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Turkey Hunting 101

--Gear--

...by David Rearick

I always like to be over prepared when it comes to day one of the season. As the season progresses I may change calls and decoys to adapt to the different conditions and changing turkey habits in the field. Being adaptable to these changes will make you a more succesful turkey hunter day in and day out.

• Calls - With all the types of calls out there from slate to glass to handmade wing bone to box calls the list is endless.
  
  
  • Slate/Glass/Crystal Friction Call - The difference in slate, glass, and crystal is mostly personal choice, but I prefer glass or crystal myself for a call that will work even in wet conditions. Each call and every type within the class, sounds slightly different and different tones can be achieved through scuffing the glass or slate or using a different material/wood striker.

An Example of a Friction Call- Zink® Prototype Crystal Power Hen^TM

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM

• Box Calls - Once again there are different types of calls from poly to multiple types of woods. These calls produce a great volume of sound, which are good for distance and when the woods get thick. They are one of the best sounding calls to get a turkey going, but require the most motion to use. They are also many times too loud and will spook birds that are too close or on there way to you.
  

An Example of a Box and Push-Button Call

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM

• Diaphragm - One of the most effective types of calls, in my opinion, when used by the right caller. There are all different types of reed configurations and each produces a different tone or rasp. Selecting a call that fits you is important and this can be done by starting out with a smaller number of reeds and building from there. You can also trim these calls for a perfect fit in your palette, which will make it a lot easier to use and much more effective.
  

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM
 
Different Diaphragm Call Cuts- Zink® Prototype Diaphragm Calls

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM

• Locator Calls - These are very effective in getting a bird to shock gobble. This allows you to use a non-turkey call to locate a gobbler without alerting him to a hen’s position. Sometimes walking through the woods and sounding off can get you busted very quickly, as a nearby turkey may start on the run, as soon as you call only to be deflated by seeing you instead of a lonely hen. Other times smart birds are silent and will not respond, but using a goose, peacock, coyote, or crow call is just what you need to do to locate a bird. They are a life saver to avoid pre-season education of a wary tom.

• Other - This category includes tube calls, gobbler shaker calls, push-button calls, wing bone calls, and many more. The list is large and the only one I use routinely is a gobbler shaker when a dominant bird is hung up.

• Decoys - There are different types of decoys from hens, to jakes, to full strut gobblers and lots of variation in between.

• Hens - With what seems like hundreds of choices there are many great decoys out there. From full-bodes to collapsible ones the choice is really yours. I got hooked this season on a new advantage called Turkey Skins™ made by A-way Hunting Products (Awayhunting.com). It is easy to use and slips right over any standard collapsible decoy. It has real turkey feathers to emulate a stuffer look. I really like it. I bought mine at Cabelas, and they seem to have them in stock everytime I visit the store.
  

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM

• Jakes - These were once very popular, but seem to be losing steam with the introduction of the full-strut jakes. I think they still have usefulness, but don’t seem to have the affect of a full-strut tom/jake in the field.

• Gobblers - The new wave in decoys. B-Mobile™ and a bunch of other similar decoys are hot on the market and I agree. Utilizing things like a real fan, real wing feathers, couples with a lifelike head and paint scheme make things very interesting in the fields. I initially thought it would be a turn off for young birds and jakes, but they still seem to like the content of hanging out with another gobbler, they just keep their space. I guess they realize this isn’t the guy that kicked their butt earlier in the year, but maybe their long lost friend, who has come up missing on day one of the season. I don’t know for sure, but they work, just be safe and smart while using them.

• Camo - Being hidden is very important as turkeys have incredible eye sight. If they could smell, look out, no one would ever kill one. Everyone has their “favorite” camo patterns and all I have to say is this, use what you like, but matched the surroundings. Also be ready to change when the foliage gets on, it is important to blend in and not stick out as the season progresses.

The Author with a PA Eastern Spring Gobbler..

©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club^TM