Calling all gobblers:
Spring turkey hunting
season opens on May 1
by Dick Nelson
Turkey hunters across the region are dusting off their
scattergun’s and practicing their calling techniques in
preparation for another exciting spring turkey season. The season opens on May 1, and if it’s anything
like last year, about 19,000 gobblers (males) will be
plucked, stuffed and consumed by seasons end on
May 31.
Only males -- or toms as they are also called – can be
taken during the spring campaign, and then only one
per day. Why the state Department of Environmental
Conservation’s (DEC) doesn’t allow two birds to be
taken on the same day is beyond me, especially since
hunters can kill two on the same day during the fall.
And while I’m standing on this soap box, I might as
well question the agencies reasoning for not opening
the season in April.
The way weather patterns have been over the past
decade the birds are breeding earlier. Besides, by the
time we enter mid-season, the brush is so thick the
birds become harder to see, making it that much more
difficult to make a quick clean kill.
Perhaps that’s why the spring turkey harvest has fallen
in recent years.
According to DEC figures, spring turkey hunters
harvested an estimated 19,038 toms last year, and that
was well below the respective five-year and ten-year
averages of 29,500 and 30,300.
It’s not that the DEC doesn’t allow turkey hunting in
April. Junior hunters (age 12-15) have been getting
first dibs on these majestic birds on the third weekend
of April since 2003, last year killing 1,900 (or ten percent) of the total harvest.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking to prevent
the youngsters from getting an early jump on the season. I was in favor of the Youth Turkey Hunting weekend -- or any youth hunts for that matter -- long before
16
APRIL 2013
The author with a 20-pound spring gobbler taken during the 2012
season. The bird had a ten-inch beard and 1/2- inch spurs.
they were proposed. I’m only trying to draw attention
to the fact that there is no biological reason for not
starting the season in mid-April, and killing two birds
on the same day.
At any rate, turkey hunters who do their homework –
that is, know where the big chested birds are roosting
and feeding – there is no reason why he or she should
end the season empty handed.
boatingonthehudson.com
Of course knowing where to start helps, and you can
do that by using the 2012 harvest as a yardstick. According to DEC figures the top five counties in 2012
were Chautauqua, (928), Steuben, (781), Otsego, (620),
Delaware, (600) and Erie (600)
Closer to home and in alphabetical order they were:
Albany (301), Columbia (394), Dutchess, (396),
Greene, (285), Orange, (460), Putnam, (83), Rensselaer
(286) Rockland, (17), Saratoga, (258), Schenectady,
(81), Sullivan, (394) and Ulster (450).
Weather has as much to do with turkey hunting success as the location of birds – with calm days more
productive than rainy or windy days. The trick is to
know where the birds are roosting, and set up close
enough to seduce them to your call, yet far enough
away not to spooked them when selecting a spot.
About one hundred yards is sufficient.
If you are using decoys place them about 20 yards
away from where you’re sitting. By doing so you are
putting yourself close enough for a shot, even if the
gobbler doesn’t come all the way in to the decoys.
And, whatever you do, don’t place the deaks where
they can be seen for long distances.
One of the biggest problems with using decoys is that
no matter how realistic they look, if a gobbler can see
them from 200 yards away, he could stop and wait on
the hen to come to him --which is how nature intended.
It’s called hanging up, and it can happen for a variety
of reasons.
Another tip to bring a gobbler in close is to partially
obscure the decoy. If you’re hunting a field, place your
decoys – it’s best to use two, a hen and a jake -- near
the edge of cover close to a clearing. You don’t want
the decoys out in the middle of a field, but you also
don’t want them to be obscured by brush.
Try to make it look as though a turkey is entering or
leaving cover. That adds a sense of urgency to a wandering bird that spots the decoy and is curious. I also
put out the fawn deer I purchase for hunting predators;
if for no other reason then to provide a false sense of
security. I also do the opposite during deer season.
Let’s say you do everything right and managed to slip
within 100 yards of a roosted turkey that is gobbling
hot and heavy. The more the bird roars, the more you
feel an uncontrollable urge to cluck and yelp. But too
much calling at first light can hang a tom on its limb as
he waits for the hot “hen” to sail or walk beneath his
roost tree. And the longer he sits up there and fails to
see a hen, the more suspicious he becomes.
Should that happen, there’s a good chance he’ll run
the other way when he finally does fly down.
boatingonthehudson.com
So fight the urge to call too early. Wait until the early
morning sun illuminates the sky. Then give a bird
some pillow talk to let him now you’re there. A couple
of sultry tree clucks and yelps is all that is needed.
If the turkey gobbles stop calling. He has recognized
your call as a hen likes what he heard and knows exactly where you are. Let him fly down and come looking for you. If the tom doesn’t respond, cluck and yelp
a little louder to focus his attention in your direction. If
he still doesn’t react, listen for the bird to fly down and
hit him with a vigorous cackle.
As for the weather, turkeys gobble more on clear, calm
mornings, and since you can hear them more clearly,
they too can hear you. Because of it, you don’t have to
call very loudly. Soft to moderate yelps and cutt’s are
sufficient.
Hunting wild turkey in heavy rain is another story.
The birds are neither vocal nor active, and as far as
I’m concerned there is no reason to get drenched. But
should the sky brighten up after a night of downpours
or storms, hit the woods. Chances are the toms will be
gobbling their fool heads off.
In addition to hunting turkey, the DEC is once again
asking spring turkey hunters for help monitor ruffed
grouse during its breeding season. The characteristic
sound of a drumming male grouse is as much a part of
the spring woods as yelping hens and gobbling toms,
turkey hunters are in the best position to record the
number of grouse they hear drumming while afield.
This will help DEC wildlife biologist track the distribution and abundance of this popular game bird.
To get a survey form, go to www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48169.html or call 518-402-8886.
Another thing turkey hunters should be on the lookout
for this year are deer ticks – those small arachnids that
suck the blood out of you without your knowledge,
often causing damage to joints, heart and nervous system. That affliction is called Lyme disease, and according to health officials the little buggers are thriving
because of the reasonably mild winter.
The best thing turkey hunters -- or anyone else that
spends any amount of time in the out-of-doors can do
-- is to spray their clothing with tick repellent -- preferably one that contains permethrin, keeping in mind
that you cannot use this chemical on your skin. You can
however use a repellent that contains Deet on your
skin, and the best part is, wild turkeys have no sense of
smell.
Dropping anchor ‘til next time.
APRIL 2013
17