Turkey hunting is not easy. If it was, everybody would be killing turkeys.
A lot goes into a successful turkey hunt. From making the right calls, to choosing the right setup, and everything in between can either make or break your turkey hunt.
Alex Gyllstrom has some great advice he originally published for Bowhunting.com.
“If they could smell, you’d never kill one.” It’s a statement we have all heard, and likely said, about one of the most instinctive animals in North America. The wild turkey, regardless of sub-species, can be incredibly frustrating, while downright fun to chase with archery tackle.
Finding the “X”
A potential downside of hunting from blinds is the lack of mobility. I have been in many situations where a quick adjustment or moving positions has resulted in a dead bird. When bowhunting from ground blinds though, that isn’t always an option. This makes scouting and being on the “X” vital to arrowing a gobbler.
“X marks the spot” — there are no truer words for an archery turkey hunter. Success most often comes when you know where the birds want to be, so you can set up there or at least en route to that location. It’s common sense, yes, but can’t be overstated. Sure, good calling and a little luck are always helpful and can result in getting the drop on a love-sick tom, but I always try do what I can to leave as little as possible to chance.
I have found that trail cameras are great tools for identifying travel routes, dusting areas and scratching or feeding locations to understand where flocks are spending most of their time. From there, it’s just a matter of choosing the most ideal spot for an ambush. Bottlenecks in fields, pinch points on ridges or any other terrain feature that can put a gobbler where you want him are great spots to key in on.
Read more: http://www.bowhunter.com/tactics/how-to-create-proven-turkey-setups/#ixzz4dKiSOTwJ
