So, you've had little to no luck all spring long while you've been hunting turkey. It's getting late in the season and you are determined to get a gobbler if it's the last thing that you do. Now, in order to get back in the game, you need to re-evaluate your hunting skills and tactics. It will only take a few small changes in your overall strategy to be able to get that turkey you've been trying to get. Hunting in the late season can be challenging; however, it is not impossible. If you want to take a gobbler down, though, you will need to up your game. Here are a few tips on accomplishing this goal:
You Must Have Patience.
As it gets later in the season, it's extremely easy to find yourself getting discouraged. However, if you allow yourself to focus on the mistakes that you are making, then you are going to be in the wrong frame of mind to be able to bag a tom. The one thing that is for certain is that you can't get a gobbler if you do not get out there and try. Late season turkey hunting requires patience. You need to plan your hunt, make sure to wear camouflage, and try not to get discouraged. The more confident that you can be, the more likely you will be to track down a gobbler.
Understanding the Importance of the Setup.
Since it is late in the season, turkeys are used to hearing every call there is in the playbook - the good ones and the bad ones. If your calls aren't good enough, the gobblers are going to know. However, you also need to make sure that you aren't using your calls too much because the toms will call you out on this as well. In many cases, this late in the season, you need to setup a little farther down, as toms take more time looking for hens. If you have the time, try to scout a tom's movements the day before you plan on hunting. This will allow you to locate a solid spot to hunt your tom without him being able to see you in the process.
Make Sure to Adapt to the Turkeys.
As the season goes on, the turkeys will adapt to the hunters' strategies and tricks. They become aware of the most popular calls that hunters use and are familiar with the decoys that hunters utilize. As a result, they know what's coming, including you. In fact, a lot of toms will sit in their roosts until hunters leave. This is why you need to adapt to the gobblers. To do this, you need to change the time that you hunt to mid- to late morning or maybe in the afternoon if the laws will allow in your local area. At this time of the day, the gobblers have begun to calm down and relax, which means there is a good chance that their guard has been let down a bit and you will be able to get one for your freezer.
Try to Break Up the Flock.
If you have tried all of the aforementioned tactics and still aren't haven't a lot of luck, then you have one last thing that you can give a try: break up the flock of birds. Keep in mind that this is not a reliable tactic, nor is it an easy one. However, it does work every now and again, which makes it worth a try. The best time of day to give this a shot is when the birds are in a field or immediately at dawn. If you have the opportunity to get the tom away from the hens, then you will have a greater chance at shooting him since he will feel isolated and alone. This is because the tom will be more inclined to respond to your calls. So, if your calls are relatively convincing, and he heads towards you, then you will have a good chance of securing a solid shot.
Hopefully, these tips and strategies will help you during your late season turkey hunting. One of the most important things you need to remember is that turkeys are one of the cleverest birds, so it can be extremely challenging to bag even just one, especially the later it gets in the season. Just try to be patient and keep these tactics in mind.
For more tips or to browse the turkey hunting gear that we have for sell, contact us at Full Draw Archery or check out our website.
