Turkey Woods Etiquette

It was youth day of the 2005 turkey season. My two sons and I had walked along a huge field, sitting down in the early morning darkness waiting for that first gobble of spring. Back at the road, we could see a vehicle pull up beside my truck. The doors slammed, within a few minutes two people came walking along the field towards us. I whistled, the hunters stopped for a few seconds, then continued walking. They got about 20 yards away, prompting me to say: “ Where are you going?”
   “We’re turkey hunting” the taller of the two shot back.
   “Why are you walking over our hunt?” I asked.
   “We didn’t know you were here,” he answered.
   “Wasn’t my truck a clue that somebody was already hunting here?” I sarcastically stated.
   “We’re sorry,” he said and they turned to walk off.
   I told the guy to keep coming. The two of them walked over to our setup. We met a 10 year-old young lady and her Dad. It was her first turkey hunt. They had seen birds in the field the night before. We decided, after a conversation on turkey hunting etiquette, that they should join us. I had also seen the birds the night before, counting several jakes and gobblers. We figured there were enough birds in the area for three young hunters. My sons had killed a bunch of jakes and gobblers in the past, so we figured she could have the first shot, if the birds cooperated. Well, the birds decided to fly into another field. We left the father-daughter team to give chase and went to another spot.
   Good hunting etiquette is very important to safe, successful turkey hunting. If a hunter finds someone has already entered an area, they need to leave. What really gets my goat about a hunter walking in on me, they haven’t only ruined my hunt, but they have put a damper on their own hunt as well. Pretty simple.
  Successful turkey hunters spend hours in the field before the season, scouting and locating several spots to hunt. I advise staying away from the obvious spots. That means, don’t rely on a place where the birds can be seen from the road. Remember, everyone has seen those same birds and plan to hunt there. Find remote areas, off the beaten trail. Most folks hunt fields and pastures, but turkeys spend most of their time in the woods. Open oak ridges, orchards and stream bottoms are great places to hunt turkeys. I kill several birds each year hunting my favorite deer woods.
   Keep an accurate log of the areas scouted. Make note of how many birds were seen and how often. Don’t depend on your memory to recall everything learned during the preseason. Before the season, I’ll have a dozen or more good places to kill a gobbler come opening day. Good landowner relations are essential. Never hunt anywhere, without permission. I ask the same landowners permission each year. Even if land isn’t posted, still get permission to hunt there. A farmer or landowner can give you good information about how many turkeys are in the area or how many other hunters have asked to hunt there. In fact, I’m meeting with a farmer tomorrow morning to ask permission to hunt his farm. It never hurts to drop off little gift to the landowner either. Make a point to give landowners a pack of deer steak, a couple of trout or fresh veggies to show your appreciation.
   These simple things will make the turkey season more successful. The other is practice. Practice calling that is. Whatever your “go-to” call might be, practice with that call as much as possible. If your calling sounds good to you and the turkeys, that’s fine. Practice on wild turkeys occasionally. Now, most turkey hunters will tell you never call to turkeys during the preseason. Well, that’s crap. Hunters can call to preseason turkeys if they’re smart. Don’t do it out the truck window or standing in the open. Set up against a tree, camouflaged and don’t bust the birds. They believe your calling is a hen turkey, nothing else. Birds don’t really get “call shy”, they get “stupid people shy”. Be smart and practice on the real thing. That bird you called to in April will never remember you come May 1st.
   Good luck to all turkey hunters this spring. Remember to hunt safe and be respectful. Maine is the best-kept secret in the turkey world. We have awesome turkey hunting, lets keep it that way.

  Mike Stevens is a Maine Guide and outdoor writer. He lives every spring for the gobble of the wild turkey while sitting against a big oak at sunup. Readers are encouraged to email Mike at mooseriver@aol.com Get the turkey calls out!!