Posts tagged turkey

Turkey Hunting Tactics – Basic Rules and Tactics Turkey Hunter Should Not Ignore

By on January 25, 2010

Whether a first time hunter or an experienced one, there are many basic rules that a hunter should know and keep in mind whenever he goes hunting. For many, turkey hunting is a fun sport and a very exciting activity to undertake. Many states allow turkey hunting and even have a season in spring and fall. Most turkeys however are hunted in the spring season, when hunters are also out for other game. During spring, due to mating season, only male and young male turkeys are allowed to be harvested, while in some places in fall, male and female birds can be harvested.

In general, it is fairly easy to tell males and females apart from each other. The overall color of a male turkey is much darker than the ones of a female turkey. Additionally male turkeys are generally bigger than female ones. But one of the most visible difference is the so-called beard. It is a feather formation growing on the chest of male birds and can grow on average 9 inches long for a fully-grown bird.

For hunters, the sizes of the bird as well as the lengths of the beard, are measures for the trophy status of the bird. This is somewhat similar to the size of a fish that everybody talks about when fishing, no legal rules are bound to this.

Rules pertaining to hunting include the months, the time of the day and the areas hunters are allowed to hunt are different from state to state. It is helpful to make calls and exactly find out what the rules are at the location chosen for the hunting adventure. It is also necessary to find out what the so-called bagging limit for a particular game is at the place chosen to hunt. For many states, that is one or two turkeys per season, but for some it is that amount per day.

Essentially spring is a good season for the hunter, since male birds are preoccupied with mating and slightly easier to catch than normally. Gobblers will try to mate with as many hens as they can and gobblers will even respond to a fake hen call made by a hunter. By continuously calling the male bird, the hunter hopes to lure the gobbler close enough to safely give up a hot.

One of the best tactics to bag a turkey is to stake out the area the night before and find a turkey that usually rests on a tree overnight the night before. By staking out the surrounding areas to the tree the next day, the likelihood of actually shooting a turkey is much bigger this way. The hunter then can sneak close to the tree very early the next morning and call the bird even before he flies down a tree. This way, the gobbler can be lured close to the hunter before feeding or hens distract the bird.

To lure the gobbler in spring, the best way is to use a hen call. At this time turkeys are very vulnerable to hen calls, especially the yelp call. This might not always work, because generally the gobbler calls the hen towards him and not the other way around. In order to be able to lure the tom into shooting range, the hunter might want to use another gobbler’s call and arouse the jealousy of the bird who thinks that another one is about to take the hen he heard.

There are many tactics that can help a hunter bag that bird, but he needs to know that in the fall, these tactics actually need to be somewhat different from the ones in spring.

Bill is a turkey hunter enthusiast, and if you would like more tips on turkey hunting tactics, please visit http://www.howtohuntturkey.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/turkey-hunting-tactics-basic-rules-and-tactics-turkey-hunter-should-not-ignore-1777695.html

This entry is filed under cigars and tagged basic, hunter, hunting, ignore, rules, tactics, turkey.

Tips on Turkey Hunting with Gun and Bow – What Most Beginner Turkey Hunters Should Know

By on January 25, 2010

Turkeys can be hunted with many different arms, including guns and bows. Turkeys are very wary and fast and therefore, hunting with knives or similar is just not possible. Whenever a hunter goes hunting for turkey, he has to make sure that he checks the local hunting laws and regulations in regards to arms. Generally these laws allow a shotgun with a gauge somewhere between gauge 10 to 20 and shot sizes between #4 and #6, as well as bows. Bow pulls must be similar to bows allowed for deer hunting. Some places even allow rifles and handguns as hunting gear during fall.

When turkey hunting with a shotgun, it is always important to aim for the neck or the head. Hitting the body or feathery part of the turkey might not kill to bird, but leave it wounded instead of dead. The turkey’s head and neck are very small targets compared to the deer and a good aim and a good choke are essential. There are many good scopes that might help bag that turkey, but one thing that is important before going on a turkey hunt is to pattern the gun in advance. Pattern means to do some target shooting on targets the size of a turkey head and neck. Using different ranges for the target to shoot at and different ammunition will help the hunter learn which ammunition gives him the best overall aim and accuracy. It will also show him exactly how he has to aim to get his shot into the center of the target when the gun pulls a little low or high instead of dead center. Patterning the gun is like pumping up tires for a long bike ride or making sure everything necessary for a trip is packed.

A good tip, especially for new hunters is to not to shoot a turkey when it is in mating or attack posture. A turkey that is all puffed up generally pulls the neck in and down into the feather dress and shields the target area the hunter is looking for. Therefore, do not pull the trigger ahead of time. Be patient and wait for the turkey to straighten and stick his head up high and then take the shot.

For bow hunters, it might be interesting to know that it is recommended to use razor-sharp broad head arrows as usually used for deer. The bow hunter does not aim for the head or neck, but rather for the bird’s vital internal organs.

Many hunters use such accessories as blinds. Whether it is a natural or a commercial portable blind, the function is the same, to conceal any unnecessary movement. This type of accessory is a great one for everybody that is not quite adept at completely sitting still for long amounts of time. Blinds are also a big item for bow hunters, since raising the bow, drawing the bow and aiming are movements that can easily be spotted by a bird. Bow hunting requires more movement in general than gun hunting and any cover and camouflage is important. Also, good equipment for bow and gun hunters are little stools or seat cushions. A stool raises the hunter off the cold and often wet ground and also provides for a more comfortable wait.

The last bits of accessories that might be used for bow and arrow, as well as for gun hunting are decoys. A decoy is an imitation turkey that not only gives the nearing turkey what it was looking for, but also helps distract the turkey from the hunter while the hunter is taking aim. But as always, before going on a hunt, checking the laws and regulations for the area is very important and should not be forgotten. These regulations can differ greatly from state to state.

Bill is a turkey hunter enthusiast, and if you would like more tips on turkey hunting with gun and bow, please visit http://www.howtohuntturkey.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/tips-on-turkey-hunting-with-gun-and-bow-what-most-beginner-turkey-hunters-should-know-1777732.html

This entry is filed under cigars and tagged beginner, bow, gun, hunters, hunting, tips, turkey.

Fall Turkey Hunting – Find The Food Source and You Will Bag Your Turkey

By on January 25, 2010

Hunting in fall versus hunting in spring is a whole different issue. While in spring, the turkey is preoccupied on his sex drive and the taking of hens. In fall, other things trigger the turkey’s natural behavior. Since the turkey is not busy with the courtship of hens, he is more concentrated on the surroundings and may be harder to hunt. In the fall, in contrast to spring, hunters are allowed in many states to shoot all the turkeys, not only the male ones. In this season, turkeys are preoccupied with safety, food and their social ranking. While in spring hunting, strategies are related to breeding. In fall, other strategies have to be used.

In the fall, turkeys are all about the food. It stands to reason that if the hunter finds the food source, he should be able to bag a turkey and take it home. For birds that do not travel south just like many other animals, which endure the winter, building a fat reserve is what they need to survive. Greens and bugs in meadows, as well as other fields and the harvested grain fields attract turkeys. Turkeys love to eat corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, barley and soybeans. Even after those fields are tilled and turned, there is food for turkeys such as worms and other ground insects. In a remote area where there are no fields nearby, turkeys rely on other food sources such as hard mast. Hard mast can include acorns, hickory, chestnuts and many other available nuts.

Since turkeys will most likely be where the food is, the best way to find the turkey is to know about the birds feeding habits and the places that turkeys feed. In some years, when nuts and acorns are plentiful, hunting is much harder than in years when the harvest is scarcer. With acorns falling from every tree, a hunter cannot predict where the gobbler might be, but in rare years, there area limited places that the gobbler can find food. These are also the places the hunter must find to catch and harvest the bird. Besides the above mentioned, turkeys will also enjoy eating berries, apples, persimmons and other available fruits.

In fall, turkeys gather in flocks to protect themselves. More birds means more eyes and ears to hear predators and hunters come along. Therefore, camouflage is in fall even more important than in spring. Needless to say that an experienced fall hunter knows to sit and hold still and should avoid any unnecessary movement. Hunting turkeys in fall is much more of a challenge than in spring due to their survival instinct that has set in with the upcoming winter.

To be successful in turkey hunting in fall, it is essential to scout the area and know the places very well. The hunter needs to know where the birds roost and where they feed. The best way to catch a bird is by setting up somewhere midway since it is easier to harvest a bird this way. In this situation, different calls from summer can draw in a bird looking for the safety of a flock or for the leader of the group. The sense of safety and to get the bird closer can be achieved by using decoys if allowed.

The different birds can then also be drawn in with different set up scenarios. A big tom can be called for a fight in the pecking order; a hen can be called to protect her young ones. A jake can be called to have a rivalry with another jake. There are different calls and time intervals that have to be used to establish such a situation for the bird. Once the hunter figures out the differences in the seasons, the hunt can be just as much fun and a challenge. Maybe a turkey will be bagged at the end for Thanksgiving dinner.

Bill is a turkey hunter enthusiast, and if you would like more tips on fall turkey hunting and how to hunt turkey, please visit http://www.howtohuntturkey.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/fall-turkey-hunting-find-the-food-source-and-you-will-bag-your-turkey-1777861.html

This entry is filed under cigars and tagged bag, fall, find, food, hunting, source, turkey.

Bow Turkey Hunting Guide for the New Bow Turkey Hunter

By on January 25, 2010

Bow hunting turkeys, or as a matter of fact, any game animal, is far more difficult than with the gun. Besides a good aim, in bow hunting, it is also important to have the right tension in the bow and also pull the bow good enough so that the arrow actually makes the distance intended. Many hunters will be able to tell, that bow hunting a turkey is one of the most challenging ways to hunt for turkeys. But many experienced gun hunters have the desire to bow hunt for their game. To be able to do so, a few tips might help the hunter to get on his way as a bow hunter.

One of the first skills that a bow hunter needs is actually the same as for any other hunter, patience. Patience is necessary in hunting. Hunters need patience to wait for game to come by, and patience after calling the bird. Even if half an hour or more passes from when the hunter first heard the gobblers call, the gobbler might still be on the way towards the calling. Getting up and checking might scare the bird away.

If a hunter is waiting in a spot, there are two major signs for when patience is actually essential. When a gobbler has flown in and answers his calls, coming slowly closer and when there are no barriers between the hunter and the bird. Any movement could scare the bird away.

Another good tip for bow hunters, which is also a good tip when gun hunting, is to close the gap in certain situations. Rather than waiting, when hearing a turkey gobble, have a chance to quickly advance towards the position of the turkey. While gobbling, or while walking and gobbling, turkeys pay less attention to their surroundings and a quick run for it in the covers should not be seen by the bird. Often times, it is a good idea to circle the bird to intercept his path. This might mean running away from the precious bird, but after a short amount of time, the hunter should be in range again.

If a hunter ever gets the chance to be in a field with two toms, he should try to get in the line between the two turkeys. It is very likely that one turkey will to get to the other turkey, which might have all the hens. Pick the highest spot between both birds and avoid calling in this situation. Another good tip might be to team up with a friend. While one hunter calls the turkey, the other one is somewhere opposite. It often happens that turkeys will actually walk away instead of closer and will walk right into the teammates arms. If the teammate is not able to give off a good shot, then it is the other hunter’s chance again, since the bird will be running off into the opposite direction.

By the way, instead of the head, bow hunters generally aim for vital internal organs in the turkey.

Good advice besides the actual hunting ones for new bow hunters is practice. A new bow hunter should join the local bow-hunting group for classes, or maybe even take an archery class at the local community center or college. Bow hunting is not quite as easy as gun hunting, but it can be a good challenge for anybody. It is lso a lot of fun. Consider joining a class, learning the basics, practice, practice and practice and then going out in the field. This is the way to go when learning the techniques.

Just with any other arms and hunting, a hunter should check out the local laws and regulations. Not knowing where or what and when to hunt, can get a hunter in big trouble and then all the fun is over.

Bill is a turkey hunter enthusiast, and if you would like more tips on bow turkey hunting, please visit http://www.howtohuntturkey.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/bow-turkey-hunting-guide-for-the-new-bow-turkey-hunter-1777785.html

This entry is filed under cigars and tagged bow, guide, hunter, hunting, turkey.

Common Sense Turkey Hunting Tips for the Autumn Season

By on January 25, 2010

For most turkey hunters, springtime hunting is where it is. Autumn is a busy time for hunters – it is deer season, upland hunting season, waterfowl hunting season – the list goes on and on. For that reason, most hunters put off the turkey hunting until the spring, but this fact can make autumn turkey hunting very satisfying. Hunting turkeys during the fall is less crowded, and you’ll have less competition for the birds. Add to that the fact that autumn tends to be turkey eating seasons, and you can see how forgoing the deer hunting for a little turkey hunting in the fall can be a very good thing.

Turkey hunting in the fall is an altogether different beast than spring turkey hunting, and it can be quite a bit more challenging. In the spring, the male turkeys are on the prowl, looking for a hen, so it can be fairly easy to lure one away from the pack by making hen calls. In the fall, the male turkeys aren’t so interested in the hens and instead tend to roam around in packs together (likewise for the hens, of course, but hunting mature male turkeys is preferable). Separating these groups can be a little bit more difficult and requires a different approach than spring turkey hunting.

When you are hunting in the autumn, it is best to stick to a certain progression of activities. The ideal situation is to stumble upon a pack of male turkeys and take position hidden from view. When you are out of eyeshot of the turkeys, preferably at least 100 yards away from them start trying to call them in to you. Now, it is important here to not make hen calls as you would in spring hunting. You instead want to make the kinds of gobbles that male turkeys make – these gobbles are usually slower and lower pitched than the hen gobbles. What you want to do here is lure on turkey away from the pack. Sometimes, however, this plan backfires. You may end up luring the entire pack, which is not ideal for taking a clean shot, and sometimes you may end up luring in a hen. If you bring in a hen, run her away. If you bring in the entire pack, you will need to take a different tact.

If the whole pack of male turkeys moves in on you, or if they do not respond to your calls, you need to go on to plan B. Instead of trying to call the turkeys, scatter the pack. You can do this by rushing up on them making loud noises, or you can use a turkey hunting dog that is trained to scatter (you don’t want the dog to chase them too far away once they scatter). The object here is to split up the pack and then call in a turkey that has not reattached to the group. Once the turkeys are scattered, wait around 15 minutes, and then start your calls again, trying to call in that lone bird. If the turkeys seem to be running too far away, start the calling sooner, but waiting a little bit is ideal.

At this point, it is simply a matter of waiting. Because the turkeys aren’t trying to mate like they are in the spring, they are a little less motivated to respond to calls. You may have to repeat the scatter and call routine a few times before one takes the bait. For most autumn turkey hunters, however, this is the fun part. You have the woods to yourself and you can take your time and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Bill is a turkey hunter enthusiast, and if you would like more about turkey hunting tips and how to turkey hunt, please visit http://www.howtohuntturkey.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/common-sense-turkey-hunting-tips-for-the-autumn-season-1777899.html

This entry is filed under cigars and tagged autumn, common, hunting, season, sense, tips, turkey.

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