With the 2025 wild turkey hunting season right ahead of us, Massachusetts hunters are thinking full speed ahead, as Opening Day is set to kick off one half-hour after sunrise on April 28! That has turkey hunters beyond excited to get back into the springtime woods to match wits again with the greatest game bird of all time.

What is it that makes turkey hunting so special? For me, it’s all about the dance. If you’re a turkey hunter, you know exactly what I’m talking-bout… you know what it feels like to have a pumped up, adrenaline-filled gobbler hunting you.

You’ve felt the rush that comes over you when he gobbles so hard that the ground shakes beneath you; while listening to him spit and drum, because even though you can’t quite see him, you know he’s close when you hear him drum – and then spit. At this moment, you naturally feel yourself moving the mouth call from your cheek to your tongue, while softly letting him know that you’re there. And he screams right back at you, just begging to be noticed. Then, you suddenly see him, a large black figure with his head moving like a homing device, pirouetting ever so slowly through the hardwoods, and directly toward you!

Wild turkey hunting is never that easy though, and anyone who says it is, hasn’t hunted them much. If your expectations are to “get a turkey” every time you step foot in the woods to turkey hunt, then my advice would be try taking up something different. I mean sure, everyone needs to stay confident, and we’ve all heard the stories about the first time hunter who wanders into the woods, beats on his brand new box call for a few minutes, and walks away with a big gobbler on their first try. But for every story like that, there are a dozen others from veteran hunters and world-class callers being humbled by a wily old gobbler! I’m here to tell you, a wild turkey can outwit anyone, no matter how long you’ve been wild turkey hunting. And gaining experience, while acquiring a few well-intended tips, can help make anyone a better hunter.

Taking another step in that direction, here’s a few “well tested” turkey hunting tactics that might just help you successfully navigate through the 2025 turkey hunting season.

1. In those early morning hours; if I start up a bird but can’t seem to turn him my way, I’ll typically stay put. When I was younger, I would try to move on them, which usually resulted in leaving the woods empty handed. Since then, I’ve learned to sit tight if a gobbler doesn’t commit to my calling early. A better tactic in that situation is to periodically call softly, just to let him know you’re still there. He might not be gobbling anymore, but if he hasn’t left, which he probably hasn’t, rest assured he’s listening and knows exactly where you are. And even if he has moved on, chances are he’ll be back once he’s done breeding hens. This might take several hours, but remember, he’s hanging out in that area for a reason. Just be sure to stay sharp as these cocky old gobblers will often show up unannounced, looking for that hen they heard earlier in the morning.

2. If you accidentally spook a gobbler – which happens to all of us – don’t start thinking that the hunt is over. Just stay calm and relaxed. Watch where he goes, and then be patient, let the woods calm down around you and just let him go. Sit down, get comfortable and wait at least 30 minutes before calling again. Wait even longer if time allows. Then try to slowly gain a little ground, being cautious as you move, and calling infrequently, which will give the impression that a new hen is around. And remember, turkeys get spooked all the time by hikers, farmers, other animals, or other disturbances in the woods. But if this area is a place he wants to be, and chances are it is, he’ll be back there again… and soon!

3. Be cautious in how close you get; it was nearly full light when that gobbler in Deerfield finally responded to my owl hooting. And from where I stood, I was certain I could slip in a little closer to where he was roosted. Moving slowly toward this bird, I picked out two trees about 60 yards ahead of me, and prepared to settle in there. And as I was sliding my backside down that tree, the whoosh of huge flapping wings made me freeze and cringe at the same time. I had bumped him from his roost, which is one of the most common mistakes a turkey hunter can make, even a seasoned one, because gobblers often sound farther away than the really are, especially as the foliage begins to get thick. But there are several other reasons why this might happen. He could still be in the tree and strutting on a limb while facing away from you. There could be a rise in the terrain or, again, dense foliage blocking the sound. Or he could already be down, and you can’t quite tell if he is or if he isn’t. So, erring on the side of caution is extremely important in situations like these. Being cautious will at least give you a chance at the bird. But bump him, and it’s over, at least for a while.

4. Learn to yelp and cluck; you don’t need to be a champion turkey caller, or have a broad repertoire of calling skills to have fun hunting wild turkeys in the spring. But you should try to get as comfortable as you can with these two basic sounds. The yelp and the cluck will cover the vast majority of calling situations you’re going to face as a turkey hunter. And any type of turkey call will duplicate these two important vocalizations that turkeys use to communicate. And you’ll be surprised when you learn how easy they are to master!

5. Finally, stay safe, stay positive, and hunt smart; make sure to stay positive throughout the season. It takes dedication, persistence, a bit of luck, and lots of time in the woods to consistently have the opportunity for success, so don’t give up! And stay safe! Watch out for other hunters in your area while keeping in mind that turkeys and humans sound very much alike when walking through dry leaves. Avoid the colors of red, white and blue. And make certain of your target before you decide to take the shot. Turkey hunting safety is the responsibility of all of us. So, keep it safe while enjoying what might just be your best turkey hunting season ever!

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net