Wild turkeys scratch in the leaves to reveal the insects and mast that lies beneath. An area full of wild turkey scratching looks similar to an area rooted by pigs. Dust bowls are easy to identify and make great places to sit, call sparingly and wait.
What does it mean when a turkey cuts?
Cutts, or cutting, are a series of loud, insistent, fast-paced, single-note sounds turkeys use when they’re excited, and are often used to elicit a response from another turkey. Cutting also sends a message that says “If you hear me and are ready to breed, you’ll need to come find me.”
How do you know if a turkey is scared?
Putting is a short and sharp call that is used by the turkeys when they are frightened or distressed. This can often sound very similar to the classic cluck sound that hunters try so hard to emanate, however, the sound will be noticeably shorter and sharper.
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 often should you call while turkey hunting?
every 15 minutes
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.
Do turkeys make scrapes?
Unlike deer scrapes that are often made once by a deer on the move or at night when they are unhuntable, turkey scrapes should be visited every day. Unless a predator or another hunter disturbs the gobbler, it should make a daily appearance.
Why do turkeys scratch dirt?
They are experts at maintaining the optimum temperature of their nests. The ideal temperature for a mound is about 33 degrees Celsius. If a male thinks his mound is getting too hot, he jumps on it and scratches some leaf material off the top to cool it down.
Where is my turkey strut zone?
It just has to be near a primary roost area and look like a place where gobblers would strut. Toss in some tracks and droppings, and the odds are good you’ve found a strut zone.
Do turkeys get call shy?
After several close encounters, toms tend to become wary of a call, also known as call shy. When hunting private land, I feel like it is easy to use the same favorite call, morning after morning, or the same sequence of calls, and I feel as though turkeys become aware of the same sounds.
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 you hunt pressured turkeys?
Here are some tips to help you hunt high-pressure gobblers:
- Call from different areas. Don’t always call from right in front of a gobbler’s roost tree.
- Call a little, and wait a lot.
- Don’t hunt on the weekends.
- Go to a place where you know the turkey travels, make a good stand, and stay camouflaged wearing Mossy Oak.
What to do if a turkey chases you?
Don’t let turkeys intimidate you
Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a broom or water sprayed from a hose. A dog on a leash is also an effective deterrent. Turkeys that repeatedly challenge or attack people may ultimately have to be destroyed.
How can I tell if my turkey is happy?
Head color can be a very good indicator of a turkey’s mood. A strutting tom’s head and neck will display the characteristic red, white and blue, and the more excited he is the more intense the colors. If the colors fade to mostly red, it’s a sign of either fear or submission.
What smell do turkeys hate?
Primarily, birds dislike really strong smells because they find them quite irritating. These include peppermint oil, citronella, lemon, cayenne pepper, chili, garlic and vinegar.
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.
What time do hens leave gobblers?
The so-called “gobbling lull” is the toughest time of day to hunt. But along about 9 o’clock some hens begin to leave some of the gobblers. Some girls simply lose interest in the boys, while others slip off to lay eggs.
What causes turkeys to not gobble?
As the season wears on and breeding winds down, turkeys also tend to gobble less.
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.
How far can a turkey see?
He has an approximate visual field of 270 degrees around him, substantial compared to Bob’s measly 180 degrees. Put that together with Tom Turkey’s uncanny ability to rotate his neck completely around and he can spot the Bobs of the world coming a mile away, 360 degrees around him, with a simple twist of his head.
What time do turkey calls start?
When To Call A Gobbler. OK, so let’s narrow it down to the time of day. In my view, the best times of the day are right off the roost, then again from about 8:30 to 9:30 when more hens start to leave the gobbler to go lay an egg, and again from about 11 until noon.
What does a turkey drumming mean?
If you’re hunting in a high pressured area, a turkey may not gobble but will drum to call up his hens. In regions with high predator populations, like bobcats and coyotes, turkeys often only drum because the sound doesn’t carry as far.