| Turkeys can be hunted with many different arms, | | | | in and down into the feather dress and shields the |
| including guns and bows. Turkeys are very wary and | | | | target area the hunter is looking for. Therefore, do |
| fast and therefore, hunting with knives or similar is | | | | not pull the trigger ahead of time. Be patient and wait |
| just not possible. Whenever a hunter goes hunting | | | | for the turkey to straighten and stick his head up |
| for turkey, he has to make sure that he checks the | | | | high and then take the shot. |
| local hunting laws and regulations in regards to arms. | | | | For bow hunters, it might be interesting to know that |
| Generally these laws allow a shotgun with a gauge | | | | it is recommended to use razor-sharp broad head |
| somewhere between gauge 10 to 20 and shot sizes | | | | arrows as usually used for deer. The bow hunter |
| between #4 and #6, as well as bows. Bow pulls | | | | does not aim for the head or neck, but rather for |
| must be similar to bows allowed for deer hunting. | | | | the bird’s vital internal organs. |
| Some places even allow rifles and handguns as | | | | Many hunters use such accessories as blinds. |
| hunting gear during fall. | | | | Whether it is a natural or a commercial portable blind, |
| When turkey hunting with a shotgun, it is always | | | | the function is the same, to conceal any unnecessary |
| important to aim for the neck or the head. Hitting the | | | | movement. This type of accessory is a great one for |
| body or feathery part of the turkey might not kill to | | | | everybody that is not quite adept at completely |
| bird, but leave it wounded instead of dead. The | | | | sitting still for long amounts of time. Blinds are also a |
| turkey’s head and neck are very small targets | | | | big item for bow hunters, since raising the bow, |
| compared to the deer and a good aim and a good | | | | drawing the bow and aiming are movements that can |
| choke are essential. There are many good scopes | | | | easily be spotted by a bird. Bow hunting requires |
| that might help bag that turkey, but one thing that is | | | | more movement in general than gun hunting and any |
| important before going on a turkey hunt is to pattern | | | | cover and camouflage is important. Also, good |
| the gun in advance. Pattern means to do some | | | | equipment for bow and gun hunters are little stools |
| target shooting on targets the size of a turkey head | | | | or seat cushions. A stool raises the hunter off the |
| and neck. Using different ranges for the target to | | | | cold and often wet ground and also provides for a |
| shoot at and different ammunition will help the hunter | | | | more comfortable wait. |
| learn which ammunition gives him the best overall aim | | | | The last bits of accessories that might be used for |
| and accuracy. It will also show him exactly how he | | | | bow and arrow, as well as for gun hunting are |
| has to aim to get his shot into the center of the | | | | decoys. A decoy is an imitation turkey that not only |
| target when the gun pulls a little low or high instead | | | | gives the nearing turkey what it was looking for, but |
| of dead center. Patterning the gun is like pumping up | | | | also helps distract the turkey from the hunter while |
| tires for a long bike ride or making sure everything | | | | the hunter is taking aim. But as always, before going |
| necessary for a trip is packed. | | | | on a hunt, checking the laws and regulations for the |
| A good tip, especially for new hunters is to not to | | | | area is very important and should not be forgotten. |
| shoot a turkey when it is in mating or attack posture. | | | | These regulations can differ greatly from state to |
| A turkey that is all puffed up generally pulls the neck | | | | state. |