Turkey Time

It seems that I just finished putting up all of my deer season gear when the season closed in January. Now, turkey season is in sight.

The first chance to hunt turkeys for youth and those who are mobility impaired will be March 22-23. Then, the state’s general turkey season opens on private lands March 29. Finally, public-land hunting will become available on April 5.

Our daily bag limit is restricted to one gobbler per day, and hunters can shoot two gobblers per season. Remember that our limits are based in part by turkey population estimates from our WRD folks. Those numbers have shown a population decline over the last several years, not just in Georgia, but all over the Southeast. Hopefully through habitat improvement, efficient predator reductions and proper prescribed burns we’ll see a better landscape for turkeys and hopefully witness an increase in turkey populations, which will mean better hunting for all of us.

It’s been said that older turkey hunters are frequently asked, “what does it take to kill a turkey?” Veteran turkey hunters like Lee Chadwick says, “It takes patience.”

What a great tip! He also adds that in addition to patience, it takes some skills and woodsmanship. Listen and react to what the bird is doing. Once he’s located, now the challenge begins. If you call and he’s cutting you off with gobbling, now’s the time to hush. He knows where you are and wants you to come to him. Resist that urge and be patient!

Last year, my son, Jackson, used that strategy and ended up rolling a nice double-beard gobbler on Ft. Moore where he was stationed.

Let’s review the turkey anatomy.

Snood: This is the fleshy appendage that extends over the beak

Wattles: Those fleshy flaps hanging from the neck or chin of the gobbler. May turn red in color when excited.

Caruncles: The warty parts on the head of a turkey are called caruncles. When aroused, they ones on the neck turn bright red, on the face, they may turn a light shade of blue.

Spurs: Looks like a rose thorn on the backside of the gobbler’s leg. Growing a little each year, they can reach up to 2 inches and are used to spar with other males to show their dominance.

Beard: All toms have a single beard, but every now and then they will have multiple beards. In these cases, the longest beard will be on the bottom and get smaller as they go up the neck. Oddly, some female hens will grow beards.

Good luck this turkey season and be patient!