You can be the best shot in the world and have your turkey calls down to a science, but if you don’t end up in the right place at the right time, it will all be for nothing. Rule number one of turkey hunting – or any kind of hunting, for that matter – is to know where to find your prey and to understand its habits. You can get lucky by heading out to a place turkeys are known to live and sitting around for ages waiting for one to come by, or you can improve your odds of a successful hunt considerably by doing your homework and doing a little scouting before the season begins. A little time investment in turkey scouting before hunting season kicks off can mean a more fulfilling season for you all around.

When it comes to turkey scouting, there two parts to the process. The first part is the actual scouting, which involves familiarizing yourself with the hunting ground, and the second part is observing the turkeys in the environment to get to know the behavior of the birds you’ll be seeing when the season kicks off. For both parts of the scouting, you should arm yourself with a journal, a pen and a map of the area if possible, so you can record all of your information.

To scout the land, you simply have to walk it several times, from several different angles, making notes of the special features of the area. Pay close attention to where all of the streams, ravines, fences and so on are located – these things act as natural barriers and may stop a turkey dead in its tracks when it is responding to your calls. Also take careful note of where the high ground and low ground is located. Turkeys like to come uphill to answer a call instead of down, so scope out a few places on elevated ground that might also offer you good cover. In general, look for places that you can easily sit out of sight that also allow you to keep a good eye on your surroundings.

Knowing the area of course is only half the battle. You have to also observe how the turkeys interact with the area. Where do they tend to congregate? Where is the roosting area? Where do they go to feed? Having some idea of these things before you head out for the hunt will give you a head start on the hunters who haven’t done their work and are going into the situation blind. Also, get to know the birds in the area a little bit. How many males and how many females do there seem to be? Are the birds social or skittish? Are there many young birds in the pack or is a mature group? Simply observing the personality of the group will give you clues on how to handle them.

Ideally, the information you need should be gathered over several trips to your planned hunting grounds, but make sure not to do your work too far in advance. Groups of birds can move on, especially as the seasons change, and environmental factors can alter the landscape. You can space out your scouting missions a little bit, but your final pre-hunt visit should happen the week before you start hunting. This will give you the most up to date information so you are ready for the first day of hunting season. Note that if you start prepping for your hunt after the season has started that you should dress appropriately so that other hunters can clearly tell the difference between you skulking around on the grounds and a gobble in their crosshairs.

Field dressing your kills is one of those special skills that can only really be learned with ample practice and experience. However, there are many tips that you can review in order to get a better understanding of field dressing, even if you already have some experience with the practice. Field dressing is one of the most important parts of hunting, and it can make all the difference between edible meat that can be cooked and enjoyed, and meat that must be thrown out soon after the initial kill. Here are some tips for doing your best job at field dressing your turkey immediately after the kill.

Field dressing is essentially gutting the bird in the field while leaving the feathers on. Removing the guts or entrails is important to help allow the bird to cool faster and to keep the “juices” inside the bird from spoiling any meat. If it is a cool day and you aren’t far from home, you can skip the field dressing step and wait until you are home before cleaning the bird.

Step 1 – Positioning the Turkey into the Proper Position

After a successful shot, make certain that the turkey is dead. Many turkeys will thrash around for several moments after being shot. Make sure that your turkey is done thrashing, and that it has been killed rather than injured or wounded. After you have made certain that the turkey is dead, lay the bird on its back. Locate the part of the body that you will be working with. In this case, you will want to follow the breast of the turkey down to the rear of the animal. Follow this area to the point where it narrows between the legs. This is the area you will be working on.

Step 2 – Making the First Cut

Cut the kill open by pulling up on the tip and making a shallow horizontal cut on the skin. You will be cutting between the tip of the bird breast all the way to the vent, which is the anus area. You may have to pull out a few feathers in this area so you can make the cut with greater ease. This incision will have to be large enough that you can insert your hand and pull out the dead bird’s entrails. When making the first gutting, make sure that you pull out the turkey’s heart and lungs.

Step 3 – Making the Careful Incisions

There are a number of very careful incisions to make. First, make sure to cut around the vent. You can do this by following the intestine back. Afterwards, make sure to cut around the exterior. This incision should be made with great care, as you want to avoid getting any of the intestine contents to get on the exterior of the turkey.

Step 4 – Removing the Crop of the Turkey

The crop is the sac-like organ that stores what the turkey has been eating. You remove this by making a cut on the neck of the turkey. Then you will want to reach down and remove the crop that is located on the breast.

Step 5 – Clean the Kill with Water

You will want to clean the kill well before delivering it to your taxidermist in order to be mounted. The best and easiest way to go about cleaning your kill is to use water to rinse out the turkey. Use paper towels to absorb any blood or bodily fluids. Use a large plastic bag or used panty hose to store the dead bird, making sure not to ruffle its large tail feathers. Use a cooler to keep the dead bird well preserved en route to the taxidermist.

I like to turkey hunt in the morning and it is really good. I have heard that it is not as good in the evening. Do they still like to call back to a hen call and come toward it in the evening?

Are you a newbie spring turkey hunter getting ready for your first hunt? If so, here are some tips for getting started in this often-exciting activity. Spring turkey hunting is prime time for gobblers, and it is the time of year where many new hunters experience the first thrill of hunting. Here are some guidelines that can help get you started.

The Fine Art of Wild Turkey Scouting

One of the most difficult things about turkey hunting is just being able to locate the wild birds. Turkey scouting is something that takes practice. With time, an experienced hunter will be able to scout for wild turkeys in many different locations. What is the easiest way to get started in wild turkey scouting? First, begin by locating general areas where you think you suspect (or perhaps you have been told) wild turkeys reside. This is a wild turkey habitat, and you should begin by noting the general areas where wild turkeys keep their habitat. Using this as a starting point, you can begin to refine your search for wild turkey habitats. Narrow down a larger area to a more specific are. Then move to certain part of woods or a specific field. If you do not have the benefit of experience, there are certain resources you can always turn to find out where the biggest wild turkey populations reside. Consult with conservation officers, wildlife biologists, hunting club members and sporting goods dealers are good places to ask about local wild turkey populations and habitats. You may also want to check for state and federal lands, reservoir areas, wildlife management areas and military reservations. If possible, you may also want to consult with private landowners. Some landowners will actually grant hunters permission to hunt on their lands.

Do Advanced Field Scouting

There are many things you can do once you think you have reached an area with an active wild turkey population. This is where field scouting comes into play. You should being field scouting after you have found several possible hunting areas. You will want to use a map and mark the area where you plan to hunt. If possible, drive the back roads of the area to get a good idea of the local terrain, including the power lines, the high points, ridges, rivers, open creeks, river bottoms and other land features.

Learn to Use a Turkey Call

A turkey call or a locator call can be your best friend as a novice hunter. There are so many different kinds of turkey calls, but as a newbie, you should begin with just a few. Common turkey calls include an owl hooter and a crow call. Practice with these and see if you can get a response. Every time you think you hear a response, you will want to mark the general (as specific as you can) on your map. Resist the urge to continue to call a bird that is responding to you. Many times, this will cause your gobbler to become shy and they will not respond to you. If a gobbler becomes call shy, they will cease from responding during open season.

Dressing for Hunting Success

As a wild turkey hunter, a small but important part of your preparation is to dress for hunting success. This means camouflage, and lots of it. Wild turkeys have very good vision, so you will definitely want to avoid being seen. A complete camouflage outfit will include a camo suit, a facemask, gloves and a cap. You should also wear dark socks so that your flesh does not stand out when you sit down. You may also choose to carry a camo vest with lots of pockets where you can store extra shells and maybe even a snack.

What is about the worst thing that can happen to you in the middle of a good hunt? No, it is not missing the shot and scaring your prey away. Instead, the worst thing that can happen is getting the perfect bead on the perfect animal, only to discover that you have left something crucial that you need at home. Of course, getting caught outside in a storm without any rain gear is not walk in the park, and you don’t want to be walking through heavily wooded areas without your snake proof boots. What is the best way to make sure you don’t get caught short as turkey hunting season roles around? Making a list, of course! A nice organized list of all of your turkey hunting needs will help you avoid hunting trip disaster.

One of the easiest ways to think about your turkey hunting needs and to make sure nothing is left off of your list is to group your needs into categories and go from there. Category one could be the proper clothes for turkey hunting. You need to make sure you have all of the proper camo gear ready to go, from camo shirts and pants to camo makeup/paint, facenets, hats, gloves, socks, jackets – whatever you need for your climate and your hunting ground. Add to your camo clothing lists other needs like rain gear for those spring showers that often pop up during turkey hunting season and boots that will keep your feet dry in the rain and safe from the snakes. Consider whether your hunting trips are one-day adventures or several day affairs and make sure you have enough clothing for your needs.

Next, check off all of the equipment you will need for successful hunting. Of course you will need your shotgun, but don’t forget turkey loads, shotgun slings, a flashlight, trail ribbons, knife/ratchet cutters, binoculars, a map, a compass, a cooler and a first aid kit. Some of the equipment you need may depend on what is legal in your area. For instance, you may want to have a turkey decoy or camo blind if they are allowed where you do your hunting. Some other things may be a matter of personal preference, like a cushioned stool to sit on (beats hours on the cold, hard ground) or patterning targets.

Of course, a turkey hunt wouldn’t be a turkey hunt without turkey calls. The call can make all of the difference between getting a kill and not getting one, so taking the right collection of calls without to a hunt is very important. There are tons of different options for calls, like the gobble, the owl howl, turpin/wingbone call, glass calls, box calls, diaphragm calls and more. The right ones for you depend on the area in which you are hunting and the time of year you are hunting in. Don’t forget the call accessories, like call holsters and sandpaper.

Last but not least, don’t forget those little extras that can add up to be a big deal. Getting your license is at the top of the list – can’t do much without that. You will also want to check out your hunting territory and get the permission of the landowner before you go out hunting. It is traditional to get the landowner a gift of some sort in gratitude, so don’t forget to take care of that one. Devote a little time to practicing with the other gear on your list, like your calls, camping gear if you have, and so forth, so you are ready to go when the day comes around.

Many turkey hunters hunt eastern wild turkey, the turkey that inhabits the United States in the greatest of numbers. It is widely distributed across the United States and is one of several subspecies that cover the American continent. Roughly speaking, it inhabits the eastern half of the United States. The Puritans first described the turkey in 1817 and back then, named it the forest turkey.

Some of the birds of this subspecies of wild turkeys can grow very large. The male adult turkey, also called tom or gobbler, can grow up to 4 feet tall and weigh more than 20 pounds. It has a covert tail and the tips of the tail of the long feathers are tipped with chestnut brown color and a dark buff or chocolate brown. The breast feathers of the Eastern turkey are black, while other feathers on the rest of the body have an iridescent sheen. The iridescent sheen ranges in color from rich metallic copper to bronze.

The upper set of wing feathers has white and black bars all the way from the tip to the shaft. The lower set of feathers is predominantly white and is white edged and form a white triangular area when the wings are folded up. Male turkeys also have a fleshy flap close to their beaks called caruncles, which expands due to blood rushing into the flaps when the turkey is excited. Males also often display a beard and a spur as a difference to female turkeys.

Female birds can get almost as tall as the male turkey, but in general they are much lighter than the male turkey only around 7 to 12 pounds in weight. The female turkey is called hen. Even though coloration is similar, the colors are less bright in their iridescent sheen and many female turkeys are of browner color. Female breast feathers are rather brown instead of black tipped and the heads of female Eastern turkeys are covered in a certain amount of feathers, while males ones are not. Female turkeys also do not possess the caruncles around the beak.

The reproductive cycle of turkeys is in spring and young ones are hatched generally during June and to the beginning of mid-summer. Gobblers court for their females in spring until they find one that accepts their dance. After mating, females will make a shallow nest by scratching soil, rather than constructing a nest from materials. Nest sites are chosen so that the hen as a good view of the surroundings and so that the nest is safe from avian predators. The hen will lay about 10-12 eggs into her nest and cover them carefully with leaves and other materials should she leave the nest before the incubation period. Incubation period is approximately 27 days long and every hour the hen will rotate the eggs.

Only hours after the hatching, little poults dry up and follow their mother’s sound and learn to bond with her quickly. They learn quickly how to pick food from the floor and other turkey characteristic movements and behaviors within just 48 hours. At this point, turkey males and females are hard to hold apart, but around fourteen weeks after hatching, they become more distinguishable. It is also said that poults that survive the first 6 weeks of their life have a good chance to make it to adulthood. Over time, there a pecking order will be established and then poults are ready to enter the general social structure of the turkey flock.

The Eastern turkey is one of the most hunted subspecies, but also the subspecies with the biggest population on this continent. If a hunter is hunting in the upper east of the United States, the chance that he is going to meet an Eastern turkey, rather than any other kind, is very high.

When a hunter plans a hunting trip, he cannot just grab a shotgun or whatever other arms he owns and walk into the fields and bushes with his jeans, t-shirt and sunglasses. The reason this is not a very good choice in clothing for a hunter is that turkeys actually have very good eyesight. Therefore, to fool a turkey’s eye, much disguise is needed to succeed in shooting a bird.

Besides the fact that turkeys can see color, some studies have shown that a turkey seems to be able to perceive everything within its range of vision in an instant. Therefore camouflage is just as necessary as the skill of holding and sitting still.

Hunting gear and apparel is a big business—and for good reason. The appropriate dress when hunting can mean the difference between failure and success. Take a look and you will see what is available and recommended to wear when going for a turkey hunt. Start by discussing different boots options. It is important to say that generally, it is best if camouflage-colored boots are used instead of regular black or brown boots. If the hunter is able to pull the pant legs down or have other precautionary covers that will hide the boots well, he might be able to use a pair of the brown and black variety.

It is also important to note that turkey hunting season is in many states in spring and fall and temperatures, as well as rainfall, can vary greatly. In spring, for example, a hunter might need lighter boots. In the fall, closer to winter, an insulated pair of boots might be the best choice. There are also rubber boots available, which are preferred by some hunters that hunt in the more moist areas of the Deep South. If the budget is an issue, the midway, a lightly insulated boot, might be the way to go. Warm socks might be more economical for the wallet. Also keep in mind that the hunter might have to walk many miles in his boots to get to the hunting place and back and this is why comfort is one important factor. Also, if the hunt is in an area where there is a snake problem, snake safe boots or snake-proof protection around the lower legs is highly recommended.

Pants and coats should be of camouflage color, since the hunter does not want to be seen by the prey so early that he never has a chance to get even one shot off. The most popular option is a lightweight, maybe lightly insulated pants, where hunters have the option to wear warm shirts and long underwear under it for those cold days. Often times, hunters also purchase a waterproof camouflage pants and rain jacket to be able to hunt in sun shine as well as rainy weather. Some of the manufacturers even offer pants that are more tear and poke proof to keep the hunter safe from cacti and other poky plants.

The jacket, as mentioned above, also depends on when the trip is planned. In early spring and late fall, the jackets should be much more insulated and keep the hunter warm, which may be important in late spring or early fall.

Many hunters also prefer to wear a camouflage vest. The vest needs to have a multitude of pockets of different sizes to store different hunting tools such as the different calls of the turkey.

Even though it seems that many hunters forget or do not even consider concealing their head, it is one of the most important parts of the body to be concealed. A turkey can easily spot a bright, shiny face with no difficulty. Anything from ski mask, net masks, to baseball hats and warm winter hats are available in the beautiful camouflage color.

If the hunter does not like facemasks, camouflage paint can also be used. Newer on the market are camouflage glasses. These glasses prevent the turkey or any other game that is hunted from seeing the bright white or other colors, and shine in the hunter’s eyes and therefore the animal will not run away.

Whether a first time hunter or an experienced one, there are many basic rules that a hunter should know and keep in mind whenever he goes hunting. For many, turkey hunting is a fun sport and a very exciting activity to undertake. Many states allow turkey hunting and even have a season in spring and fall. Most turkeys however are hunted in the spring season, when hunters are also out for other game. During spring, due to mating season, only male and young male turkeys are allowed to be harvested, while in some places in fall, male and female birds can be harvested.

In general, it is fairly easy to tell males and females apart from each other. The overall color of a male turkey is much darker than the ones of a female turkey. Additionally male turkeys are generally bigger than female ones. But one of the most visible difference is the so-called beard. It is a feather formation growing on the chest of male birds and can grow on average 9 inches long for a fully-grown bird.

For hunters, the sizes of the bird as well as the lengths of the beard, are measures for the trophy status of the bird. This is somewhat similar to the size of a fish that everybody talks about when fishing, no legal rules are bound to this.

Rules pertaining to hunting include the months, the time of the day and the areas hunters are allowed to hunt are different from state to state. It is helpful to make calls and exactly find out what the rules are at the location chosen for the hunting adventure. It is also necessary to find out what the so-called bagging limit for a particular game is at the place chosen to hunt. For many states, that is one or two turkeys per season, but for some it is that amount per day.

Essentially spring is a good season for the hunter, since male birds are preoccupied with mating and slightly easier to catch than normally. Gobblers will try to mate with as many hens as they can and gobblers will even respond to a fake hen call made by a hunter. By continuously calling the male bird, the hunter hopes to lure the gobbler close enough to safely give up a hot.

One of the best tactics to bag a turkey is to stake out the area the night before and find a turkey that usually rests on a tree overnight the night before. By staking out the surrounding areas to the tree the next day, the likelihood of actually shooting a turkey is much bigger this way. The hunter then can sneak close to the tree very early the next morning and call the bird even before he flies down a tree. This way, the gobbler can be lured close to the hunter before feeding or hens distract the bird.

To lure the gobbler in spring, the best way is to use a hen call. At this time turkeys are very vulnerable to hen calls, especially the yelp call. This might not always work, because generally the gobbler calls the hen towards him and not the other way around. In order to be able to lure the tom into shooting range, the hunter might want to use another gobbler’s call and arouse the jealousy of the bird who thinks that another one is about to take the hen he heard.

There are many tactics that can help a hunter bag that bird, but he needs to know that in the fall, these tactics actually need to be somewhat different from the ones in spring.

When you are hunting turkeys, being able to estimate the age of the bird you are is important. Hunters generally like to avoid killing hens (female turkeys) of any age, and when going after male turkeys, the fully mature turkey is considered to be fair game. Likewise, after a kill is made, most hunters would like some idea of the age of the turkey they have taken out. Of course, deciding that you want to know the age of a turkey and actually figuring it out are two different things. After all, turkeys don’t exactly carry ID. The good news is that there are away for you estimate the age of a bird, even from a distance. One of the best rules of thumb is checking out a turkey’s spurs. The spurs can give away the age of a turkey relatively easily, as long as you know what to look for.

Before you can start measuring up the spurs of a turkey, however, you need to know the right way to look at the spurs. Spur measurements can be taken by looking at the side view of the turkey. The outside edge of the spur is the guide for measurements – the spur runs from the outside edge up the back of the leg right until the actual leg scales start. Of course, taking this kind of measurement is easy after you have made the kill but a bit more difficult when you are trying to gauge the age of a turkey on the run. When trying to age a turkey while hunting, make sure you check it out from the side and do you best eyeball estimate.

But once you have a measurement of the spurs, what does it all mean? A general rule of thumb is that the spurs get longer as a turkey ages. The shortest spurs are on jakes – one year old turkeys. The spurs on a jake grow to a maximum length of 7/16” – and often can be quite a bit shorter. By the time a turkey gets to be two years old, their spurs usually range from ½” to 15/16”.

Turkeys that are three and four years old have longer spurs still. The typical spur length for a bird of this age is between 1” and 1 7/16”. By the time a turkey has reached five years old (full maturity) and beyond, the spurs generally range from 1 ½” to 2 ¼ in length.

Of course, these general guidelines don’t tell the entire story. There are a lot of reasons why turkeys might have spurs that don’t quite match up to their ages. One of the biggest reasons is terrain. Turkeys that live in areas that are hilly or very rocky may have shorter spurs than expected for their age because they get worn down as the turkeys move around. On the other hand, turkeys that live in areas that are relatively flat and have sandy soil may have longer spurs than expected for their age – the spurs on these turkeys are also usually extremely sharp, because there is nothing to wear them down. Although it may be difficult to make any judgments while stalking the turkeys, after a kill, you can usually tell if the spurs have been worn down at all. If your turkey’s spurs are not every sharp and have cracks, you can assume that they have been worn down and that the bird may be older than the actual measurement indicates. Broken spurs are another indicator than all of the spurs have probably gone through a wearing down process.

Turkey spurs are a good guide to age, but if you still have questions, compare the spurs with charts of turkey feather patterns by age to get a complete picture.

If you would like to preserve your turkey kill as a trophy hunt, there are several steps you should take before and after the hunt in order to get the best results from your taxidermist. Here are the steps you should take to prepare your turkey kill for taxidermy.

Shop Around for the Best Taxidermist You Can Find

The first step to preserving your trophy hunt should take place weeks before the actual hunt. You want to begin by shopping for the best taxidermist you can find. Shop around your area for professional taxidermists. Get a feel for the quality of work that they do. Ask how much they charge. If you live in a smaller area, there may be fewer taxidermists to choose from. However, if you cannot find an adequate taxidermist in your local area, scout other taxidermists across the country. There are many fine taxidermists that you can find simply by asking other hunters or doing a bit of research. Taxidermy is one of those fields where you don’t want to skimp. Paying a little extra can often go a long way.

Considerations Before the Hunt – Things to Pack

There is a lot of prep work to be had previous to the hunt. There is a list of things that you should pack with you for the hunt. There are many things you should consider packing, which includes a large plastic bag, a cooler, paper towels, and cotton balls and used pantyhose. Some taxidermists recommend used panty hose so that it can be used to keep the birds feathers in place. To use panty hose, simply cut out a section from the thigh area and tie it up on one end. After shooting the bird, make sure to slip the bird carefully into the hose or bag headfirst. Using a plastic bag is another alternative.

Getting Your Kill to the Taxidermist in the Best Possible Condition

The secret to getting the best possible taxidermy mount is to keep the animal in good condition before getting it to the taxidermist. There are special considerations that you should take in order to ensure the best possible results at the taxidermist. A lot rides on how you shoot the wild turkey.

Tips for Shooting Wild Turkeys for the Best Taxidermy Results

If you are hoping to mount your kill, always aim for a clean neck or headshot. In general, avoid shooting the bird head-on while it is strutting, as this can cause the tail feathers to become easily rumpled or shred them entirely. In general, avoid shooting a strutting bird. The best shot for mounting a bird later is to take a clean side shot, ideally while the bird’s neck is stretched upwards. In general, you should avoid getting shotgun pellets near the wing feathers or the tail. Most taxidermists will find it much easier to repair the head or neck than the tail and wing feathers. For the best results, there is evidence that 25 to 30 yards is a good distance for hunting turkeys. This amount of space allows for a clean kill without the messy patterns that can result with closer patterns. Avoid having to take a second shot, but if you have merely wounded the bird, try taking a second shot at the head from a sufficient distance. Many turkeys will thrash around after being hit, thus losing many feathers. If this is the case with your kill, collect all the loose feathers you can so that the taxidermist can replace them.

Considerations During the Post-Kill Period

There are many important considerations to take during the post-kill period. Use napkins to keep the bird from spilling blood or body fluids on the feathers. Limit damage to the feathers, and keep the bird as cool as possible after the kill.