler, your chances are good that he will come to a reasonable call. What is surprising to many beginners is that, while calling contests depend on what the judges consider a good call, many turkeys make what I would call odd sounds that would never win a contest. Note the above. First, the gobbler must hear the call. Second, it works better when he is without his harem. Third, you must be unseen and unheard, except for the calling. You really don’t have to sound like the perfect glamorous female.

There are a variety of calls on the market. The most popular is the mouth call. The advantage of this type of call is it is inexpensive, frees the hands from movement and allows the caller to hold his or her shotgun. Dick Kirby of Quaker Boy once told me that the box call gives out a truer sound and is the easiest to use. My preference is a slate call. But to each his own – they all work when used right.

When questioning my own calling ability, I think of a hunt I made with Jim. We were a bit late getting to our location along Shades O’ Death Road, north of Avella. As we approached our pre-picked spot we could hear the birds talking while still in the trees. I suggested to Jim that he move ahead and I would stay put. Don’t call, I said, just wait until they fly down as we are right in the middle of them. With that, Jim disappeared into the darkness and I sat down behind some cover. Jim hadn’t been gone more than five minutes when I heard a bird fly down and Jim start calling. While I claim no expertise, I have to say it was the worst imitation of a turkey I had ever heard. The squawking and the scratching went on, and I just kept thinking ‘Shut up, Jim. That’s awful.’ That’s when a turkey steps into the open, 20 yards in front of me. It was her making all those awful sounds not Jim. That day I decided that the quality of the call wasn’t that important.

Another mistake made by turkey hunters is believing you must be in the woods at daybreak. Yes, it is a good time to be out but not 100 percent necessary. I have bagged gobblers as late as 11:45 a.m. The best time to hunt turkey is any time it is legal. The hardest part of spring gobbler season for me is just getting up early. I hate to admit to being lazy but these days I am. Don’t despair, go out and hunt, even if it is 9 a.m. You can’t bag a bird while sitting in the living room. Sometimes the Tom will find himself suddenly alone late in the morning and is vulnerable to the call. His hens have left him after a couple of hours and that late hour can be productive.

When the opportunity does arrive, these birds can absorb a lot of shot, and the hunter needs to get a shot into the head or the neck. Never aim for the body for such a shot means a wounded gobbler that can depart in a hurry. I like to shoot for the neck, just below the head. Because of this, I like to use No. 5 or 6 shot, the heaviest load my shotgun will handle and pattern well. By using the finer shot size, my pattern is denser, making it more likely that at least one pellet will be fatal. However, I don’t like to take those long shots. I try to limit my shots to about 40 yards or less.

To summarize, get into the woods, preferably early, but get in any time during legal hours. Don’t allow the birds to see you or hear you setting up. Stay well-hidden so that you are not seen. Stay within certain ranges when shooting and don’t shoot for the body. Don’t be afraid to call, even if you are not an expert with the call.

Remember to hunt safely. When setting up, make sure your back is protected from another hunter just in case he is breaking the law by stalking what he or she perceives is a real turkey he is hearing. Never assume you are the only person in that woodlot. This one is especially true when using a decoy. Oh, and the last thing is good luck.