Late-Season Turkeys

If you’re still turkey hunting, what’s your strategy?

The month of May in the South will bring much warmer weather and more foliage cover than the previous month. Gobblers at this point may be looking for shady spots and streams where it will be a little cooler.

Think about deer season and bucks that have gone through the rut. They’re hungry and will be hitting food sources. Turkeys may exhibit similar behaviors and be looking for any remaining nuts or acorns left around. Spend some time scouting, looking for turkey feathers or leaves that have been scratched up. The area where they roosted in April may not still be where they roost in May. Predators, like coyotes, can also affect where they roost at the end of the day.

Think about all of the hunters that were out tromping around the woods during the first few weeks of the season and consider of the amount of calling that has been done. That’s a lot of noise! Call sparingly, especially on public land. If you can locate a gobbler within a hundred yards or so and get him to respond, it may be best to quickly pick a spot to set up. They’ve probably been called pretty hard throughout the season and may be more wary than they were in April. Sit tight, use soft calls and try to entice him in.

As mentioned last month, patience may get you closer to killing that gobbler. Good luck!