Tactics to think about when going on your next turkey hunting pursuit
The spring is here, the songbirds are singing, and turkeys are gobbling their heads off in a desperate attempt to attract their mates. It is a great time to be in the forest chasing a mature tom as they put on a full display for their prospective female mate. The fact is that turkeys inhabit 49 states in America, with Alaska being the only state without a wild turkey population. They can live at the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains down to sea level.
There are five main species of turkeys which include Osceola, Rio Grande, Gould, Merriam, and Eastern so it should go without saying there is ample opportunity to be able to pursue these birds. With seasons starting in February in some southern states and ending in June, you can easily find a time in the spring to chase birds. With so many places to hunt these birds, you may not think of hunting them in the western states; however, it is an awesome time of year to be in the mountains, chasing gobbles and enjoying the springtime transformation of the landscape.
Here are some tips to help you find birds in the mountains and put one on the ground.
Though there are turkeys found throughout different elevations and different habitats, it is important to understand where they are not. Typically turkeys do not occupy high elevation country, above treelines, or thick pine-timbered areas. They like a mix of open grassy areas that promote insect life as well as grasses to eat with various trees that produce nuts. When available they seem to like creek bottoms where the area is open enough to spot predators and are able to fly away, and near agricultural areas where food is planted and water is typically present. If you can find these types of areas you are likely to find turkeys. Talk to local wildlife officials and then use GOHUNT Maps to hone in on areas where they may be gobblers.
If you are used to hunting turkeys in a more forgiving terrain than the mountains of the West, you probably understand how sound travels in general and can coordinate and estimate your distance from a gobbling tom. However, if you then come to the mountains you will notice that sound travels much differently depending upon the terrain. Some days I have heard turkeys gobbling from an area up to 3-4 miles away or more, and some days I can barely hear a gobbling bird that is just a few hundred yards away. Understanding that sound travels differently depending on the location of the bird, the steepness of the terrain, obstacles in the way, or a slight breeze whispering through the trees is extremely important. If you hear a bird, pull out your goHUNT maps to see where you think it is and look for terrain breaks, and barriers between you and the bird. Once you see where it may be, you can decide if you can make a viable move on it or if it is better to back out and come in a different way.
A lot of western birds have habitat and terrain limitations that most non-mountainous birds do not have. These birds have to fly over raging creeks, avoid beetle-killed pine groves, or hike around steep jagged cliffs to get from their roosting to their limited feeding areas. This makes them especially susceptible to being patterned and ambushed along travel routes in comparison to birds in rolling hill country that have seemingly endless ways to travel from point A to point B. If you are struggling to get a bird to respond to you but can hear or see them along a travel route, don't be afraid to position yourself in this travel route the next morning, and call sparingly to see if the birds do the same thing they did the day before.
The final tip to bagging a bird in the mountains is to be in shape and pack light. You do not have to be in elk-hunting shape to chase most birds, but the better physical shape you are in will mean the less huffing and puffing you do to get where the birds are. Do some walks during the offseason, carry a weighted pack, and pick up your pace and you should be physically fit enough for most turkeys. Most turkey hunters have a vest and organized calls ready to go on the hunt, and this is great in a lot of situations; however, when I am hunting mountain birds I go with a traditional hiking or hunting pack, with some clothing layers, water, snacks, and a small first aid kit. I keep the pack light but also pack some essentials in case anything goes awry.
Turkey hunting is a great spring pastime and a way to put some meat on the table across America, but turkey hunting in the mountains is a different type of blast. The sunrises seem better, the air seems cleaner, and the gobblers are fired up; however, it does not come without its challenges. Pay attention to the habitat to find birds, understand that the hunting is different, be in shape, and travel light, and you may just find yourself hiking out with a bird in hand.
