Turkey hunting

Turkey hunting is a sport involving the pursuit and killing or capture of a wild turkey.Long before the European settlers arrived in North America, the Native Americans took part in hunting wild turkeys.

Background of Wild Turkeys

Main Article Wild Turkey

Male Turkey - Wikimedia Commons

Habitat

Wild turkeys can be found in hardwood and mixed conifer hardwood forests that contain openings such as fields, pastures, orchards, and marshes. Finding these areas is the first step in locating the birds the hunter wishes to pursue.

Food Sources

They are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They feed on things such as nuts, seeds, fruit, plants, buds, insects, and salamanders. For a hunter to have a good chance of success, he or she would need to locate food sources that are abundant enough to support a large flock of turkeys.

Mating Season

Wild turkeys mate in early spring, and the male turkey attracts the female by fanning out his tail and gobbling loudly. The male turkey mates with more than one female. A hunter can use this information in order to attract a male bird close enough to kill or capture.

Wild Turkey Species and Subspecies

Eastern Subspecies: 100 to 500 wild turkeys, Osceola (Florida) Subspecies: 80 to 100 wild turkeys, Rio Grande Subspecies: 10 to 102 wild turkeys, Merriam's Subspecies: 30 to 60 wild turkeys, Gould's Subspecies: 650 to 800 wild turkeys, and Ocellated Turkey: extinct

Hunting Supplies

Camouflage

When hunting wild turkeys, camouflage should be worn head to toe to keep from being seen. A turkey’s eyesight is excellent and any quick or unnatural movement can cause the bird to become wary and quickly run off. Wearing camouflage clothing, putting a camouflage covering on one’s gun, or using a camouflage blind are some methods often used. Some states require that blaze orange is worn when the hunter is entering or leaving the woods. Hiding behind small bushes or limbs will greatly enhance camoflage

Types of Turkey Calls

There are 2 main types of turkey calls. They are friction calls and mouth calls.

Friction

There are three main types of friction calls. One type is called a slate call, or peg and pot call. This call is used by scratching the end of a peg usually made of either a hardwood or carbon striker over the surface of the call. The surface of the call is usually made of three different materials such as slate, glass or ceramic. Another type of friction call is called a box call. Box calls are made of several different types of wood. They are used by sliding the lid of the call (which is coated with chalk) across the sides that support it. The final type of friction call is the push-button call, which involves pushing a peg back and forth through a hole in the call . The push button call is a very good option for the novice turkey caller. It uses the same concept as the box call with chalk to create the sounds of the turkey.

Mouth

Mouth calls are used by inhaling and exhaling air through them. One type of mouth call is called a diaphragm call and is typically used when a turkey is too close to the hunter to use a friction call. Close to 4,000 years ago, Native Americans were making mouth calls out of the wing bones of the turkeys themselves.

Weapons Used

There are various weapons used when hunting for turkeys. A shotgun, rifle, compound bow, longbow, or recurve bow are some options. Some states may only allow certain firearms to be used. Pennsylvania, for instance, allows shotgun, rifle, or bow and arrow in the fall season but only allows shotgun or bow to be used in the spring season.

Turkey Decoys - Wikimedia Commons

Decoys

Turkey Decoys are a great aid to turkey hunters and can add tremendous excitement and pull in wary gobblers that might normally pass out of range, however, it’s not as easy as throwing out a decoy and expecting turkeys to overrun you. Turkey decoys must be seen to be effective. Open pastures or sparse woods are good spots for turkey decoys.

One of the great benefits of a turkey decoy is that it takes the focus off of you, the hunter. Normally dominant toms that come in to the decoy are focused solely on the decoy, enabling the hunter to more comfortably come to full draw and make the shot on an animal that is not on "danger alert." Just make sure to place the decoy at least 15 to 20 yards (18 m) away from your position.

Turkey Hunting Methods

Stalking

One method of turkey hunting that is usually not productive is called stalking. Stalking is to pursue prey or quarry in a stealthy manner. This requires the hunter to move very slowly and quietly after the turkey. Some states have regulations on when and whether you can do this. Pennsylvania, for example, does not allow for the hunter to stalk a turkey during its spring turkey season. Stalking can be a dangerous hunting technique when used on public land and land occupied by other hunters as the movement and noise of a hunter walking through the woods (and possibly using calls that sound like turkeys) could potentially draw the fire of others in close proximity. This technique should only be considered on private property with no one else around.

Calling

Calling is the opposite of stalking. When calling, the hunter uses hen turkey sounds to bring the male turkey to him, rather than having to go to the turkey as in stalking. Various hen calls can be simulated to bring the turkey closer to the hunter because turkeys are extremely vocal. These include yelps, clucks, purrs, fighting purrs, and the Kee Kee. Hunters have also been known to gobble like a male turkey to make another male believe there is another bird trying to take over his area. Gobbling is often a last resort as other hunters could attempt to hunt the caller.

See also

• Animal welfare
• Camouflage
• Hunting
• Hunting license
• Wild Turkey