subject: Picking a Spot when Turkey Hunting [print this page] Picking a Spot when Turkey Hunting Picking a Spot when Turkey Hunting
As soon as you discover a gobbler while turkey hunting, the next step is to move in close and call him into gun range. Your purpose is to slip in as close as possible without scaring him. Then you "set up" and attempt to call him near enough for a strike.
Bear in mind: when coming near a turkey, if he traces you, he's gone! Be careful not to be seen. Terrain and foliage usually dictate how close you can get before setting up. Veteran hunters seldom approach inside 100 yards. They may set up as far away as 300 yards if the ground is flat and there is little foliage to conceal their movements.
Use the terrain to your advantage as you approach an Old Tom. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will screen your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don't crack any sticks during the turkey hunt.
When setting up, pick an area that offers the gobbler an easy route to your location. There should be no creeks, gullies, fences, thick undergrowth or other barriers between you and the bird. Also choose a location that is on the same contour or slightly above the turkey's area. Don't try to call a gobbler down a steep slope. Pick an area that provides you with a good view of your surroundings.
Sit against a tree, stump or other object that is wider than your back and taller than your head. It will hide your outline and protect your back from a hunter who might move in behind you. Face the turkey's direction with your left shoulder (for right-handed shooters), this provides you with a greater mobility of your gun when aiming. Above all, keep your movement to a minimum as you call. If the Old Tom is working toward you, then goes soundless , don't move. Sometimes gobblers will sneak in silently .
If you set up and an ol Tom answers your call but won't approach, you're going to have to change your game plan. You may need to circle around and call from another location. You might change to a different call. If you've worked him a long time and he's still hung up, you might depart the gobbler and come back in a few of hours and try once again. Many hunts require several moves and/or strategy adjustments.
Once you get a bird working to you, get your gun up on your knee pointed in his basic path with the stock against your shoulder. When an ol Tom finally walks within range (inside 40 yards), wait until he steps behind a tree or other obstacle to move your gun. When he reappears, aim carefully at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When an ol Tom struts, the neck is compressed and the head is often partially concealed by feathers, making for an even more compact target. If the Old Tom is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the goal of every single hunter.
It's a fantastic moment when a long beard answers a hunter's call. This is when all the scouting and planning pay off. It may not always result in bagging the bird, but that's part of the chase and the memories. If you pay attention to a veteran turkey hunter, you'll note that the hunts most often remembered are those where the ol Tom, and not the hunter, won.
