| You can be the best shot in the world and have your | | | | elevated ground that might also offer you good |
| turkey calls down to a science, but if you don’t | | | | cover. In general, look for places that you can easily |
| end up in the right place at the right time, it will all be | | | | sit out of sight that also allow you to keep a good |
| for nothing. Rule number one of turkey hunting – | | | | eye on your surroundings. |
| or any kind of hunting, for that matter – is to | | | | Knowing the area of course is only half the battle. |
| know where to find your prey and to understand its | | | | You have to also observe how the turkeys interact |
| habits. You can get lucky by heading out to a place | | | | with the area. Where do they tend to congregate? |
| turkeys are known to live and sitting around for ages | | | | Where is the roosting area? Where do they go to |
| waiting for one to come by, or you can improve | | | | feed? Having some idea of these things before you |
| your odds of a successful hunt considerably by doing | | | | head out for the hunt will give you a head start on |
| your homework and doing a little scouting before the | | | | the hunters who haven’t done their work and |
| season begins. A little time investment in turkey | | | | are going into the situation blind. Also, get to know |
| scouting before hunting season kicks off can mean a | | | | the birds in the area a little bit. How many males and |
| more fulfilling season for you all around. | | | | how many females do there seem to be? Are the |
| When it comes to turkey scouting, there two parts | | | | birds social or skittish? Are there many young birds in |
| to the process. The first part is the actual scouting, | | | | the pack or is a mature group? Simply observing the |
| which involves familiarizing yourself with the hunting | | | | personality of the group will give you clues on how |
| ground, and the second part is observing the turkeys | | | | to handle them. |
| in the environment to get to know the behavior of | | | | Ideally, the information you need should be gathered |
| the birds you’ll be seeing when the season kicks | | | | over several trips to your planned hunting grounds, |
| off. For both parts of the scouting, you should arm | | | | but make sure not to do your work too far in |
| yourself with a journal, a pen and a map of the area | | | | advance. Groups of birds can move on, especially as |
| if possible, so you can record all of your information. | | | | the seasons change, and environmental factors can |
| To scout the land, you simply have to walk it several | | | | alter the landscape. You can space out your scouting |
| times, from several different angles, making notes of | | | | missions a little bit, but your final pre-hunt visit should |
| the special features of the area. Pay close attention | | | | happen the week before you start hunting. This will |
| to where all of the streams, ravines, fences and so | | | | give you the most up to date information so you are |
| on are located – these things act as natural | | | | ready for the first day of hunting season. Note that |
| barriers and may stop a turkey dead in its tracks | | | | if you start prepping for your hunt after the season |
| when it is responding to your calls. Also take careful | | | | has started that you should dress appropriately so |
| note of where the high ground and low ground is | | | | that other hunters can clearly tell the difference |
| located. Turkeys like to come uphill to answer a call | | | | between you skulking around on the grounds and a |
| instead of down, so scope out a few places on | | | | gobble in their crosshairs. |