Spring Turkey

This weekend spring turkey hunting season opens in my state. One doesn’t usually think of hunting as a springtime outdoor activity, but spring turkey is absolutely the best! I didn’t turkey hunt as a kid, but rather picked it up while serving in the Army.

Some friends got me into turkey hunting back in 2004 while stationed in New York and I’ve been hooked ever since! After leaving New York, there were several seasons when I couldn’t get out in the woods due to deployments or stationing overseas. But when the opportunity presented itself over the past 18 years, I could be found sitting against a tree in April doing my best turkey call!

What makes spring turkey season so special? Well first off, it’s spring! Instead of shivering in a tree stand in freezing temperatures, it’s usually a mild 40 degrees Fahrenheit or sometimes warmer. The sun peeking through the woods on a spring morning with foliage greening up just makes for a more pleasant outdoor experience.

And then there is the animal itself. There is a common historical myth that suggests Benjamin Franklin advocated for the Turkey as our national bird over the bald eagle. I never really understood why this myth even started until I witnessed a turkey in the wild.

Far different than their oversized, farm raised cousins, wild turkeys are majestic creatures. Most toms (male) turkeys can stand nearly 4ft tall and when strutting, their feathers fan out into a beautiful array. Wild turkeys can fly, albeit for only short distances. With their huge wingspan and rapid flapping, a turkey in flight is something to behold!

Their large, dinosaur like feet can propel them through the woods at 25mph when running. Male turkeys or toms have a unique “beard” that protrudes from their chest. And the coolest thing about tom turkeys is the gobble! Usually only in the spring, toms will gobble very loudly in order to identify themselves to a potential mate.

Beyond their beauty comes an instinct that is truly amazing. Turkeys are very challenging to hunt! They have excellent vision and can identify anything in the deepest woods that might look slightly out of place.

Unlike other game, such as deer who have a natural curiosity, a turkey won’t stick around to see what that strange figure is sitting next to a tree! They will take off at the slightest hint of danger.

Turkeys seem to understand what the Army might call the “military aspects of terrain” and will approach an area from higher ground if they can. What’s more, toms may send out hens (female turkeys) as “scouts” to investigate before entering an area.

These instincts make turkey hunting a challenging sport! To hunt turkey, one must camouflage head to toe and remain perfectly still. Otherwise, an “eagle” eyed turkey will identify something out of the ordinary and split in the blink of an eye.

In most states, hunters can use turkey calls that replicate the sound of a hen, as well as decoys to lure a tom in closer. However, turkeys are not easily duped. I’ve had countless toms gobbling back at my call only to “hang up” just out of range. They instinctively knew something just wasn’t’ right!

Some hunters use archery equipment, but most use a shotgun which also makes the task challenging. Oftentimes, a shot may occur at 30 yards or even further. Even the best 12 gauge with a super tight “turkey choke” on the barrel scatters pellets broadly at those ranges. I’ve had several toms bolt and seemingly disappear into the woods after a missed shot.

All this makes for a challenging and rewarding hunt. While I am pretty excited to get our boat on the water and fish soon, that’s going to have to wait. The weather looks good for opening day this weekend and I am ready to get out in the woods!

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Views, opinions and biases expressed in this blog are the authors and do not reflect those of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

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