For the last nine years we have been offering training tips to help you improve your dog’s performance in the field. We thought we would change things up a bit by presenting you with information to aid you in your hunting efforts.
Springtime is turkey hunting season. So, the next three months we are going cover items to help you in your turkey hunting efforts.
Pre-season Scouting
It is important to go to the area you plan to hunt in to see if turkeys are in the area. Look for signs such as tracks, droppings, and feathers. This is a good indicator turkeys are using the area.
Turkeys like to roost in trees to avoid predators. So look for those roost sites. They are usually on north or east facing slopes in hill country and in tree groves in the flat lands.
You will see an abundance of droppings and feathers on the ground below the roost trees.
DO NOT use your turkey calls when you are pre-season scouting. This will only make the birds call wise and less likely to respond to you once the season begins. Use your locator calls such as crow, owl, coyote and woodpecker during pre-season scouting.
Clothing
It goes without saying that camouflage from head to toe is a must. Most important is to match the camo to the foliage in the area you are hunting. Absolutely wear a face mask and gloves and dark colored socks when in the field. Your gun should be camouflaged as well. The least expensive way is to use either camo tape or a camo sock. Also, you will want a sling on your gun for ease of carry. Get yourself a good turkey vest with plenty of pockets to store items you will need in the woods. We will review those in next month’s tip!
Turkey calls
Know a variety of calls and now is a great time to practice them. I like to use the old reliable box call as a locator when walking and locating turkeys during the season. Also, a good slate and glass call will give you a variety of sounds. Gobblers will respond to one sound pitch one day and a different one the next. Last, but surely not least, is the mouth call. This call is very important as you can use it to close the distance without moving! Get at least three with different reed configurations. Again, to create a variety of pitch in sound tones. Most calls come with a CD or tape in how to use them properly and the turkey language such as YELP, CACKLE, CUTT, PURR, CLUCK, PUTT and GOBBLE. It is very important to practice using each call.
Next month we will cover turkey vest contents, decoys and tactics.
