{"id":201,"date":"2022-08-04T23:48:03","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T23:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theturkeyhunt.com\/?p=201"},"modified":"2023-03-02T17:45:32","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T17:45:32","slug":"how-to-turkey-hunt-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theturkeyhunt.com\/how-to-turkey-hunt-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Turkey Hunt for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Beginner turkey hunting is a blast. With so many things to learn, and so much to see, learning how to turkey hunt for beginners is vital. After all, if you are going to learn to do something, you might as well learn how to do it right. This is where The Turkey Hunt comes in, and helps you figure out all you need to know when it comes to being a rookie<\/em> at turkey hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t stress, everyone who has ever hunted was a beginner at some point in their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey Hunting for Beginners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkey hunting, as a beginner, is a challenging (and rewarding) activity that requires patience, planning, and an understanding of wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that turkey hunting is one of the most popular forms of hunting in the United States? It is an exciting sport and can be enjoyed by just about anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"turkey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Let’s take some time to go over turkey hunting, what you’ll need for basic hunting adventures, and how to improve yourself as a huntsman. There are few things cooler than a successful turkey hunt<\/a>, and we want to make sure you’re as squared away as possible for your first hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Turkey Hunt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After getting your tag and state license, the first step in turkey hunting for beginners is finding a place where you can hunt turkeys. The best places to do this are fields or woods with little cover, as turkeys will stay away from these areas if they feel threatened by other animals or humans. Some people prefer to scout for birds if they are in an area they don’t know well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scouting for Birds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scouting is a fun part of turkey hunting<\/a>! It can be done outside of hunting season, too. The whole purpose of scouting out turkeys is to know their movement patterns, roosting locations, and places they go to look for food before you go out on your actual hunt. If you can nail down these locations, you will most likely shoot a nice sized bird (as long as you’re a good shot).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Can You Hunt With a Drone?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Preparing Your Hunting Spot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After you have decided on your area to hunt, the next step is finding a good spot to occupy. It would help if you tried to find a place with no glare or wind. If you’re looking to turkey hunt hunt from a blind<\/a>, look for a spot that has enough open area to accommodate the size of your blind.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"mossy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Once you’ve found your spot, consider setting up your decoy (if using one) or two. What I do is find a nice spot right on the edge of the wood line, and place the decoys about 20 yards into the field. This way, you have enough cover and concealment to hide yourself while the decoys are in plain view and can attract other turkeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to get into your spot before sunrise. Be as quiet as you can while moving in – some turkeys may be sleeping, and you don’t want to spook them when they are in their roost, otherwise you may have some problems when calling them in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Calling In Your Birds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you have everything ready to go, and you are nice and comfortable in your spot, start to listen carefully. Usually, birds will start calling once the sun rises. You’ll hear all sorts of sounds when the forest comes to life. This is one of the coolest experiences ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A problem most beginners have is they start calling way too soon, and call way too often. Turkey calling is an art, and you will get better at it. As a general rule of thumb, only call a couple times every 30 minutes. If nothing calls back, they probably aren’t in your area, or aren’t interested in your calls. Over calling the birds will do more damage then good.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"flock<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Try to learn your different calls, and get better at them in the off season. The better your turkey calling skills are, the more successful hunts you’ll have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to coax in a nice, big gobbler my mimicking a hen. Once they are within shooting range, take your shot. Most beginners will be using a shotgun, and you’ll want to take a shot that is no more than roughly 40 yards out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay Extra Close Attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I cannot count the times where I thought there were no birds in my area, and I would look up to a flock of turkeys right in front of my face. They move fast, far, and silently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always, always pay attention to your fields of fire. They will, undoubtedly, sneak up on you when you least expect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Taking the Shot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you feel like a bird worthy of shooting is within your shooting range, take a shot. Most people will aim their site picture at the neck\/head of their target. This is the most humane way to kill a turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your bird is within a comfortable range for you to shoot. Some people like to give a little cluck call to get the turkey to momentarily freeze and look. Once this happens – aim, exhale, and squeeze the trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Turkey Hunting Videos<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully you’re a halfway decent shot, and get the bird!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Filling Out Your Tag<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Immediately after your turkey goes down, try to fill out your tag. It will have information specific to your region, and the type of game (turkey, in this case) you are hunting. It is pretty self explanatory. You need to do this in a timely manner to remain legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginner Turkey Hunting Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkey hunting is an exciting experience, but it is not for everyone. Here are a few tips to help you be successful on your first turkey hunt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Your Gear and Accessories Squared Away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n