Turkey Hunting

Spring turkey season is upon us. I scouted the area, did my research, and thought I was prepared for any situation that a gobbler could throw at me. Well, I was dead wrong. I am certainly not an experienced turkey hunter by any means, but today was a great learning experience. I arrived at the hunting site at 6:30 am and the gobbler was off the roost already. My set up was not ideal, and if I arrived earlier, I could have cut my distance in half. I was at the edge of a hay field, 150 yards away from the gobbler. My back was against a tree, and I had a hen decoy 25 yards north of me. I called to the gobbler several times, but he never responded once. My frustration was building, and I decided to stop calling. The gobbler was holding his ground and was waiting for "the hen" to meet him. After two hours of watching him strut, the Tom finally went on his way. I advanced up the field to get a better look of the terrain and I realized that the Tom was not able to see the decoy. The field had a rise and from the gobbler's location, he did not have an opportunity to see the decoy. I learned three things from this hunt. First, arrive a lot earlier so I am able to pin point the turkey's exact location. Two, set up in a location where he is most likely to fly down from his roost. That will make it more likely for him to see the decoy and he will not have to travel as far. Finally, incorporating a Jake or Tom decoy in my set up will be very beneficial. The Jake or Tom decoy will make it more likely for the gobbler to come in and "fight for his lady." I am sure I will make many more mistakes while turkey hunting, but I will grow as a hunter. This is the only way to get better and learn. So have fun with it and happy hunting everyone.