How to Hunt Turkeys

When you bag your wild turkey and bring it home for dinner, don't expect the same kind of meat you get from a "store-bought" bird. Supermarket turkeys, having been bred for their white meat, are top heavy and fat. Wild turkeys are quite lean. They are also smaller, have a more intense flavor and their meat is mostly dark. Take care not to overcook a wild turkey because it has no excess fat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Ammunition
• Camouflage clothing
• Shotgun

1. Scout first. Before you can shoot a turkey you have to find one. Before hunt season, drive the back-country roads just after dawn and listen for turkey gobbling. Become aware of creeks, trails, fences and pastures, so that during the hunt, you will know where you are going.
2. Wear camouflage, as turkeys have very keen eyesight. Suits, caps, facemasks and gloves are essentials, and don't forget to wear dark socks. Try to match your colors to the plant life around you.
3. Pattern your shotgun. Make a target that looks like a turkey's head and neck. Practice firing from 25, 40 and 45 yards using different choke and ammunition. You'll know what to expect when you're aiming at a real turkey.
4. Use a call. A call can be an important part of a successful hunt.
5. Take advantage of the landscape. When you are stalking a gobbler, hide behind bushes, trees, rocks, tall grass or anything else that will obscure your approach.
6. Choose a location to shoot from that puts you slightly above your target. Make sure that you have a good view of everything around you, including the turkey.
7. Wait until the turkey is within 40 yards of you. Take aim at the area between his head and neck and fire. Strive for a perfect, one-shot kill.
8. Check out "Practical Turkey Hunting Strategies: How to Hunt Effectively Under Any Conditions," by Ray Eye at Amazon (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• There are 2 turkey hunting seasons: spring and fall. In the spring, turkeys are mating. Make hen calls to attract the gobblers. Fall hunts require more patience and stalking.
• Since you will be dressed in camouflage, it's wise to don an orange hat or gloves while you are stalking your turkey. You don't want another turkey hunter to confuse you with a turkey.