13 minute read
Hunting Turkey
HUNTING THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY
Story and photos by Francis Wood
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Francis Wood holds up a wild turkey killed in the area. Wood gives some tips on how to get a turkey from the wild this Thanksgiving.
To see where turkeys may be flocking together, look for tracks like these. Turkey calls are used by hunters to attract wild turkeys who may have become separated from the flock.
I’ll never forget the first Thanksgiving turkey that I killed and brought home to the Thanksgiving meal. It was an 18-pound hen turkey that just happened to walk up on me while I was hunting deer in a pine forest not far from my home in Buckingham County. My Browning Auto-5 shotgun was loaded with single ought buckshot, and I feared that I would destroy the bird’s meat. So, I took careful aim and placed the lead at the base of the turkey’s neck. It was a perfect shot, and I proudly brought the bird home where I prepared it for the oven. That Thanksgiving meal so many years ago was memorable and started me on a quest to learn all I could about this amazing game animal. I’m sure I have read most of the books written about the wild turkey, but my true knowledge of this prey animal has been garnered over years of hunting, tracking and experiencing it up close and personal.
I could write a book on hunting the wild turkey and probably will someday. But, this is an article that needs to get right to the point. So, I’ll paraphrase much of what I have learned over the years in hopes that some of you potential turkey hunters will be inspired to get outdoors and experience one of the greatest hunting challenges there is: to bring home the Thanksgiving turkey. Although I do also hunt turkeys with archery gear, this article is written more toward those who hunt with guns.
First of all, let me urge you to get the latest edition of Hunting & Trapping in Virginia (July 2020June 2021). You can get a copy at most stores that deal in outdoor hunting gear or go online at: www.virginiawildlife.gov as you will need to be knowledgeable about hunting rules and seasons. Believe me when I tell you that the fall hunting season for the wild turkey is a rollercoaster of dates beginning with the archery season in early October right through the gun season and until it ends on Jan. 23. I mark my calendar for the seasons so I’ll make no mistakes. Some hunters even carry the printed edition with them so they can refer to it often. You will find in this edition public hunting areas, nearby areas such as Horspen WMA, Briery Creek WMA, James River WMA and Featherfin WMA, as well as state and national forest areas. One might be a landowner or have the privilege of hunting on private land.
Whether you choose to pursue this wary bird with gun or bow, you are in for a major trial and error endeavor to say the least. But, it’s well worth the dedication you put into it. Bagging a fall turkey is a feat in itself and unlike spring gobbler season when their internal compass is set on procreation, fall turkeys have settled into a routine that is far less helter-skelter than their heated up charge into the warmer months. After the mating season the gobblers go their separate ways from the hens and begin teaming up with other adult gobblers. The hens are spending their time looking after their eggs, feeding and raising their broods. As the summer wears on and fall arrives, you’ll likely see large flocks of mature hens with their young offspring and other young hens. The young males called Jakes, have teamed up then and are apart from the hens. The gobblers remain a men’s club and go their separate ways in the forest, although they will often roost near the larger hen flocks
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for the purpose of keeping an eye on them. It is not unusual to see upwards of 30 to 50 hens and young turkeys in a flock as they will team up for safety. The pecking order in these flocks is an interesting thing to watch, as there is much infighting and upstaging in order to establish superiority within the flocks. This goes on with hens, jakes and gobblers.
Fall turkey hunting methods vary. But, if the flock is going away from you and you do not think you can get any closer without being detected, then run into the flock. They will scramble and fly in all directions. I have brought turkeys down in flight, but I don’t recommend it as a large bird is hard to bring down in a clean kill. Goose hunters know this is true. Once you have separated the flock, set down against a tree and wait a few minutes before you start to call them back in. Listen, and you will hear their soft gathering calls. Respond accordingly, but don’t over-call, and know when to put the call down and ready yourself for a shot. If you happen to see a flock of turkeys coming straight toward you in the woods, then find a good size tree preferably with a girth wider than your shoulders are broad and sit or stand against it and wait. Do not move, as a turkey’s vision is superior at picking up motion. Prepare yourself for a wait that could take some time. For this reason, I usually sit on the ground at the base of a tree and use my knees as a support for my weapon. You can also set up close to a turkey roost and be ready in the morning when they fly to the ground and begin to gather. The best times to hunt fall turkeys are early in the mornings as they are leaving their roost or late in the day when they are heading for the roost. They like to roost at least 20-feet high in oaks and pines to avoid predators. Study the mass crop (acorns and nuts) in the forests as this is a main food source in the fall. Turkeys will eat tender grass shoots, wild fruits and seeds, grubs and insects. They are omnivores and will eat frogs and small snakes. I always examine the contents of a turkey’s craw so that I know where it has been feeding. Know the geography of the land you are hunting and you will have a good idea where to go for turkeys. Never hunt alone in an area you are not familiar with as you can become lost. A lot of places on the map look good, but you need to explore any area you plan to hunt and learn its landmarks.
Choose your target carefully, and when the turkey you want is at least within 35 to 40 yards in range, fire off your shot aiming between the bird’s head and base of its neck. I would not recommend shooting at a turkey more than 40 yards out. Of course, you will need to know your shotgun’s scatter
This is Francis Wood’s premier turkey gun known as the “Gobbler Stopper.”
Acorns make up approximately 38% of the diet of a wild turkey.
pattern. This can be learned by taking the gun out for some test shots in the field before the season begins. Try shooting at different distances and with your preferred shells. My shotgun is a Remington 1100. This is my go-to turkey gun which I named, “Gobble Stopper.” I use Premier Magnum Turkey loads when I hunt. These are high velocity, 3-inch shells with a 5-shot size. They work for me, and I know the pattern they will cover at any distance I choose to shoot. I use a full choke, but you might need more depending on your barrel length. I do prefer a 12-gauge but I know hunters who like to turkey hunt with 20-gauge guns.
Lone birds are seldom encountered by a hunter unless its flock has been interrupted by a threat. A hunter who is in the right place will perhaps get a shot at a lone bird searching for its flock. But more often a hunter will have a better chance if he or she knows a few turkey sounds such as the purr, the cluck or yelp, and the lost bird sound referred to as the kee-kee. Seldom will one need to gobble for a fall bird, although you might hear an adult bird let it out once in a while. They use it only as a challenge to other males in their group to establish hierarchy. So if you want to challenge a gobbler then give it a try. It’s worked for me a few times.
Turkey calls can be mastered with various turkey calls on the market including peg and slate, glass, box and diaphragms. When calling turkeys in the fall, one should call softly. It is natural to overdo the volume and consistency of the calls, so be careful. I have even mastered a few that I can do vocally in a pinch. There are many different types of calls out there, so take your time and get the one or ones that you can work well and that fit your style of hunting. Don’t be afraid to ask an experienced hunter for his recommendation on calls and even
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hunting advice. You’ll find that turkey hunters are more than willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Remember, you do not need to be an expert turkey caller to bring in birds. But, you do need to be able to mimic their main calls well enough to fool them. I have actually heard some of the worst turkey calls emitted from the birds themselves. Don’t be afraid to experiment. I once called in turkeys with a flat piece of slate that I grabbed off a graveled road. I quickly carved a rounded tip onto a cedar stick with my jackknife, cupped the slate in my palm and mimicked the purr of a hen enough to bring two hens close enough for me to take one. This was all done within one minute.
A turkey hunter must know his prey. Know the character of the wild turkey. Its habits. Its strengths and weaknesses. They have super hearing capability. Their vision is far superior to ours enabling them to see three times better than a human with 20/20 vision. They can see colors better than us and can even see the ultraviolet spectrum. Their sight is attuned to motion and patterns. Don’t worry so much about the blaze orange you have to wear. The bird is honing in on a visual pattern. If the blaze orange garment doesn’t match the pattern you are trying to blend with, the turkey’s alert antenna will go up. It is difficult to stalk within close range of a turkey, but it can be done with practice and much patience. Just remember, when a flock is feeding there is always a sentinel watching for danger. Full camouflage is a good thing for a turkey hunter to wear. You can spend a lot of money to look like a tree out there. I wear some camouflage, but not much. I prefer drab-colored clothing and that works well for me. Stay away from clothing that is blue, red, black or white. Other turkey hunters in the forest are looking for these colors which are associated with the game you are pursuing. A turkey’s sense of smell is not a concern to hunters. But, they are a curious creature. I once bent over and walked backwards toward a flock of turkeys. They were alarmed, but had never seen anything like that coming towards them in the forest. They froze while trying to figure out if they should flee. You should have seen how comical they looked. I’m sure I did too, but it worked for me when I swung around and dropped a fat hen before she could take flight or run away. I am not urging you to do this as I was on private property and willing to experiment. Fortunately for me, it was her natural curiosity that killed the old, fat hen.
Wild turkeys have less fat so they do not take as long to cook.
Hunting fall turkeys is a fun challenge, and when you bring one home for that Thanksgiving feast, well, there’s a pride associated with it that only a true hunter can understand. It makes one extra thankful and respectful of the wild nature around us.
As for the difference in taste between a wild turkey and a domesticated bird, I’ll have to leave that up to the individual. But, it has a lot to do with how the wild turkey is handled after it is harvested and how it is prepared for the table. I field dress a wild turkey as soon as possible, and if the weather is cold enough I will hang them up in the shed overnight. Next day I either pluck or skin the bird. My wife, Chris, prefers that I pluck a turkey as it holds moisture better in the oven. Some turkey hunters like to smoke their turkeys, but while I have yet to try that, I can attest to Chris’s delicious roasted turkey. Here is her recipe:
Preparing the turkey for the oven: I prefer to use an oven roaster bag. After washing the bird thoroughly inside and out, pat it dry with a paper towel. Slather the torso with vegetable oil, then salt and pepper and a little rub of poultry seasoning. Wrap the torso with enough bacon slices to cover the breast area of the bird. Place the turkey into the prepared roaster bag, which is situated in a shallow roasting pan, lined with aluminum foil.
Now the bird is ready to stuff. I take a washed, green apple (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith) and cut into quarters. A small yellow onion, peeled and quartered, a large stalk of celery, quartered, a half stick of butter and stuff into the cavity of the bird. Some salt and pepper, basil, and a quarter teaspoon of poultry seasoning, then, add some white cooking wine or other dry, white wine, about a half a cup, and a chicken bouillon cube to the mix.
Roast according to directions on roaster bag box, less 20-30 minutes. (Wild turkeys have less fat, hence a little less roasting time).
When the bird is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool until it can be handled comfortably. Remove it from the roaster bag and carefully strip off the bacon slices, take out the stuffing and discard. Drain the drippings into a separate pan for the most delicious gravy. Bon Appetit!
