The tremendous rebound of the wild turkey population, nationwide, is the result of good work by various state wildlife agencies and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). The result is that today we enjoy excellent wild turkey populations and have turkey hunting in 49 of the 50 states. Another result is that many people have become devoted gobbler chasers. The downside is that there are lots of turkey hunters out there and the hunting can be quite competitive. The wise turkey hunter doesn't fight the crowd. To avoid hard-hunted, call-shy gobblers, avoid the most popular public lands, well-known counties or other publicized wild turkey hotspots. Remember, it only takes one hot gobbler to have a great hunt and low density turkey populations can offer quality hunting experiences. Wild turkeys are great wanderers and pioneers of new country. Concentrate on the "fringe" areas, adjacent to established turkey range but not yet well known. Get ahead of the crowd to enjoy undisturbed turkey hunting for undisturbed wild gobblers.

Hopefully most turkey hunters will have their stuff together long before opening day. I'm talking about the total turkey hunting package, not just the obvious items. Sure you have your calls, gun and loads, but what about all the other "essential" gear that can make or break your hunt? Do you know where your flashlight is? Are the batteries in your flashlight fresh? How about the batteries in your camera? Is your turkey vest packed? Besides your turkey calls, how about locator calls? How about chalk for your box and/or sandpaper for your slate? The bigger items need to be packed too. Remember a rain parka or a rain suit. Decoys and the blind need to be ready to go and I mean packed in immediately transportable form. Turkey hunting often means a lot of walking. Are your hunting boots well broken in and freshly waterproofed? There's a lot more to gobbler hunting than just calls and guns. Make sure you have it all with you.

Getting on top of the game early is a good early season strategy for gobblers. Sometimes early gobblers are still ganged up with their buddies or only recently have broken up. The gobblers are ready for breeding season but the hens usually aren't quite ready yet. Best of all the gobblers are not yet terribly call shy and often come willingly to the call. If you like lots of looking and loud and aggressive calling, the early season is your prime time. If you don't find or can't entice a gobbler from his roost, cover lots of ground and do lots of calling. I use cutting, cackling and the fighting purr to stimulate both the sexual and territorial impulses of early season gobblers. Matching the early season woods calls for camouflage in gray and brown tones to match tree trunks and leaf litter. Few plants have more than barely started bud break and green leaves are scarce. Save the green camo for later in the season, after green-up.

It's always best to locate a gobbler before trying to make the gobbler locate you. Gobblers will "shock gobble" at many loud sounds that have nothing to do with turkey talk. Use these "locator calls" to pinpoint the gobbler's location without giving away your own. The eight-note call of the barred owl ("Who cooks for you; Who cooks for youall") is a standard and favorite locator call. However, raucous crow calling or the piercing scream of a hawk call are also used. Coyote howlers work, for while no turkey in its right mind will go to a coyote, gobblers will answer the high-pitched howl. In forest areas, the staccato call of the pileated woodpecker is gaining favor as a locator, particularly in the mid-morning. Of course if any of these sounds occur naturally always stop and listen. Turkey calls, such as the assembly/lost call, cutting and cackling will stir up a gobbler. However, be close to cover, or already set up, when you use them.

For wild turkeys, the set-up or blind location is just as important as it is for trophy bucks. Basically the set-up must be where a gobbler is willing to come and with an acceptable travel route to it. Ideally, it should be in a place where the gobbler is accustomed to being. Turkeys can be called downhill, but they seem to prefer to stay on their same level or walk uphill in mountainous terrain. Hunter concealment is critical. Some carry pruning snips to set up a natural blind while others use commercial blinds. Either one is a good idea and decoys can be a great help. Being ready to shoot also is critical. Be prepared to shoot with a minimum of movement when the gobbler shows up. The "90-degree rule" is for right handers to point their left shoulder toward the area where the bird is expected. For bowhunters, a blind helps cover the necessary movement of drawing the bow.