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.
What time of day is best for turkey hunting?
first thing in the morning
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 are most turkeys killed?
Time of Day — Many hunters are in the woods before dawn, and most turkeys are killed before 8 a.m. However, turkey hunting after 8 a.m. can be rewarding.
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.
Is turkey hunting good in the evening?
The Evening Turkey Difference
Most studies of gobbling activity show that the evening, though it sees more gobbling than midday, has only 10 to 30 percent of the gobbling a typical morning sees. The toms might be tuckered out after a long day, much of it spent waddling after hens.
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.
Is afternoon turkey hunting good?
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.
How long should you sit in one spot turkey hunting?
If I’m in a good spot, I discipline myself to sit for at least 30 minutes, more if I feel confident. That’s not to say that if you’d given it one more minute, you’d have killed the bird that sneaked in on you, but staying longer is better than leaving too soon.
Do turkeys always gobble in the morning?
Some days, turkeys gobble from dawn to dark. Other days, they don’t gobble at all.
What causes turkeys not to gobble?
As a conservation measure the state purposely and prudently sets the start of the season to begin after the peak of gobbling, for the roughly two weeks before most hens start sitting on their nests. Toms naturally taper off in gobbling in this time, after the hide-and-seek of mating game has peaked, Duren said.
Is turkey hunting good in the rain?
When it’s raining, turkeys are likely to be out all day, giving you even greater odds of success. Set up a blind, bring snacks, and fill up a thermos with tea or coffee to stay warm and dry while turkey hunting in the rain.
Do turkeys gobble mid morning?
Midmorning. Hard morning gobbling might be nonstop, but the hubbub can quickly fade as turkeys begin their hourly rituals. Scouting should influence when and where you make a midmorning move. Your focus should be on feeding areas with strut zones.
Should you call turkeys in the afternoon?
It’s no secret that most turkeys are heard, seen, and killed in the morning. For some states, it’s the only time you can hunt mandated by state game laws. But for those that are turkey hunting all day in the spring, the success can be great in the afternoons.
Can turkeys smell?
Smell. “Smells are interpreted by the olfactory lobes in the forepart of the brain,” Dickson said. “These lobes are small in the turkey and probably indicate a poorly developed sense of smell.” Eriksen adds, “The olfactory sense in most birds, including the wild turkey, is poorly developed.
Do turkeys come out when windy?
Turkeys often move to fields in heavy wind because they can see danger more easily there and escape the noise of clattering branches and swishing bushes. Scout to see where they enter and exit, then set up an ambush just back in the woods at those locations.
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 get a turkey to gobble in the morning?
After Locating Birds
So when you hear birds waking up and flying down around first light, we recommend starting with some soft hen sounds – cutts, clucks, and purrs. If you can draw live hens to your decoy spread in the process, that’s a sure-fire way to attract worked-up gobblers too.
How do I call turkey Mid day?
Midday Calling
Ultimately, realistic yelps and purrs are what get toms. “If you get a bird to sound off midday, you can kill that bird,” Bartholow said. “Keep your calls subtle. During midday hunts, birds are more likely to come in silently.
How late in the day can you hunt turkey?
Wild turkey hunting is permitted in the morning only, from 30 minutes before sunrise until midday.
What weather is best 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 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.