With turkey hunting season in the books, wildlife leaders are tallying final numbers for one of the most interesting seasons, from a weather perspective, in recent memory. Bad weather dominated with hardly a “perfect hunting day” in the first two weeks. Hunters persevered however, toughing it out with good results.
It was my best season in recent years, despite the weather, with good luck and good company most days. I felt good every day. There were shared stories with old and new friends alike — every one appreciated. It did seem like I was hearing more stories than usual about misses or folks not finding turkeys they felt certain had tumbled. I’m sure most were missed shots. But it concerned me enough that I thought a comment or two might be helpful.
First, turkey hunters who say they’ve never missed haven’t hunted much. At one time or another, we all miss. I’m not too proud to say I have. Tom Brady doesn’t complete every pass. Mookie Betts occasionally strikes out. My God, even Larry Bird didn’t make every shot. Sacrilege, I know, but true nevertheless. For them, missing was evident precisely at the time it happened.
For a hunter, it’s different. Missing a shot isn’t always clear. You have to make certain that the shot was really missed. This might take long, careful hours of painstaking work. That even happened to one of the best turkey hunters I have ever known. Ernie Calandrelli, my boss before retiring from Quaker Boy Game Calls, and I were hunting together during the early part of a Kentucky turkey season. After days with no luck, we finally had a gobbler within gun range. Ernie had the shot, and upon taking it, his body language said it all. I sat quietly as we watched the turkey race out of the area. After what seemed like an eternity, Ernie said, “I don’t know what just happened.” He immediately followed up with, “Wait, I know exactly what happened — I missed.”
That was a bad deal for a great hunter. When we walked over to where the bird had been standing however, we found feathers at our feet. Not a huge pile, but there was a trail. We fanned out and around 100 yards away, Ernie shouted, “We’ve got a bird.” A quick check of the spot ended up with Ernie filling his tag. Follow-ups like that rarely go well as turkeys are capable of brushing off non-vital hits while managing to scramble away, leaving very few clues behind. However, you can’t give up too soon. In such a moment, you can improve your odds for recovery by playing it smart, just like we did in Kentucky. Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up over time (from hunters like Ernie C.) and still use religiously whenever the need arises.
There was a day when I’d race to every flopping turkey I shot. Heck, it’s what all the experts said to do. But not anymore — and it has nothing to do with lack of stamina. Experience has taught me to watch, wait, and listen after pulling the trigger. If I didn’t hit him solidly while he was standing still a few yards in front of my gun barrel, I’m not likely to hit him as he’s making his escape. If I did my part correctly, the bird will be down for good. If he is flopping, check your gun’s safety and move to the bird swiftly, paying attention as you go. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to shoot again. Do it from your setup tree if possible. If a turkey is not done, pay attention to the precise direction in which he goes. If he flies, you want to hear him do it.
Often, mortally wounded turkeys will take flight, but then crash against a tree trunk or out of a treetop when they lose steam. This is when you close the distance quickly. Look for a sign. A feathered trail might help, or sometimes a small blood trail. However, if you know you made a good shot, you have to pull out all the stops, and patience is often the key. Was the bird hit hard? How did he react after the shot? Often times you’re left reading body language. Train yourself to concentrate through the trigger squeeze and you can learn a lot. If the bird hops into the air when hit, lands, and then scampers off, you may have shot low. If he ducks at the shot, you may have missed high.
What if you have no clues? This makes finding him more difficult but not impossible. Birds leaving on foot are always easier to find than flushers. Mark the spot where you last saw him or found the last bit of sign. Then start searching — hard. Mortally wounded birds can burrow deep into thick cover and they can hide in almost anything. Pick the woods apart with your eyes and your hands if necessary. I searched for four hours to find a bird in Missouri one year, finally finding him in, what Missourians call, a thicket patch. I lost a little blood myself.
Finally, where legal, nothing beats a bird dog’s nose, but think the situation through carefully. If other hunters are in the area, they won’t appreciate the intrusion. If it’s an area you intend to hunt again, you might also be disturbing birds. Waiting until midmorning to search, while doing it with a leashed dog, can help. Also, make sure you have permission from not only the landowner, but also the game warden. Both are usually reasonable in situations like this, but it’s always best to be sure.
Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, consultant and active member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assoc. Joe is also a member of the Quaker Boy Game Calls, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Pro-Staff.