Once you have experienced it, you can never shake the sensation of your heart pounding out of your chest or the shortness of breath associated with your first encounter with an elusive gobbler. The memory will stick with you for the next eleven months until it’s that time of the year again; now you’re hooked. Turkey hunting has by far become one of the most favorite and exciting outdoor activities that I have ever experienced, but by no means do I consider myself an expert. The day you think you have these birds figured out is the day he will leave you scratching your head saying, “Where did he go?” or, “Why did he do that?”
The purpose of this article is to jump-start or inform that certain someone who has not dipped their hands into the turkey hunting waters yet. Just keep in mind that all the information I am providing is a general guide to turkey hunting and should never be set in stone. Turkey hunting can sometimes be very unpredictable and the only thing that can help you bag that gobbler is by doing your homework and using all the knowledge you can gather from past hunts and other hunters. The more you hunt, the more you’ll know.
Turkey Hunting Safety
Before we go any further I’d like to say a few things about safety in the turkey woods. Hunting turkey can be very dangerous if the proper precautions are not followed, especially on public land. Remember to always use general firearm safety, and always know your target and what’s behind it. If you suspect there’s another hunter working the same bird as you, leave the area. Never “stalk” turkey sounds. It’s almost impossible to kill turkeys this way and could lead to an accident. Never wear anything with colors such as red, white, or blue while turkey hunting. These colors are all present on a gobbler’s head and could be mistaken for a turkey to an approaching hunter. Never transport any turkey decoys uncovered. Never wave, move, or make turkey sounds to alert another hunter of your presence. Always check to make sure another hunter is not stalking your decoy before leaving your setup, and always try to setup where you can visually see at least 80 to 100 yards.
Properly Identifying a Wild Turkey
The wild turkey is the largest game bird of North America. Adult male turkeys, known as gobblers or toms, weigh between 16 and 24 pounds. The feathers of a gobbler are usually a mix of red, green, copper, bronze and gold, and the beautiful tail-fan of a gobbler is used to attract females during strutting activity. They can often be seen upright with each tail feather spread evenly throughout the fan. An adult tom’s tail feathers are all the same length when fanned out while the juvenile, know as a Jake, will have a few longer tail feathers at the center of his fan. The male wild turkey also has a very colorful head that shows in bright white, red and blue. The male turkey also grows a cluster of hair at the center of his chest which is known as his beard. Beards average in length depending on his age, but usually an adult male will sport around an 8 to 10 inch beard, while jakes will have a beard that will protrude 2 to 4 inches from his chest. Male turkeys also grow large bony spikes on the backs of their legs, known as spurs, which are used for defense and establishing dominance. Spur lengths also depend on the age of the tom and are known to grow up to 2 inches in length.
