Turkey hunting is a short season, usually around a month. The good news for turkey hunters is that seasons vary by locale, and those that are willing to travel can enjoy more turkey hunting time in turkey woods. Although short there are two seasonal turkey hunts – the spring turkey season and fall turkey seasons.
Some jurisdictions have separate turkey hunting seasons for bowhunters while some overlap the seasons. When planning a wild turkey hunting trip to new areas it is a must to check local, rules, turkey populations, regulations as well as license requirements.
Along with State rules, regulations, laws, and licenses for turkey hunting, National Parks and National Forests have their own. Before any hunting trip check local laws. With turkey hunting season short and the regulations strict and sometimes confusing knowing the rules and laws is definitely a must.
The majority of States give bowhunters the edge during turkey hunting season with only 12 States allowing rifles including muzzle-loaders. Most States allow shotgun and bow hunting of wild turkeys during either one or both their seasons, while some have separate bow and shotgun hunting seasons.
With all the time spent checking turkey hunting season dates, and rules, novice hunters are using up their prep time. The good news is that in 2021 it is quick and easy to access the information needed to put together a wild turkey hunting trip and bring home the bird.
Preparing For Turkey Season in the Off-Season
Hunting wild turkeys like any other specialty hunt is a skilled hobby. Unlike deer hunting, which involves sitting and waiting for the prey, turkey hunters lure the young bird into their range by talking their language. Turkey calling is an art that was developed long ago, no one really knows when. Somewhere many centuries ago a hunter realized that if he could mimic the turkey language, they would come to him. For centuries it has continued. The art of turkey calling has been passed down through generations of turkey hunters.
Today with access to turkey hunting videos at everyone’s fingertips, prepping for the hunt means learning from the best. YouTube offers detailed videos by award-winning and champion turkey callers who share the art of turkey calling with anyone who wants to watch. These professional turkey callers are a great resource among the turkey hunting videos which can be watched by novice as well as seasoned hunters.
Turkey Calls
From mouth calling to using the legendary wooden turkey callers, which again are hard to trace back to a specific date and time. Many legends surround who carved the first turkey caller, when where, and how. What is known is that today there are many more turkey callers for hunting turkeys than the simple wooden one or their mouth.
Successful turkey hunters will carry multiple callers on the hunt for a safe and successful hunt. Each makes a different call, and it seems that turkeys respond to different tones on different days. Mood, time of day, it is another unknown of turkey hunting. One day the mouth brings it in, another day not a turkey to be heard. Switch to the old wooden box turkey caller and they come a’ running.
Turkeys have different vocalizations, their meanings unknown but their distinctive differences are recognized. The basic turkey vocalizations without adding the ranting and raving of birds that rattle off a string of sounds tied together as named by turkey callers include:
- Gubles
- Clucks
- Putts
- Purns
- Yelps
- Cuts
- Canckles
- Kee-Kees
- Blululqu
The master turkey caller can make these sounds on demand. For the rest of the turkey hunters, they rely on a combination of callers which include:
- Turkey Box Caller
- Turkey Pot Calls
- Push-Pull Turkey Calls
- Tube Turkey Calls
- Wingbone Turkey Calls
- Diaphragm Turkey Calls
- Turkey Locator Calls
Turkey seasons are short giving many turkey hunters plenty of months to work on perfecting their turkey call. After months of watching turkey hunting videos and getting turkey hunting tips, hunters are more than ready to bag the bird. Next is the specialized turkey hunting gear needed to get out there at the crack of dawn.
Turkey Hunting Gear
The kind of turkey hunting gear starts with the kind of hunter being geared up. Bow or gun-hunt turkey trips required a slightly different turkey hunting checklist. Of course, the first difference is that the turkey bow hunter must prepare and restring the bow. Check the arrows, broadheads are best for turkey hunting, prepare the quill, check the carrying sling for secure straps, pack extra bowstrings.
Gun Hunters should also use a carrying sling, it makes moving hands-free a better option in the low brush where turkeys hide. Turkey Gun hunters of course must start at the cleaning station when preparing their turkey hunting gear. Clean and oil the gun, check all mechanisms are in working order, securely attach the carrying sling. Pack and check ammo.
Essential Turkey Hunting Gear includes:
- LICENSE – Double check, the worst thing is bagging a bird and seeing the Ranger approach and your license is missing.
- Turkey callers – Hunting Knife- Map- Compass -Modern Turkey Loads
- Camouflage clothing including hats and gloves, facemasks, or blackface paint
- Thermals according to weather.
- Pack rain gear even when the dawn is a sunny sky.
- Good all-weather boots without comfortable dry feet makes the turkey hunting experience a miserable one.
- Water – Prepare your day hunting pack with enough water to last twice as long as you think you need.
- Snacks – Chair or Cushion- Bug Protection- Toilet Paper
- First Aid Kit and Survival Pack including flashlights with fresh batteries, flares, or other SOS devices
Hunting wild turkey, especially male turkeys, includes essentials like prescription medications, aspirin, or other OTC pain relievers, along with other comfort items. Carry-in blinds are useful for turkey hunting but not necessary. Use the hunter’s friends, natural blinds provided by the forest and fields. Low-laying areas, rocks, and fallen trees all work well to stay out of sight.
After months of watching turkey hunting videos, perfecting the turkey call, and scouting license requirements, rules, and regulations, and putting an alert on the calendar for the season dates, the turkey hunt is on, prepare the stuffing.