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About the Wild Turkey

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America and represents one of wildlife management's greatest conservation successes. From near extinction in the early 1900s with only 30,000 birds, populations have rebounded to over 7 million today.

Male turkeys (toms or gobblers) are large, iridescent birds weighing 16-24 lbs with distinctive beards, spurs, and the ability to fan their tail feathers in display. Females (hens) are smaller (8-12 lbs) and more cryptically colored for nest protection.

Five subspecies exist: Eastern, Osceola (Florida), Rio Grande, Merriam's (Western), and Gould's (Mexican border). The Royal Slam involves harvesting all four U.S. subspecies.

Why Hunt Turkeys

Interactive Hunting

Calling and working a gobbler creates an exciting, active hunt

Spring Hunting

Extends the hunting season beyond fall big game

Challenging Quarry

Exceptional eyesight makes turkeys one of the toughest game animals

Delicious Meat

Wild turkey breast is lean and flavorful, far superior to domestic

Habitat & Range

Wild turkeys are highly adaptable, thriving in diverse habitats from hardwood forests to open prairies. They require trees for roosting and a mix of open areas for feeding and displaying.

Eastern: Hardwood forests of the East and Midwest
Rio Grande: Texas, Oklahoma, plains states grasslands
Merriam's: Ponderosa pine forests of the Rockies
Osceola: Cypress swamps and palmetto flats of Florida

Behavior & Biology

Turkeys roost in trees at night and fly down at first light to feed. During spring breeding season, gobblers strut, gobble, and display to attract hens. Understanding this behavior is key to hunting success.

Vision: 270-degree field of view, see color, detect movement instantly
Hearing: Can pinpoint the location of sounds accurately
Daily Pattern: Roost, fly down, feed, strut, feed, roost
Flock Structure: Hens with jakes in fall, bachelor groups of toms

Spring Turkey Season

Spring is the primary turkey hunting season in most states, timed to coincide with the breeding season when gobblers are most responsive to calling. Season typically runs from mid-March through May depending on latitude.

Only bearded birds (gobblers and occasional bearded hens) are legal in spring. Bag limits vary from 1-3 birds depending on state, with some offering multiple tags for different time periods.

Spring hunting is designed to target males after breeding has occurred, minimizing impact on nesting hens.

Fall Turkey Season

Fall seasons are available in many states, typically running October through December. Fall hunting is different - birds aren't breeding, so calling is less effective and flock dynamics change.

Fall Season Notes

Either sex often legal (check regulations)
Flock scattering and re-assembly calls work best
Birds more focused on food than breeding
Often coincides with deer season - double duty opportunity

Licensing & Regulations

Typical Requirements

Valid state hunting license
Turkey tag or permit (sometimes separate for spring/fall)
Hunter education certification
Harvest reporting (often mandatory same-day)

Special Regulations

Shooting hours: Sunrise to sunset (no night hunting)
No electronic calls in most states
Spring: Bearded birds only
Shot size restrictions in some areas

Calling Turkeys

Calling is the heart of spring turkey hunting. The goal is to sound like a hen and entice the gobbler to come investigate. Start subtle and increase intensity based on the bird's response.

Essential Calls

Yelp: Basic hen call, 3-7 notes in sequence
Cluck: Single short note, contentment sound
Purr: Soft rolling sound, feeding and content
Cutt: Aggressive excited clucks, fires up gobblers
Gobble: Challenge call - use sparingly, can attract hunters

Setup & Concealment

Turkey eyesight is legendary - they can detect the slightest movement. Setting up in the right position with proper concealment is critical for success.

Setup Tips

Sit against a tree wider than your shoulders
Clear shooting lanes while maintaining cover
Position with sun at your back if possible
Set up 100+ yards from roost to avoid spooking
Use terrain to hide approach to setup location

Roosting Birds

Locating birds on the roost the evening before gives you a huge advantage. Listen for gobbles at dusk or use a locator call (owl hoot, crow call) to shock gobble a bird.

Roosting Strategy

Scout likely roost areas - big trees near water or fields
Listen last 30 minutes before dark for fly-up sounds
Use owl hoots to locate without alarming birds
Mark location, plan approach for morning
Don't get too close - they'll remember in the morning

Run & Gun vs. Sit & Wait

Two primary hunting styles exist. Run and gun involves covering ground to find birds, while sit and wait involves setting up in a proven area and calling periodically.

When to Use Each

Run & Gun: Large properties, covering ground to locate birds
Sit & Wait: Small properties, birds patterned to location
Morning: Often start aggressive, transition to waiting
Midday: Run and gun can be effective as birds separate from hens

Shotguns for Turkey

Turkey hunting requires tight patterns at 20-40 yards for clean head/neck shots. Modern turkey guns are specialized with tight chokes, optics, and camo finishes.

Recommended Setup

Gauge: 12 gauge most common, 20 gauge adequate
Barrel: 21-26 inches with extended turkey choke
Choke: Extra-full or turkey-specific (.660-.680)
Sights: Fiber optic, red dot, or low-power scope

Ammunition

Turkey loads are specialized for dense patterns and penetration on tough head/neck anatomy. Modern tungsten-based loads have revolutionized turkey hunting effectiveness.

Load Recommendations

Shot Size: #4, #5, or #6 (lead); #7-#9 (tungsten)
Tungsten: Premium choice, denser patterns, more range
Lead: Still effective, more affordable option
Pattern: Always pattern your gun - aim for 100+ pellets in 10" circle at 40 yards

Calls & Decoys

Box Call: Easiest for beginners, loud and realistic
Slate/Pot Call: Versatile, requires striker
Mouth Call: Hands-free, learning curve but essential
Locator Calls: Owl hooter, crow call for shock gobbles
Hen Decoy: Standard setup, draws gobbler's attention
Jake Decoy: Can trigger aggressive response from dominant toms
Strutter Decoy: Maximum aggression - use with caution

Clothing & Gear

Full Camo: Head to toe, including face mask and gloves
Seat Cushion: Extended sits require comfort
Vest: Turkey vest with seat, call pockets, game bag
Knee Pads: Useful for crawling into position
Layering: Spring mornings cold, afternoons warm

Calling Tips

Less Is Often More

Overcalling is the #1 mistake - let the bird work to find you

Match the Mood

Aggressive bird? Call aggressively. Henned up? Be subtle or go silent

Practice Year-Round

Calling skills take time - practice in the off-season

Break the Rules

If standard tactics fail, try something different

Shot Placement

Head/Neck Only

Aim for the head-neck junction for instant, ethical kills

Wait for Head Up

Strutting bird has head tucked - wait until he raises up

Know Your Range

Pattern your gun and know your maximum ethical distance

Aim Small

Focus on the wattles where head meets neck - aim small, miss small

Safety Reminders

Hunter Safety

Never stalk a gobbling sound - could be another hunter calling
Never wear red, white, or blue - turkey colors
Identify your target positively - see beard before shooting
When moving, break up your silhouette
If you see another hunter, don't move - call out

Decoy Caution

Cover decoys completely when moving
Be aware of other hunters on public land
On crowded areas, consider hunting without decoys
Position yourself to the side of decoys, not behind
Remove decoys immediately after harvest

Turkey Hunting