| Turkey hunting is challenging, exciting and in some | | | | remember: your movement is more important; |
| cases becomes addictive. Turkey's senses are | | | | regardless of how well you are camouflage. It doesn't |
| extremely keen - even your heart pounding can | | | | make you completely visible. Even though you are |
| make the turkey vanish like a puff of smoke. | | | | camouflage, you are still an unnatural form in the |
| Basic help in turkey hunting | | | | woods. Movement is the greatest enemy of the |
| Before you can hunt a wild turkey, you have got to | | | | turkey hunter. A turkey can detect you 10 times |
| find them. The easiest way to do this is by locating | | | | faster than you sense the turkey. |
| the general areas of the turkey's habitat. | | | | - The best shotgun and ammunition for turkey |
| - Get a good map of the area you plan to hunt. | | | | hunting is the combination that delivers a dense, |
| - Wave or use a locator call like an owl hooter or | | | | hard-hitting pattern at 40-45 yards. Practice with a |
| crow call or even a turkey call to try to get a | | | | target that portrays a turkey's vital head and neck |
| response. When you hear a gobbler, mark the locator | | | | area. These parts are the ones that you should be |
| map. | | | | shooting. You should have at least 8-10 pellets in the |
| - Scout for the best location on foot. Check for signs | | | | vital area at 40 yards. |
| of the bird's scratches, droppings of feathers. This | | | | - Do not hide so well that you cannot see what is |
| information can help you locate some areas. Check | | | | happening. Blinds are useful for the turkey hunter, but |
| along mud holes, creek banks, pastures, log roads, | | | | when constructed so well that vision is obstructed, it |
| fencerows etc. as many trips as possible. | | | | is no longer a blind, and it is a hiding place, as |
| - Never try to get too close to the turkey. A | | | | beneficial to the turkey as it is to you. |
| turkey's eyes, ears and awareness are many times | | | | - Cease from using gobbler calls. Although this call can |
| better than yours. | | | | sometimes be productive, it is also very dangerous. |
| - Choose a tree that is wider than your shoulders. | | | | In areas where many hunters are located, you can |
| This will protect you from other hunters that might | | | | attract hunters to you rather than turkeys. |
| come behind you and mistakenly assume that you | | | | - Never wear any red, white or blue clothes. These |
| are a real turkey. | | | | are the colors of the gobbler's head - the main target |
| - Camouflage is almost a must to avoid being seen. | | | | of a turkey hunter. |
| Wild turkeys have such keen vision. Many turkey | | | | - If another hunter is working a bird, do not mess |
| hunters usually wear camo suit, cap, facemask, | | | | everything up by trying to call the bird to you or |
| gloves, vest with many pockets to carry calls and | | | | spooking the bird. This is very unsportsmanlike. The |
| maybe a snack. Also do not forget to wear dark | | | | true and experienced hunters do not do that kind of |
| colored socks so that when you sit down, they | | | | thing. |
| would not show you. But the main thing to | | | | |