Spring Turkey Season
Turkey Hunting
Hunter Interests | Hunting MethodsThere are 2 basic types of spring turkey season hunters, the patient hunter and run and gun hunter and both spring season methods while effective are not always effective on open country turkeys. Some of the most successful spring season hunters in the country use the run and gun technique, which is seen on the majority of TV shows and videos. Run and gun takes very large acreage and several days for the area to recover after it has been hunted by this type of hunter. Several of our hunters like to call and move all day long. We don't have a problem with this, but we do not encourage this on a large scale. We have observed our most consistent spring season success comes year after year from the hunter that takes the patient approach. The birds are not educated as much and the hunts are just as good at the end of the spring season as it was the first couple of days. Typically, the patient spring season hunter is just as patient with his call as he is with relocating. There are definitely times when a hunter needs to move on birds and increase the frequency and volume of his calls, but excessive calling and too much moving can do more damage than good.
Roost HuntersHere is the data we collected from several successful roost hunters: First, the spring turkey season hunter must scout the night before and have the toms pinned to the tree they roost in. It's best to wait until it is pitch dark to leave to avoid disrupting that roost. On the way out become familiar with the terrain for the next morning to know what everything looks like in total darkness. Before it is totally dark the hunter has to mark a spot 100 to 75 yards from the roost tree, but no closer. To increase odds of the bird not flying the other direction it is best to rehearse the hunt a day in advance to know where the potential flydown area might be. Guessing decreases the hunters odds by 50 %. If flydown time is 6 am plan on making your move in at 4:30 am allowing 30 minutes to get to your spot for every 1/4 mile traveled. If the moon is not covered by the clouds, start 30 minutes earlier. Before walking in make sure all of your gear is tight and nothing squeaks or makes a sound. Some even wrap tape around the top of their rubber boots to avoid noise when walking. Load or chamber your gun before entering, but have safety on your mind at all times. Do not walk across an open field directly to your spot to avoid being spotted by the roosted flock. If necessary, walk around the field and use the edge of the timber to avoid being spotted. Walk very slowly and softly to avoid making noise in the leaves or snapping tree branches with your boots. Once you locate your spot, crawl out 15 to 20 yards and place your decoy. If you don't use a decoy take a seat and don't move and don't break any tree branches. At this point, comfort is not an issue. All you care about are the turkeys and not giving them cause to avoid flydown or movement toward your setup. Relax and close your eyes and wait for the toms to gobble. If the toms gobble and he is alone your odds are greater. If he is with a hen or group of hens the hunter then has one of the greatest spring turkey season challenges - to pull that tom off of hens. Most cannot pull a tom off of a hen so the next best technique is to coax the flock's boss hen toward the hunter. Doing so will bring the rest of the flock, toms and all. Being able to accurately read such spring turkey season birds and flocks is a nuance most take years to master.
Boss HenTo try to determine who the boss hen is watch which hen turns and leads the others, it is not necessarily the first hen to move. It will be the hen that moves in a direction with most of the flock following and she will be making a flock call of some type. The hunter's challenge is to imitate her call. If she immediately responds, let her call a couple more times before you call again. If she answers again, keep imitating her calls. She should start to work toward you with the gobbler following. Continue to gauge your calling to the reaction of the boss hen. A slight more frequency and volume of the same type call will usually bring her in. Too much calling and she may shy away. Watching her reaction will tell to call more or less. Nothing is precise in the decoying and calling arts and it is an art not a science. Keen observation skills make the difference between for the truly skilled spring season hunter. Those that do not recognize this difference are not ready to spring hunt. Those that do know this value point and do not known how to make it happen are on the road to a career of successful spring season hunts. Lone TomFor that golden spring turkey season hunt when the gobbler is alone let him call a couple of times and try a quiet tree yelp. If he responds, let him call a couple of times before you call again. If he responds again, quit calling and play hard to get. Chances are he will flydown your way and you will have the hunt of a lifetime watching that tom seek out your sexy call.
DecoysA constant topic of debate amongst many spring turkey season hunters is the use of decoys. Some hunters live by decoys and others think decoys cost them more birds than they are worth. The spring season hunters that don't believe in decoys are usually the turkey hunters that call and move a lot. If you are that type of hunter the extra movement of placing the decoy can blow your cover and cost you birds. Others that don't believe in decoys are hunters that hunt areas with a lot of pressure. Spring turkey season birds that have been pressured and have encountered an ambush or two can become decoy shy in a hurry. Our observation with spring season hunters in the Association is that the majority of the hunters use decoys and don't have a lot of problems with birds spooking from decoys.
Jump StartThis collection of self guided spring season turkey hunter topics are meant as a jump start and not solely as the only spring season techniques to apply. The links at the bottom of state specific topics contribute a variety of increasingly greater details specific to the spring hunters that have hunted Kansas, Iowa and Missouri within their Association ass well as in their home states around the country.
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