If you’re just starting out, or even just interested in what will certainly be a lifelong adventure of turkey hunting, then it can seem a bit overwhelming or intimidating. At least it was for me. I mean I’m sure you’ve watched all the shows, bought all the videos, and then you watched your neighbor walk out the front door decked out in all the latest gear and gadgets and wielding the newest model “turkey destroyer” 12 gauge pump chambered in 6” magnum, right? Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating just a tad. But you still may have thought, “Man, there’s a lot to this turkey hunting.” Not that there is anything wrong with what you saw, read, or have been advised, but like most other forms of hunting, turkey hunting doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to have all the latest gadgets to be successful. Sure, who doesn’t want a new gadget to add to their arsenal of hunting accessories? Anything that helps is never a bad thing, and we always want to upgrade and better our chances when we can. I’m as guilty as the next for sure. I find though, that it is sometimes best to start out small. As you go on the hunts, you’ll have a lot better idea of what you need. When I first started I had very little and didn’t need a turkey vest to carry it all in. However, I found out pretty quick that a seat pad or turkey seat was a great idea after spending several hours sitting on the forest floor leaned against a tree. A little extra padding was just the ticket to comfort! You’ll find those things to tailor to your experience as well.

So how do you start? To begin with, there are three things that I would call a must on a turkey hunt:

1)    You need to have good camo. By good I mean you need to be covered head-to-foot in a camouflage that will break up your outline and blend in well with your background. A turkey’s eyes are its best defense. A turkey’s vision gives them as much as 180 degree or more field of view and is believed to be as much as 10 times better than a deer’s. Throw in the fact that a turkey can see in color and you have a very formidable opponent! Even if you choose to hunt out of a blind, anything visible through the windows is always best to be camouflaged.

2)    A weapon. Makes sense right? I’ve never seen someone chasing down a turkey in the woods and even though it would make a great YouTube video, I think it is safe to say it would be illegal in most states. The better point is to be proficient with whatever weapon you choose. In some states, archery and rifle are legal for turkey as well as shotgun. Know your state’s regulations and make sure you are within them, but any can be effective. The easiest of course, if that can be said, is the shotgun. As with any bird hunting you greatly increase your chances of a kill with a spread of shot. The gun doesn’t have to be camouflaged, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. I took my first turkey with an old Winchester Model 1400 that was handed down to me from my father-in-law. I still use it today in fact. The key to your choice of weapon is for it to be well sighted in and you to be very familiar with it. Pattern your shotgun using life-size turkey silhouettes. Aim for the head and neck. No one wants to chew on a bite full of shot during Thanksgiving dinner after all. You want to see at least 5 or more solid hits to those areas at the furthest distance you may be shooting to have a confident kill.

3)    Lastly, a turkey call. Whether it’s a box call, slate call, or mouth call it’s up to you. Each has their different place and benefits. The easiest to start with would be a slate call or box call. For ease of carrying, the slate calls often take up the least space of the two. A good entry level slate call would be my choice for a first-time caller. I started out with a slate call given to me by a friend when he upgraded his. The thing you want to do is practice… practice… practice! I have found you will get a lot better response if you sound like a turkey and not fingernails down a blackboard. Yes, I was that bad. Just saying it didn’t keep me out of the woods! And don’t let it keep you out of the woods either. You don’t have to be perfect, but you want to keep working at it. You can find many videos and sound clips online of call demonstrations and real turkey vocals. Listen and practice them with your call. I would focus first on the yelps and cutting of a hen, then move to purring. These are your basic locating and comfort calls. A great source for call sounds is the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) website’s turkey calls page: http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/turkey_calls.html.

Armed with these three things you’re ready to hit the woods. If you can, and with any hunting, it’s obviously better to do preseason scouting. Some states will allow feeders to be placed pre-season to attract the turkeys to your property. That can be a great asset if it’s legal in your state. You’ll know where the turkeys are feeding and can set up your blind or pick your spot well before opening day. Food plots are also an option. Many of the same forage you plant for deer will be eaten by turkeys, but you can also plant specifically to target turkeys. Trail cameras can also be a great tool. We’ve gotten many turkeys “on film” prior to season with them. Again though, it doesn’t have to be that in-depth to start. As you get into it more you will find how you want to attract and target the turkeys on your property and the legal ways that are open for you to do so. If it’s a matter of doing all of that before you hit the woods or hitting the woods cold, hit the woods cold! Don’t let it stop you from getting out there.

When scouting you want to look for simple signs. Turkey feathers and footprints are of course the most obvious. Prints are fairly easy to spot if you look in firm sand or soil, mud, or other places easily imprinted. They will on average be 2 to 3 ½” wide and long, with a circle print at the lower center and three long prints fanning off of it. If you know where they feed, try to set up along the travel route to catch them on their way in. You can spot roosting trees by looking for trees with open branches that have a lot of feathers and droppings under them. Even better, but not always feasible, is to “roost” the turkeys in the evening. Roosting them basically means to spend some time observing the turkeys in the evening and watch generally where, or in what tree, they fly up to roost for the night. You can then come in while it’s still dark and set up near, but not under, their roost and be ready for them when they fly down.

If you haven’t been able to roost them, catch them on camera, placed feeders or plots, or as is common they simply changed up their routine for whatever reason, you may need to try some different places. The thing is, don’t be afraid to move. I had several birds on camera last year in one lane of woods, but after several hours sitting there seeing and hearing nothing I decided to switch up. I went mobile and found the turkeys hung up on a ridge a few hundred yards away. You want to move slow, stopping and giving a yelp on your call every so often. Listen carefully for replies and you can often locate the turkeys. Once you find them move in. Set up before they can see you and work at calling them in.

I mention setting up. You want to choose a good spot, where you have a good view of where you believe the turkeys will come from. If you are out in the open and not in a blind, you need to be able to have yourself in position, with your shotgun raised and aimed before the turkeys come in view. You want to limit your movement so aim the shotgun in a lane you feel the turkey will venture through that way you don’t have to move to shoot. Sometimes this doesn’t work and you do have to adjust to get a shot, but be careful! Remember how good their eyesight is. They can pick up your slightest movement and it’s game over! I’ve had a hen sitting two feet off my shotgun barrel looking for that bird she heard calling, but never knowing I was there. I’ve also been busted and seen the tail end of the bird as it scoots over the hill at mach 2. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating just a tad… again. But you’ll be surprised at how fast those birds can move when they want to get somewhere! The key to turkey hunting is patience.  Wait for them to come in sight. Sit still and allow them to come to you. Decoys are not on my three “must haves” list, but they can be a great benefit to your set up. Though not 100% necessary, I would consider them the next thing to add for certain. A good hen decoy and then a jake would be my first choices. Toms can work, but sometimes they can scare off a younger tom or jake. If you are going for only the dominate tom in the area a tom decoy can be just the ticket. Again, you can tailor those things to your hunting experience as well.

These are just the basics. If you’ve never turkey hunted, I know this may seem like a lot of little things to remember. But the keys are simple and just remember the main things. Experience will teach you many of the intricacies. If you can find someone who has turkey hunted and is willing to take you along or go along with you, it’s always a great idea. A mentor is the best way to learn and a party of two where you can call for each other is a great advantage in the hunt as well. But once again, don’t let it stop you from hitting the woods. There’s a turkey out there just waiting to grace your table… go get him!

Enjoy the hunt. Have fun and remember, you won’t get one if you're not out there!

By Duane Taylor

TalkHunting Pro Staffer Duane "Duane72" Taylor was born in western NY. As the son of a pastor, he spent several childhood years in Wisconsin, then West Virginia where he graduated high school before landing in Rhode Island. Moving out on his own, Duane spent a few years in Texas before enlisting in the US Air Force where he served for four years, stationed in Germany and South Carolina, and took part in Operation Desert Shield. After, he returned to RI where he served an additional year in the Air National Guard and married his fiancé Desiree. He now works full-time as the Facility Manager of his church, as well as volunteer serves on the board of Deacons. Duane cherishes his life with Desiree and is the proud father of two boys.

Growing up in a family that, even though they were not opposed to it, had minimal interest in hunting, Duane had few, if no, opportunities to experience the world of hunting for himself. He has always had an enjoyment of fishing and holds fond memories of fishing the ponds and lakes of Wisconsin with his dad and siblings. Always having a deep interest in hunting though, he took it upon himself to get started the year after settling home in Rhode Island. Armed with nothing more than an ancient recurve given to him by an old man in his church when he was in his teens, and decked out in his Air Force BDUs, he plunged into what would soon become a passion, hobby, and lifestyle.

It was several years before Duane would arrow his first deer with a used compound bow he had "upgraded" to. But those first years brought with them many valuable lessons, mentors, and friends and were the foundations of the successful years that followed. Hunting also the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons, spring & fall turkey, as well as some small game and coyote, Duane spends a great deal of time in the woods or preparing to be there. His other passions are most importantly God, his family, and his off-season fix of motorcycles.

Comments(6):

1. Very informative!

   Great piece! Makes me even more excited as I wait on the season opener..

   Saturday, March 05, 2011 Robert

2. just the basics

   Great article Duane...this should help a lot of beginners...your right, you dont have to have all the stuff to begin . I began with a box call, my shotgun, and military camo...not expensive....you can add as the years roll by

   Saturday, March 05, 2011 David

3. Great read Duane. getting very excited for spring to get here

   Sunday, March 06, 2011 Ronald

4. Just the Basics

   Duane the thing about a good Turkey Hunter is they never quit learning ... Awesome job on this Article..

   Monday, March 07, 2011 Dennis

5. Thank you

   As a person that has never hunted Turkey, you did a great job explaining a lot of my questions. I believe I can now get started! Thanks!

   Monday, March 07, 2011 Anthony

6. A Good Read!

   Great article Duane. It's like you were talking to me personally as I hope to have a succesful first turkey season this year. Thanks for the info.

   Thursday, March 17, 2011 Scott