Turkey Hunting 101

Either you’re a turkey hunter or you’re not. The sport, as they say, is an “all-in” type of thing; you either invest your very soul into the pursuit of the gobbler or you don’t. There are no half-hearted turkey chasers.

If you are to the point of deciding that perhaps turkey hunting is something you’d like to try, we’ll share a few pointers for getting started in this most addictive Indiana hunting.

The overview: Indiana now has legal turkey hunting in all 92 counties from April 22 to May 10, 2015, though some locations are far better than others. Legal shooting hours are from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

In the spring, the male turkeys gobble and strut to impress potential mates throughout the early morning hours. This ringing, echoing call through the forest at sunrise on a clear morning will raise the hair on your arms if you are nearby. Likewise, the females (hens) will coyly yelp and make other vocalizations to attract the gobbler. The pair will eventually “hook up,” the male strutting and gobbling for all he is worth, then breed after a short courtship. The female slips off to build a nest while the male continues his pursuits until his hormones subside sometime in mid-May.

As a turkey hunter, you intercede in several ways. Most traditional is calling in the gobbler to your location using a call that sounds like the seductive (to a turkey) noises of a willing female. If the male approaches within 50 or so yards of the location where you are sitting motionless, a shotgun blast ends his day while making yours.

Many things can go wrong. The birds might not be interest ed for a thousand different reasons ranging from weather to a real hen in the area, you could make a mistake in calling or accidentally make a movement just as the bird approaches or sometimes, the highly-mobile turkeys simply have moved out of your area for that day.

Gun: Most typically, turkey hunters use a 12-gauge shotgun that throws a very tight pattern at 40 yards. The type of gun isn’t so important as a follow-up shot after a miss is often impossible due to the quick reflexes of the bird and the thick vegetation. Regardless which gun you use, check the patterning at the range before the season to learn the effective distance in which you can make a guaranteed clean kill (see the story on page 26 for more information about turkey guns).

Camouflage: Turkey aren’t exceptionally smart but they are exceptionally skittish. This means everything from your shotgun to your boots, face and hands must be camouflaged. There is no “right” camouflage pattern, provided you reasonably match the surroundings. Vest: Most turkey hunters wear a vest to carry all the calls and other gear they need. Most vests now have a padded drop seat that makes snuggling against a tree bearable while waiting for the bird to approach.

Boots: Turkey hunting is a highly mobile sport. Make sure your boots are comfortable, light and well broken-in, otherwise it makes for a miserable day.

Other gear: A flashlight for entering the woods at pre-dawn is critical, along with insect repellent and drinking water. Other things might include energy bars, compass or GPS and cell phone; don’t carry too much because traveling fast and light means more opportunities to shoot a bird.

Weather: The ideal turkey hunting morning is cool, still and clear. On these mornings, the turkeys will begin calling when the sun is only an orange hint on the horizon.Such days are sublime but they are also not the average. Hunters often note, “You can’t kill a turkey sitting on your couch at home,” so the best time to hunt during the short season is whenever you can take to the field. That’s why rain gear is another important accessory to have “just in case.”

Turkey Call: Because of the Interenet, today’s novice hunter is lucky as there are literally hundreds of videos that can teach beginning callers the tricks of the trade. Experience has shown that box or slate calls are easiest to learn; once your skills improve, you can try out the other types.

Locator Call: Amorous males will often gobble while still on the roost in response to sudden loud noises, even the slamming of a car door or clap of thunder. That is why most turkey hunters carry an owl or crow call to see if a gobbler will tip off their location with such a “shock gobble”

Safety: Turkey hunting can be dangerous, especially in the late season when leaves obscure vision. Always identify your target before pulling the trigger; never shoot at movement, sound or flashes of color as it might be another turkey hunter slipping towards you. Don’t ever use a gobble call unless you are positive you are alone in the woods; making a gobble on public land late in the season could be considered suicidal behavior.

Decoy: Many hunters use decoys to great effect. There are tricks to using them properly so do your research. Keep in mind that electronic calls or electrically-operated decoys are illegal.

Blind: Pop up blinds are a great accessory to turkey hunters if you are willing to carry them. For whatever reason, the tremendously wary birds usually ignore a blind, even though it sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb.

The basic plan: You will slip into the woods an hour before official sunrise and place yourself (quietly) in an area where you know or believe turkeys are roosting. As the sky begins to lighten, you call, quietly at first, then using a shock call, to see if a gobbler will give away his location. If he gobbles while on the roost, you move very quickly to the general area and set up against a tree, overlooking a likely clearing where the bird will strut. With luck, he will come to you, either on a near-run or most commonly, slipping in quietly. Once he is poking around within shotgun range for his mystery hen, you pull the trigger and Presto! You are now a successful turkey hunter!

If it were only that simple.

If the sunrise hunt was unsuccessful, you will then walk slowly and quietly through the woods, occasionally pausing to make the female’s plaintive “yelp” to see if a gobbler responds. By noon, the whole thing is pretty much over though it is legal to hunt all day in most Indiana locations. Once you are convinced the birds are done with love for the day, head home to grab a bite to eat, a few hours of sleep and start the whole process over the next day.

After a few days of this, you’ll understand why you either love turkey hunting or you don’t.

Odds are, you’ll be hooked.