Picking a Location for Turkey Hunting
Once you find an Old Tom while turkey hunting, the next phase is to move in close and call him into shooting range. Your goal is to slip in as close as possible without spooking him. Then you “set up” and attempt to call him near enough for a shot.
Keep in mind: while coming close to a turkey, if he spots you, he’s gone! Be careful not to be seen. Landscape and vegetation normally dictate how close you can get before setting up. Veteran hunters rarely approach inside 100 yards. They may set up as far away as 300 yards if the earth is level and there is little foliage to hide their movements.
Use the land to your advantage as you approach an Old Tom. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will block your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don’t bust any sticks during the turkey hunt.
When setting up, pick a place that offers the gobbler an effortless course to your area. There should be no creeks, gullies, fences, thick undergrowth or other barriers between you and the bird. Also choose a place that is on the same contour or a little above the turkey’s place. Don’t try to call a gobbler down a steep slope. Pick an area that provides you with a favorable view of your environment.
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 ol Tom is working toward you, then goes quiet , don’t move. Sometimes gobblers will sneak in silently .
If you set up and a gobbler answers your call but won’t come, 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 yet another call. If you’ve worked him a long time and he’s still hung up, you might leave the ol Tom and come back in a just a few of hours and try once again. Many hunts require several moves and/or strategy modifications.
Once you get a bird working to you, adjust your gun up on your knee pointed in his basic route 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 cautiously at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When a gobbler struts, the neck is compressed and the head is often partially concealed by feathers, making for an even smaller target. If the ol Tom is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the goal of each hunter.
It’s a fantastic moment when a long beard answers a hunter’s call. This is when all the scouting and preparation pay off. It may not always end in bagging the bird, but that’s part of the challenge 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 Old Tom, and not the hunter, won.
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