It is springtime across America and this means Turkey season is upon us in many areas of the country. Turkey hunting is a demanding, yet rewarding sport. Large Tom or male turkeys are the dream of many hunters with their long beard and spurs. These large birds have keen eyesight and are wary of intruders into their home range. Harvesting a large Tom offers a challenge just as impressive as a trophy whitetail, elk, or any other game animal. Here are some turkey hunting tips that will improve your chances at a large tom this spring.
Hunt the right property Location, just as in real estate is critical when it comes to turkey hunting. Turkey populations vary by state, region, and even square mile in most areas of the country. Hunting a property
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Best times for turkey hunting include calm or light wind days with the amount of sunshine not being a major factor. This allows for turkeys to effectively communicate and they travel much more making it ideal for hunters. Windy and raining days restrict movement of turkeys and they are likely to stay on roost.
Find fresh sign
One of the best ways to decide where to hunt on a property is to look for fresh sign. This includes tracks, scratching marks on the ground, and areas that have been freshly eaten. Turkeys often travel in large packs and leave obvious sign behind due to their numbers. They leave trails in tall grass, large areas of scratching on the dirt, and trails through woodlands of disturbed plants and sticks. Fresh sign often means that the turkeys are still close by as they often stay in an area for a prolonged time especially if there is abundant food.
Listen
Often the easiest way to find turkeys is to simply listen. They are very vocal birds and communicate loudly and often. Early morning and right before dusk are the best times for finding turkeys on the move. Flocks constantly chatter to tell each other their location, also Toms put on a vocal performance when looking for a hen. This allows the hunter to put them close to their location and a chance to cross their