Turkey hunting conjures up images of calling in a big tom gobbler to strut proudly into range. But experienced turkey hunters know it’s rarely that easy. More often spring turkey hunting is filled with frustrating days where birds hang up just out of range or disappear altogether. So is turkey hunting actually hard? The answer is yes…and no. Let’s take an in-depth look at why turkey hunting can be so challenging yet so rewarding.
The Difficulty of Turkey Hunting
There are several factors that make spring turkey hunting a difficult endeavor:
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Wariness of turkeys – Turkeys have incredibly sharp eyesight and hearing. They are very in tune with their surroundings and wary of anything unnatural. This makes it hard to sneak up on or ambush a gobbler.
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Lack of aggression – Hens do most of the aggressive calling in the spring. Gobblers are focused on breeding and will often shy away from hen calls that are too loud or aggressive. You have to sound natural.
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Vocal competition – Many days you’ll be battling real hen turkeys while calling It’s hard to sound more alluring than the real thing
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Terrain challenges – Turkeys prefer to stick to certain strutting areas and will be hesitant to cross fences, creeks, and other obstacles to reach your calls. You have to set up in the right spot.
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Weather conditions – Cold, rainy, and windy days can make turkeys less responsive to calling. Some days the conditions are just not in your favor
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Pressured birds – In heavily hunted areas, turkeys become extra wary and call shy, making them even harder to bring into range.
These factors combine to make turkey hunting extremely challenging. Even expert hunters can go multiple days without bagging a bird. It takes knowledge, skill, and persistence. But it’s also what makes turkey hunting so rewarding.
Why Turkey Hunting Is So Rewarding
Despite the difficulties involved, turkey hunting offers some great rewards:
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Excitement of the gobble – Hearing a turkey gobble in the distance or right under your tree stand is a thrilling experience like no other in hunting. It sends your heart racing.
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Challenge – The wariness of turkeys means tagging a longbeard is a real challenge. Successfully calling in and outwitting a turkey is a major accomplishment.
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Time outdoors – Hunting turkeys gives you ample time to soak in the ambience of spring and enjoy sights and sounds of nature emerging from winter.
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Camaraderie – Sharing stories, scouting reports, and calling tips with fellow turkey hunters is a fun part of the whole experience.
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Pure adrenaline – When a turkey finally walks into view and you draw down on his red, white, and blue head, nothing matches the adrenaline rush.
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Delicious wild game – A successful hunt means enjoying delicious turkey breast cutlets, plus having meat for chili, sausage, jerky, and more wild game recipes.
Tips for Turkey Hunting Success
Though difficult, turkey hunting is extremely gratifying when done properly. Here are some key tips to increase your chances of success:
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Scout thoroughly – Locate where turkeys are roosting, strutting, feeding, and travel routes in between. Get to know the terrain intimately.
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Use realistic calling – Mix soft clucks, yelps, purrs, and cutts like a real hen. Don’t overcall.
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Conceal movement – Make use of a blind and camo clothing to blend into the terrain when approaching a bird. Minimize movement.
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Set up properly – Get above or equal to a gobbler’s elevation with obstacles behind you. Intercept the path he wants to walk.
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Remain still – Once a tom commits, don’t move a muscle. Let him strut right into ideal range.
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Pattern your shotgun – At 40 yards and closer, today’s turkey loads and chokes produce devastating patterns on a turkey’s head and neck.
In closing, turkey hunting is certainly challenging. But the rewards of time spent in nature, adrenaline rush of a gobbler closing in, and satisfaction of outsmarting these wary birds make it an extremely gratifying hunt. With thorough scouting, realistic calling, proper setup, and shooting skills, you can find turkey hunting success. The key is persistence through the difficult days. Keep learning, keep practicing calls, and never lose hope that the next morning will bring that perfect hunt when all the pieces fall into place.
Welcome to the National Wild Turkey Federation where sharing our passion of hunting wild turkeys with new hunters is part of the mission.
The NWTFs Turkey Hunting 101 is considered the premier educational tool to learn everything you need to know about wild turkeys, their behavior and planning a successful hunt, and we’ve compiled all that information here.
Below, you will find basic information on preparing to hunt wild turkeys and links to more detailed articles on different aspects of learning to hunt and more advanced hunting techniques. From choosing your first camo, call and gun to finding like-minded hunters, this site has you covered.
Turkeys are intelligent wild animals that are wary of humans. Their keen eyesight makes up for their lack of smell and they can detect even the slightest amount of movement, so hunting them is challenging. We encourage you to learn all you can before hitting the woods to begin your turkey hunting adventures – a safe and successful hunt depends on it.
To take the full online Turkey 101 course approved and developed by the NWTF, visit https://www.todayshunter.com/turkey101/.
Finding a Place to Hunt
There are most likely public land hunting opportunities nearby for those willing to get off the beaten path. Mobile and computer applications such as onX Hunt and HuntStand, provide users public land options, but checking with state agencies also is recommended to ensure public boundaries are correct and that you are following all applicable hunting regulations for that area.
Finding a place to hunt also could include asking a landowner for permission or joining/starting a hunting lease. No matter where you hunt, hunters should always show respect for the land, striving to keep it in pristine condition for generations to come.
Turkey Hunting Is HARD | Stubborn Alabama Public Land Gobblers
FAQ
How hard is it to turkey hunt?
What is the hardest state to turkey hunt?
What is the success rate of turkey hunting?
Are turkeys difficult to hunt?
Their keen eyesight makes up for their lack of smell and they can detect even the slightest amount of movement, so hunting them is challenging. We encourage you to learn all you can before hitting the woods to begin your turkey hunting adventures – a safe and successful hunt depends on it.
What are the best turkey hunting tips?
South Carolinian and former Turkey Call magazine editor Gene Smith says one of the most important turkey hunting tips is to sit in a spot and facing the direction the bird is most likely to approach from. And that isn’t always in the same direction from which the bird is gobbling.
Do you need turkey hunting advice?
There are two sources of turkey hunting advice you should seek. The first is from the true experts —the people who have killed piles of birds in various situations, throughout different parts of the season, and with different weapons. They get bonus points if they’ve stacked up plenty of toms on public lands.
What makes a good turkey hunter?
This comes from practice, hunting with experienced callers, and listening to the birds themselves. It also involves understanding the turkeys’ vocal range and how you can mimic it. “One thing that really good turkey hunters seem to understand is how to call really softly,” Jones said.