Hunting Tactics

Calling Tips from T&TH Writers

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With fall seasons just around the corner, you're probably getting reacquainted with your turkey calls. Here are some great calling tips from the writers of Turkey & Turkey Hunting.

Mouth Calls: Dissecting a Yelper

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There’s a huge gap between “good enough” and truly good. To reach — or even aspire to reach — that level, you must get inside a mouth call and see what makes it tick.

What Would You Have Done? Turkey Decisions Revisted

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most spring turkey hunts involve a critical decision that seals success or failure. Editor Brian Lovett looks back at three hunts when he needed to make a crucial choice. Read Lovett's situation, then choose what you would have done.

10 Fall Hunting Myths Debunked - Part I

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Opinions and beliefs about autumn turkeys are wide and varied. Some have merit and others, well, you decide.

How to Scout Turkeys with Trail Cams

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can you use trail cameras to scout for turkeys? Perhaps. If nothing else, they provide a great source of entertainment. Scott Bestul walks through how to set things up.

Cutt-and-Run Hunting Revisited

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Walking and calling is a great tactic, but it’s not right for every situation. Here are some thoughts on the relative merits of cutting and running.

The Food Factor

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Turkey hunting is full of variables, but there’s one constant: food. In fact, springtime turkey chow can lead to your next gobbler. Here's how to look for what turkeys eat.

The Patience Equation

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Patience equals confidence, plus comfort multiplied by three, plus inclination. Mathematician Gary Sefton gives a valuable lesson about this key equation of turkey hunting.

Quick Tips for Fall Success

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Turkey hunting's foremost experts collaborate to offer quick tips guaranteed to up your game this fall.

Advanced Box Call Techniques

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Box calls are known for their simplicity and effectiveness. Learning how to use a box call can take seconds, but mastering one should not come easy. Editor Brian Lovett goes beyond the basic back-and-forth motions and introduces a variety of motions to practice. Video included.

Art, Science and Guesswork of Setting Up

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It doesn't matter how well you know the land, how good you can call, how well you're camouflaged or how tight your shotgun's pattern is. If you sit down wrong, you're beat.

All the Right Moves

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Relocating on a gobbler can be like playing roulette: You'll win a few, yet your losses can pile up in a hurry.

10 Fall Hunting Myths Debunked - Part 2

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is the second part of an article that examines some of the commonly-held myths that abound among fall turkey hunters. Don't let these fables keep you from getting your bird.

Dirty Tricks with Friction Calls

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gobblers don’t play by the rules, so why should you? Even the score this spring by using some dirty tricks with box and friction calls.

Talk Turkey Webinar with Turkey & Turkey Hunting Editor Brian Lovett

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Don't wake up at 3 a.m. to go hunting again until you listen and watch this webinar. Expert turkey caller Brian Lovett demonstrates calling techniques and more.

Deadly Dekes

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ultra-real gobbler decoys provide a new way to deceive jealous toms.

Good End-of-Season Advice

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Whether you bagged a bird or not this season, the real question is: What did you learn?

In the Heat of Battle

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our hunt had started so well. After hearing little before flydown, my friend Dan Barden and I had trekked across a pasture and up a small ridge before stopping to call. At the first cluck, a gobbler hammered back 75 yards away. Barden and I exchanged wide-eyed looks as we scrambled for cover. The bird was just over a crest in the woods at the field edge, so I anticipated a quick hunt. I yelped softly, and the bird double-gobbled. Man, it was going to be textbook.

How Flocks Change Through the Fall

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Wild turkeys hatch throughout the spring and summer, depending on when the hen bred, and successfully nested. Since hatching times are varied, some autumn family groups contain young birds (especially males) the size of the adult brood hen. Other such fall flocks might have a recognizable female turkey leading birds-of-the-year that are considerably smaller.

Friction Calls: The Delicate Connection

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brian Lovett outlines how to approach a friction call for the first time.

Making Something Happen

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Don't get involved in the "passive vs. aggressive" argument. Instead, assess each situation and then act accordingly.

Why Slate is Great

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The pot-and-peg call might well be the most versatile tool you can carry.

Getting to the Point

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A bird in hand is still better than two in the bush, I guess. But sometimes, the merit of that cliche might depend on the location of the bush and the bird that's in it.

Island-Hopping for Turkeys

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To a turkey, an island is just another part of its home range. To a hunter with the right plan, an island presents a unique opportunity.

In Search of Tree-Challenged Turkeys

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Although I was skeptical at first, I quickly learned there were loads of turkeys in the vast, open, relatively treeless country that covers much of South Dakota. Better, They usually gobble like crazy and come to calling.