How Do You Attract A Tom Turkey?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Look for habitat, then for sign. Turkeys love

open woods, hillsides and fields

. They sleep (roost) in trees at night and spend the day roaming the area looking for food. Springtime forage is usually new growth on grasses and forbs, and insects.

How do you get a stubborn Tom?

  1. Roost the Bird. Go fishing for the day or hunt a different area, but come back right before sunset. …
  2. Slip Back & Circle Around. …
  3. Change Calls. …
  4. Move Back Away From the Turkey. …
  5. Stop Calling the Turkey. …
  6. Flush the Tom. …
  7. Rake the Leaves with Your Hand. …
  8. Seven Potential Reasons Why a Turkey Hangs Up.

How do you attract wild turkeys to your property?

Turkeys prefer

an open forest floor covered in leaf litter for easy forage

. Creating openings: Turkeys like open, brushy space and grasslands rich in forage. Grass-rich areas also provide safer nesting sites. These can be created by clear-cutting one- to five-acre patches through the forest.

What is the best thing to bait turkeys with?

Since wild turkeys are a ground-feeding type,

sprinkling cracked corn

in an open area of dirt is a sufficient way to attract them. Seeds- Another easily attainable food source, seeds provide even more nutrition for wild turkeys. Mixing seeds and cracked corn makes a great spread out meal.

How do you get a turkey to come to you?

  1. Start Early. You wouldn’t get to your morning spot late. …
  2. Give them Room. Don’t hunt directly under roost trees. …
  3. Build a Hide. Get set for a long wait. …
  4. Pipe Down. Hens and gobblers alike often aren’t much interested in breeding—or talking about it—late in the day. …
  5. Run an Interception.

What is wild turkeys favorite food?

  • Beech (Beechnuts are an alternate food source when acorn supplies are low.)
  • Hickory (As with beechnuts, hickory nuts are an alternate winter food source.)
  • Dogwood.
  • Wild cherry.
  • Grapes.
  • Berries.

How do you call a stubborn turkey?

For me, a stubborn turkey is

a gobbler

that’s most often with hens.

What do you do if your turkey won’t come out?

The regs are clear:

Hunting by calling only

. But there’s a legal caveat: Hunting by not calling. “There are a couple of things you can do when a gobbler won’t come in,” Burdick said. “If he responds to your call one or two times but is 100, 200 yards away, stop calling and don’t move.

Why won’t turkeys come to my decoys?

Many times, a turkey won’t come to a decoy,

because the hunter has made a mistake in where he’s placed the decoy

. … If another hunter’s in the woods, sneaks up to the edge of that field and sees that gobbler decoy, he may take a shot at the gobbler decoy, thinking it’s the real thing.

Can you bait turkeys with corn?

Turkey commonly feed on the ground and scratch at their food as they peck it off the dirt.

Birdseed, wheat or cracked corn

are some of the most common types of attractants used to attract turkey. … Not only is hunting turkey over bait unethical, but it is also against the law.

Do turkeys eat ticks?

According to Wild Birds Unlimited, an adult turkey is one of the most voracious tick predators around, and an individual

may eat 200 or more

of these little critters in a given day. The Tick Encounter Resource Center reported that many species of bird feast on parasites.

Is it normal for a wild turkey to be alone?

Hens travel in a females-only flock, but

they become more solitary and secretive

in May when it comes to nesting.

Why is a turkey hanging around my house?

Wild turkeys have a “pecking order” of dominance and may view people or pets who act fearful as underlings, chasing them or blocking the entrance to homes or cars.

Are wild turkeys friendly?

Taming adult wild turkeys is trickier.

They are wary and do not trust easily

. Chances are they see humans as predators. Moving close to them can rouse their prey instincts and make them attack you.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.