How to Hook a Hunter With a Turkey

Mark Katelyn and Cole Kayser with Cole's first gobbler

“He’s running right at us,” I whispered to my son Cole. I needn’t have bothered. The 9-year-old was already bug-eyed, fixated on the hard-charging gobbler. Would he have the presence of mind to get his gun up and make the shot, his first ever attempt at a turkey?

Cole and I had popped a ground blind and set a half-strut jake and a hen decoy in front of it before dawn. An hour later a tom strutted into view, heard my calls, spotted the decoys, and came a running! In his courtship excitement he didn’t even notice our blind.

The running gobbler skidded to a halt a mere nine yards from the end of Cole’s single-shot shotgun. “Shoot him!” I hissed, but before “him” was out of my mouth Cole’s 20 gauge boomed and his first tom turkey hit the ground.

Turkey calls give new hunters a way to interact in the fun

That first turkey put my son on track toward a long hunting career that —even though he’s now grown and in the Army — is still in its infancy. He hunts solo and embraces the challenge of DIY hunting on our public lands. Deer, pronghorn, elk… I’m sure he’s dreaming, as most of us do, of moose and sheep and bears and… Well, I’m pleased that I took the time and trouble to introduce the boy to hunting. And in retrospect a turkey hunt was the perfect way to do it.

If you hope to set your child or any new hunter on a similar course, I suggest you consider a spring turkey hunt to launch their lifetime of adventure.

Turkey hunting gives you the opportunity to provide a great hunting experience in a controlled setting. You can sit directly beside your “student” to direct them — and prevent any major screw ups. You’re right there to ensure safety and offer encouragement and inspirational advice.

Spring turkey season also shines because your target, wild turkeys, are plentiful from coast to coast. Most hunts can take place minutes from home. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation, you can likely find a turkey adventure within an hour or so of most population centers.

That means your hunt will likely not require complicated and advanced planning like a backcountry adventure might. You can schedule impromptu hunts based on suitable weather forecasts. Dodge the rain and hunt on sunny days when gobblers love to strut and young students won’t get wet, cold, and discouraged. A sunny day adds to a memorable experience.

If your hunting app does signal a rainy day, use the convenience of a ground blind to still get out. Stake the blind on the edge of a field where turkeys like to forage and wait, high and dry. Birds could stroll by at any time, but be especially alert if the rain stops and the son pops.

Using decoys and calls keeps new hunters excited about spring turkey hunting

Any new hunter or youth should enjoy the paraphernalia and preparation of turkey hunting. Calls, camo, decoys, blinds… Hunting gear is inspiring and fun to work with. Many turkey hunts require a quiet, silent ambush, but during spring, noise is the name of the game. Give your hunter some calls and set him or her to practice. Explain the details of turkey decoys and then have your student set them properly in various locations. Discuss turkey habits and good blind locations, then let your student choose the blind location and help erect it. The more input they have, the more special that first bird will be.

I can’t overstate how dramatically turkeys inspire new hunters. None of this hiking and waiting and sneaking through woods and brush for elusive, seldom seen, half-mythological creatures. Turkeys aren’t shy! They flap, yelp, gobble, drum, spit and strut, often right in the open for the world to see. That’s more excitement and stimulation than you’ll get from a supersized energy drink.

Last but not least, the turkey your new recruit finally shoots can become one of the tastiest, most delectable meals he or she will ever eat! Don’t botch this part of it. Demonstrate how to clean and prepare the meat. Them cook it using your best recipe. Let your protege’ help. Make a big deal of the feast, pulling in friends and family members to celebrate the new hunter’s success. And to thank him for stepping up to provide everyone with some of the most delicious, all-organic, free-range, endlessly sustainable wild meat in the world.

With a complete experience like that, your new hunter will likely be hooked for life. He or she will join the ranks of conservation hunters who restored turkeys to abundance. Do not let this opportunity slide by! If you know anyone showing interest in any kind of hunting, take them out for a spring turkey!

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BUY NOW FOR TURKEY SEASON!

For more about Mark Kayser and ways to follow him on social media, visit www.markkayser.com.

Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls Turkey Calls: www.buglingbull.com

HuntStand Hunting App and Map Printing: www.huntstand.com

Sig Sauer Electro-Optics BDX Rangefinders: www.sigsauer.com/electro-optics

Montana Decoy Co. Miss Purrfect XD Turkey Hen Decoy: www.montanadecoy.com

Cabela’s Turkey Hunting Headquarters: www.cabelas.com

Mossy Oak Camouflage Patterns to Match Any Environment: www.mossyoak.com