8 Spring Turkey Hunting Tips for You and Your Shotgun

^{(Image source: FreeImages.com/yousif waleed)}

In the southern United States, the spring season for turkey is well under way with those in the north lasting all the way until early June. While they aren’t the brightest game in the wilderness, gobblers and hens can be tricky prey and are never a sure thing.

As with most things, the best advice you can have is to know your target and know yourself. This list is to ensure you know some key basics that can make the difference between going home with dinner or disappointment.

1) Know your weapon

A day at the outdoor range can either be a blast or a bust. Shooting clays is one of my favorite past times, but shooting at paper targets with a shotgun does not sound like a good time. It’s necessary. Even with a full choke, hitting a gobbler at 20 yards won’t be guaranteed unless you pattern your shotgun. Get a good sense of the spread and groupings, then you can set out.

Use a turkey target or a roughly 40in piece of paper and take a shot at a fixed aiming point at 25 yards. Circle your main point of impact after each shot. If your full choke is working well, the fixed aiming point (or another spot close by) should be completely gone.

2) Know the environment

Where do turkeys live? How can I recognize a good turkey habitat? It’s actually quite similar to what any of us need, as long as it has shelter, food, and water.

Turkeys want a place to hide, lots of insects and protein for the nutritionally demanding egg-laying season, and a water source. They also need a few trees for roosting, but don’t need dense woodland as previously thought.

If you’re a repeat hunter to the same area every year, some groups recommend a planting a small plot of plants attractive to turkeys as well as the insects hens will gorge on when laying eggs.

3) Know the rules

Before venturing out, make sure you know all of the rules and regulations of your state and desired hunting grounds. What are limits on your take-home? Is it private or public land?

A good piece of hunting etiquette if you’re hunting on private land is to get to know the owners, always check in with them even if you’ve been working with them for years, and occasionally share some of your prize to show your gratitude.

4) Know your game

If you expect to just walk into the woods and find a turkey, I think you’ve been playing too many video games. Turkeys can be elusive unless you know what to look and listen for.

The main thing to know about turkeys is that where other game animals may hesitate or investigate changes or disturbances to their environment, a turkey will unconditionally run from anything it perceives as danger.

Turkeys also have excellent eyesight. While it is up to you to decide if you want to drop lots of money on detailed camouflage gear, just make sure the colors of what gear you have match with your environment. Same with your shotgun. If you don’t want to buy a camo pattern weapon, a matte black finish should do the trick.

5) Know the season

Spring coincides with breeding season and there is no reason you shouldn’t use that to your advantage. Male turkeys gobble to signal their location to hens and hens looking to breed go to them and strut to seal the deal with a visual cue.

A roosting gobbler or a group of gobblers are much more susceptible to your hen calls than a male who is already strutting for a group of hens. Pick your targets wisely and try to get a handle on their movement patterns even if you can’t get a decent shot.

6) Know your tools

The list of turkey hunting equipment out there is extensive, but the two big items that have helped hunters bag their target are blinds and decoys.

Blinds help you counter that immediate danger reflex we talked about. They give you those few seconds of lead time to get that shot off before he even knows you’re aiming.

Decoys are a mixed bag. They can bring your prey right where you want them, or they can agitate the turkeys in your area. Worst case scenario another hunter who hasn’t had much luck that day might take a shot at your new toy.

7) Know the calls

Turkey calls have some a long way in recent years. There are box calls which require little effort as long as you know the patterns, or there are handsfree diaphragm calls that require a little more finesse, but allow you to keep your hands on your weapon.

There are countless extensive guides on all of the different situations, frequencies, and tones of each type of call to get the best results. A good baseline is about 3 to 7 “chicks” or “chirps” at a time with a diaphragm call to imitate a hen.

8) Know your limits

Be safe. No prize is worth you coming home with a broken leg or some pellets in your arm. Maintain situational awareness and a cool head. The hunter doesn’t let the prey give him the run around.

Also practice weapon safety. Muzzle awareness is empirically important especially if you’re hunting in groups. When trying to get over, down from, or around obstacles, hand off your shotgun until you’re safely on your feet.

Follow these basic tips and you’re more likely to come back with your next dinner, lunch, and maybe breakfast. Make sure to take care of yourself, your shotgun, and your equipment and it will take care of you.

Kevin Steffey is an avid hunter and freelance writer, the founder of Deer Hunting Field. He loves spending time in the field with his rifle more than almost anything else. He also occupies his off-time discussing deer and their habits online. But more than anything, he wants to teach and educate about hunting.