Pattering turkeys

[bcj jones]

I hunt a small property, 25 acres, and there’s has been a couple good turkeys in game cameras but no pattern at all to them. I’ve never hunted turkey before. Do y’all have an opinion on how to pattern them or how to get them “more patterned?” Or do y’all have any tips for me? Meaning typical behaviors of Turkey?

Thank you for any help!

[White Falcon]

Go at sun rise and listen for them in roost. Before dust listen for them to go to roost. You will find out where they will go and where there coming from.

[oktx]

I’d set up right there and call very little and as soft as you can.

[bcj jones]

Problem is I’m almost certain they roost on the neighboring properties and just pass through here ever so often. I have no access to the neighboring properties. Is it smart to sit in the blind random mornings and try to call them in?

[Jcjohnson]

25 acres is pretty limited if they aren’t roosting on your place probably best to set up right next to that feeder and keep it full during season

[oktx]

Problem is I’m almost certain they roost on the neighboring properties and just pass through here ever so often. I have no access to the neighboring properties. Is it smart to sit in the blind random mornings and try to call them in?

Sure, half the battle is being where they want to go. If hunting with a shotgun you don’t even need a blind. Find a tree with a nice wide base and face the way you think they may come from.

[Low Fence]

Problem is I’m almost certain they roost on the neighboring properties and just pass through here ever so often. I have no access to the neighboring properties. Is it smart to sit in the blind random mornings and try to call them in?

The feeder will do better calling than a call. That’s why they are there. Either eating or waiting on the ladies to eat. On 25 it is what it is. Just hunt. If they show great. If not.... that’s hunting on 25 acres

[bcj jones]

Early morning and evenings the best time to sit? I know I’m limited on 25 acres. Just want y’all opinion on maximizing my probability. Thank you for the input thus far.

[oktx]

Early morning and evenings the best time to sit? I know I’m limited on 25 acres. Just want y’all opinion on maximizing my probability. Thank you for the input thus far.

I’ve killed my best birds after 10:00 am. But, yes morning and evenings are good.

[bcj jones]

I was hoping to shoot my first one with a bow! I may go sit or walk around tonight and just listen to see if I can here them out there anywhere.

[mdnabors]

I’ve killed my best birds after 10:00 am. But, yes morning and evenings are good.

Toms typically do their lady chasing early after flydown and break free from them mid morning. Lone Toms can be called in pretty easy most times looking for love after they’ve left their early morning ladies. I’d be near the feeder closest to the neighbors fence against a big tree and maybe a small make-shift blind so I could be comfortable for a long sit. Make yelps and putts/purrs every 20-30 mins and keep your eyes peeled.

I’d also be nearby at dusk dark making owl calls to see if they’ll gobble on the roost and give you an idea of their location. Then you’d know where to setup the following morning early.

[buzzbait]

Put out a Jake decoy and call. If they are around they will come.

[Jcjohnson]

Hard to say when they will show up they Are unpredictable once they hit the ground go when you can and as mentioned bring an easy call to work like a push button and just do some some feeding purrs and clucks every now and then not too much though. Wouldn’t hurt to put out a hen and jake deke also

[Take Dead Aim]

Decoys and calling. If you are waiting on pure luck of them walking by you might be waiting a while.

[RifleBowPistol]

It's not hard to get the turkeys to come to your 25 ac. I have called turkeys from over a mile away many times. Get out call, normal calls a few times, wait and listen for 10 to 15 minutes. If you don't hear anything make some loud calls, use multiple calls, to sound like a group of hens. Don't call a lot. After calling for a minute or two off and on, wait another 20 to 30 minutes listening. Listen for faint gobbles way off in the distance. At times you will think you are just hearing something else that kind of sounds like a turkey or you are just imagining you are hearing a faint turkey, but there is a good chance you are hearing a turkey. Either way make a few calls maybe every 15 minutes or longer, don't get crazy, call at more of a normal volume. If you start hearing a gobbler nice and clearly after a while, lay off of the calling, sit and listen, try to figure out how fast he is coming in and from which direction. Some will run and fly flat out all the way to you, most will come towards you pretty quickly but stop and gobble a 50 to 100 yards out, they will often start making a circle around you. Sometimes they quit gobbling when they are circling around you.


Like one of the other guys said, you can walk around right at first light or as the sun is going down and listen for turkeys flying up to a roost or down from a roost, depending on time of the day. My trick is to call late afternoon, an hour or so before dark in the area you would like turkey to come to. Don't call a lot, again listen a lot more than call. If there is a tom in the area, weather you hear him or not. I mean in the area, by inside a couple miles. The tom will likely be there first thing in the morning.