Spring Turkey Hunting Articles

For those of us who have been biding our time waiting for the next "big hunting event", Spring turkey season is right around the corner. We have been filling our time with some small game hunting and many excursions to Ozark trout streams to fill the time, but now we are really getting geared up (literally and figuratively) for Spring turkey season. It seems like it is a time where we feel the nice Spring weather is upon us, and almost as an unjust bonus, we also get to embark on one of our favorite seasons of the year.

In Missouri, it is not an accident that the season does not start on a weekend. The idea is to start the season on a day where hunting pressure will be more spread out. The primary number one focus for all hunters should be safety. Since turkey hunters are clad in camo, there is already an extra embedded danger. Spreading out the pressure helps just a bit with this factor. We encourage all hunters, even those where they are not required to do so, to attend a hunter safety course. These courses will make the woods safer for all of us, and as a bonus, you often attend a class where there are experienced turkey (and deer) hunters who are more than willing to share there knowledge. It can actually be fun if approached with the right mind set. Often, folks form hunting friendships at these courses that last long thereafter.

For those of us who have been biding our time waiting for the next "big hunting event", Spring turkey season is right around the corner. We have been filling our time with some small game hunting and many excursions to Ozark trout streams to fill the time, but now we are really getting geared up (literally and figuratively) for Spring turkey season. It seems like it is a time where we feel the nice Spring weather is upon us, and almost as an unjust bonus, we also get to embark on one of our favorite seasons of the year.

Here in Missouri, the Spring turkey season for youth is April 10th and 11th, followed by the regular Spring turkey season which runs from April 19th to May 9th. For the regular Spring turkey season, it is not an accident that the season does not start on a weekend. The idea is to start the season on a day where hunting pressure will be more spread out. The primary number one focus for all hunters should be safety. Since turkey hunters are clad in camo, there is already an extra embedded danger. Spreading out the pressure helps just a bit with this factor. We encourage all hunters, even those where they are not required to do so, to attend a hunter safety course. These courses will make the woods safer for all of us, and as a bonus, you often attend a class where there are experienced turkey (and deer) hunters who are more than willing to share there knowledge. It can actually be fun if approached with the right mind set. Often, folks form hunting friendships at these courses that last long thereafter.

The outlook for turkeys in Missouri, as well as many other Midwestern areas is not strong relative to more recent frames of reference. Cold and wet conditions have somewhat, but not dramatically, lowered some turkey populations. This should not be too discouraging. Often, an even bigger factor than how the weather has affected turkey numbers, is how the weather impacts our ability (or desire) to get out in the woods. The more mornings you are out and the more hours spent hunting on these days, obviously the greater your chances to bag a gobbler. In summary, even though the numbers are a bit down, if we have a nice season of weather, harvest numbers may be solid. This will also lead to better future prospects for turkey hunting.

For residents in Missouri, the permit cost for licenses this year is $17 for adults and $8.50 for youths (ages 6-15). For non-residents, the permit costs are $190 and $8.50 respectively. The resident landowner permit is no charge. For further information on permits and hunter safety courses, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website.

There are excellent prospects in Missouri for hunting turkeys on public land. Missouri is blessed with two major public hunting venues. The MDC manages many conservation areas statewide. Mark Twain National Forest has vast tracts of land where with a bit of research and scouting, hunters can often find good areas to hunt almost alone. A good place to begin a research endeavor into these areas is through the rel=nofollow [http://www.family-outdoors.com/HUNTING.htm]Hunting Section at Family-Outdoors. There are articles for scouting on public lands, databases of information on conservation areas, and a thorough rundown of many of the tracts of Mark Twain National Forest. There are also tips for hunting Spring turkeys.

One of our favorite aspects of the Spring turkey season in Missouri is one that some hunters don't like. We like the morning hunt only aspect of the Spring turkey season in Missouri. We hunt as a family, and the morning hunt is followed by an afternoon of relaxation and time to just sit around camp and visit. Often, the weather is nice and there's little to rival in our book, a warm afternoon nap in one of Missouri's beautiful wilderness areas. If one or more of us has tagged a tom, all the better. We sincerely hope your Spring turkey season hunt is a great one for you!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Ayers]Ken Ayers

For some people, there is nothing like the thrill of the hunt. When you are considering wild turkeys, there is an added appeal to the experience, because the sport is just so challenging. Turkeys are notoriously aware of their surroundings, making skilled hunting a necessity. With spring turkey hunting, knowing what behaviors to expect when you are out and about can increase your chances of success and lower the learning curve for a new hunter.

Depending on the time of day, different things may work for drawing out a gobbler.For best results, plan to do some preliminary tracking and scouting before your hunt day. Beginning with someone who knows the terrain is a great help, but you can also contact wildlife or extension offices or even ask at a sporting goods store. Anyone knowledgeable in the field should be able to provide a bit of direction. You can then scout the area on foot to get a better feel for the spring turkey hunting population and where they are located.

When you head out the morning of your hunt, be prepared for all different kinds of behavior. Early morning hunters can expect the gobblers to be very vocal as they come down from the roost to seek companionship. However, don't overdo the calling, as the bird's keen sense might tip them off to your purpose.

Once the birds are all actively courting, usually by mid-morning, things get pretty quiet for spring turkey hunting. This is when many hunters give up. For those that stick around, easy pickings are on the way. While hens quickly return to their feeding and egg laying, the Toms still seek companionship and will come to calls much more readily in their state of abandoned panic. Still, don't get overconfident.

Finally, if your state allows, afternoon hunting can be a fun challenge. Gobblers don't call much as the sun sinks, so keen senses on your part are a must. If you do find a willing Tom, considering luring it to a roost so you know where to start the next morning.Regardless of the time of day or your level of experience, stealth and camouflage are essential. Turkeys have excellent eyesight and will spook easily if a visual connection is made.

Dress accordingly and move slowly to avoid being spotted during your spring turkey hunting. Keep your eyes open and your gun handy, but never take anything for granted.

See the latest post at Talk About Hunting for more [http://www.talkabouthunting.net/blog/spring-turkey-hunting-tips//]Spring Turkey Hunting Tips

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Techniques-For-Successful-Spring-Turkey-Hunting&id=3878725] Techniques For Successful Spring Turkey Hunting

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_X]Dave X

Spring, though you may not believe it, is right around the corner. That means growing vegetation, melting snow and even more hunting opportunities. The most notable hunting season up and coming, especially for those die-hards out there, is the spring turkey hunt.

But spring turkeys require more finesse than a simple run and gun technique like fall turkeys often fall victim to. Instead, hunters have to usually hit the woods early and wait for the morning light to start. Once a tom turkey roars out, the hunt begins.

But the key to hunting spring turkeys, especially in areas that do not offer a large population, is scouting. Do not just pick one area, either. Find where the turkeys are roosting in the winter months. That is where they are likely going to be before the green starts sprouting, especially in areas that have a season starting fairly early, like Maine's May season (April for the youth hunt).

To help in the scouting, employ that device that is becoming so well known to hunters: The trail camera. While many sportsmen might think that these cameras were designed for scouting deer and bear. Sure. But they are also great for smaller animals, especially those that travel in groups.

Not to mention, though a slight digress, that these trail cameras are being used for nature and wildlife photography, and quite successfully. Once you know where you are going, it is important to be prepared to go.

What is the best way to prepare? Practice, practice and more practice. Shooting is just part of it. You need to practice firing from standing and resting positions. You need to practice moving quietly in the woods, even in the dark. You need to work on your turkey calls, which are incredibly important during spring hunts, unless you know where your tom is going, you are going to have to lure him to where you are.

And speaking of calling a turkey, remember that when you are out in the woods, it is important not to rush the experience. If you hear a tom gobble in the distance, do not just try to race over the next 100 yards and try to get a bead on him. Instead, be patient. Move 25 to 50 yards at a time and wait.

Call and see if the tom responds to you. It is always best to be in control of the situation, having the tom looking for his rival rather than having you burst into view (turkeys have amazingly good vision and hearing).

Also remember that many toms will come into an area that you are calling but do so without letting their presence be known. This is doubly true if there is a lot of hunting pressure. Turkeys are not dumb. The reason toms live long enough to become dominant is because they have avoided a shotgun blast until this point in their lives.

While you are out hunting and you are finding that you are not getting much success convincing turkeys to come within shooting range, try changing the time that you come. Weekday hunting is often more successful because of the reduced pressure and a lack of hunters in the woods as compared to the weekend.

When the season finally does arrive, do what we here at Northeast Hunting always suggest: Be courteous to other hunters in the woods. Do not stalk up on another hunter who is working a tom. Frequent and repeated gobbling is typically a sign of a hunter and not a tom. Interfering with other hunters is not only unsportsmanlike, it is also incredibly dangerous.

And, of course, be careful. While turkey season usually tends to not find many hunters wearing blaze orange, it is best to not dress in any kind of red, white or blue. These are colors of a turkey that could draw unwanted attention from a careless hunter and their shotgun.

Spring turkey hunting can be an extremely enjoyable season, despite it often feeling more like winter in the early weeks than spring. Just keep in mind that a patient hunter is quite often a successful hunter.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Spring-Turkey-Hunting-Tips&id=3875542] Spring Turkey Hunting Tips