While there are a number of states that won’t let you turkey hunt in the afternoon, for those that do, an afternoon turkey hunt can be one of the most productive times to be in the woods. The difference in trying to call turkeys in the afternoon compared to the morning may surprise you.
What is the best time of day for turkey hunting?
Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.
What time of day do turkeys gobble the most?
You can’t expect a turkey to gobble 50 or more times in the afternoon like he might first thing in the morning. Most birds won’t even gobble as much as they might around 9 or 10 a.m. You need to crow call or hen cutt and listen closely for a faint gobble or two.
Will turkeys gobble in the afternoon?
Turkeys Don’t Call as Much: You’ll occasionally run across a noisy, gobbling fool in the late afternoon and evening. But more common is the silent, laid-back gobbler that doesn’t make a peep until sounding off on his limb for the night.
Is turkey hunting better in the morning or afternoon?
The fact that birds gobble and their location is known takes some of the guesswork out of it. Again, mornings generally provide faster and hotter action with vocal birds, making it the preferred time to turkey hunt.
Why do gobblers go silent?
In short, the theory goes, we have killed the noisier, more eager toms, leaving the craftier, quieter ones to pass on their genes. That theory sounds good around the campfire, but there is no real evidence or studies to support it, says Ken Duren, wild turkey biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Will turkeys come back after being shot at?
Typically, a bird that is fatally injured by a shotgun won’t travel far. Most turkeys are recovered within about a 200-yard radius. The best place to start your search is right where you shot the bird.
How far can you hear a turkey gobble in the woods?
As a general rule a gobble made in a tree can be heard twice as far as one made on the ground. That same “twice-as-far” rule applies to all other turkey sounds.
How often should you call when turkey hunting?
every 15 minutes
Push button call
But don’t call too often – less is more. Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations.
What is the best weather for turkey hunting?
The best weather for turkey hunting season doesn’t always coincide on days where you hear the most gobblers. Gobblers will be more vocal on days where winds are less than 10 mph, the temperature is between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometric pressure is high and steady.
How do I find a good turkey hunting spot?
- Tall Pine Trees. While they might roost in deciduous trees, turkeys prefer conifers.
- Open Mature Oak Stands.
- Ag Fields With Clover, Alfalfa, Wheat, and Corn.
- Water Holes.
- Saddles in Ridges.
- Livestock Pastures.
- Logging Roads & Recently Plowed Fields.
- Swamps With Dry Islands.
How do you find a turkey in the evening?
It’s ideal to be in the woods a couple hours before daylight to sneak in under the cover of darkness and listen to toms on the roost. You’ll also hear toms gobbling in the late afternoon as the sun starts to slip through the sky. Roosting areas are ideal places to focus your listening efforts.
Do turkeys come out when windy?
Turkeys will often move out into fields just after sunrise when it’s windy.
How long before sunset Do turkeys fly up to roost?
In the woods I hunt the birds are entering slightly before sunset and are usually flying up as the sun hits the horizon–almost to the minute! Remember, too that SPRING hunting hours end 1/2 hour BEFORE SUNSET…which normally takes a true “roost” out of play.
What do wild turkeys do during the day?
Wild turkeys have daily routines involving eating, breeding, dusting and loafing.
How long do turkeys stay Henned up?
During the peak breeding season, which lasts about two weeks, gobblers will be seriously henned-up. They often gobble on the roost, fly down with hens, go silent and spend all day strutting and following hens until one is ready to breed. Even after they breed a hen, a tom doesn’t quit.
How do you attract wild turkeys?
Food. Turkeys are omnivorous and will sample a wide variety of foods. To attract turkeys to your yard, you can provide them with a large ground feeding station containing cracked corn or mixed birdseed. Turkeys will also happily clean up any spills under hanging feeders you may have up for other birds.
What to do when turkeys stop gobbling?
When the gobbler quits gobbling, look at your watch, and force yourself to stay on your stand. Don’t move around for an hour after the bird has quit gobbling. If you’ll use this strategy, you’ll see more turkeys, and you’ll take more turkeys.
How do you hunt turkeys if they don’t gobble?
Those gobblers pause often to listen for the sounds of active hens. Even strutting gobblers are prone to drop from the strut, stand erect, and listen and observe. If hens are what they want, then you should work hard to sound like a hen. And carry several turkey calls so you can sound like young, old and many hens.
Where should you aim on a turkey?
When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird. The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.
How far away can you shoot a turkey with a 12 gauge?
Lead Turkey Loads
A good compromise is #5 copper-plated lead pellets loaded in a 12-gauge 3-inch magnum shot shell. With this setup, you’ll be good out to 40 yards, and perhaps 50 if your gun is patterned tight. If you want better range and lethality, you’ll need to consider using tungsten shot.