It’s been years – okay, decades — since I’ve hunted wild turkeys. And in all honesty, I didn’t have such great success at it (like my good friend, Bob, pictured above) for several reasons, even though I had my Remington 1100 with a 30-inch barrel and full choke that shot “dinner plates” at 30 yards, my “Old Boss Hen” Quaker Boy mouth call, and a turkey hunting guide that I read cover to cover and found somewhat informative, from this novice’s perspective. What I didn’t realize is that the turkeys weren’t as plentiful as they are today, and I never really found a location where they would be in the spring and where I could hunt. So, after a few seasons of wondering where the turkeys I had seen during deer season had gone in the springtime, I turned my attention all those years ago to more pressing things during the spring months such as my growing family, work, and my other favorite thing to do, play lacrosse – a sport I enjoyed for as many years as my body would allow.
I’ve been itching to hunt turkeys again for a while and the factors that have been triggering this desire and give me hope of successfully harvesting a wild turkey have recently come together. I now have the time and good fortune to also have a hunting place where I know where to find the turkeys. You know, in the springtime. My friends who have been turkey hunting and have become somewhat knowledgeable, have been a key factor in getting me excited to try it and we will get to hunt together. Also, I recently watched a hunting show that followed an experienced turkey hunter teaching the sport to some newbies and THAT is what pushed me over the edge to apply for my spring turkey permit. So, I’m going turkey hunting! But, this time, I am also better prepared and have left no detail to chance, researching and using every available opportunity to learn. My hall-of-fame college lacrosse coach, the great Tom Hayes, ingrained into his Rutgers Lacrosse teams and this former player, “be a student of the game.” I have lived by that mantra in many aspects of my life including hunting and am now applying it to this new hunting opportunity. That phrase is also a great pun when one can use it in terms of hunting, and I just couldn’t resist adding it to this article.
As for “refreshing” myself on turkey hunting, I don’t want to state I started with a “blank canvas.” Actually, it was like remodeling a home. I first had some “demo” to do. The “demo” was all in my mind and consisted of the choices I had to make such as do I use my (relatively) new Benelli with a full or turkey choke or my old 1100? I really didn’t want to buy a turkey choke if I didn’t need it. Can I get by with my old Quaker Boy call or do I try new calls and other types of calls? Heck, I even debated if I wanted to put my old call into my mouth and give it a try. So, my first step was to gather the existing turkey hunting equipment I planned to use to evaluate if it would put me in a position to be successful this spring, with my newfound knowledge. This process, coupled with my research on new equipment and technologies, took a few weeks and plenty of time. But it was essential to ensure preparation for this coming turkey season would put me in the best position to be successful or at least have enjoyable and exciting hunts.
New technologies made a positive difference in my preparation and game planning this time around and I mean that in a broad and all-encompassing manner. The internet has really enabled this somewhat chronologically challenged hunter to learn much more about his quarry and how to use the tools at his disposal, and finding such information is much easier these days. Heck, after a few days of research, the information started coming to, or shall I say, was “pushed” directly to me. “Big Brother” (who really makes me uneasy) even sent me turkey call ads and, after hours of shopping online for a call, reading descriptions and listening to some audio, I was able to make a selection, albeit on one that was sent in an ad, partially because the website had such great information about using their calls, turkey hunting in general and some great tutorials. However, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) www.nwtf.org is not to be outdone when it comes to turkeys and turkey hunting. I’ve spent hours on this site, putting together and recording all the information (in my mind) that I feel is necessary for a successful hunt. Then, I formulated a game plan that is now being executed in preparation for the season. I recommend those of you who want to learn about wild turkeys and turkey hunting use the NWTF as a resource if you have not already done so.
My turkey hunting game plan includes deliberate steps on how to approach and get ready for my turkey hunts. Some of the steps require a sequence and are based on the overall strategy that will be needed for success. I’ve begun with the end in mind to develop my strategy which includes input from my friends who are familiar with spring turkey hunting in the area where we will be hunting. Thought has been given to where the turkeys will be roosting and coming from, where I may be sitting in the woods, and at what angle and how far my shot may be. This has enabled me to develop a scouting plan, a plan for calling, and a strategy for selecting the equipment I’ll be taking with me for my hunts, right down to the camo pattern I will need to be wearing for effective cover. I’ve already taken a couple of practice shots from a sitting position and have patterned my shotgun with new turkey loads. Soon I’ll be taking it to my possible hunting locations and assessing shooting lanes, shot angles, and distances, to put myself in the best possible position for a quick, clean harvest on hunt day.
I’m hopeful all my preparation will result in the opportunity to harvest a wild turkey and another field to fork experience. I’m looking forward to again making the smoked wild turkey breast recipe I have in “Changing The Game.” I’m also going to try the legs in “Ma’s Cacciatore” which is also in “Changing The Game.” You can find the latter recipe posted on my Recipe of the Month page. I also hope sharing my research and game planning experiences can point fellow hunters in a direction where they will find the information that can aid them in their research and preparation for a fun and successful turkey hunt this spring.
This post is dedicated to my former college lacrosse coach, Tom Hayes. This “student of the game” is eternally grateful for the role you played in shaping me to be the person I have become. Rest in peace, Coach.
