Bowhunting wild turkeys? These are the 3 secrets you must know

Location

When it comes to location, private property is always best. Not only do you get the benefit of hunting birds that are far less pressured than on public land, it’s also a lot safer. Many turkey hunters are glued to fields come spring, but I’ve always found the easiest birds to kill are in the woods—and this is especially true with a bow.

When a turkey is in a field, it’s always watching for possible dangers while visually connecting with other birds. That’s why decoys can be so advantageous when hunting fields. They can also be frustrating when the birds hang up just outside of bow range, trying to draw your decoy to them instead. Hunting in the bush, on the other hand, is a totally different game.

If a tom is on his own, he’s far more likely to hang out in the bush rather than a field. And not only are lone toms far easier to call in—there’s no competition from a real hen for his attention—you only have one set of eyes to worry about once you get him into range. That’s a huge advantage when trying to draw your bow without being detected.

The bush also serves to severely inhibit the turkey’s number one sense—its eyesight. Unlike hunting in a wide open field, the forest offers trees, rocks, brush and stumps to not only help break up your silhouette, but to also provide cover as you draw your bow.