Once you locate an Old Tom while turkey hunting, the next phase is to move in nearby and call him into shooting range. Your goal is to slip in as close as possible without scaring him. Then you “set up” and attempt to call him near enough for a shot.
Remember: while coming near a turkey, if he traces you, he’s gone! Be cautious not to be seen. Terrain and leaves generally dictate how near you can get before setting up. Veteran hunters hardly ever approach inside 100 yards. They may set up as far away as 300 yards if the ground is level and there is little foliage to conceal their movements.
Use the land to your advantage as you come close to an Old Tom. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will block your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don’t break any sticks during the turkey hunt.
When setting up, pick a place that offers the gobbler an effortless route to your area. There should be no creeks, gullies, fences, thick undergrowth or other barriers between you and the bird. Also choose a spot that is on the same contour or slightly above the turkey’s place. Don’t try to call an ol tom down a sharp slope. Pick an area that provides you with a favorable view of your environment.
Sit against a tree, stump or other object that is wider than your back and taller than your head. It will hide your outline and protect your back from a hunter who might move in behind you. Face the turkey’s direction with your left shoulder (for right-handed shooters), this provides you with a greater mobility of your gun when aiming. Above all, keep your movement to a minimum as you call. If the ol Tom is working toward you, then goes silent , don’t move. Sometimes gobblers will sneak in silently .
If you set up and a gobbler answers your call but won’t come close, you’re going to have to change your game plan. You may need to circle around and call from another location. You might change to a different call. If you’ve worked him a long time and he’s still hung up, you might leave the gobbler and come back in a few of hours and try again. Many hunts require several moves and/or strategy changes.
Once you get a bird working to you, adjust your gun up on your knee pointed in his basic direction with the stock against your shoulder. When an ol Tom finally walks within range (inside 40 yards), wait until he steps behind a tree or other impediment to move your gun. When he reappears, aim meticulously at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When an Old Tom struts, the neck is compressed and the head is often partly hidden by feathers, making for an even smaller target. If the ol Tom is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the goal of every hunter.
It’s a fantastic moment when a long beard answers a hunter’s call. This is when all the scouting and preparation pay off. It may not always result in bagging the bird, but that’s part of the challenge and the memories. If you pay attention to a veteran turkey hunter, you’ll note that the hunts most often remembered are those where the ol Tom, and not the hunter, won.
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