Tips for New Turkey Hunters: Understand the Basics to Tag More Gobblers

John N. Felsher

Many sportsmen consider wild turkeys among the wariest and most difficult of all North American game to hunt.

Mike Giles of Meridian, Miss. hunted turkeys most of his life and literally wrote the book on them. His latest book, Legends of the Spring, Masters of the Call, contains stories of noted turkey hunters telling how they hunted special birds or those under usual circumstances.

“One man called up a turkey with a drink bottle,” Giles related. “One of his friends collected bottles. While hunting turkeys one morning, this man worked a gobbler for three or four hours until he decided to leave. He found an old bottle and wanted to bring it to his friend. When he slapped the bottom to get the dirt out of it, a turkey gobbled. He smacked the bottle again and the man barely had time to put the bottle down and grab his gun before the turkey ran him over.”

Giles doesn’t recommend using a drink bottle to call turkeys, however. Unless they get extremely lucky, like Giles’ friend, bagging turkeys requires considerable preparation and knowledge of the magnificent bird’s habits.

“If someone wants to get into turkey hunting, I recommend finding a mentor,” Giles said. “If that’s not possible, people can listen to a few podcasts or watch numerous instructional videos on the internet to get the basic idea. Some great hunters and callers make highly instructional videos so people can learn how to hunt turkeys.”

Tools of the Trade

First, start with a good shotgun. Pattern the shotgun so it hits the target out to 35 to 40 yards. When a turkey comes into range, aim for its wattles, the little fleshy growths on a turkey’s neck. If the gobbler moves or bobs his head, the whole pattern will hit the turkey. If someone aimed just at the head, a good portion of the pattern often flies above it.

Next, people need the right camouflage, including a hat, facemask and gloves, to blend in with the chosen hunting location. One camo pattern might work in thick woods, but not in more open country. Turkeys can see much better than humans and instantly notice anything out of the ordinary. They can also hear better than humans.

Hunters can use many different calls, including box calls, slate calls and mouth calls. Some people call with actual turkey wing bones. Pick one type and learn the basics. Watch instructional videos on how to use that specific call. Listen and practice until it sounds right.

“A box call is one of the easiest to master,” Giles opined. “People can learn how to use a box call in a few minutes. A mouth call sounds good if the caller knows how to use it property.”

Turkeys make many different sounds. Once people master one call, they can learn another. Try different calls for different situations.

“I like to use two different calls at the same time,” says Eddie “Turkey Man” Salter, a former world champion caller from Evergreen, Ala. “Use a slate call and a mouth call or a box call and a mouth call to make two different tones. That will sound like two hens because hens flock up in the spring. There will be several hens in one area.”

To be consistently successful at turkey hunting, you have to start with the basics and build a solid foundation of calling and build your knowledge of turkey habits. Rory Bishop/Doug Howlett Photo

Hitting the Woods

Next, hit the woods scouting for birds. Many turkeys roost in their favorite spots and stay in the same general area. Find where turkeys already want to stay and get there long before they wake up. At dawn, call a few times, but don’t overdo it.

“I think most callers, me included, call too much,” Salter commented. “When the turkey is coming to the call, shut up to avoid making a mistake. One sour note and that bird is gone!”

Turkeys typically don’t come running in hot, even for the best callers.

Besides hunters, many other things want to eat turkeys, including bobcats and coyotes. A gobbler usually moves cautiously, constantly watching and listening for danger.

“One of the biggest mistakes turkey hunters make is a lack of patience,” Giles advised. “Some people call for 15 minutes. It a gobbler doesn’t come out, they leave. I’ve worked for hours before getting a shot at a gobbler.”

Understanding Gobblers

Gobblers habitually call hens to them, not the other way around. If a gobbler hears a call that sounds interesting, it might investigate but not run right to it. It might, “hang up,” staying hidden some distance away before moving forward.

“When a gobbler gets hung up, I run the mouth call and a slate call to sound like two turkeys,” Salter said. “Then, I’ll set the slate down and pop my hat on my leg to make a sound like turkeys fighting. When I’ve done that, I’ve had gobblers hung up 75 or 100 yards away break and come in running. People can’t do that when hunting open country because the turkey will see it, but if that turkey is hung up in thick cover or behind a hill, people can get away with a little movement.”

Safety First

People hunting public lands might encounter other hunters in the same area. Everyone shooting a gun must always positively identify the target and know what’s behind and around it before pulling the trigger.

Unfortunately, some people, especially novice hunters, get so excited when they hear a gobble they shoot at the sound. If another hunter comes into the area, make that person aware of your presence, even if it spooks a turkey. Losing a turkey is much better than losing a life.

To get a copy of Giles’s book, call 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comcast.net. To read more about Eddie Salter or to buy his products, see theturkeyman.com.