Setups when chasing Turkey
Once you uncover an ol Tom while turkey hunting, the first thing stage is to move in near and call him into gun range. Your purpose is to slip in as close as you can without scaring him. Then you “set up” and attempt to call him close enough for a strike.
Remember: when coming near a turkey, if he sees you, he’s gone! Be cautious not to be seen. Topography and growth typically dictate how near you can get before setting up. Seasoned hunters hardly ever approach inside 100 yards. They may set up as far away as 300 yards if the ground is even and there is little foliage to screen their movements.
Use the terrain to your advantage as you come close to an ol Tom. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will screen your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don’t split any sticks during the turkey hunt.
When setting up, pick a location that offers the gobbler an easy route to your location. There should be no creeks, gullies, fences, thick undergrowth or other barriers between you and the bird. Also choose a location that is on the same elevation or to some degree above the turkey’s area. Don’t try to call an ol tom down a sharp slope. Pick an area that provides you with a good view of your surroundings.
Sit against a tree, stump or other object that is wider than your back and taller than your head. It will hide your outline and protect your back from a hunter who might move in behind you. Face the turkey’s direction with your left shoulder (for right-handed shooters), this provides you with a greater mobility of your gun when aiming. Above all, keep your movement to a minimum as you call. If the gobbler is working toward you, then goes silent , don’t move. Sometimes gobblers will sneak in silently .
If you set up and an ol Tom answers your call but won’t approach, you’re going to have to change your game plan. You may need to circle around and call from another location. You might change to a different call. If you’ve worked him a long time and he’s still hung up, you might leave the gobbler and come back in a few of hours and try yet again. Many hunts require several moves and/or strategy changes.
Once you get a bird working to you, get your gun up on your knee pointed in his basic path with the stock against your shoulder. When a gobbler finally walks within range (inside 40 yards), wait until he steps behind a sapling or other impediment to move your gun. When he reappears, aim carefully at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When an ol Tom struts, the neck is compressed and the head is often partly hidden by feathers, making for an even more compact target. If the gobbler is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the objective of each and every hunter.
It’s a wonderful moment when a long beard answers a hunter’s call. This is when all the scouting and planning pay off. It may not always result in bagging the bird, but that’s part of the challenge and the memories. If you listen to a veteran turkey hunter, you’ll note that the hunts most often remembered are those where the ol Tom, and not the hunter, won.
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