Common mistakes often doom turkey hunt Proper gear, planning key to filling tag

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This spring, for the first time, any and all sportsmen who wish to hunt wild turkeys in Maine need only buy a permit. Since 1986, a lottery system has been used to select hunters for a limited number of permits for specific hunting zones. In just 20 years, hunter interest and participation have increased steadily, and thanks to outstanding management and relocation efforts by state wildlife biologists, bird numbers have skyrocketed and hunting zones expanded significantly.

Thanks to Maine’s terrific transplant program, in just two decades wild turkey has become the favorite game bird quarry of many regional outdoorsmen.

Despite burgeoning numbers and a continuously expanding range, only about one in three hunters successfully bags a gobbler each spring. Oddly, lack of success in tagging a turkey only seems to fuel the desire, drive, and determination of those unsuccessful sportsmen. Speaking for myself, I’m batting .500 with three birds in six seasons, and recent springs have been greeted with great anticipation of once again matching wits with these wary, sharp-eyed fowl.

During the 11-month off-season, I read books and magazine articles and watch outdoor TV shows about turkey hunting to increase my knowledge. On every occasion that I meet a veteran turkey hunter, I give them the third degree trying to garner any tricks, tactics, and techniques that might improve my odds. I’ve managed to learn a variety of skills and strategies to help beguile this shrewd game bird into shotgun range, but more importantly, I’ve discovered what not to do.

Of all the advice offered from a multitude of sources, the most beneficial tips have been about commonly overlooked mistakes many turkey hunters make. While practice and personal experiences will help over time and lead to some success, let me describe 10 frequent errors that will definitely increase the chance of failure.

Some are so mundane it’s difficult to believe they matter, while others are so obvious it’s hard to understand how even a novice could overlook them. But whether you’re a rookie or an old pro at hunting Tom Turkey, consider the following foibles.

A sure shot

Unlike some game animals, wild turkeys generally offer hunters a one-shot opportunity, so it better be a good one. That mottled red and white head and skinny neck make a small target, and since the bird makes full use of very sharp eyesight, that target is frequently moving. Picture an aiming point smaller than your closed fist and wrist at about 30 yards. A shooter needs a gun, choke and shell combination that will assure a dense, accurate pattern when it’s time to squeeze the trigger on the tiny target.

I’ve seen gobblers killed graveyard dead with a 20 gauge in the hands of a first-time gunner and I’ve seen birds fly away unscathed after a 10 gauge in experienced hands has bellowed.

Whichever shotgun an outdoorsman already owns and normally uses for waterfowl or upland birds will generally serve the purpose for turkey as well – so long as it is, or can be, changed to at least a full choke. Older scatterguns with fixed full-choke barrels are fine, but newer models with screw-in choke tubes are even more versatile.

By purchasing an extra full or a specially designed turkey choke, these shotguns become far deadlier, yielding dense lethal patterns even out to 50 yards and sometimes a bit farther.

Selecting the right shell is the next step. Every gun, choke and shell combination performs differently and the only way to make the most effective combo is to test fire loads at a turkey head silhouette on a practice board.

Try various weights, pellet sizes and pellet substances at a minimum of three distances to see which load consistently places the most hits on the vital head and neck region of a target. I’ve found that size 5 or 6 pellets in Hevi Shot, Bismuth, or copper-coated lead, in that order of performance, work best in 31/2-inch shells for my Browning Gold or Benelli Super Black Eagle. Not patterning and practicing before the season is the first big mistake incurred by many turkey hunters.

Along the same line, a second common mistake is misjudging distances. Even seasoned gunners misjudge due to a large variance in size from a jake to tom as well as the fact that a bird in the woods appears a different size than when it’s in a wide-open field. Often the distances are underestimated, leading to a missed shot due to the compact pattern, or worse, a wounded or crippled bird at 50 or 60 yards when 40 yards or closer should be the preferred range.

Distance judgment can be improved by practice. While scouting, pick a tree or bush and estimate the distance, then pace it off or use a range finder to measure the real yardage. In a short time your ranging ability will improve notably. Another trick to avoid misjudging distance is to set decoys at a certain yardage and use a wildflower or unobtrusive tree branch to mark off other distances. Proper distance estimates always improve shooting results.

Pre-planning pays

Regardless of calling and shooting skills, it’s preseason scouting that really puts toms on the table. Hunters need to locate roost trees, feeding fields, and regularly used travel trails. Once an area of regular use is located, listen to birds calling and learn from their actual sounds. Practice a few yelps, clucks- and gobbles in response but not enough to alert the gobblers and make them wary of your calling.

Travel the terrain and select a couple of ambush spots, taking care not to be too close to the roost and avoiding spots with limited cover and no backdrop to break up a human form. Practice with owl and crow locator calls so there is no miscue when realistic sounds are essential. Always scout at least three likely hunting areas in case other sportsmen are doing their homework as well, and end up in one of your spots some morning. Alternatives are a must; don’t make the mistake of last-minute planning.

Since a lot of practice calling in the woods not only serves to educate an already too-smart quarry, rehearsal at home with various calls is a must. Poor calling technique is another common error, and for the most part it’s not just the inability to sound realistic. A variety of sounds is always a benefit, but doing two calls really well is far better than a repertoire of several poorly executed clucks, purrs, yelps, and putts.

Calling too loud and too often is a no-no. Unless in actual contact with a bird, call softly only every 15 minutes. Calling too little can be a mistake as well, especially if a real hen is vying for the attention of a tom you’re trying to coax closer. Every situation is different, but be prepared to call up a storm if you have a responsive quarry closing in. Wind, distance, and the presence of other turkeys all dictate calling tactics, but realistic, low infrequent hen calls are often best to tempt a tom to come closer.

Improper setups are another problem area many hunters overlook. Whether your shooting site is selected during preseason scouting or a last-minute choice after a bird is heard or spotted, certain situations must be avoided. Calling at random without being set up and being surprised by a nearby response often gets the shooter busted before he can take good cover. Always settle into a spot that offers some camouflage before starting to work a gobbler.

Turkeys don’t like to cross barriers, so setting up with a creek, fence, ditch, hedgerow, or thick undergrowth between you and a gobbler is a big mistake. When a bird is on its way, but hangs up at a barrier, repositioning is unlikely without spooking the turkey, so recon the area or use a topographical map ahead of time to avoid barriers. Using natural land contours to keep out of the approaching birds’ direct vision until it’s within range is another productive setup idea.

Once a hunter finds a good setup site, stay put for awhile! Being impatient and moving from one spot to another without giving birds a chance to work is another common mistake. Rather than spook a quiet gobbler sneaking in to investigate the calling by leaving too soon, spend at least 60 minutes in place. If you think a spot is good enough to try a setup, it deserves time enough to be productive. Be patient.

Lack of perseverance is another shortcoming. Many novice turkey hunters think that if nothing happens within the first couple of hours after dawn, it’s time to call it a day. In truth, a lot of birds are taken during mid and late morning by sportsmen who learn to operate on “turkey time.” Gobblers behave differently as the season progresses due to gunning pressure, hen activity, and weather changes, so persistence is a plus. Get out often and hunt until the noon closing to take advantage of every opportunity.

Hide in plain sight

Good camouflage clothing is a must, and hunters need to be covered from nose to toes. Waterfowling outerwear will work but tends to have more browns and tans, whereas the best spring camo will have a fair amount of greens mixed into the pattern. A facemask and gloves are essential since these parts of the body are the most likely to move and be spotted by a keen-eyed turkey. Be sure your gun doesn’t glare or shine. Many turkey guns are manufactured with a dull camo finish, and for those that are not, a roll of camo tape offers a temporary fix. My personal favorite camo outfit is a Ghillie suit, a lightweight mesh garment lining with hundreds of small cloth pieces attached that completely disguise the human form.

Use a large tree trunk, a rock, or even a fence line to lean against and make use of any brush to help hide your set-up site. Natural cover helps hide motion, and too much movement is a frequent mistake. Never move your head if you can just move your eyes, and if you have to move a hand or foot do it in slow, slow motion. Being uncomfortable is the biggest cause of movement, so use a foam seat and back rest to thwart rough, rocky terrain.

Utilize a shooting stick or a padded knee rest to keep the shotgun stable and motionless for long periods when a gobbler is approaching and very alert. Have all calls and any other necessary gear laid out at your fingertips, not in a pocket or knapsack. A good rule of thumb while turkey hunting is to avoid any quick movement.

There you have nine major mistakes to avoid if you hope to bag Tom Turkey, but I promised you 10. This final mistake might just be the worst of all; and that would be not plunking down 20 bucks for a permit and heading out after Maine’s most challenging game bird. Matching wits with a wary old long-beard gobbler is not only an adventure, it’s almost addicting. Youth day is April 29, season A starts May 1, and season B opens May 8. The weather’s good, birds are plentiful, and time’s a wastin’, so start making plans now.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com

BILL GRAVES PHOTO

Youth hunters have a full day to hunt before the regular season starts. This year, that day is April 29. Ben Leblanc II proved that a 20-gauge shotgun will do the job when gun, choke, and shells are a perfect match to offer the best pattern, penetration, and distance.