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Turkey Hunting

‘’’Turkey hunting’’’ is a sport involving the pursuit and killing or capture of a wild turkey. Adult wild turkeys are large, dark, ground-dwelling birds with long powerful legs. Their tails are quite large and fan shaped. The tips of their tail feathers are either a chestnut brown (east) or white (southwest). They have a bare head and neck, as well as a short beak that is slightly curved downward. They are typically about forty-three to forty-five inches in height and can be over twenty-three pounds in weight.

Background of Wild Turkeys

Habitat

Wild turkeys can be found in hardwood and mixed conifer hardwood forests that contain openings such as fields, pastures, orchards, and marshes.3

Food Sources

They are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They feed on things such as nuts, seeds, fruit, plant buds, insects, and salamanders.3

Mating Season

Wild turkeys mate in early spring, and the male turkey attracts the female by fanning out his tail and gobbling loudly. The male turkey mates with more than one female.

Hunting Supplies

Camouflage

When hunting wild turkeys, camouflage should be worn to keep from being seen. A turkey’s eyesight is excellent and any quick or unnatural movement can cause the bird to become weary and quickly run off. Wearing camouflage clothing, putting a camouflage covering on one’s gun, or using a camouflage blind are some methods often used. Some states require that blaze orange is worn when hunter is entering or leaving the woods.

Types of Turkey Calls

There are 2 main types of turkey calls. They are friction calls and mouth calls.6

Friction

There are three main types of friction calls. One type is called a slate call, or peg and pot call. This call is used by scratching the end of a peg over the surface of the call. The surface of the call can be made out of materials such as slate or glass. Another type of friction call is called a box call. This is used by scratching the lid of the call across the sides that support it. The final type of friction call is the push-button call which involves pushing a peg back and forth through a hole in the call.

Mouth

Mouth calls are used by inhaling and exhaling air through them. One type of mouth call is called a diaphragm call and is typically used when a turkey is too close to the hunter to use a friction call.

Weapons Used

There are various weapons used when hunting for turkeys. A shotgun is the most popular choice by hunters because it allows more room for error. A rifle may also be used in some states to hunt turkeys. A more difficult method is to use a compound bow, recurve bow, or longbow. Some states may only allow certain firearms to be used. Pennsylvania, for instance, allows shotgun, rifle, or bow and arrow in the fall season but only allows shotgun or bow to be used in the spring season.5

Turkey Hunting Methods

Stalking

One method of turkey hunting is called stalking. Stalking is to pursue prey or quarry in a stealthy manner.1 This requires the hunter to move very slowly and quietly after the turkey. Some states have regulations on when and whether you can do this. Pennsylvania, for example, does not allow for the hunter to stalk a turkey during its spring turkey season.5

Calling

Calling is basically the opposite of stalking. When calling, the hunter uses animal noises to bring the turkey to him, rather than having to go to the turkey as in stalking. Various noises and calls can be simulated to bring the turkey closer to the hunter.

References