Turkey searching is plagued with outdated wive’s tales, folklore, and myths. A few of that is innocent. A few of it may need clarification. However a number of the misbeliefs may cost you a punched tag this spring.
Plus, the reality nonetheless issues. So, within the spirit searching with higher info, listed below are 23 turkey and turkey searching myths to ditch proper now.
The 23 Dirtiest Turkey Myths
Delusion 1: Turkeys see shade like we do.
Some assume turkeys see in shade similar to we do, however they don’t. Turkeys do have great color vision, however not in the way in which we expertise it. The format of cones and rods of their eyes are completely different from ours. Whereas the precise composition of their imaginative and prescient isn’t identified, it’s believed they see shade, however a lot in another way than people. That stated, similar to whitetails and different prey animals, their eyes detect movement extraordinarily nicely.
Delusion 2: Turkeys haven’t any sense of scent.
Wild turkeys actually don’t have a way of scent like whitetails, however they aren’t nostril blind, both. Turkeys do, in reality, have a slight ability to smell. In fact, it isn’t vital sufficient to influence the way you hunt them.
Delusion 3: Turkeys hate or love the rain.
Some say turkeys hate the rain. Others say they adore it. Neither are true, actually. The explanations wild turkeys spend a lot time in open fields throughout rainstorms are twofold. First is safety. The wind and rain make it troublesome to see inside cowl. Second is meals. Bugs and grubs head to the floor when the water desk rises. I’ve watched gobblers rip off gobble after gobble within the rain, too. They didn’t appear to thoughts it an excessive amount of. Examine suggestions for hunting turkeys in bad weather right here.
Delusion 4: Turkeys, particularly poults, drown after they search for within the rain.
Turkeys younger and outdated don’t drown by wanting up when it rains. If this had been true we’d discover useless turkeys all over after heavy rains. They do, nevertheless, head for open fields when the drops begin falling (except they’re roosted).
Delusion 5: Turkeys at all times roost in the identical tree each night time.
In prairie settings the place roost timber are significantly restricted, this delusion can maintain up. That stated, all through most of America, it usually isn’t true. A small variety of turkeys routinely roost in the identical actual timber, however that is the exception and never the norm. Wild turkeys nearly at all times rotate via quite a few roost timber and even roost areas. Plentiful numbers of native birds could make it look like a roost is getting used each night by the identical turkey.
Delusion 6: As soon as within the tree, turkeys don’t change roosts.
Turkeys do just like the roost limbs they fly as much as. However that doesn’t imply they’ll stay there. I’ve watched as roosted turkeys moved from one limb to the following. I’ve additionally roosted a turkey in late night, went again the following morning, and there wasn’t a turkey in sight. With out query, turkeys generally change roost limbs, and even roost timber, after flying up.
Delusion 7: A roosted gobbler is a assured bagged chicken.
Simply since you roost a turkey doesn’t imply you’re assured to kill it the following morning. In truth, I not often kill roosted turkeys. Most different hunters have advised me the identical.
Delusion 8: Heat late-winter climate significantly hastens the breeding cycle.
An unseasonably heat late-winter or early spring may get turkeys to gobble and strut a bit of extra, however that doesn’t imply breeding will happen any sooner (measurably talking). The wild turkey breeding cycle is pushed by photoperiod (daylight size), and that doesn’t change a lot 12 months to 12 months.
Delusion 9: Calling closely will hold turkeys on their roost limbs.
Some say that steady calling to a roosted gobbler will hold it on the limb later into the morning. That isn’t true. If that turkey refuses to fly down, it’s as a result of it’s seen or heard one thing it didn’t like. Even when it’s gobbling, it would keep in mind one thing from earlier.
Delusion 10: Name-shy turkeys give up responding to calling.
It’s lengthy been believed that calling an excessive amount of can lead to call-shy turkeys. That stated, hushed turkeys at the moment are attributed to gobbler elimination, elevated searching strain, and elevated predator populations. It’s not attributable to elevated calling by turkey hunters. Ever heard an enormous spring turkey flock? They actually make a ruckus.
Delusion 11: Hens can’t gobble or strut.
Assume that hen turkey can’t gobble or strut? Assume once more. Nonetheless don’t consider me? Watch it happen in this video. Whereas very uncommon, it’s believed to be a present of dominance towards different hens.
Delusion 12: Gobblers don’t yelp.
Gobblers don’t simply gobble. They make different vocalizations, too. One among these is the tom yelp. This three-noted yelp-yelp-yelp has the identical common construction as a hen yelp, but it surely’s a lot deeper, raspier, at a slower tempo.
Delusion 13: Turkey poop at all times appears to be like the identical.
A lot of the time, male turkey excrement is J-shaped. In distinction, hen poop is normally spiral- or popcorn-shaped. These truths aren’t 100% correct, although. Weight loss plan, well being, and different components can influence the looks of untamed turkey poops, altering stated waste from the everyday anticipated varieties listed above.
Delusion 14: That brief, damaged beard is a case of beard rot.
Some grownup turkeys is perhaps 2-plus years outdated with a full fan and a partial or no beard to indicate for it. Moreover, these are nearly at all times discolored, generally reaching a blondish coloration. The widespread delusion attributes this to a situation known as “beard rot.” Nevertheless, it’s actually only a melanin deficiency.
Delusion 15: Turkeys received’t ever cross a fence.
Each turkey hunter and their brother has stated a turkey received’t cross a fence. And whereas fences may cause turkeys to hold up, I believe it’s much less in regards to the fence and extra about them probably not desirous to be on the opposite aspect of it. Give it some thought. If a turkey is already on the opposite aspect of the fence, it seemingly has explanation why it prefers to be on the opposite aspect. Moreover, most properties I hunt have an abundance of fencing. One is totally woven wire, and each day, turkeys come out of the woods, fly as much as the fence posts, and hop all the way down to the opposite aspect earlier than waddling down the hill towards the cow pasture I arrange in. Why? As a result of they already wish to be there.
Delusion 16: Turkeys received’t ever cross water.
I’ve seen gobblers hold up at streams, creeks, and rivers. I’ve watched them fly those self same waterways. Likewise, wild turkeys aren’t swimmers, however they’ll swim. See it for yourself right here. With out query, turkeys do cross, and even generally swim, throughout water.
Delusion 17: Your calling should sound good.
No, your turkey calling doesn’t should sound good. It doesn’t have to be turkey-calling-championship worthy. In truth, even wild turkey hens don’t at all times have the very best voices. Simply take heed to wild birds. A few of them sound like a 5-year-old screeching toys on a tile flooring. All that stated, the cadence of a wild turkey’s name is essential, so hunters ought to give attention to getting this proper.
Learn Subsequent: Turkey Calling Tips
Delusion 18: You’ll be able to’t name a turkey down a hill.
It’s true — I’ve had higher luck calling turkeys uphill than downhill. However I’ve known as turkeys downhill, too. Give it some thought — turkeys should stroll down hills in some unspecified time in the future, or they’d by no means go away the hilltops. Normally, when a gobbler received’t come down the hill, it’s as a result of he’s in a “strut zone” and expects the hen to come back as much as him.
Delusion 19: Henned-up longbeards can’t be coaxed into vary.
Henned-up gobblers have already got the true deal. That doesn’t imply they received’t go away it to search out one thing new, although. Whereas the chances aren’t at all times nice, in case you play these playing cards proper, you simply may pull a longbeard off an actual hen. If you happen to can’t pull that gobbler away, strive calling to the hen as an alternative.
Delusion 20: You’ll be able to’t name again a spooked turkey.
Simply because a turkey is spooked doesn’t imply you may’t name it again into vary. Typically, you may name a chicken proper again after killing the gobbler it was operating with. Or, if the turkey is basically spooked, give it an hour or two, circle round from one other route, and go at that turkey once more. You may be capable of name it in.
Delusion 21: Jakes efficiently breed.
Assume a jake makes daddy? Guess once more. The overwhelming majority of jakes can not efficiently breed. Whereas they’ll conduct the ritual, most should not have viable sperm counts.
Delusion 22: Beard measurement is indicative of age.
A number of turkey hunters give attention to the beard, particularly newer turkey hunters. However the beard isn’t the best indication of age. Wanting on the spurs is a greater solution to estimate the age of a gobbler. Sometimes, rounded off spurs belong to jakes, 4/8- to 7/8-inch spurs are on 2-year-old turkeys, 1- to 1 3/8-inch spurs belong to 3-year-old turkeys, and 1 4/8-inch and better spurs are discovered on 4-plus-year-old gobblers. However this isn’t at all times the case, both.
Delusion 23: You’ll be able to’t bag a chicken past 40 yards.
Many aged-timers will let you know to not shoot at a turkey past 40 yards, and that it’s unethical to take action. Whereas this was and nonetheless is nice recommendation in case you’re searching with older gear, trendy turkey shotguns, turkey loads, choke tubes, and red dot sights have made it attainable to make photographs past 40 and nonetheless be deadly and moral. The bottom line is to sample your shotgun and discover your individual most efficient vary. Keep in mind, turkey killing sample is 100 pellet strikes inside a 10-inch circle.
