Mastering the Art of Turkey Hunting: Where to Shoot for a Clean Kill

Hunting Seasons (and other regulations)

By doing some research on the website of your state’s department of natural resources, you can practically take control of the law. Knowing the laws concerning the species you will be hunting is extremely important. Uncle Bob did not make shooting up to an hour after sunset illegal just because he said so. The best answers to these questions come straight from the source: can you shoot before sunrise? can you shoot after sunset? how long after sunset can you shoot? Know the laws before you hit the woods.

Each state declares its own seasons and bag limits for each game species. The state agency bases those decisions on science, harvest totals and much more. Whether small game or wild turkeys, be sure to know the season dates and bag limits.

Before their population declined, wild turkeys were typically hunted only in the fall. When the spring seasons were introduced, fall turkey hunting became less pursued. In recent years, as populations have climbed and then stabilized, many states reintroduced fall turkey seasons. Currently, more than 40 states have a fall season. To get started, refer to our Spring and Fall Hunt Guides or consult your local regulations for details on the seasons.

Depending a hunters age, hunter safety education may be required to buy hunting licenses. Instead of receiving hunter safety training, first-time hunters may be given apprentice licenses; however, the new hunter must be accompanied by a licensed hunter before entering the woods.

Find out what education you may need before you buy your license and go afield by visiting the International Hunter Education Association.

When hunting, you should make every effort to blend in with your surroundings because wild turkeys have extraordinary vision. A good camo pattern for the terrain you are hunting is essential.

The mossy oak pattern is the official camo of the NWTF, and we always aim for it in the spring. It’s a fantastic camo with the NWTF logo embedded that complements the yearly green up. Furthermore, you can be certain that a portion of your purchase will go toward supporting the NWTF’s conservation efforts.

Be sure to keep your hands covered, as well as your neck and face. Turkeys can spot the slightest movements and you don’t want that to be the reason for spooking a big tom. NWTF partner, NOMAD Outdoor, offers gloves and gaiters to keep you in stealth mode while waiting out those toms.

To hunt wild turkeys in most terrains, you will need basic gear. In most states, choices for method of take for turkeys are shotgun, muzzleloader or bow. Because of the improvements in turkey loads and turkey chokes, both the 12 and 20 gauges are effective for taking down a turkey. With Federal Premium Ammunitions TSS turkey loads, even . 410 shotguns are viable turkey guns.

To maintain a tight shot pattern, many hunters opt to use a choke on their turkey guns. Most choke tube companies have “turkey” choke tubes are designed for turkey hunting. Learn more about finding the right choke for your gun.

Because most turkey hunts are done from a seated position, be sure that the traditional, compound, or cross bow you choose is one that you are at ease shooting from the ground.

Also to consider, hunting with a bow does present some logistical issues when hunting from a ground blind. Room is at a premium for drawing back your bow. Be sure to sit in the blind and practice drawing back your bow prior to your hunt. This will ensure you are not trying to draw too much weight on your bow as well. If you cannot comfortably sit and draw back your bow, you need to reduce your draw weight. Drawing too much weight can be risky, injure someone, and ruin a hunt in addition to being ungainly. Learn other beginner tips for bowhunting turkeys.

If you are bowhunting, broadheads are one of the things you’re going to want to research. We’ve put some to the test and found our favorites.

Many hunters depend on calls to help bring the birds within shot range in order to be successful. Beginners usually find a box call the easiest to get a consistent sound. Among them are mouth or diaphragm calls, glass or slate pot and striker calls, box calls, wingbone calls, and a plethora of other call types. Some take more practice than others. Start with one call. It only needs to be a high-quality call; an expensive box or pot call won’t cut it. Learn the basic sounds like cluck, purr, putt and yelp, to start. As you get more proficient, you can add more intricate noises and learn how to give them movement to keep the birds engaged.

After learning more about the principles of wild turkey hunting, you may wish to make an investment in some extra gear. From high-end binoculars to mapping apps, the array of gear available is endless. One item that is common for hunters to pack is a first aid kit. Hopefully the need for one never arises, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

There are also what some hunters consider “necessities. A good knife and a Thermacell are essentials, especially in the South where mosquitoes are a persistent annoyance. Waiting for those gobblers won’t be any easier if you’re fighting off mosquitoes or other biting insects. While there are many uses for a knife in the woods, notching turkey tags is one use that benefits greatly from having one nearby.

If you find you are lugging a bunch of gear to the woods, you may be ready for a turkey vest or backpack. Each comes with a unique set of pockets and compartments and some can be lifesavers while out on the hunt as they incorporate cushioned seats into their designs. There are many vests designed for turkey hunters including the ones our partner NOMAD Outdoors has designed.

Whatever equipment you choose, it will require maintenance to remain in optimal operating condition throughout the season. After the season is done, your gear can use a little clean-up before being packed away. Read part 1 and part 2 of our guide to “After Season Gear Care. “.

Table of Contents

There are two wild turkey species, the Ocellated turkey of Central America and the North American wild turkey. The five subspecies of the American wild turkey are Eastern, Merriam’s, Gould’s, Rio Grande and Osceola.

Easterns are the most widely distributed subspecies east of the Mississippi River. They are also the most abundant. They can be found in 38 states and numerous Canadian provinces. They are characterized by chestnut-brown tips on their tail feathers and white and black bars on their wings. Adult males, known as toms, typically weigh 18 to 30 pounds, while adult females, known as hens, typically weigh 8 to 12 pounds. Eastern toms have what is considered the strongest gobbles of all subspecies. They also tend to have the longest beards of all the subspecies.

Osceolas are only found in Florida. Their wing feathers are mostly black with very thin white bands, and their tail feathers have dark brown tips. Adult males typically weigh around 20 pounds while the females weigh around 8 to 12 pounds. These turkeys usually have shorter beards than their Eastern counterparts, but they do have long legs, strong gobbles, and incredibly long spurs. They are considered among hunters to be the toughest species to call into range.

Rios concentrate in the western desert regions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and other western states. Mexico also has a healthy population. Their gobbles and beards are moderate, their wing feathers have equal black and white bars, and the tips of their tail feathers are tan in color. Adult males weigh around 20 pounds while their female counterparts weigh around 8 to 12 pounds.

Merriams are the most abundant in the mountainous regions of the West. The Rocky Mountains are considered the central hub of the population. Their tail feather tips are light in color, and their wing feathers are mostly white with less black. Adult males weigh around 18 to 30 pounds, and the females weigh around 8 to 12 pounds. They are believed to have the weakest gobble of all the subspecies, and their beards vary in length from short to moderate.

Goulds are only found in Arizona, New Mexico and the Sierra Madres of Mexico. Population wise, Gould’s are few. They are characterized by snow-white tips on their tail feathers with long legs. Adult males weigh around 18 to 30 pounds while the females weigh around 12 to 14 pounds. These wild turkeys have moderate gobbles and beard lengths.

Ocellated turkeys inhabit an area of about 50,000 square miles in the northern regions of Belize, El Peten, northern Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. These magnificent birds are easily identified by their rainbow-like iridescent feathers and their grey tail feathers with blue and gold tips. The adult males of the smaller species weigh approximately 11 or 12 pounds, while the females weigh approximately 6 or 7 pounds. Their distinctive high-pitched “gobble,” which is commonly called signing, is preceded by a hollow drumming sound. The adult males also are known for long spurs. However, unlike the male North American wild turkeys, male Ocellated turkeys do not have beards.

It is important to recognize the differences between male and female turkeys as well as between adult toms and younger jakes. Although it might seem clear, there may be differences when hunting, especially up close.

Adult male turkeys are typically larger and more colorful than their female counterparts, with noticeable markings on their neck and head in the colors blue, white, and red. A male turkey’s feathers will also be closer to black and have a more vivid sheen than a hen’s, which typically appear more brown. It is not accurate to infer a bird’s gender solely from its beard; approximately 10% of hens are able to sport beards as well.

A good time to practice wild turkey identification is while scouting before the season begins. Take along binoculars, and take the time to make positive identifications.

Get a more in-depth information by reading our article on wild turkey appearances.

While hunters use only a small portion of the 30 unique sounds that make up a wild turkey’s vocabulary, more frequent vocalizations made by turkeys include:

The gobble is a loud, rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys. The gobble, one of a male wild turkey’s primary vocalizations, is primarily used to notify hens of his presence during mating season in the spring. When using a gobble, hunters should use caution whether on public or private land, as it may attract other hunters to your location. It can also be a double-edged sword. A gobble could draw a dominant tom looking for a fight or deter less dominant birds that want to avoid getting beat up. It is often used as a call of last resort. However, it can also be effectively employed in the late evening to lure a tom to consume the roost.

Read the Science of Gobbling article.

The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck often includes two or three single note clucks. Its generally used by one bird to get the attention of another. Its a good call to reassure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him. This is a great call to try to get a gobbler to come into range if he starts to hang up. Additionally, when the birds are still on the roost, you can use it to subtly draw a gobbler’s attention to your presence.

The fundamental turkey sound is the plain yelp, which is frequently produced by a series of single-note vocalizations. Turkeys use the simple yelp as a basic means of communication, though the meaning of the yelp varies depending on the hen using it. It is also commonly used by a hen to communicate with a gobbler during mating season. This is a basic turkey hunting call. If you can yelp, you have a chance calling in a turkey.

Every adult male turkey has a distinct voice, and all females cluck and yelp. However, every turkey has a unique voice. Each cluck, purr or cut has different inflections particular to each bird.

Listen to and learn sounds of the wild turkey. Your outdoor skills will surely improve if you can identify wild turkey calls in the field with accuracy and use them on your next hunt.

In the 1940s, Eastern and Osceola turkey populations remained only in remote areas of extensive timberland. These areas supported turkeys because topography made them inaccessible and kept legal and illegal hunting to a minimum. Inaccessibility also made logging and agriculture difficult, so these areas remained forested. As a result, biologists began to associate the wild turkey with big timber, but that wasnt exactly accurate.

After trap-and-transfer programs had brought wild turkeys back to timbered areas, wildlife managers began experimenting with turkey transplants in other areas. Populations of turkeys have increased nationwide, and recent studies have allowed biologists and conservation managers to identify a few critical ecosystems that provide the best possible home for wild turkeys. These habitats, which are also referred to as forest clearings, meadows, or pastures, include rivers, streams, riparian zones, oaks, grasslands, pine savannas, and wildlife openings.

Learn more about the 4 Great Wild Turkey Habitats.

• Trees provide food, provide cover during the day for evasion and rest, and—most importantly—provide a place for nocturnal roosting.
• Grasses provide food for adults and are especially important for poults, who need a place to look for insects to eat.
• Moisture is an essential element for the survival and reproduction of wild turkeys, both directly and indirectly.

From sounds to identification of species, there is a lot to learn about wild turkeys. Check out the following articles for additional information about wild turkey behavior, habitat needs and lifecycle.

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