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How do I turkey hunt?

Question
Dear Grant,
Im not much of a turkey hunter but where my hunting farm is located we have tons of them. I usually see turkeys every time I go to my land. Sometimes though, they aren’t always on my land. I know my area has an ample amount of turkeys. My question is, How do I even begin to hunt turkeys? We have many small green fields full of wheats and clovers . We also have a 120 acre alfalfa field that borders a wood line where the turkeys fly down from. I don’t know where to start. How do you scout them? Im planning to hunt with my bow from a ground blind FYI.
Thanks so much,
Taylor

Jake,

A good answer to your question will require more space than available in this format.

I suggest you start by watching our turkey hunting episodes.  We cover everything from scouting to decoy techniques.

It sounds like you have an excellent property for turkey hunting!

Briefly – I’d scout and determine where gobblers roost and fly down frequently.  I’d place a blind within 20 yards of or so of the fly down location – with the sun being behind the blind during the morning.  This alone by be enough technique for you to get a tom!

Enjoy creation,

Grant

February 22, 2016

 

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Is it a bad sign for gobblers to be with hens now?

Question
Is it a bad thing that gobblers are locked with hens right now? This early in febuary?

Kyle,

Whatever is going on – it has occurred before. So there’s nothing to worry about!

Gobblers started strutting and fighting for dominance more than a month ago. They are all about impressing hens and whipping other toms during this time of year.

Season opens in south Florida March 5th or so. You didn’t mention where you observed the toms, but even in the north country gobblers have started working for dominance.

Enjoy creation,

Grant

February 21, 2016

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Can I attract turkeys three miles to my place?

Question
Grant,
I love the show. It has shown me a ton of useful things to do to help manage the deer and other wildlife on my property.
I was wondering if you had any advice on attracting turkeys to my property. I didn’t know if maybe there was some feed or a food plot that could help me with this. I know that there are turkey in the area because I see them strutting in the timber about three miles from where I live and I can also hear them gobbling every now and then but they just don’t seem to like to hang around my place. I have plenty of pasture for them to strut and woods for them to feel safe so if you could give me some tips I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks,
Taylen

Taylen,

Turkeys love cattle pastures. They especially like pastures with fresh cow pies.  They like to scratch the cow pies and get the insects that are usually under cow pies.

During nesting season hens will be by good cover that’s from the ground level to two feet or so tall.  This is ideal cover for hens to nest in, especially if it’s close by a feeding area.

Is there nesting habitat at your farm or only a mix of pasture and mature timber?

I also suggest studying what’s available where the turkeys are now that might not be available at your farm.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Is releasing domestic turkeys a bad idea?

Question
Is buying turkeys from a hatchery to raise and then release onto your property a smart idea or a waste of money? Summary: We have a high fence whitetail operation on about 3000 acres. For the most part coyotes and hogs have been killed off. Possums, coons, and fox still roam around but currently working on reducing the population. Since they have small enough to slip through the high fence. There are some turkeys in the high fence but I want to increase the turkey population. Location is west Texas about an hour west of kerrville, tx. Love your videos and learning from y’all! Keep up the good work and look forward to hearing from y’all.

Sean,

Releasing domestic turkeys is a bad idea.  They almost never survive!  The skills necessary to survive predators, find food, etc., has usually been bred out of domestic turkeys.  The survival released turkeys is very, very low.  In addition, releasing turkeys from a hatchery is illegal in most states as it should be.  Releasing birds from a hatchery is a very easy way to spread disease! 

Wild turkey populations tend to expand rapidly if the habitat quality is good. I’d suggest you work to improve the habitat and watch how fast the existing turkey population increases!

Enjoy creation,

grant

February 21, 2016

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What type of turkey calls do we use?

Question
Hello Sir, this year will be my first year hunting turkey in a very long time. I saw my dad take a couple 20 years ago so I have some basic knowledge. I’ll be using a box call. That is what dad used and seems to be the most beginner friendly. I live in the Cincinnati area with big box stores like Bass Pro and Cabellas. Do you have a brand of box call that you would suggest? Do you know of any call training aids such as cds that I could use to practice before the season? Thank you for your time and expertise.

Mark,

Congrats on turkey hunting once again! It’s definitely one of my favorite times of the year! We use Hooks Custom Calls (http://www.hookscalls.com) They make a box call that is chalkiness and very easy to use called the “Bantam Box.” I really like their slate calls as well, especially the “Exterminator” and the “Classic Slate.” Both of these produce a great sound and are easy to use!

Currently we don’t have any videos explaining how to use turkey calls, but we will be filming and releasing segments exactly what you’re looking for in the following weeks! Be sure to check out GrowingDeer.com in the upcoming weeks to find them!

Glory to God,

Adam

2016-02-08

 

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If you could only have one decoy what would you carry?

Question

I am going to start turkey hunting this year. I live in Iowa with a lot of fields in my area. What should my first step to find a good public hunting spot be? If I could only use one decoy what would you recommend?
Trevor
Trevor,

I’m thrilled you are going to start turkey hunting! I really enjoy chasing gobblers! I suggest starting scouting by using binoculars to determine which fields (where you have permission) to hunt and scout at the time of day you’ll likely be hunting! The habitat will likely change a bit between now and turkey season. Some of the fields will be worked and/or planted. However, gobblers tend to strut in the same place each day unless they become alerted in that area.

I’ve tagged a pile of toms using Montana Decoy’s Miss Purr-Fect.

I will be using this decoy frequently again this spring!

Enjoy creation,

Grant

February 7, 2016

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What type of turkey load do you recommend?

Question
Hello Dr. Grant, what type of turkey load do you recommend with a Remington 870 shotgun?

 

Tyler,

I’ve used Winchester’s LongBeard XR for two years and have been extremely impressed!  Check out the video at the following link to see how well this load works:

https://www.growingdeer.tv/#/getting-prepared-for-turkey-hunting

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 21, 2016

 

 

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Do you use a strutting decoy to stalk gobblers?

Question
Dr. Grant,

With deer season coming to an end, and turkey season quickly approaching, here in Michigan, I am curious to hear your opinion on the following subject.

Using a full strutting turkey decoy to try and stalk gobblers.

The specific situation I am curious about is the following:

In the area I hunt, after the toms fly down in the morning and gather their harems, and have quit calling (for the most part), they usually find a strutting area in a grass field or wheat field. Usually they spend the rest of their day there.

My question is; is it at all worth it to try and use a strutting decoy and try and creep up/stalk a strutting tom? If I end up busting the flock, have I ruined the hunting for that area for the next couple of days? I realize turkeys are not particularly smart, and they usually do the same thing every day, but would they be weary to roost and strut in the same location, thus ruining hunting that area?

I do realize this isn’t a “normal” tactic when hunting turkeys. I was just curious of your opinion on the subject.

I did look through your FAQ’s and didn’t really see where this was addressed. I’ve also see most of your episodes and this isn’t a topic you have addressed to much.

Thanks,

Aaron

Aaron,

I believe the technique you are referring to is called “fanning.”  Basically hunters hide behind a gobbler’s fan and stalk up to a tom or flock of turkey’s.  Gobblers can be very aggressive and will often approach (rapidly) fans that are moving toward them.  Check out:  https://www.montanadecoy.com/hunting-decoys/turkey/fanatic for more information.

I strongly encourage you to consider safety!  Not only do gobbler fans attract other toms but also other hunters! I am EXTREMELY selective in areas I will use the fanning technique.  You never know when a trespasser, lost hunter, etc., might be in the area.  

Another good technique would be to simply set up in the area you know gobblers like to strut with a hen or hen and gobbler decoy out.  This is a much safer approach that has worked well for me many times.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 6, 2016

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What do wild turkeys like to eat?

Question
What does wild tutkey like to eat

Troy,

Wild turkeys eat just about everything!  They eat:

  1. Acorns, hickory nuts or beech nuts
  2. Seeds and grain, including corn and wheat
  3. Berries, wild grapes, crabapples and other fruit
  4. Small reptiles and snakes
  5. Fleshy plant parts such as buds, roots, bulbs and cacti
  6. Plant foliage, grass and tender young leaves

Like most critters, turkeys tend to favor the best food within their range that they don’t associate with danger.

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 25, 2015

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Do you use minerals for turkeys?

Question
Dr. Woods-

I’m a big fan of your show, and a bigger fan of your faith. It’s refreshing to see someone who constantly acknowledges the divine hand of our Creator. Thank you for your boldness!
The property that I hunt in Western KY has a decent turkey population. When I started hunting there, it was very small, so I gave the turkeys a pass for a few years to build the flock some. They are a level now that I feel comfortable taking a tom or two this spring. I already have food plots in place, but I was wondering about Trophy Rock. I notice that you use it religiously for both deer and turkey, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to use it. I’ve only use mineral licks for deer in the past.
What is the best blend for turkey? Should I use a Trophy Rock, or the Four65? Where should I put it out? When should I put it out?
Any advice you have is much appreciated! Thanks and God Bless!

Blessings,
Chris

Chris,

Thank you for sharing the encouraging words!  Congratulations on successfully managing the turkey population at your farm!  

I was using Trophy Rock’s Four65 to provide natural trace minerals for deer and kept noticing turkeys actively using it also. There are more turkeys at my place now than anytime since I’ve owned the property and the turkeys continue using the Four65!  

I keep the Four65 out year round and have Reconyx pictures of turkeys using it throughout the year.  I would suggest you do the same.

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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How will the recent cold weather impact the spring turkey hatch?

Question

First EHD, now the cold spring weather……I wish we could get back to normal on the weather front!! Anyway, based on the late spring and the cold weather and snow this past week, do you think that will impact the turkey hatch this spring? Thanks!

Dean

I doubt many eggs have hatched yet – so the weather that determines that success is yet to come. Turkeys smell a lot when wet and predators can easily follow hens to the nest – called the wet hen theory by Mississippi State – but it’s not a theory any more. I am sure many hens were killed on the nest last week.

Growing Deer (and turkeys) together,

Grant

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Why Turkeys Ingest Grit

 

Question
I harvested a turkey that had iron in the bladder.  What could cause this?

Thank you,

TJ

 

TJ,

Are you referring to the crop – the white sack above the breast?  If so, what shape was the iron?  If small, they were probably picking it up as grit.  Turkeys ingest grit daily and the grit passes to the gizzard and is used to grind up food.  The grit basically serves as their teeth.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

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Turkey Hunting in the Ozarks

Question

Grant,

I want to know what advice you have for turkey hunting in southern Missouri.  I have hunted them before but it was in a different state.  Do you have any advice for a first time turkey hunter in this part of the country?

Edward

Edward,

I really enjoy turkey hunting!  I usually hunt turkeys in several states each spring and basically use the same techniques everywhere.  I try to get a feel for the stage of the turkey breeding cycle so I can adjust my calling and strategies accordingly.

One thing I try to do when hunting in hilly topography like the Ozarks is always to set up where the gobbler can’t see me until he is in shooting range!  This is easier to do in the Ozarks than in areas with flat terrain.  Mature toms rarely come to a call if they can see the area and hear a call but not see a hen.  I really enjoy hunting the Ozarks, except for toting a large tom up these hills.

Growing Deer (and chasing turkeys) together,

Grant

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