Turkey Scratchings - News, Notes and Hunt Reports from the Turkey & Turkey Hunting Staff

Posted by Jake Edson, F+W Outdoors Editor

Hindsight is 20/20. After any turkey encounter, you can always sit back and analyze the reasons for success and failure. That's why the best hunters are those who have spent much more time in the woods than I have.

April 23rd's lesson? Sometimes it's best to hold your cards for a while.

After a failed early morning set up, I slowly worked my way along a fence running down a wooded ridge trying to strike a bird. As I neared the end, I inched forward for a quick check on a small ridge-shelf green field. When I spotted the top of a tail fan protruding from a small fold, I dropped to my knees and crawled forward. Another glance revealed a trio of strutters courting a half dozen hens.

I dumped my vest, grabbed one call and wiggled to a fallen oak along the fence. When I peaked over, I found the flock in the same depression about 70 yards into the field. A fourth gobbler spit and spun 20 yards closer to the fence, but another 40 yards down from my position. I thought about trying to crawl closer to the fourth bird, but the cover was wimpy and my chances were poor. I tried calling the fourth tom over, but he spurned my yelps and joined the flock.

As the sun climbed, I sat and watched the toms dance, alternately trying to call the birds and just waiting to see if one of the strutters would drift a bit closer. I figured a passive approach would leave me more options if the birds changed their attitude.

Finally, about the time my back began to seize, my patience was rewarded. A hen dropped into breeding position and two toms rushed her. The bigger tom jumped high into the air and let loose with a series of vicious kicks on his rival. He then hopped on the hen and bred her. The defeated tom quickly deflated and decided that timid, unseen hen in the woods might be a better option than the girls that were obviously spoken for. He tucked his wings and strode straight into a pattern of Winchester Xtended range No. 6s.

Sure, I could have have tried to incite the hens. I certainly thought about it. But they might have also turned and marched their mates the other way. In this case, patience paid off. Next time, I might not be so lucky. But then I'll learn another lesson -- the hard way.

4/25/2008 2:13:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

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