By Steve Stoltz
If a turkey comes in and catches you with your gun down, don’t panic. Turkeys don’t see slow, gradual, easy movement. I’ve drawn my bow with them looking right at me, but I’ve done so at a slow, steady pace.
Of course, I’d rather see the turkey go into strut or walk behind a tree so I could draw or move. However, you can still kill a bird that catches you by surprise.
Slow and Steady
Keeping an eye on the turkey, start moving your gun gradually toward him. Make sure it’s at a steady, super-slow motion pace. If they see quick movement, they’re going to take off. As long as it’s not sharp movement, they’ll tolerate it a bit. Even if they see you move slowly, it puts them on soft alert as opposed to full-bore alert.
At least your chances are better if your shotgun is three-fourths of the way to a turkey and he does take off for some reason. Really, you can get the gun up on them nine out of 10 times.
Obstacles
Always watch where they’re going. You can move your gun a hair quicker if they go behind a tree. Remember, from their angle, they can see better around that tree than you can. If the tree is closer to them, it obscures their vision more. If it’s closer to you, they can see you better.
What If?
You’re better off trying to move on the turkey and kill him while he’s in range. If the turkey moves off, you have to get him fired up again. Further, you have to get him worked up when he’s in cool-down vs. red-hot mode.
It can be done, but it’s the exception rather than the rule.
Steve Stoltz, is a World Champion and seven-time Missouri State champion caller