A chill is in the air as I sit in my Badlands Turkey Vest, leaning against a big oak tree on the edge of the cut corn field. I watch a couple deer feeding their way to their bedding areas area as the sun is starting to peak through some of the trees to the east. The then silence is broken with an ear thundering gobble that startles you from a distance. Now, your you heart begins to race. You anticipate him coming into is racing in the area where anticipation of him coming into your Renzo’s Decoy silhouettes that are strategically placed in front of you. You let out a soft yelp followed by another roaring gobble.

Yes it is getting to be that time of year again. Time for spring turkey hunting! The thrill of hearing the gobbles rumble through the cool morning air, and the sight of seeing the toms strutting in the open fields while chasing off any competitors. The occasional spurring and the much popular hen fight. Yes, that time of year again will soon be upon us- spring turkey hunting! But will you be ready when the time comes?

There are plenty of things to do to prepare for the upcoming turkey season. If you prepare properly your chances for success this season if will greatly increase- your chance for success this season but where to begin?

I begin with the scouting. I usually start scouting before the snow melts. away. I am usually out shed hunting, checking f to see what deer in the my area have made it through the winter while noting the and what travel corridors they are using. At the same time I check am checking for turkey tracks and droppings. I try to follow their tracks and try to find the locations to where they roost and where they are roosting and feeding. If I see them in a field I watch them with try to use my binoculars to watch them and observe check their activities. I will scout all the way up to the start of the season to keep track of the progress of the strutting activities and to locate the see which fields they are feeding in. The spring hunt is all about where the hens will be. You want to follow their feeding patterns to feeding and roosting areas. If you have a large group of hens, the toms you will have toms come to breed them.because they will all have to be bred. I try to keep track of what activity I see in each area to help better understand their movements. I like to use an aerial photograph to show the locations where I see turkey and deer because some deer scouting can be done at this time as well.

Along with While continually scouting, I have to get my equipment ready for the season. I start with getting all my camouflage ready to go; , this includes hats, gloves, jackets, shirts, pants, and face masks. I wash items that need it if it needs to be done and make sure they are it is all in good condition. Then I make sure my favorite turkey vest, a Badlands Turkey Vest, is in good condition. Make sure to buy good equipment because if they will pay for itself themselves in the long run with many years worth of hunting. Make sure all zippers and pockets are still secure and stitching is in good condition. Check all snaps, Velcro and seams as well for wear or damage. Also check your boots; whether you wear rubber boots or hiking boots is a personal preference but make sure they don’t have excessive wear and they are everything is in good condition. Replace boots on them because now, is the time to replace them if needed before the season begins. You are in the woods and something happens to them.

Once my camouflage is in order I check my blinds for wear or damage. This includes done to them including zippers, stitching, seams, Velcro, and the poles.

Then, it is on to the calls. Make sure your box calls do not have any an damage to them and clean them with a dry cloth and chalk them. Test them to make sure no tuning is not needed. Then get out your slate calls and clean them including your strikers. Sand and and sand them as well as test them for functionality. I buy new diaphragm calls for each season. I like to have a couple of spares handy in case they get damaged or lost.. I practice with these calls all year round to keep my calling abilities fresh. with using them. Make sure to practice with all your calls. Practice goes a long way does make perfect in this case and can make a difference in whether the turkeys come to you.. No two turkeys sound alike so you can sound a little different but if you make squeaks or any odd sound with your calls they will be very wary of them. Once your calls are set leave them out for practicing. with.

Once you have your calls set up and ready to go it is time to turn attention to your for the gun. Your gun is very important and is often over looked by many hunters. Make sure the gun is in good working order, if there are any loose parts take it to a gunsmith before using. It is a good idea to take it to a gunsmith every year and have them check it for wear or any damage. Regular maintenance is important and it It could save your life. Once you have the gun ready to go it is time to sight it in. Many people don’t sight in their guns; they figure it worked good last year when I put it was put away but has not been away and never shoot it again until they get a shot since at a bird. It is very important to know your gun’s range and which shot will hold a better pattern. Buy several different loads to try and make sure which offer ones pattern better patterns at 25-30 yards. You want at least 7-10 pellets in the kill zone at that distance. I prefer 10-15 to insure a clean kill. Some people like to shoot farther but I wouldn’t recommend it. Once you pattern your gun in don’t stop shooting it. Take it out at least once a week to make sure you are comfortable with it so when the time comes you don’t flinch. Your heart will be pounding enough and you will want without having complete confidence in your equipment.

After you complete these steps you can continue to scout and practice shooting and calling so your skills are honed for the season. So, when the time comes and he comes strutting into your decoys you will have total confidence in yourself and your equipment to make a good clean kill and have a memory that will last a lifetime.

Stayed tuned to the next issue where I will go over some spring turkey hunting techniques will be covered..

Remember safety comes first and take someone with you in the woods to get them involved with preserving theour great outdoor traditions and lifestyles of the great outdoors.