Turkey hunting is mostly about calling a gobbler into range, which means getting close without being seen and sounding like a hen.
Roost the bird
Locate a gobbler in the evening with an owl or crow call, note where he roosts, and set up a safe distance away before first light.
Calls
- Box call: loud and easy to learn, and good for reaching far.
- Pot call: slate or glass worked with a striker for soft yelps and purrs.
- Mouth call: a diaphragm that leaves both hands free when the bird is close.
Setup
Sit against a tree wider than your shoulders, keep the gun up on a knee, and stay still. A turkey’s eyesight is its best defense.
Decoys
A hen decoy, or a hen and a jake, can hold a gobbler’s attention in the final yards. Check state rules on decoys, and use them carefully on public land.
Safety
- Never wear red, white, blue or black, the colors of a gobbler’s head and body.
- Never stalk a gobbling bird; it may be another hunter.
- Identify the target and what is beyond it.