Tomfoolery

Dave's Turkey Tips

Turkey Strategies

You are Visitor # :655 Since February 14, 2002

Updated 2-14-2002

TURKEY HUNTING STRATEGIES

I. HUNTING
A. SCOUTING - What to look for (click on underlined for pics)
    1. DROPPINGS
         a. GOBBLER - J SHAPED SIZE OF FORE FINGER
         b. HEN - POPCORN SHAPED SIZE OF PINKY FINGER
    2. TRACKS
         a. GOBBLER - 5 1/2" - 5 5/8" LONG, TOES WIDE AS PINKY FINGER
            LINE DRAWN BETWEEN THE TIPS OF THE OUTSIDE TOES WILL CROSS
            MIDDLE TOE AT 2nd PAD
         b. HEN - 4 3/4" - 5" LONG
    3. FEATHERS
         a. WING FEATHERS ARE BARRED: GOBBLER FEATHER WILL BE WORN ON
            THE END FROM DRAGGING DURING STRUTTING RITUAL
         b. BREAST FEATHERS: GOBBLER-BLACK TIPPED, HEN-BUFF TIPPED
         c. JAKES(YOUNG GOBBLER) MIDDLE TAIL FEATHERS ARE LONGER
            THAN THE OUTSIDE FEATHERS
    4. FOOD SOURCES
         a. WHITE OAKS, RED OAKS, BARBERRY, GRAPES, BEECHNUTS,
            DOGWOOD BERRIES, TUBERS & INSECTS
    5. SHELTER
         a. WINDY - LOOK IN DEEP HOLLOWS & THE LEE SIDE OF LARGE HILLS
         b. COLD/STORMY - TRY PINE PATCHES
         c. AFTER RAIN LOOK IN FIELDS
    6. VANTAGE POINTS
         a. WHEN LISTENING FOR TURKEYS TRY TO GET IN AN AREA WHERE
            YOU CAN HEAR FOR A LONG DISTANCE
 B. HUNTING (click on underlined for target or chart)
    1. PATTERN YOUR SHOTGUN(turkey patterning target) BEFORE THE SEASON AT DIFFERENT
        DISTANCES AND WITH DIFFERENT SHOT SIZES (chart showing no. of shot in
        some turkey loads) AND TRY DIFFERENT BRANDS ALSO SO YOU CAN KNOW WHAT YOUR MAXIMUM
        EFFECTIVE RANGE IS AND WHAT SHOT SIZE & BRAND SHOOTS
        BEST IN YOUR SHOTGUN....EVERY SHOTGUN IS DIFFERENT !!!
    2. LOCATOR CALLS (click on the link to hear the calls)
         a. OWL - BARRED OWL CALL EARLY MORNING &
                  EVENING(ROOSTING)Cadence:WHO COOKS FOR YOU WHO COOKS FOR YOU ALL
         b. CROW - GOOD ALL DAY LONG, WORKS IN AREAS WHERE OWL
                   CALLS HAVE BEEN OVER USED
         c. GOBBLE - AVOID USING: 1.SAFETY & 2.MAY ACTUALLY SCARE LESS
                     DOMINANT GOBBLERS
    3. CAMOUFLAGE
         a. HEAD TO TOES (NO RED, WHITE OR BLUE - TURKEY TARGET
            COLORS). PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO SOCKS & T-SHIRTS WHICH MAY SHOW UP WHEN YOU ARE SITTING
         b. CAMOFLAGE - EVEN YOUR GUN - PAINT, CHAPS, TAPE OR GUN SOCKS. TO HIDE GLARE FROM GUN

 C. CALLS
    1. HEN YELP
         a. 3-40 NOTES, MEAT CALL(most often used), The
            MOST Important Aspect of this call
            is:RHYTHM, RHYTHM, RHYTHM!!!
    2. CLUCK
         - SINGLE NOTE(WHERE ARE YOU CALL) When you hear it...cluck back
    3. PURR - FEED CALL
         (HAS THE EFFECT OF SETTLING NERVOUS TURKEYS)
    4. TREE CALL - ROOST CALL VERY SOFT YELP
         (3-6 NOTES)Start short and soft...gain syllables as turkey awakens
    5. CUTTING (FAST CLUCKING)
         - ERRATIC RHYTHM, EXCITED TYPE CALL...Good to make turkeys gobble
    6. CACKLE - TURKEYS DO THIS
         OCCASIONLY WHEN THEY FLY OFF THE ROOSTIN THE MORNING - EXCITED CALL
         Good to make turkeys gobble
    7. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ADEQUATE CALLER & A GOOD CALLER
        IS THE ABILITY TO PUT FEELING IN THE CALLS TO EXPRESS: URGENCY,
        CALM, EXCITEMENT OR DISINTEREST.

D. TRICKS

1. TURN YOUR HEAD WHEN CALLING TO SIMULATE MOVEMENT
2. RAKE LEAVES WITH YOUR HANDS TO SIMULATE FEEDING TURKEY
3. GANG UP ON TURKEYS SET UP 50 YARDS AHEAD OF A FRIEND & CALL IF TURKEY
HANGS UP OUT OF RANGE YOUR FRIEND CAN START TO CALL TO SIMULATE TURKEY MOVING AWAY!
4. BEAT YOUR CHEST WITH YOUR HANDS TO SIMULATE A TURKEY FLYING OFF
THE ROOST.

If you're interested in any of these calls email me-Dave Pershing maker of Tomfoolery Calls

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