The key to scouting for wild turkeys is location, location, and location. It is much easier to utilize a turkey call in a location that the turkey finds familiar and comfortable because the hunter will be met with less resistance from the prey. Although the turkey’s brain is literally the size of a pea, they are intelligent enough to realize when they are being observed and targeted. Therefore, it is critical to identify the selected area by learning the terrain and studying the peculiarities and traits of these large and tasty birds.
First, be observant, keep a journal, and obtain a topographical map of the area after a primary investigation. Start the scouting processes minimally two weeks before the hunt. Western, Merriam, and Rio Grande turkeys will often travel a distance of 10 miles to a select area; Eastern turkeys will travel less than ten miles to meet survival needs.
The primary reason that turkeys choose a particular location for residence is accessibility to a food source. For example, in winter they need high-energy foods such as acorns or agricultural crops. In spring, they prefer an abundance of insects and green food sources.
Secondary location clues include:
· Strut zones
· Roosting area
· Droppings
· Scratching areas
· Dusting areas
· Feeding area
It is critical to be discreet when observing wild turkeys. If they observe you first, they will relocate.
· Strut zones- simply stated this is where the tom turkeys “strut their stuff” for the benefit of female hens. The turkeys habitually will use the same location. Look for tracks; those of a tom turkey will be approximately 2¼ inches long and will leave a clear, deep, middle toe imprint with it’s scale prints, that is indicative of a large bird. There will be two scratch marks from the tom turkey’s large wing tips, several feet in length and over a foot long. These markings are usually in abundance at a regular strutting area, such as a sand bar, riverbed, or creek bed. Keep a journal with your topographical or overhead satellite map of the area and note exactly where you observed the strutting scratches. Be sure to note any obstacles, such as creeks, steep hills, cliffs, gullies, ravines or fences. Note these obstructions on your map
· Roosting- generally these birds prefer tall open trees with good, heavy, horizontal branches; turkeys can roost in trees without falling. When they assume a squatting down position, their feet literally clamp and virtually lock onto the branch. Look for a tree near a water supply such as a pond, river, or lake. In the south, look for large oak or sycamore trees, in the north, look for cottonwoods, cedars, or other evergreens.
Wild turkeys like to fly down to their roosting place, so be aware of hilly areas with these trees directly below them on the leeward side of the hill. Look on the ground for large wing tail feathers. The optimum time is in the early morning and at sunset, but again, be discreet. If they are able to observe you and feel that their sacred territory is being scrutinized or invaded, they will relocate. One method to avoid being observed is to use a scouting camera; it will record the time and date. This is an effective when utilized late in the hunting season; turkeys become gun shy and less trusting.
· Dusting-wild turkeys are very clean birds and use dusting to clean themselves of lice, vermin, mites, and ticks. The dusting area will be located in loose soil; the turkeys use their feet to scratch out a bowl- like area and kick the dust over themselves. In this area, you will find a lot of feathers, droppings, and turkey tracks. Turkeys routinely dust in the mid to late mornings, but spend a lot of time in this area.
· Droppings -these are indicators of time of occupancy and population in the area, especially before rainfall. The kinds of droppings indicate the sex, weight, or size of the bird. For example, a large pile of “J” shaped droppings means the bird was a large tom or male turkey. A large pile of bulbous, spiral-shaped droppings is indicative of a large hen or female turkey. Other indicators of the sex of the turkeys are the kinds of feathers found at the site. Breast feathers that are square at the top are those of a tom turkey. Rounded, brown tipped feathers are from a hen; light tipped tail or rump feathers are from a jake.
· Feeding areas- look for open fields and grassy areas with an abundance of turkey tracks and scratches. Turkeys scratch up the areas, but often deer and squirrels frequent the area as well. However, there are ways to differentiate between the inhabitants. Turkeys typically pull leaves from one side only. Squirrels make a circular formation and prefer acorns; deer leave a very haphazard and erratic pattern in the foliage.
To be an effective turkey scout it is important to be methodological, organized, very strategic, and tactical in approaching the objective. Keep a journal and record detailed information such as the day, date, time, temperature, wind chill factor, rainfall, cloud cover conditions, cycle in the breeding phase, food availability, number of turkeys observed, size, and sex of the birds. The most important facets of being a good wild turkey scout are learning the terrain and the ways and habits of the birds themselves in order to have a successful hunting experience and bag that prize winning gobbler.