It’s almost Turkey Time, good people!  Are you ready to get your bird?

Here in CA, the season will fire up on March 26.  Prior to these last couple of streaks of bad weather, the birds were looking good.  The toms and jakes were still mostly together, but you could see the competition starting to warm up.  As best I can tell, the cold and rain have put a damper on that, so we’ll see how the season shakes out. 

In the rest of the country, I’m hearing a lot of the same kind of thing.  Late cold and lots of rain…

It’s a mixed blessing, of course.  If the weather keeps the birds from going into full-on mating frenzy before the season starts, it could provide a phenomenal year for hunting.  Nothing sucks worse, for a turkey hunter, than seeing the birds in full strut two weeks before season, only to be henned up and bred by opening morning.  Hopefully the weather will break just in time for the breeding season to kick off at about the same time we hit the woods. 

On the other side of the same coin, if the bad weather pushes into the season, we may be tortured by birds that are still in bachelor groups, uninterested in chasing our seductive clucks and yelps, or flat out secretive.  That’s the kind of season that turns many of us into turkey stalkers, which is generally the worst kind of exercise in frustration.  That frustration is only made worse when the weather breaks on the last weekend of the season, and two days later our ears are tortured by yelps and gobbles from every corner of the map. 

Last year, I realized just after the season ended that I didn’t really get out for turkeys at all.  Of course, I had some other things going on that put hunting at the bottom of my priority list, but I’ve resolved to get out at least a couple of times this season come hell or high water.  Not sure yet if I’ll use the shotgun or the bow, but that’s a decision I’ll make when the time comes on.

A note, by the way, particularly to those of you hunting in CA.  If you’re hunting where there are wild hogs, there’s no reason you can’t go in prepared to shoot either a turkey or a hog.  But there are some considerations. 

First of all, if you’re hunting in the lead-free zone, remember that you can still use lead ammo for turkeys.  They’re classified as upland birds.  However, if you pack some slugs for wild hogs, not only must the slugs be lead-free, so must the turkey loads.  Also keep in mind that, with a couple of tiny exceptions, buckshot is not legal for the take of big game in CA.  If you want to shoot a hog, you need to carry slugs.  This can be a drag, because slugs don’t shoot so well from tightly choked shotguns.  In fact, with the extremely tight chokes that some turkey hunters like to use, a slug has the potential do damage the choke or the muzzle.  If you think you’ll be multi-tasking your shotgun, consider a modified or improved cylinder and keep your turkey shots close. 

An alternative that I’ve enjoyed is just to use a bow for turkey hunting in pig country.  You can shoot either critter with the same broadhead, and the same poundage with good effect (although some experts recommend dialing down the power for turkeys to prevent fast pass-throughs).  While my combo bowhunts for turkeys and hogs have so far left me empty-handed, I always enjoy time in the field with a bow, and the possibility that I might take either species keeps me motivated on slow mornings.

One other alternative that I’ve considered is to carry the .44 in holster, along with the turkey gun.  It sounds like the perfect solution, but there may be some legal technicalities to consider, since a handgun is not a legal means of take for turkeys in CA.  I’ve actually got an email in at DFG now to clarify this one, and I’ll share this answer as soon as I get it.

There are a bunch of other things I could tell you in preparation for turkey season, but as most of you know, the magazines, TV shows, and many blogs are already dispensing tons of turkey tips.  No need to throw my voice into the maelstrom at this point… besides these core suggestions:

  • Remember that you usually can’t shoot a turkey if you’re sitting on your couch (unless you’re in some place like Texas).  The first step to success is getting out there and getting after them, no matter how adverse the conditions may be. 
  • No matter how well a call worked last year, last month, last week, or an hour ago, it may not work now.  Be flexible and change it up.  The call that sent them into the next county last year may pull them across state lines this time out. 
  • Irrespective of how many calling contests he’s won, or even how many turkey beards adorn his trophy room, the expert is not infallible.  The only real turkey expert is a turkey… and not just any turkey, but the specific turkey you’re calling right now.  If what you’re doing works, keep doing it.  If it doesn’t work, try something else.  That’s some simple advice from a professional (part time).
  • Turkey hunting is not rocket science.  Don’t make it more difficult than it really is.  If you’ve got so many gizmos and gimmicks that you don’t know which one to start with, maybe it’s time to dump everything but some camo, a shotgun (or bow), and a slate. 
  • Finally, be safe.  Maintain situational awareness, and know what you’re shooting at before you pull the trigger. 

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