Brian Warner, North American Hunting Club, lifetime member


Now, start scouting....NOW. Get to know the birds in several areas. Don't be surprised if they change up ythey're habits a bit as the season approaches and more hunters start scouting or get hunting. Watch now for what they do when they get a bit sppoked. Where they go and how they get there. This way, when the pressure gets on them You'll be able to have some sort of idea what to expect until they get figured out a bit by the rest of the hunters out there. They'll only make as much of a change as they need to so they feel secure. The longer and the more pressure they feel the more they will vary from the norm. Be careful and don't spook them too bad as well as give them a break between scouting tris to an area. Also, LEAVE THE CALLS AT THE HOUSE. Just watch and listen, especially early mornings and in the evening. Try to locate roosting areas and the direction they travel to feed and water. Keep in mind, turkeys don't nessacarily eat grass, but they DO drink the dew from the grass as they feed instead of hitting a puddle or creek for water. Look for dusting places and areas where the grass hoppers like to hang. Another good spot is near pastures where the cow patties are near the wood line. They like to come out, flip over dry patties and catch the bugs underneath. They also like to pitch down out of the roost but land at or above the same level they flew down from. In other words, if they are roosted on a hillside, they will tend to fly down towards the bottom of the hill but turn back towards it to land.
Finally, get yourself a GOOD call and practice with it. OUTSIDE and away from the hunting area.
The last thing you want to do is get the birds your going to hunt to get used to hearing a call, any call that is not the real thing. Kinda like we can tell the difference between a real person talking and one on the TV even though the sound system is great.
OWLS don't hoot in the daytime and when they do, the turkeys don't care. Crows are daytime worries for turkeys, Owls are nighttime trouble. Hoot in the dark or fist light and then switch to a crow call. Nothing is more help than to get a murder of crows helping you out. Blow your crow call and get the other crows answering you all around and listen for the gobbles in between. They'll help you find gobblers twice the distance from where you normally would. Practice and get good at your crow calling.
Most of all, have fun and be safe. A small orange ribbon (3 ft) nearby you is a good thing. Gives other hunters an idea tht you maight be there. If you see one, look around for a hunter or decoy. It won't bother the turkeys but it might keep you from ducking a load of #4s.
GOOD LUCK!!!