Stalking Turkey

[Sota]

Probably not the way that leads to huge success but has anyone been successful at stalking turkeys.  Or at least closing the distance to make an ethical shot.

[Sam McMichael]

I have never tried to stalk them when carrying a weapon. I have tried numerous times to sneak up on them, but have never even got close. They don't seem to miss any movement in the woods.

[Sota]

That's what I've been trying lately on my own property.  Sometimes I'll be out working, turn around and have a large harem of hens 30 yards behind me.  It's fun to see how close I can get.  I suppose it wouldn't be very safe either if other hunters were around.

[Jake Scott]

"Centaur" on here has done it with success.  He seems to be a rare exception.  Aside from him most turkey hunters that have any kind of consistent success are setting up and calling.  That is challenging enough!!

Jake

[JakeD]

I have done it quite a bit, but it was with a shotgun. I was always sneaking within stickbow range, but just never hunted them much with the bow. There is a big difference between being that close with a gun and bow. There isn't much movement needed for a gun. The way that I usually sneak that close is to have an idea where the birds are going and that way you can plan the stalk accordingly. It takes slow deliberate movements at the right times to sneak up on birds, but it's pretty awesome when it works out.

[Orion]

Yep. Me, too.  Stalked and killed one at 15 yards with a shotgun.  Stalked and missed one with a bow at about 18 yards.  Stalked a few others that I never got close enough to for a shot.

Always pick out a single bird, and it's more circle around and get in front rather than try to catch up from behind, though I have done the latter once or twice.  Not easy either way.

I do much better in a blind and calling them to me.

[JimB]

Easterns are way harder than Western turkeys to stalk.Easterns are tough.

[Longtoke]

I my partner and i tried stalking quite a bit last spring, never got very close by trying to sneak them. the terrain wasnt very good for it either though.  We were hunting in a canyon and we noticed the turkey would often take them same routes when we tried to stalk them.

We found success in two different locations by one person setting up ahead of their route for an ambush while the other tried to stalk/push them into the trap.

[doubleo]

I spotted a flock of birds in a grass field on the way to my deer stand. After watching them for a few minutes they went through a fence line into another field that had higher grass and was very weedy. I thought what the heck and followed the fence line down to where I knew they crossed it cause there was a little opening there.
I looked into the weed field and a couple heads popped up. All I had was a head and neck shot at 15 yards. My shot was perfect as I broke the young birds neck. Stalking turkeys can be done under the right conditions.

[twitchstick]

This is one last fall I put the sneak on after spotting a flock feeding.

[Sota]

Very nice, inspiring!

[KSCATTRAPR]

I've done it a couple times with trad gear, numerous times with a compound when I was younger. My first trad kill was a spot and stalk turkey. The key is to go slow and not get in a hurry, just like stalking anything else. There were several cedars where I was stalking so that made the job a little easier. As long as you can put something between you and them where they can't see you move, you have a better chance at getting close enough for a shot.

 

[highlow]

The safety factor is the reason it's unlawful to do so here in NJ. Not a bad idea as I know there are way too many trigger-happy shot-gunners out there just waiting to touch one off at the least little movement. I can see where that concern wouldn't be as important out west with a lot more wide open terrain.

[Zradix]

it can be done.

I've done it once.

mine was more of an ambush.
Saw them walking,...they saw me too. I got up and high tailed it to where I thought they'd pass. Stood behind a big tree and waited about a min for em to walk by.

Nothin to it....lol

[KSdan]

Many (2-3 dozen I would guess). All with a shotgun. Though with my old non-vent 2 3/4" none of them were over 25 yds and most under 20. Helped my kids (son and daughters) as well as friends do it as well. (Why I hate blind hunting.  If they won't come in, and they are talking or I know where they are- I am going after them.)

Dan in KS

[TooManyHobbies]

Stalking? Yes.
Within Range? Sometimes.
Getting a shot? Sure.
Hitting them? Not yet.

[Fattony77]

I tried this once, with a fair amount of success.

One fall, I saw a flock at the other end of a field that had some "texture" to the edges (it wasn't a straight line). They were in the back corner from where I was, but I knew that an upright approach would never work. So I got on my hands and knees and started crawling towards them.

The first 40 yards or so was pretty easy crawling, but the last 60(ish) yds. would be the tricky part. I just kept thinking of how coyotes or bobcats would do it. At the right times (when one of them might be able to see me) I froze, and made painfully slow movements when I had to. Eventually, I got as close as I could with the little bit of cover that I had and they were moving towards the center of the field. So I tucked into the tall grass between the treeline and the field and waited. There was only about 20 yds. for them to cover before they would be within range and right in front of me.

As if they were following a script, they moseyed right to where they were supposed to. I went to raise my 62" Martin L-100 longbow and found that it made it to about 3/4 of the way to my shooting posture and stopped! I tried again to raise it the rest of the way but it wouldn't budge. I looked down to see that the tall grass had grabbed a hold of my limb and string and it was NOT letting go without some major movement. So I made the movement, they busted and the whole thing was over.

It was awesome to have gotten them that close (they were somewhere between 15 & 20 yds in front of me when I tried to shoot).

[centaur]

I have taken several, but they were of the dumb western variety. I would love to try some easterns some day.

[ChuckC]

All turkeys are not turkeys.  Several times I have walked right in amongst a herd of (I believe) Merriams out west.  Colorado and South Dakota.  Try that here in Wisconsin !
ChuckC

[KSdan]

For what its worth, I have found this thread surprising/interesting (surprised guys don't stalk much).  The 30+ (maybe more) birds we have stalked have all been Easterns.  We have harvested as many stalking as calling in.  And I have helped many others for friends and even kids- all stalking.  I stalked 3 toms and 6+ hens last Spring- hanging with them for almost 2 hours, within 20 yds numerous times, and 400 yds later I finally whacked one.  This really is quite common for the way we hunt Spring turkeys.

Just my 2C. . .

Dan in KS