Fall turkey hunting with archery equipment is an exciting way to bag a bird. When the snow begins to cover the ground do not put your bow in storage. Many turkey hunters are quickly figuring out that some of the best turkey hunting happens in the coldest days of winter when all of that white fluffy snow is covering the ground.
Hunting turkeys in the extreme cold with or without snow on the ground requires hunters to make some changes to their fall hunting techniques. The first thing a hunter has to so as fall turkey season winds down and the weather becomes sour is to throw everything you know about hunting tactics out the window. Forget about busting a flock and then attempting to call them back with kee-kees like you would earlier in the season. Instead find the trees that the turkeys are roosting in and set up a blind. Hunting turkeys in the snow is unlike anything else you have done to bag a turkey. It will quickly become your favorite way to use your turkey tag.
When it begins to snow chances are that there is not a lot of time left in the season. Maybe only a couple of days. You will have to make your time count throughout the whole process if you want to be successful. Let’s start out with scouting. The first step in scouting for a snow hunt is normally done before a snowflake ever hit’s the ground. Find where the turkeys are hanging out on the ground that you are hunting. Survey fields from a distance to see where the birds are feeding. After you have pinpointed their feeding areas it is time to wait. Wait for the ground to receive a covering of snow. Once you get the snow that you need, spend the day looking for travel routes and where the turkeys are roosting. Setting up where the birds are feeding is not good enough.
By now you have figured out that this type of hunting is not intended for the southern regions of the country. It is strictly for areas that receive snow. It does not have to be a lot of snow; a couple of inches will do. Before you dismiss hunting turkeys in the snow you need to know that many successful hunters wait late into the season to employ these tactics as their only means of fall turkey hunting and they still kill their turkey.
When you have figured out which trees the birds are roosting in it is now time to find the best location for your blind. From a distance you need to watch the birds so you know where they fly up to roost from. After watching for a week, you should have the birds pretty well patterned. If there is snow on the ground concentrate your scouting on any fields that are up-hill from the roosting trees. A field that is up-hill from the trees is the likely spot turkeys will fly to their roost from and a good location for your blind. When there is not any snow on the ground turkeys will fly up from the clearest area close to the base of the trees. This is where you need to put your blind.
It does not take long for turkeys to get use to a blind, but I recommend setting your blind up 3 to 4 days before you hunt from it. This will give the birds plenty of time to get comfortable with the new scenery.
Just like when hunting whitetails, you need to plan your entries and exits carefully. Once you are inside the blind you still have to be careful. If you are spotted entering or exiting your hunting area, or getting in your blind, go home. Turkeys are in danger at this time of year, more than at any other time of the year from predators, and the turkeys know it. Do your scouting and plan your hunt accordingly. Success can be high in the winter, but you need to remain undetected.
When you are hunting turkeys in the cold you will have on many layers of clothing that could negatively affect your accuracy. Practice shooting at 3-D turkey targets at least once while sitting in a blind, and while you are wearing your hunting gear. If any adjustments need to be so made now is the time to make them. Not when a live turkey is standing 15 yards away. An arm guard might be needed to prevent your clothing from getting in the way.
Due to the quietness that a winter afternoon can bring it is a must to wear quiet clothing. Hunters need to wear clothing that will not send shock waves across the still forest if you happen to accidentally rub against something. Wool clothing is both quiet and warm. In severe cold weather hunters might have to add on extra layer under their wool pants, shirt and coat on order to stay warm.
It is often difficult to sneak to your blind in the morning without spooking roosted birds. That is why I only hunt evening fly-up. From all of the scouting that hunters have done they should know how far birds travel from their roost site during the early afternoon hours. This is important information to have. Hunters have to be sure that the birds are far enough away from the blind/roost site so that the hunter can safely walk to his blind without spooking any birds.
Once you get into your blind push away any snow that could crush under your feet, and give away your hunting position. Find a chair that does not make noise in the cold. Set the chair at a 45-degree angle to the shooting port in the ground blind and place your bow in a bow holder. I like to drape a white sheet over my blind when hunting in the snow. This is not necessary, but it gives me a peace of mind knowing that I am doing everything I can to match my surrounding. If you choose to do this be sure to use safety pins to secure the sheet to the blind. A sheet flapping in the wind will spook turkeys. Now all you have to do is set back and wait in the comfort of your blind.
This style of hunting is not like any other fall turkey hunt. Although it is one of the most successful ways of tagging a bird in the fall.
Photo: Howard Communications
