Avoid Standing Up to Verify the Turkey’s Location

It can be hard on the body to be bent over or kneeling, but this is the only way to remain camouflaged from the birds during hunting. Many beginners make the mistake of stretching or standing up to check the turkey’s exact whereabouts. But no matter how carefully you think you are operating, always resist the urge to stand up when a bird is moving in your direction.

The Early Bird Gets the Turkey

One of the biggest mistakes that any hunter, novice or otherwise, will make is to sleep in late. Although turkeys are up and about during all waking hours, any experienced turkey hunter will tell you that the crack of dawn is the only time that you can expect to make a big score. The most exciting hunting is always in the early morning hours. Rising early can make all the difference between a successful or a disappointing hunt.

Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Another common mistake that many hunters make during a turkey hunt is to leave too soon. The early risers who abandon the hunt after 9 a.m. may experience a bad hunt, just as the latecomers make experience a bad hunt. Although it can be frustrating to experience many near-hits during a very early morning hunt, it can pay off to stick around long enough to encounter more birds. (more…)

Before you can start measuring up the spurs of a turkey, however, you need to know the right way to look at the spurs. Spur measurements can be taken by looking at the side view of the turkey. The outside edge of the spur is the guide for measurements – the spur runs from the outside edge up the back of the leg right until the actual leg scales start. Of course, taking this kind of measurement is easy after you have made the kill but a bit more difficult when you are trying to gauge the age of a turkey on the run. When trying to age a turkey while hunting, make sure you check it out from the side and do you best eyeball estimate.

But once you have a measurement of the spurs, what does it all mean? A general rule of thumb is that the spurs get longer as a turkey ages. The shortest spurs are on jakes – one year old turkeys. The spurs on a jake grow to a maximum length of 7/16” – and often can be quite a bit shorter. By the time a turkey gets to be two years old, their spurs usually range from ½” to 15/16”. (more…)

Shop Around for the Best Taxidermist You Can Find

The first step to preserving your trophy hunt should take place weeks before the actual hunt. You want to begin by shopping for the best taxidermist you can find. Shop around your area for professional taxidermists. Get a feel for the quality of work that they do. Ask how much they charge. If you live in a smaller area, there may be fewer taxidermists to choose from. However, if you cannot find an adequate taxidermist in your local area, scout other taxidermists across the country. There are many fine taxidermists that you can find simply by asking other hunters or doing a bit of research. Taxidermy is one of those fields where you don’t want to skimp. Paying a little extra can often go a long way.

Considerations Before the Hunt – Things to Pack

There is a lot of prep work to be had previous to the hunt. There is a list of things that you should pack with you for the hunt. There are many things you should consider packing, which includes a large plastic bag, a cooler, paper towels, and cotton balls and used pantyhose. Some taxidermists recommend used panty hose so that it can be used to keep the birds feathers in place. To use panty hose, simply cut out a section from the thigh area and tie it up on one end. After shooting the bird, make sure to slip the bird carefully into the hose or bag headfirst. Using a plastic bag is another alternative.

Getting Your Kill to the Taxidermist in the Best Possible Condition

The secret to getting the best possible taxidermy mount is to keep the animal in good condition before getting it to the taxidermist. There are special considerations that you should take in order to ensure the best possible results at the taxidermist. A lot rides on how you shoot the wild turkey. (more…)

Don’t Cancel Your Hunting Date, Just Prepare for the Rain

Most determined hunters would not let the rain put a damper on events, especially if you are experiencing a light or passing rain. However, here are some tips for dealing with turkey hunting in case you should find yourself caught in the rain. First, you should move out towards the fields and open pastures. Old roadbeds and fields are ideal for rainy weather because turkeys tend to gravitate to open spaces when it is raining. This can be a boon to the dripping yet determined wild turkey hunter.

Switch Your Calls Accordingly

When it rains, you will want to adjust your turkey calls. The general rule of thumb here is to switch to friction calls rather than traditional mouth calls. This is because friction calls can be heard at a much greater distance than conventional mouth calls. Use carbon and acrylic strikers if you have them, as these can help greatly with friction calls when it is raining.

Protect Your Box Call in the Rain

If you know that you are heading out to questionable weather circumstances, carry with a use a plastic bread bag or something of the sort to cover your friction or box call. The box and frictional call will not sound effectively if it is not dry. Keep it dry inside a plastic bag. (more…)

Some of the birds of this subspecies of wild turkeys can grow very large. The male adult turkey, also called tom or gobbler, can grow up to 4 feet tall and weigh more than 20 pounds. It has a covert tail and the tips of the tail of the long feathers are tipped with chestnut brown color and a dark buff or chocolate brown. The breast feathers of the Eastern turkey are black, while other feathers on the rest of the body have an iridescent sheen. The iridescent sheen ranges in color from rich metallic copper to bronze.

The upper set of wing feathers has white and black bars all the way from the tip to the shaft. The lower set of feathers is predominantly white and is white edged and form a white triangular area when the wings are folded up. Male turkeys also have a fleshy flap close to their beaks called caruncles, which expands due to blood rushing into the flaps when the turkey is excited. Males also often display a beard and a spur as a difference to female turkeys.

Female birds can get almost as tall as the male turkey, but in general they are much lighter than the male turkey only around 7 to 12 pounds in weight. The female turkey is called hen. Even though coloration is similar, the colors are less bright in their iridescent sheen and many female turkeys are of browner color. Female breast feathers are rather brown instead of black tipped and the heads of female Eastern turkeys are covered in a certain amount of feathers, while males ones are not. Female turkeys also do not possess the caruncles around the beak. (more…)

Removing the Feathers from Your Fowl

The first step to preparing your turkey kill is to remove its feathers. Maybe you think you can hand-pluck the feathers from your turkey kill. Although theoretically this is possible, keep in mind that most wild fowl carry around nearly 5,000 feathers on them. Hand-plucking fowl feathers are often simply not an option. One of the easiest ways of getting rid of wild fowl is to dip the bird in hot water. Some people swear that dipping the bird in water at a temperature of 140 degrees is the most efficient way to loosen all of its plumage for easy removal. However, any level of boiling water will tend to work well in removal of the feathers. Removing your fowl’s feathers by dipping the bird in hot water also prevents the plumage from drifting around the room. Set up a large washtub where you can work by dipping the dead bird into the water.

Steps for Skinning Your Turkey Kill

Here are some general guidelines to get you through the process of skinning your turkey kill. First, make sure to remove the tail fan or cape of the turkey if you plan on saving them. This should be the first removal. Then you can remove the beard before starting to clean your kill. However, if you are not planning on saving the bird’s cap or tail, you can begin by laying the turkey on its back.

Beginning the Process of Cutting Your Turkey

One of the easiest ways to begin to cut your turkey is by starting with the removal of the breast filets. You will want to pluck some feathers from the middle of the breast area. You can do this by making a small incision through the turkey’s skin. Then you can work your fingers underneath the skin. Make sure to pull the skin back from the breast and peel them back toward the sides of the turkey. (more…)

As the name might suggest, the Rio Grande wild turkey does call west Texas near the Rio Grande home, but its territory is much larger than that. George B. Sennett first identified the bird in 1879. Sennett described the turkey as being an “intermediary” between the Eastern wild turkey and wild turkey species more commonly found in western parts of the US. This intermediary tag stuck, helping to earn the turkey its scientific name, Meleagris Gallapavo Intermedia.

In Bennett’s days, the Rio Grande wild turkey roamed in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and even down into parts of northern Mexico. When Bennett first came across the turkey, it is estimated that its popular ran into the millions, but within a few decades, the bird on the verge of extinction. In the early 1930s, several Federal programs were put into place to help protect the Rio Grande turkey. The main procedure followed involved capturing the turkeys and moving them to protected areas where they could reproduce and thrive. Although the turkeys are not thought to have reached their previous numbers, they are believed to have rebounded considerably and are no longer protected. Texas is home to the largest population of Rio Grande turkeys. Thanks to the relocation programs followed during the protection period for the birds, you can find Rio Grande turkeys further a field than their natural habit, including in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, California and Utah. (more…)

Besides the fact that turkeys can see color, some studies have shown that a turkey seems to be able to perceive everything within its range of vision in an instant. Therefore camouflage is just as necessary as the skill of holding and sitting still.

Hunting gear and apparel is a big business—and for good reason. The appropriate dress when hunting can mean the difference between failure and success. Take a look and you will see what is available and recommended to wear when going for a turkey hunt. Start by discussing different boots options. It is important to say that generally, it is best if camouflage-colored boots are used instead of regular black or brown boots. If the hunter is able to pull the pant legs down or have other precautionary covers that will hide the boots well, he might be able to use a pair of the brown and black variety.

It is also important to note that turkey hunting season is in many states in spring and fall and temperatures, as well as rainfall, can vary greatly. In spring, for example, a hunter might need lighter boots. In the fall, closer to winter, an insulated pair of boots might be the best choice. There are also rubber boots available, which are preferred by some hunters that hunt in the more moist areas of the Deep South. If the budget is an issue, the midway, a lightly insulated boot, might be the way to go. Warm socks might be more economical for the wallet. Also keep in mind that the hunter might have to walk many miles in his boots to get to the hunting place and back and this is why comfort is one important factor. Also, if the hunt is in an area where there is a snake problem, snake safe boots or snake-proof protection around the lower legs is highly recommended. (more…)

The Ultimate Challenge for Turkey Hunters

Why is bow and arrow turkey hunting experiencing such a renaissance with hunters? More and more hunters are reaching for the bow and arrow because this type of hunting is often one of the biggest challenges that you will experience. Turkey hunting tests your accuracy, patience, as well as your nerves. It is a challenging experience that requires a new mindset and set of skills. It is no wonder that so many turkey hunters turn to bow hunting when they are looking for a new challenge.

Remember that Bow Hunting is Different

One of the classic mistakes that many newcomers to bow hunting tend to make is that they forget it is much more different than conventional hunting, which relies on a firearm. If you can remember that bow hunting requires a new set of skills and attitude, you will fare much better than if you resist the differences between the two hunting styles. Be prepared to learn more about the animal’s anatomy and a whole different set of physical skills. (more…)

Fully-grown wild turkeys have a small head, which is of red color and bears no feathers whatsoever. Long reddish-orange to grayish-blue legs, a dark brown to black colored, feathered body are common to most turkeys. Male birds additionally have a red throat. Most turkeys have caruncles on their heads and fleshy flaps close to the bill that expands when the turkey is excited. This happens due to blood flowing into the flap and expanding.

A turkey’s foot has four toes and in male birds, there is usually a spur found on the lower leg of the bird. Fully-grown wild turkeys are often called a tom or longbeard. Generally, turkeys have a dark colored, long and fan shaped tail. The color of the overall feather dress is of dark color. As with so many other birds in the wild, turkeys display big differences in their overall shape and color when it comes to sex. The male turkey is generally much bigger than the female turkey and his feathers also display great iridescence in such beautiful colors as copper, red, bronze, purple and green. Female feathers are overall more dull and in the range from brown to gray. Most male turkeys have white coloration on their wings, lower back or tail tips. (more…)