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Turkey Hunting Tips Choosing a weapon and ammunition and knowing the capabilities of both are key to a safe and enjoyable spring gobbler hunt.
Turkeys may be hunted with a variety of weapons, including archery equipment and—in some places—rifles, but the 12-gauge shotgun is the weapon most commonly used in spring gobbler hunting. (For youth hunters or smaller people, a 16 or 20-gauge may be more suitable.) The experts agreed that #4, 5 or 6 shot should be used and that three-inch magnum shells would provide enough power to take down the bird. Elliston called Remington’s Nitro Turkey a “very good and affordable load,” and Hunt feels that Hevi-Shot is the “best ammo possible.”
It is important to know what a specific gun loaded with a particular type of ammunition will do at a given distance.
“I use # 6 magnum 2 ¾ loads for turkeys in my 12-gauge,” Howell said. “I do not shoot over 40 yards. Always shoot for the neck.”
In order to determine at what range a gun can put pellets in a turkey’s relatively small head and neck kill zone, it is necessary to shoot the weapon at paper turkey targets. Shoot at distances between 20 and 40 yards and count the number of pellets hitting the head and neck.
The new turkey hunter should also become familiar with the laws governing the sport in his or her state, which may be much different than those in other states. For example, Mississippi’s spring turkey season starts March 14, while Virginia’s doesn’t start until April 11. Spring seasons are for bearded turkeys—typically male—only, and some states have requirements on the length of the beard. In Virginia, turkey hunting is allowed before noon only through most of the season.
Following all regulations and licensing requirements is just as big a part of being a responsible hunter in the spring as it was in the fall.
Once a turkey hunting spot, a gun and ammo have been selected, and safety rules and state regulations have been learned and re-learned, it’s time to select a turkey hunting call. Slate calls and box calls are popular and easier to learn to use than mouth calls and often come with instructional videos. This type of DVD, or just sitting at the edge of the woods and listening to live turkeys, can help the new hunter learn to recognize the three basic calls of the turkey mating season—the yelp, the cluck and the purr.
With scratch calls, a surface is scratched with a striker, and with box calls a paddle is moved along the edge of a box.
Be careful not to overcall. Howell spaces his about 15 minutes apart, with shorter intervals if turkeys are responding. Hunt cautions that mouth calls, which stay in the hunter’s mouth, can encourage overcalling. The experts agreed that mouth calls are more difficult to master than slate or box calls, and Vohringer mentioned that he can’t use one because of a latex allergy.
Keep it simple and learn from other hunters and the birds in the woods.
“If you hear a bird gobbling, look for a good set up where you can be against your big tree with a good field of vision in front of you,” Hunt said. “If you have decoys, put them out and then start with some light hen yelps; usually two or three in a series. If the bird gobbles, sit tight for a couple of minutes. If he gobbles on his own and he is closer, just wait since he is obviously on his way. If nothing after five minutes, call again with just a little more emphasis. If he gobbles, give him another series or two and then wait to see what happens. If he is coming, you are in business. If he doesn’t move, you may have to get closer to him.”
As Hunt mentioned, decoys can be useful, but—in addition to causing a potential safety issue—decoys can also spook turkeys, particularly those that have been heavily hunted. For hunters that do try using decoys, two hens and a jake (young male turkey) are recommended. Since the sharp-eyed gobbler can detect movement or lack thereof, it is best to place the decoys where he will not see them until nearly within shooting range.
Also because of the turkey’s eyesight, camouflage clothing, including a face mask and gloves, is a must. Many hunters even wrap their weapon in camouflage tape or other material.
All this may seem like a lot for a new hunter to remember, and it is. There are successful turkey hunters out there who are largely self taught—Tom Elliston being one of them—and there are longtime turkey hunters out there who have never killed a bird. If at all possible a new turkey hunter should start out hunting with an experienced one. Keep in mind that successful hunters, in general, love to pass their sport on to a new generation and that it never hurts to ask.
“Try to hunt with a knowledgeable and experienced turkey hunter before you take off on your own,” said Hershel Howell. “Most hunters I know love calling them in and like taking new people hunting. Let them teach you to make the calls. We all learned the same way.”
One great way to meet veteran turkey hunters is to join or participate in events held by a conservation organization such as the National Wild Turkey Federation. That organization’s website www.nwtf.org should be one of the first places every new turkey hunter should stop.
A few other online turkey hunting resources include:
Good luck this spring!
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