ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California (formerly California Turkey Hunter’s
Guide) has been produced using funds generated through the sale of the California Upland Game Bird Stamp. The Upland Game Bird Stamp must be purchased by every adulthunter who hunts wild turkey or any upland game bird in California. The funds generated
through the sale of the stamp are dedicated to improving the quality of hunting and topreserving the heritage of hunting in California.
The information included in this guide has come from many sources. We especiallythank Cami L. Brown and William J. Vander Zouwen of the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources for allowing us to reprint sections from the Wisconsin Turkey Hunter’s
Guide, and the Missouri Department of Conservation for permission to reprint sections
from the Missouri Turkey Hunter Education Program booklet (copyright 1985 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri).
We thank Cathy McNassor and the George C. Page Museum and the National Rifle
Association Hunter Services Division for the use of their photographs. We also thank the
National Wild Turkey Federation for the hunter safety tips and Code of Conduct used inthis publication.
Additional acknowledgment goes to Charlie Ryan, Jim Oates and Bruce Wurth for reviewing the original version of this guide. Special thanks go to all the dedicated membersof the National Wild Turkey Federation who have contributed so much to the restorationand management of a safe and ethical hunting tradition.

Front cover photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

1Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California
This guide provides turkey hunters in California with information for hunting wild turkeys responsibly, safely andsuccessfully. We hope that hunters will pursue turkeys in an ethical manner and establish a tradition for future California turkey hunters. Consider what you can do to promote the future of turkey management and hunting in California.
Revised April 2007

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
L. Ryan Broddrick, Director
WILDLIFE BRANCH
Eric Loft, Chief
Written by:
Karen R. Fothergill
Updated by:
Karen R. Fothergill
Scott Gardner
Maps by:Chris Ball
Julie Decker
Craig Turner
Graphic Design and Layout by:
Lorna Bernard
Alison J. Torres
Under the Supervision of
Tom Blankinship, Upland Game Program Coordinator

2

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Natural History.................................................................................................................................................... 4
Physical Description..................................................................................................................................... 4
Current Distribution..................................................................................................................................... 4
Sex and Age Differences............................................................................................................................... 5External Anatomy of the Adult Male Wild Turkey...................................................................................... 6
Habitat Needs............................................................................................................................................... 7
Home Range and Movements...................................................................................................................... 7
Breeding and Nesting Biology...................................................................................................................... 8
Food Habits................................................................................................................................................... 9
Wild Turkey Management................................................................................................................................. 10
The Extinct California Turkey.................................................................................................................... 10
Introduction of Wild Turkeys to California................................................................................................ 10
Hunting Regulations................................................................................................................................... 12
Poaching and Law Enforcement................................................................................................................. 12
Hunter-Landowner Relations........................................................................................................................... 13
Role of the Landowner and the Citizen..................................................................................................... 13
Hunter Responsibility................................................................................................................................. 13
Hunting on Public Lands............................................................................................................................ 13
Turkey Hunter Safety........................................................................................................................................ 14
Camouflage Safety...................................................................................................................................... 15
Calling Site Location.................................................................................................................................. 15
Decoy-Related Safety.................................................................................................................................. 16
Controlling Your Reactions........................................................................................................................ 16
Turkey Hunting Techniques.............................................................................................................................. 18
Basic Techniques......................................................................................................................................... 18
		 Scouting............................................................................................................................................... 18
		 Planning............................................................................................................................................... 19
		 Calling Turkeys..................................................................................................................................... 20
		 *California DFG Wildlife Areas With Hunting Opportunities For Wild Turkeys.............................. 21
		 *Wild Turkey Range Map.................................................................................................................... 22
		 *California Department of Fish and Game Offices............................................................................. 23
		 Camouflage.......................................................................................................................................... 25
		 Firearms and Patterning....................................................................................................................... 26
		 Equipment Checklist............................................................................................................................ 26
Spring Hunting Techniques........................................................................................................................ 27
Fall Hunting Techniques............................................................................................................................. 29
Special Bow Hunting Considerations......................................................................................................... 30
		 Equipment............................................................................................................................................ 30
		 Blinds and Tree Stands......................................................................................................................... 31
		 Decoy Tactics....................................................................................................................................... 31
		 Shot Placement.................................................................................................................................... 31
		 Comparison of Various Recovery Systems........................................................................................... 32
		 Turkey Recovery................................................................................................................................... 32
Miscellaneous.................................................................................................................................................... 33
Scoring Trophies......................................................................................................................................... 33
Trophy Mounts........................................................................................................................................... 33
Field Dressing and Cleaning....................................................................................................................... 34
The Final Reward....................................................................................................................................... 34
Guide to Wild Turkey Roasting Methods and Cooking Times.................................................................. 35
References................................................................................................................................................... 36
Ten Commandments of Turkey Hunting Safety......................................................................................... 37
A Turkey Hunter’s Code of Conduct......................................................................................................... 38
Glossary of Turkey Terms............................................................................................................................ 39
Patterning Your Turkey Gun and Load....................................................................................................... 40*Reference maps

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

3

NATURAL HISTORYPHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONCURRENT DISTRIBUTION

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a member ofthe bird order Galliformes which also includes grouse,
pheasants, partridge and quail. This wild turkey species
is the largest game bird in North America and is subdivided into five groups, or subspecies. The five subspecies
are the eastern turkey (M.g. silvestris), the Florida turkey(M.g. Osceola), the Gould’s turkey (M.g. mexicana), the
Rio Grande turkey (M.g. intermedia), and the Merriam’s
turkey (M.g. merriami). These subspecies may be recognized by their slightly different appearance and their geographic location within North America. The two primarysubspecies found in California are the Rio Grande andMerriam's subspecies. Eastern turkeys and various hybrid
turkeys have also been released in the state. Pior to thelate 1950s, turkeys had become established primarily
along the central coast from DFG game farms. They werea hybrid from various sources that were referred to as
California hybrids.
To identify the subspecies, one must consider their
physical characteristics and habitat. The characteristics
used to identify the subspecies of wild turkey are usually
body size, coloration of feathers and body proportions.
There are overlapping characteristics between each of
the subspecies, but a comparison of several different
characteristics may help identify the subspecies. The
following table is a guide to identifying a wild turkey tosubspecies. Keep in mind that wild turkeys, like all living
things, exhibit much variation, which at times can makeidentification to subspecies difficult.

In California, Rio Grande turkeys are the mostwidespread subspecies. They occupy much of the mixed
oak and pine woodlands of the Coast Ranges, Sierra
Nevada and Cascade foothills, and they can be foundprimarily from sea level to about 3,000 feet in elevation,but occasionally as high as 5,000 - 6,000 feet. Merriam's
turkeys occupy habitats dominated by pines, primarily
above 3,000 feet, in northeastern California, but also in
the Transverse Range in Kern County. Additionally, theeastern subspecies has been released along the northerncoast and eastern/Rio Grande hybrids from the Midwest
have been released along the south coast. Hybridization
between subspecies has probably occurred in various
parts of the state.
Wild turkeys are now present in 54 of 58 counties,
with the highest harvest occurring in Butte, Calaveras, El
Dorado, Mendocino, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, Shasta,
Tehama, and Yuba counties. Many populations range on
private land, but populations can be found on property
owned or controlled by California Department of Fish
and Game (DFG), the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureauof Land Management, and public utilities such as PacificGas and Electric.

IDENTIFICATION OF WILD TURKEY SUBSPECIESCHARACTERISTIC	EASTERN TURKEY	MERRIAM'S TURKEY	RIO GRANDE TURKEY

Body Appearance
Metallic bronze with gold
		Purple/Bronze
Very dark

Coppery to greenish gold

Tail Feather Tips

Cinnamon to dark chestnut

Buff to pinkish white

Cinnamon to buff

Upper Tail Coverts

Chestnut brown to buff

Nearly white

Cinnamon to buff

Rump Feathers(Lower Back)

Copper

Nearly white

Greenish gold to bluish black

4

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

SEX AND AGE DIFFERENCES
Wild turkey males are called gobblers, or toms, if mature, and jakes if immature. Wild turkey females (hens)
are called jennys if immature. Adult males and females
can be differentiated by feather color, head color, andthe presence or absence of leg spurs and beards. Gobblers have black-tipped breast feathers while the hens
have buffed-tipped breast feathers. Head color is usually gray-blue in hens while gobblers have shades of red,
blue, and white. Gobblers also have fleshy head and neckadornments called caruncles, dewlap and snood. Unlike
gobblers, hens do not usually have leg spurs.
Generally, gobblers have a coarse group of bristlytype feathers called a beard hanging from their chests.
Hens can also have beards which are usually more sparsethan gobbler beards. In the fall, the sex of young turkeys

ANATOMICAL DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
WILD TURKEYS

Breast feathers of adult female (left) and male (right).

can only be differentiated by examining the breast feathers to see if the male black-tipped feathers are starting tocome in.
Spur length is a reliable method for aging males,
except where spurs are extremely worn. Generally, spring
yearlings, also called jakes, have short spurs less than
12 mm (0.5 inch); spurs on 2 year-olds are 12-25 mm(0.5-1.0 inch) long; and birds 3 years or older usually
have spurs over 25 mm (1.0 inch). In fall, gobblers haveobvious spurs while juvenile males have a very small or
inconspicuous spur. Spur length varies among subspecies.
The age of turkeys can also be determined using feather criteria. The last two primaries, or outerwing feathers, in juveniles lack white bars on the outer
two inches and are sharply pointed. Adult birds haverounded or worn outer primaries with white bars to thetip. In spring, the central tail feathers are longer than
the remaining feathers in jakes, while all tail feathers ofadults are the same length.

Comparison of tail feather length of gobblers (left) and jakes(right). Diagram courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Diagram courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

5External Anatomy of the Adult Male Wild Turkey
KEY
A Beard.
B. Major caruncles; large and bulbous shaped in the male.
B-1. Minor caruncles.
C. Dewlap.
D. Throat.
E. Beak.
F. Nostril.
G. Eye.
H. Snood; also called a dewbill or leader; prominent in the male.
I. Crown of head; color is white or red in the male, especially during mating
season; color is dull gray-blue in the female year-round.
J. Ear opening; covered with bristle feathers.
K. Face; color is important for sex identification.
L. Neck; longer in the male.
M. Shoulder.
N. Back.
N-1. Rump; also called a saddle.
O. Upper major secondary coverts; these form the wing bar, and their sizeand shape are important for age identification.
O-1.
Secondary wing feathers (remiges); they number 18 or 19 and form
the wing bay.
P. Upper median tail coverts.
P-1. Upper major tail coverts.
Q. Tail feathers (rectrices); usually number 18.
R. Under tail coverts; major, median, and minor.
S. Primary wing feathers (remiges); 10 in number; usually only the ninth
and tenth are visible in the folded wing.
T. Fluff.
U. Abdomen.
V. Metatarsal spur; also called tarsometatarsal spur and tarsal spur.
W. Metatarsus; also called the tarsometatarsus and tarsus; longer in the gobbler.
X. Ankle.
Y. Shank; tibiotarsus and fibula.
Z. Breast; contains the breast sponge in mating season; color of tips of breastfeathers are black in the male and tan to brown in the female.

Reprinted from “The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management.”

6

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

HABITAT NEEDS
The wild turkey’s habitat needs include roostingand nesting cover, brood-rearing habitat, and dependable food and water sources. Oak habitats with a permanent water source have been described as the major
requirements for wild turkeys in California. In California,
Merriam’s turkeys utilize Ponderosa pine habitats, andpinyon-juniper in association with Ponderosa and Jeffrey
pines. Roosting habitat includes large trees with horizontal limbs such as gray pines, sycamores, cottonwoods,
black oaks and Ponderosa pines. Nesting cover often includes brush or downed tree limbs close to a permanent

water source. Turkeys raise their broods in more open
oak grasslands or in meadows at higher elevations wherelarge numbers of insects can be found. Insects are an important source of protein, particularly for young turkeys,
called poults. Other important foods are acorns fromoaks and mast from other nut-producing hardwoods, andberries from brush and vines. In summer and fall, turkeys
feed on wild seeds from grasses. Natural and agriculturallands adjacent to oak habitats provide forage, in the formof vegetation and seeds, on a seasonal basis.

HOME RANGE AND MOVEMENTS
Home range is the area that an animal occupies during most of the year. The size of the home range varies
depending on the turkey’s age, sex, and the season. Wild
turkeys usually disperse in the spring as they prepare to
breed. Females typically move greater distances thanmales, and yearlings move farther than adults. Wild
turkeys in California apparently do not have separate
summer and winter ranges, and tend to stay close to theirwater source during the summer.
Daily movements, in general, are related to theavailability of water, food, and roost sites. In the spring,turkeys will move between suitable strutting areas androost sites, and hens will move between nesting areas andfeeding areas in the late spring and summer.

Wild turkeys in California oak
woodlands. DFG file photo.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

7

BREEDING AND NESTINGBIOLOGY
The breeding season for wild turkeys occurs during
spring when increasing day length triggers breeding
behavior (gobbling and strutting) in male birds. In
California, this behavior intensifies in early Marchand progresses until mid to late April. Hens become
receptive to mating following dispersal of large winterflocks. Dominant gobblers do most of the breeding andmay breed with many hens, but it is unclear how often
individual hens breed with different gobblers.
A roosting gobbler sometimes gobbles in his roost
tree until a group of hens gathers on his primary strutting area. The gobbler then flies down and stays withthe hens throughout the day. Later in the season, as
more and more hens begin to incubate their eggs,
gobblers are more likely to be found alone or in pairs
or trios. These lone gobblers become more nomadic,
looking for hens that have not yet mated or that may
have had their nests destroyed.
Most hens select a woodland nest site. The nest isa simple depression in leaf litter and is usually locatedagainst the base of a tree, a large rock or some othervertical structure.
Clutch size varies, averaging 11 eggs, and requires
about two weeks to complete. After all eggs are laid,
incubation begins and continues for 28 days, with thehen leaving the nest only for a short break each day.
Predators cause most nest losses. Hens disrupted during laying or early incubation often renest, but only

Hen nesting in thistle.
8

Spring courtship: gobbler displaying (strutting) for hen. Photo by the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

one brood is produced each year.
Wild turkey poults grow rapidly and can fly shortdistances within 10 days, but they roost on the groundwith the hen until they are about two weeks old. During
this period, poults are especially vulnerable to predationand other mortality factors, and approximately 50 percent
survive.

Turkey nest with hatched eggs.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

FOOD HABITS
Adult wild turkeys are opportunistic feeders andconsume a wide variety of food items. The bulk of theirdiet consists of plant material, although animal matteris seasonally important. Common food items include
acorns, dandelion flowers, grasses, toyon fruit, California
bay fruit and insects. Young poults require a high protein
diet for growth; therefore they consume a higher ratio ofinsects to plant material which decreases with maturity.
In a study conducted in San Luis Obispo County,
wild oat seeds were a major component of the spring andsummer diet, replaced by acorns in the fall. Cultivatedoats and barley, and wild forbs made up the winter diet.

Oak acorns (mast).

Turkey habitat withtoyon bushand oaks.

Toyon fruit.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

9

WILD TURKEY MANAGEMENTTHE EXTINCT CALIFORNIA TURKEY

Remnants of an extinct California turkey (Meleagris
californica) have been discovered in several counties in
California. Most of these locations are in the southernpart of California, including Santa Barbara, Orange, and
Los Angeles counties. Over 11,000 bones of the California turkey have been unearthed from the Rancho La
Brea Tar Pits located within the metropolitan area of Los
Angeles. Bones from all age classes have been discovered, and it is assumed that the turkeys nested, hatched,matured and died in this area. The adult California
turkey was slightly smaller in size and had different morphological characteristics, such as a wider, shorter beak,when compared to the modern wild turkey (Meleagris
gallopavo). It is believed that this turkey became extinct
about 10,000 years ago due to the loss of required vegetation resulting from a decrease in rainfall.

Fossil skeleton of extinct California wild turkey (Meleagris
californica). Photo courtesty of the George C. Page Museum.

INTRODUCTION OF WILD TURKEYS TO CALIFORNIA

Wild turkeys in California are the result of introductions which started before the turn of the century, andare managed as resident game birds. The first recorded
release of turkeys into the wild was in 1877, when they
were released by private ranchers onto Santa Cruz Island
off the coast of Santa Barbara County. In 1908 theFish and Game Commission purchased 22 turkeys from
Mexico and released them in the San Bernadino Mountains. An additional 26 turkeys from Mexico were usedas game farm stock. The first recorded releases of farmraised birds from this stock were in 1928. From 1928
to 1951, 3,350 farm-raised turkeys were released at 71
different sites in 23 counties, resulting in only three successful populations. The low success rate of these efforts
led to the discontinuation of this program. Other states
also found the release of farm-raised turkeys into the wild
to be inadvisable.
A DFG biologist releases a wild turkey during a translocation

10

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

A lack of efficient trapping methods impaired
the trapping and relocation of wild turkeys until
the development of the cannon-net trap, a device
which uses explosives to propel a net over turkeys
which have gathered to feed on bait. Capturing wild
turkeys in adequate numbers for stocking purposes
was now feasible, and the release of wild-trappedbirds has become successful in establishing new
flocks. From 1959 to 1999 there have been 3,800
wild trapped turkeys released at over 200 locations
in California. These methods of translocating wild
turkeys have provided a new game bird in California, bringing with it many additional economical
and recreational benefits.
The first turkey hunt in California was a oneday hunt conducted in San Luis Obispo County in1968. It was extended to a two-day hunt in 1969. The
fall hunting opportunity continued to expand, and in 1971
a spring season was added.
Currently, there is a spring
hunting season statewide anda fall season in all counties
except San Diego.

Cannon net drops on wild turkeys. Photo by Larry McKibben,

Capture of wild turkeys. WDNR photo.

Leg bands are placed on captured wild turkeys tomonitor after release.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

11

HUNTING REGULATIONS

Wild turkey
beard is actually
modified feather
and located onchest of mature
males. Photoprovided by
the National
Wild Turkey
Federation.

Turkey hunting regulations are established to maximize quality hunting opportunities while preventing theover-harvest of wild turkeys. California has a spring andfall season for hunting turkeys. The fall season, in all
counties except San Diego, opens on the second Saturday in November and runs 16 consecutive days. The bag
limit and possession limit is one wild turkey (either sex)
per fall season. The spring season is statewide, opens thelast Saturday in March, and extends for 37 consecutive
days. In addition, an archery-only spring season extends
for two weeks beyond the close of the general spring season. The bag and possession limit for the spring season(including the archery-only portion) is one bearded wild
turkey per day, three per season. A bearded turkey is one
that has a beard visible through the breast feathers.
These regulations, like all hunting regulations, aresubject to change, and turkey hunters should refer to thecurrent California Regulations for Resident and Migratory
Upland Game Birds for regulations currently in effect,
available on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov.

POACHING and LAW ENFORCEMENT
Wild turkey populations can be heavily impacted byhigh mortality rates. They are subjected to many formsof natural mortality, like predation. But mortality frompoaching, such as beardless hens killed during the spring
season, turkeys killed outside the open season, and bag
limits exceeded during the open season, can be controlled.
The California State Chapter of the National Wild
Turkey Federation, and the DFG’s CalTIP program, offer
rewards for information concerning turkey poachers. It
is the obligation of every turkey hunter to report poaching. Violations should be reported by calling CalTIP at
1(888) 334-2258. Callers may remain anonymous.
CalTIP: "Californians Turn In Poachers."

12

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

HUNTER-LANDOWNER RELATIONS
The future of turkey hunting may depend on relations between landowners and hunters. Most turkey
habitat in California is found on private land.
Without considerate and appropriate behavior fromhunters wishing to use private land, the landowner may

increasingly exercise his or her right to refuse access toall hunters. The solution to this potential problem is thedevelopment and acceptance of a hunter’s outdoor ethic,
here defined as behavior leading toward a harmonious
balance between those who use the land for recreationand those who own it.

ROLE of THE LANDOWNER and THE CITIZEN
In California, wildlife is legally the property of all
citizens, held in trust for them by the State. Game becomes the property of an individual only when it is taken
legally. Public ownership of game has led to a very strong
hunting tradition in California and across the UnitedStates. Because of this, most hunters have grown up withthe belief that hunting is a right instead of a privilege.

Today, hunting is a sport enjoyed by many, regardless ofwhether they own property.
Many landowners are willing to allow hunters to
use their land as long as they ask permission to do so. In
California, written landowner permission is required inorder to hunt on private land. Acquiring landowner permission before hunting on private land will help present
a positive image of hunters, and help build the hunterlandowner relationship.

HUNTER RESPONSIBILITY
Hunter responsibility involves respect for wildlife,
respect for the rights of others and concern for the use of
the land. Hunting in a responsible manner starts before
the hunt when permission for land access isobtained, during the hunt when game is pursued in an
ethical and legal manner, and after the hunt when thelandowner is thanked for the privilege of hunting on his
or her land.

HUNTING on PUBLIC LANDS
Finding a place to hunt on public lands requires some
homework. It starts with knowing where turkeys areon public lands. In 2003, the DFG and the U.S. Forest
Service completed a new map of wild turkey range,
shown on page 22. This map includes established range
and recently occupied range. Established range is definedas the areas where turkey populations are relatively
abundant and have been established for decades.
Recently occupied range is the area where turkeys werereleased over the past 10 years but are not as abundant
and their establishment is not certain. Most releases ofMerriam’s turkeys on higher elevation public lands havenot been as successful as the releases of the Rio Grande
subspecies in lower elevations. Wild turkey ranges arelayered over U.S. Forest Service lands, which make up
the largest and most widespread public lands available
for turkey hunting. Additionally, some important DFG
wildlife areas (as shown on page 21) also provide someturkey hunting opportunity. The more popular areas offer
turkey hunting through lottery drawings to provide fora more quality experience early in the season. For more
information about how to apply for these hunts, visit the
Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov.
The range map provides a general idea of where
turkeys are in the state, but finding a location will
require more detailed maps. Topographic maps, which
include land ownership, are produced by the Bureau ofLand Management (BLM) at 1:100,000 scale for theentire state and by the U.S.Forest Service (USFS) at aslightly larger scale for each national forest in the state,
16 of which have turkey populations. These maps canbe purchased from BLM at www.ca.blm.gov/caso/iac/
maps_pub room.html and from USFS at www.fsfed.us/maps. Take the time to contact local biologists that haveknowledge of where turkeys may be, and make sure thatyou are aware of any major land ownership changes that
may have occurred since the maps were printed. Detailed topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological
Survey at 1:24,000 scale are also available at www.usgs.
gov/pubprod/, but they do not contain land ownership.
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units are very popular
because of their affordability and utility. GPS units canbe used to find exact locations on topographic maps, andrecord important areas that you may want to relocate.

13

TURKEY HUNTER SAFETY
Surprisingly, most hunters involved in hunting accidents have many years of hunting experience. Wheninterviewed, they cannot believe that it happened tothem. It can happen to you. By being sure of your target
and using the defensive measures outlined below, you
can help ensure that you have a safe, quality hunt.
All California hunters who have not held a California hunting license in a prior year must successfully passa hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license, unless they can provide evidence of having
received this training in another state. Some prior license
holders have taken the course as a refresher, often with
their children. Turkey hunting safety depends on most of
the principles taught in these courses, but there are many
unique aspects of turkey hunting safety that all turkey
hunters should also be aware of. The National Rifle
Association (NRA) offers a turkey hunter safety education course and publishes the hunter’s educational series
which includes a book on hunting wild turkey. Contact
the NRA for more information.
Most hunting accidents can be prevented. Accidents
happen when people disregard firearm safety fundamentals. Prevention involves knowing and obeying basic
safety rules. If the three basic rules for handling firearms
are followed, most firearm-related tragedies could be
prevented.
1. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
Always check to make sure the gun is unloaded; never take anyone’s word that the gun is unloaded. Checkfor yourself. Open the action, look, then leave it open. “I
didn’t know it was loaded” is no excuse.
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Experienced hunters always handle a gun safely.
They never let the muzzle point at anybody, including
themselves. They also insist that everyone follow thesame rules.

14

Prevention is the solution for hunting accidents. Drawing reprinted
with permission from the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources.

3. Be sure of your target and beyond.
Responsible hunters are certain of their target before
firing. They never shoot at a sound. They never shootat a patch of color. They never shoot at anything except
what they are hunting, and only after they have made apositive identification. They will pass up a great trophy
gobbler rather than make a mistake and cause an accident.
You must always be alert when handling firearms andwhile hunting. However, there are certain times when
you must show extra caution:
1) When carrying a firearm in rough terrain or
obstacles. Be sure of your footing and always keep yourfirearm pointed in a safe direction.
2) When you are tired after a day’s hunt. Reserve
enough energy to complete a safe hunt.
3) When you first spot or think you have spotteda turkey. Do not rush into a careless shot.
4) When hunting companions forget or ignore
safety rules. Immediately bring it to their attention.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

CAMOUFLAGE SAFETY
Hunter camouflage is an important part ofhunting the wild turkey, but it may present a
problem. The better you are camouflaged andconcealed, the less likely another hunter will
be able to see you.
The proper way to notify an approachinghunter is to calmly and clearly speak to him.
DO NOT move or wave. DO NOT use aturkey call to alert the hunter. If the otherhunter does not respond to your first call, repeat louder to announce that you are near. Not
everyone has good hearing; it is paramount inthis situation to remain still until recognized by
the approaching hunter.
To dress for success and safety, follow thesetips from the National Wild Turkey Federation:
1. Never wear clothing that contains thecolors red, white, or blue because they can bemistaken for colors found on wild turkeys.
2. Be sure that the accessories you carry that are red,white, or blue (e.g. diaphragm calls, box calls, box callchalk, candy wrappers, apples, etc.), are not visible toother hunters.
3. Camouflage your gun. If not, at least cover up
white diamonds or other red or white markings.
4. Always keep your hands and head camouflaged
when calling.
5. Wear dark-colored socks and pants that are longenough to keep your skin from being exposed.
6. Do not “over-camouflage” by sitting in vegetation
so thick that it obscures your vision.
7. If you use an artificial blind of camouflage netting,

Full camouflage is important for a safe and successful hunt. Photo
courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

maintain a clear field of view.
Other safety measures you may wish to consider include: 1) placing a blaze orange band around the tree you
sit next to; 2) placing a blaze orange sign “Camouflage
Hunter in Area-Be Careful” in your vehicle window; 3)
wearing some blaze orange while moving from one spot
to another; and 4) showing blaze orange on your decoy,
decoy bag and harvested turkey while transporting.

CALLING SITE LOCATION
Calling site selection is very important for bothturkey hunting success and safety. You cannot shoot aturkey you cannot see. Moreover, gobblers do not likedense, brushy areas where they cannot see potential
trouble from natural predators. Use calling sites where
you can see for 75-100 yards. Do not sit near the edge ofa hill that you cannot see over; you may be surprised bya hunter.
Sit against a tree, stump or rock wider than your

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

shoulders. Turkey hunting involves making turkey soundswith various devices. Some require movement on thepart of the hunter. When shaking a gobbler tube call it
may resemble the motion of a gobbling turkey, and incombination with the gobble sound may be misinterpreted by an over-anxious turkey hunter. By choosing a large
tree, stump or rock, slight movements will be shieldedfrom view of hunters coming from behind whom you may
not detect.

15

DECOY-RELATED SAFETY
Decoys can be effective for bringing turkeys in close
and taking their attention away from you, but caution
should be used to avoid dangerous situations. Hunters
may stalk your calls, see your decoy, and shoot at the
decoy. If you are in line with the decoy you could be indanger.
Follow these defensive hunting tips from the National Wild Turkey Federation:
1. A decoy should never be visible while being transported. Never carry an uncovered (identifiable) decoy.
2. Whenever possible, set up by a tree that is greaterin diameter than the width of your shoulders.
3. From your seated position, identify the clearest
line of vision in front of you. Establish a “sight line” thatallows you 100 yards' visibility. Then set your decoy approximately 20 yards from your position on the line.
4. Should you see another hunter, call out to them ina clear loud voice. Their presence has already compromised your location and an unintelligible response fromyou may only confuse them, rather than alerting them toyour presence.
5. If you are calling over decoys and elect to move toa new location, check carefully to ensure that no one isstalking your decoys. Check before leaving your callingsite location. Should you see someone in the area, rule 4
applies.
You may also consider using one of the decoys thatincorporate some blaze orange color into the wing andtail feathers.

Decoys can be effective but should be used with caution.
Photo by Karen R. Fothergill.

CONTROLLING YOUR REACTIONS
Always be aware that the mind can sometimes cause
a person to “see” what that person wants to see. Hunters
may sometimes “see” wildlife when there is none. Thisability of the hunter’s mind to “create” a wild animal canbe attributed partly to the strong desire to locate and bag
game. The moment of high excitement is triggered assoon as a buck, bear, turkey or other game is seen, and
it is in that moment of greatest excitement accidents
can and do occur. Peer pressure and over-confidence has
been shown to play a part in your mental attitude, so reconsider each “opportunity” for a brief second and makesure of your target.
Restrain your reflexes so you do not shoot without
thinking. Here are some basic rules:
16

1. Never shoot at sounds or movements. Assume
every sound you hear and movement you see is anotherhuman being until proven otherwise.
2. Never shoot at a patch of color. Positively identify your target as a legal turkey first.
3. Always positively identify any target before raising your gun; be certain it is legal game.
4. Double check before you shoot. Consider placing a National Wild Turkey Federation “Hunt Safely”
sticker on your gun’s receiver to remind you to makeabsolutely sure of your target.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

The next time you’re
touchedby the beauty ofwildlife,

Hunters fund the most successful wildlife conservation program in history.
More than a half-century ago, hunters responded to the alarming decline in wildlife populations
by supporting a tax on the purchase of firearms ammunition and archery equipment. Congressapproved the tax in 1937 through the passage of the Wildlife Restoration Act. The Wildlife
Restoration Program has generated more than $5.3 billion so far. The funds are given directly
to states for wildlife management and research programs, habitat acquisition, and hunter education and training.
This message is paid for by hunters—the original wildlife conservations.
For
more
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, visit http://federalasst.fws.gov/wr/fawr.html
Guide
Toinformation
Hunting Won
ild Turkeys in California
17

TURKEY HUNTING TECHNIQUESBASIC TECHNIQUES
Although turkeys have certain patterns of behavior,turkey hunting is challenging because wild turkeys are
extremely wary and are not totally predictable. Your success will depend on your selection of an area with goodturkey numbers, your abilities to use your equipment,
your willingness to adapt your hunting techniques tochanging situations, your persistence, and a little bit ofluck.
Scouting
The first step in turkey hunting is to scout the woods
before the season opens. Turkeys frequent certain areas
and will use them year after year if the habitat does notchange. A good time to scout in the spring is a weekor two before the season, especially if the weather hasturned warm which can trigger winter flock break-up andcalling by gobblers. Your objective in scouting should beto identify those areas that turkeys frequent. These areas
include roosting sites, feeding sites and strutting areas.
Look for turkeys and turkey signs such as tracks, feathers,
scratchings, dustings, and droppings. Look for dusting areas with tracks in them or roost trees with droppings andfeathers under them. In dry areas, search around water
sources for turkey tracks.
If you spend enough time scouting, you will become
very familiar with the area and may be able to determine
regular movement patterns of the flock. The best times
to look or listen for turkeys include the early morning
hours from one-half hour before sunrise until mid-morn-

Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
18

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

Turkey tracks.

ing, and late in the evening as the turkeys go to roost.
Although gobblers may roost or strut in many different
areas, you will learn the locations they use most often.
If you do not hear gobblers calling, try a crow call,owl call, shock call or predator call in early morning or
just before dark. Gobblers will often respond, giving away
their location. This is an effective way to locate roostingsites for spring turkey hunting.
While scouting, pay close attention to large treesthat you may want to sit next to while hunting. Use thistime to roughly measure distances for shooting zones.
Also note the location of fences, ravines, dense brush or
streams that may keep a gobbler from coming to your callduring the season.
If possible, visit the area you will hunt a day or twoprior to hunting. This will familiarize you with the land,
and you can determine whether turkeys are still using theareas where you saw them earlier.
Planning
For fall or spring turkey hunting trips, use theinformation gathered during scouting trips to plan yourhunting strategy before entering the field. Having awell-planned trip can mean the difference between an
enjoyable and successful hunt or a disaster. A good safety
precaution is to leave your hunting plan, including yourlocation and estimated time of return, with someone athome.
If you have put a gobbler to roost the night before,
you will know exactly where to set up in the morning.
Calling turkeys
The most effective way to get within shotgun distance of a spring gobbler is to call him by reproducing thesounds a hen makes. These hen sounds can be made withyour voice or with some type of turkey calling device.
Commercially available turkey calls fall into two
broad categories: friction calls, which produce sound by
rubbing two surfaces together; and mouth calls, throughwhich air is inhaled or exhaled. One other type of call,a shaker, produces gobbles when you shake it in a rapid
motion.
Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

19

The easiest calls to master are the friction calls (for example, box, peg and slate,peg and glass, or push button). The major
disadvantage is that you cannot hold ashotgun and work them at the same time.
This is important because you may spook
your wild bird when you put the call down
and raise the shotgun. A second disadvantage is that most calls do not always work
well if they get wet. Placing the friction
calls in a loose plastic bag will allow you tooperate them during wet conditions.
Diaphragm mouth calls are popularamong hunters. They are the most versatile calls but require more practice. They
are unaffected by wet weather, allow thehunter to use both hands freely, and canbe used without making any discernable movement. Twoother types of calls, the turpin call and the tube call,produce realistic calls, but require hand movement inorder to operate.
Shaker calls are the only ones specifically designed to
produce realistic-sounding gobbles. No practice is necessary; the sound is the same each time you shake them.
They produce only the gobble sound and are not usuallyconsidered a requirement for successful turkey hunting.
The type of call used is less important than how wellthe hunter masters calling techniques. The best ways

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20

Turkey hunters use a box call to call in a gobbler.
Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

to learn turkey calling are to listen to live turkeys, an
instructional tape, and/or an experienced turkey hunter.
Turkeys have more than two dozen different calls, but
the hunter will rarely notice more than about 10. There
are 10 basic sounds the hunter should be able to recognize. Listed below are these sounds and how to use them.
Tree yelp. This is the first turkey sound heard in themorning. It is a slow, soft, nasal sound, consisting of threeor four yelps made only at daybreak from the roost. It is
made when turkeys are just becoming visible in trees. It
is a greeting call to make sure that all is well after a darknight of not seeing or hearing one another. This call canonly be heard on still mornings in a roosting area. Treeyelps should be the first call made by a turkey hunter
who has set up near a roosted turkey. This is where
scouting really pays off.
Plain Yelp. The plain yelp is the one sound mostpeople associate with turkeys. Turkeys use this sound tocommunicate with distant birds. The yelp is made by
all turkeys in the fall, winter, and spring. A yelp from a
gobbler is lower pitched, more coarse, and less musicalthan from a hen. The plain yelp is best used routinely
throughout the morning while hunting. Plain yelps areusually done in a series of two to five in a row and always
have a very even rhythm. Plain yelps will evoke a response from a spring gobbler and call him in if he is ofa mind to come. It is the standard call when working aspring gobbler. Some hunters use it successfully with anoccasional cluck.
Cluck. The cluck has several meanings. The soundis a short, soft, single-syllable, non-musical tone. It

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

California Department of Fish and Game
Wildlife Areas with Hunting Opportunities
For Wild Turkeys

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

21

Wild Turkey Range 2003

22

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

2007 California Department of Fish and Game Regions
DEL
NORTE
SISKIYOUHUMBOLDTMODOC

SHASTA

TRINITY

LASSENTEHAMAMENDOCINO
PLUMAS
BUTTE

GLENN

SIERRA

1

Northern Region

2

North Central Region

3

Bay Delta Region

4

Central Region

5

South Coast Region

6

Inland Deserts Region

7

Marine Region(along entire coast 3 nautical miles offshore)

NEVADA
LAKE

YUBA

COLUSA

PLACERSUTTER

EL DORADO

YOLO

ALPINESACRAMENTO
SONOMANAPA

AMADORCALAVERAS

SOLANOMARINSANFRANCISCO

SAN MATEO

SAN JOAQUINCONTRACOSTAMONO

TUOLUMNE

ALAMEDASTANISLAUS

MARIPOSA

SANTA
CLARA

MADERAMERCEDSANTA CRUZFRESNOINYOSAN BENITO

TULAREMONTEREYKINGS

SAN LUIS OBISPOKERN
SAN BERNARDINO

SANTA BARBARA
VENTURARESOURCES AGENCY

RIVERSIDELOS ANGELESCALIFORNIADEPARTMENTFISH & GAMEIMPERIAL

ORANGESAN DIEGO
Map Assembled by Kristina White, GIS Analyst
CDFG Biogeographic Data Branch, GIS Unit
Updated February 8, 2007

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

23

is used to gain another turkey’s attention. If used too
loudly it will alarm turkeys. It can be used in the following manner: “cluck (pause briefly), cluck, cluck (pause),cluck (pause), cluck (pause), cluck, cluck.” Its major use
is to evoke an answering cluck from any nearby turkey. It
works well because turkeys are curious about any otherturkey sound. Some successful hunters use an occasional
cluck with the plain yelp in this manner: “cluck (pause),
yelp, yelp (pause), cluck, cluck (pause), yelp, yelp, yelp.”
Purr. The purr is a soft call used by turkeys whencommunicating to each other. Hunters often use purrs
with clucks when gobblers are in close but not quite
close enough.
Putt. This is a short, sharp, loud cluck. It sounds
very familiar to the cluck, only the cluck is softer and lessdistinct. It will not call in turkeys, but you should know
the call when you hear it, because it is the worst sound acalling hunter can make. It is the alarm call of the turkey,
and generally will be the last call you hear before a turkey
departs.
Cackle. A cackle is an excited call of a hen and isoften emitted when flying down from a roost. It is usuallya series of 12 or more yelps which rise abruptly in pitchand cadence and then gradually decline in pitch andcadence. Often the yelps are very short and staccato.

Diaphragm mouth calls and case.

Cut. A cut is a short, staccato yelp and is usuallyemitted by the hen in a series varying in length andcadence. It is often used by an aggravated hen as she
defends her nesting territory from other hens, but it willoften excite a gobbler.

24

Wooden box call and case.

Kee kee run. This is a call made by a lost young
turkey trying to reassemble with its fall flock. It is a highpitched “kee kee kee” followed by a short, raspy yelp ortwo.
Hen assembly. This call is made by an adult hen
to gather her flock. It is a long series of yelps rising involume and pitch and then declining. The series may be
as long as 15-20 yelps.
Gobble. The gobble has limited use and affects
turkeys in two ways: hens hear a potential mate andgobblers hear a potential rival. Gobblers may investigate
other gobbling in their vicinity and may fight uninvited
gobblers. The gobble call will sometimes help you locate
a gobbler but may not bring him into shotgun range.
Extreme caution should be used when using a gobble
call as it may attract other hunters into your calling territory, and you may find yourself being hunted by anotherturkey hunter. For that reason gobbles are not recommended while hunting but can be effective to locateroosting birds in the evening.
Beginners should keep several points in mind. It isbetter to call too softly than too loudly, to call too rarely
than too frequently, and to perfect one or two calls rather
than attempt some sound not yet mastered. Timing, orrhythm, can be more important than the actual quality ofsound. Finally, remember that no two turkeys sound alike
and what works on one gobbler might send the next one
in another direction. If a gobbler will not respond to yourcall, change or vary your current calling technique.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

Camouflage
A wild turkey’s eyesight is estimated to be about 10
times better than a human’s. In addition, turkeys candistinguish color to some degree and are quick to spot
unnatural colors in their environment. For this reason,
turkey hunters should avoid clothing that will draw attention to them.
The best camouflage clothing is both protective andcomfortable. Many hunters make the mistake of camouflaging everything except their face and hands. This is aserious mistake because the face and hands reflect light,
and they are the body parts a hunter is most likely tomove. Face masks, gloves, and camouflage make-up are
most frequently used to camouflage the face and hands.
Face masks can obscure vision, cause glasses to fog, andlead to over-heating. Facial greases tend to run if you get
hot. Some new models of face masks have provisions forfitting around the frames of glasses, and are less likely
to cause glasses to fog. Every hunter is different, andlike most equipment, trial and error is the only means ofdetermining the best combination.
Gun camouflage is also important because the gun
barrel may reflect light. Camouflage tape and camouflage
spray paint work well to mask a gun’s reflective parts.
There are camouflage paints available for guns that canbe removed after the turkey season is over.
Firearms and patterning
There is considerable difference of opinion on
shotgun ammunition for turkey hunting. But there is noargument that the wild turkey is hard to bring down, andhunters have a responsibility to use loads appropriate forquick and humane kills.

Gobble tube shaker call.

Most experienced turkey hunters agree that the best
turkey loads are 12 gauge 2¾-inch or 3-inch magnumsof No. 4, 5, or 6 shot. The 10-gauge 3½-inch magnum
is increasing in popularity, because it can provide a few
extra yards of range. Because of the small target, dense
patterns which deliver most of the shot into the headand neck region are preferred. For this reason, full-chokebarrels are used in most turkey guns.
A scope, open sights or rear bead are additions toyour shotgun which might improve your aim.
A new turkey hunter, or an old turkey hunter with a
new shotgun, should spend some preseason time patterning his/her gun with various size shot to pick the bestload for the gun. There are two important factors related
to the way your shotgun shoots. What is the effective

Turkey George scratch box (left) anddouble push pin call (right).

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

25killing range of your gun and how many shot– will strikethe vital neck and head region at various ranges?
You should test your gun with both standard andmagnum loads. Some shotguns shoot better patterns withstandards loads than they do with magnums. A person
can make their own targets, purchase life-size turkey targets, or make copies of the turkey target inside this guide.
Place these targets at 20, 30 and 40 yards and shooteach size shell at each target. The objective is to checkyour aiming point first and secondly to check your pattern on the target. You should do all your shooting froma sitting position as if you were turkey hunting. This
will give you practice in judging actual turkey size at thevarious ranges and improve your aiming skills that will
guarantee a quick, clean kill.
Equipment checklist
You may wish to use the following checklist to makesure that you are not forgetting to take something on
your next hunting trip. Not all items are necessary, but
all may be useful.

Basic:
Hunting license
Upland Game Bird Stamp
Shotgun/full choke
Shotgun shells
Camo day packCamo gloves
Camo coat
Camo hatCamo face mask
Seat cushion
Decoy
Turkey calls
Chalk
Water
Snacks
Knife
Toilet paper
Compass
Maps
Insect repellant
Small first aid kit

Optional:
Rain gear
Binoculars
CameraRange finder
Radio
Cell phone
GPS
Flashlight
Matches
Ratcheting pruners
Locator calls
Sandpaper
Decoy bag
Turkey sling
Turkey scale
Zip-close bags
Camo make-up/remover
Private landownerpermission slip
Hunter orange flagging
Turkey hunting vest
Archery equipment

Turkey target shot pattern. Diagram courtesy of the
National Rifle Association.
26

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

SPRING HUNTING TECHNIQUESOne successful technique that can greatly improvea turkey hunter’s chance of locating a bird is “putting
a gobbler to bed.” During the early evening on the day
before you are going to hunt, position yourself on a ridgeor at the mouth of a canyon. Take out a crow call, owl
call, gobbler call or a predator call and give a call. If a
gobbler answers, try to pinpoint his location, noting theprominent features where the gobble seemed to comefrom. If time allows, move to another location and repeat
this procedure. Get up early the following morning, wellbefore sunrise, and sneak to within 100-150 yards ofthe gobbler's roost tree at about the same elevation. You
should be in place at least one hour before sunrise.
If you were unable to locate a roosted gobbler thenight before, try again early the morning of your hunt.
Listen for a gobbler when it gets light enough for song
birds to begin singing, which is well before sunrise. If
there are no gobblers calling, try to shock one into gobbling with a loud owl hoot or crow call. It is not advisable to use turkey sounds until you are concealed andready. If you do not hear a gobbler, you should move toanother area, watching for strutting gobblers, listening
for gobbles, and trying shock calls to locate a gobbler. Do
not sit all morning at one spot unless you are confident
that gobblers frequent the area.
Determining the exact location of a gobbler can bedifficult. The distance the gobble can be heard and direction from which the sound seems to come are influenced

by topography, wind direction and velocity, the directionthat the gobbler is facing, and the extent that the new
green foliage is out. Heavy foliage can act as a soundbarrier.
In most of the blue oak/grasslands and black oak/conifer habitats, turkeys roost in oaks below the ridge
lines and out of the prevailing winds. If you hear a turkey
gobbling from a roost site, remember that it is easier tocall a gobbler up a hill than down one. In addition, if
you try calling from too far away he might not respond,
especially if he has a hen nearby.
After locating a roosting bird, try to get within 100150 yards in a suitable location to begin calling. Choose
a calling site very carefully, as this will probably be themost important decision of the day’s hunt. Try to pick a
spot that a turkey will most likely go, such as west of theroost where the gobbler can approach the site with thesun at his back. Keep in mind that gobblers like to show
off to their hens, so a clearing that catches rays of therising sun is a good bet for early morning calling. Also,
make it easy for the gobbler to get to your calling location. Do not expect him to wade through thick brush or
cross a fence or creek. Choose a site such as a large tree
or rock where you have good visibility in all directions. It
is critical to set up so that you are able to see the gobbler,
identify your target, and have a clear shot. Start calling
softly after legal shooting hours begin. A good first call is
the “tree-yelp.” This tells the gobbler that a hen is roosting nearby. When the gobbler hears it,
he will often gobble back. When thishappens, stop calling and get in position. Generally, within the next 10-15
minutes, you will either see or hear him.
You may be able to hear him fly down,
and his gobbles usually sound farther
away once he is on the ground. If he iswithin sight do not call or he might see
you. If you give him time, chances are
he will work right up to you. If you havepositioned yourself up against a big tree
or rock, wait until he is well within 40
yards before you shoot.
If after about 10 minutes the gobbler does not answer your “tree-yelp,”
try a series of plain yelps and clucks.
It may be that the gobbler you “put tobed” last night has already assembled
with a group of hens. In this case, listen

Setting up a decoy before the hunt. Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

27

for gobbles and yelps. Remember that if a gobbler is already with some hens he may not gobble much and may
not be interested in your calls. Aggressive calling to thehens can sometimes bring both the hens and the gobbler
to you. If the birds are far away, move as quickly and quietly as possible to a place where the bird can be called.
Once in place try clucking and purring. Sometimes
the gobbler will come right away; other times he will
wait, expecting the hen to come to him. If he does notcome after five minutes and you know he is still in thearea, try a few soft yelps, clucks and/or purrs. If yourgobbler is still in the area but has not come to your call,try other calls such as a “cut” or “cackle” or any typeof call that excites him to try to bring him into range.
Sometimes aggressive calling will work, other times soft,
infrequent calling works better. Experiment with yourown techniques.

Gobbler and hen decoys. Photo by Karen R. Fothergill.

Many hunters use a decoy to entice a gobbler into
gun range and draw his attention away from them. Hunters who use decoys will experience a variety of results.
Some gobblers will fight with or try to mount decoys.
Others will strut for hours around a fake hen. Yet, otherturkeys will run in the other direction or hesitate when
they first spot a decoy.
If you can tell that a gobbler is moving away, one
option is to try to get to where he is headed. If the gobbler is moving back and forth along a ridge or a fence,
you may be able to move to a site along his track while28

he is at the farthest point from you. But, if you move too
often, sooner or later you will find that the gobbler iswhere you just moved from. It often pays to stay in one
location for at least 45 minutes to an hour.
When a gobbler does come toward you, have yourgun ready before he comes into view. You may want torest your elbows on your knees while holding your gun.
You can lift your gun when a turkey walks behind a large
tree, but watch for other turkeys with the gobbler that
may see you move. Once a gobbler is in an open area infront of you, movement of your gun will send him flying
or running, leaving you without a shot. Wait to see if
the gobbler turns away while strutting, causing his tail toblock his view of you. This is the time to move.
Do not shoot while a gobbler is in full strut. A good
opportunity is when he gobbles and his head and neckare held up away from his body. If you are ready to shoot,a cluck on a mouth call will often bring the
gobbler out of a strut. Shoot immediately
when the gobbler’s head is raised. When using a shotgun, as opposed to a bow, the headand neck are the only killing shots you haveon a turkey, so make sure you have a clear
shot at them before you squeeze the trigger.
When you shoot a turkey, immediately
move toward the downed bird. Many times
a turkey will only be stunned and will regain his senses and try to escape. By moving
toward the bird you can cut the distance fora second shot if needed, or physically subdue
the bird. Placing a knee on top of the bird
and breaking its neck is a good technique.
Use caution if you grab for the legs, because
the spurs of the gobbler have injured many hunters.
If your hunt does not go as expected, you are notalone. That is the challenge of turkey hunting. Keep trying. Persistent, patient hunters are the most successful.
Turkey hunting is one of the finest woodland sports.
The attraction is not based primarily on harvesting a wild
turkey, but rather on the manner in which it is taken.
Whether you carry a gun, a bow or a camera, few typesof hunting in California require as much knowledge ofanimal behavior as locating a gobbler and then successfully calling him to you. For those who have experienced
it, the spring turkey hunt is often their favorite.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

FALL HUNTING TECHNIQUESThere has been a fall wild turkey hunting season
in California since 1968. The fall turkey hunt is for
either sex, and hunting techniques are quite different
from a spring gobbler hunt. One of the more successful
techniques is to locate and break up a fall brood flock,position yourself where they were, and call them back.
Locating a brood flock often requires a great deal of time.
However, local hunters and DFG personnel can assist
hunters with information on flock locations. Large broodflocks, which are made up of hens and their young of theyear, leave sign similar to that of spring turkeys, but ona larger scale. Look for tracks, droppings and the telltale feeding areas with oak leaves scratched in lines. Fall
brood flocks are quite vocal, so listen for turkey talk as
you scout for the flock.
Once a flock is located, a good break-up of the flockis mandatory for a successful hunt with this technique.
Many hunters rush the flock, shouting and waving theirarms to startle the flock into scattering. Remember, do
not run with a loaded gun in your hands. In many turkey
ranges in California, the rocky terrain makes it dangerous
to run at the flocks. A well-trained dog can be used tobreak up the flock, but must be hidden in a blind during
the hunt or removed from the hunt area.
After you have broken up the flock, locate a callingsite near the point of the break up. Wait about one-halfhour or until you hear birds calling before you start tocall them.
The most frequently used call in the fall is the “keekee run” or lost bird call. It is a high pitched “kee keekee” in a series, usually followed by a yelp or two. Youngbirds will “kee kee” frantically and try to locate eachother a short time after you have broken up the flock. By
responding to this sound you can get them to approachwithin shooting range.
Another call to try if the “kee kee run” is unsuccessful is a hen assembly call. This is the call of an adult
hen gathering her flock. It is a long series of yelps rising slightly in volume and pitch and then declining involume and pitch. Hens will often use a series of 15 to
20 yelps for a gathering call. This will often lure a young
bird within shooting range.
A technique for locating fall flocks is to locate a

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

Successful fall turkey hunter. DFG file photo.

roost by listening for soft yelps and birds flying into trees
the evening before your hunt. If you can locate a roost,
this flock can usually be scattered at day break. It is also
possible to scatter roosting birds after shooting hours thenight before in the same way you would during the day.
This will separate the flock during the night, and reassembly will take place the next morning.
Hunters have also had success calling gobblers andhens by locating their flock and reproducing calls they
are making. Often a gobbler flock will approach a coarse
gobbler yelp to investigate the intruder. Another technique worth trying if you are working adults without
young is to reproduce their call exactly and add moreaggressive calls after each series. Successful fall gobbler
hunting is difficult and requires a great deal of patienceand knowledge.

29

SPECIAL BOW HUNTING CONSIDERATIONS
For a growing number of California hunters, hunting
turkeys with bow and arrow is an exciting and challenging sport. Hunting gobblers in the spring or flocks ofyoung birds in the fall is considered the ultimate challenge by most experienced archers. Turkey hunting success is possible if attention is paid to equipment, blinds,
use of decoys, shot placement, and recovery techniques.
Hunting with bow and arrow presents some uniquechallenges:
Movement required to shoot the bow must be hidden from the keen eyesight of the turkeys.
The vital area on a turkey is very small (3-4 inches indiameter) and proper shot placement is critical.
Recovery of wounded turkeys is difficult, but can be
aided by using special equipment.
Equipment
Turkeys have excellent color vision, and therefore
all equipment should be camouflaged or of a dark color.
Brightly-colored arrow fletchings can give you away unless you are inside a full-coverage ground blind.
Most successful hunters use high-let-off compounds.
Compound bows are a good choice because they shootvery flat and require less strength to hold at full draw.
For those hunters who choose to hunt without the aidof a full-covered ground blind, a better choice may be afast-shooting recurve or long bow. A quick shot is possible with the instinctive style of shooting used by many
traditional archery hunters. Bow draw weights from 45 to
75 pounds are adequate for hunting wild turkey.
Broadhead selection for turkey hunting is a hotly
debated issue. Despite the claims of proponents of dull,
specially designed or expanding blade broadheads or
blunts, most experienced turkey hunters use sharp, widecutting broadheads. Washers or other feather-grabbing
devices behind the broadhead are not necessary. Advocates of the special broadheads or stopper devices claimthat more shock will be created if the arrow stays in thebirds, making recovery easier. Recovery depends moreon where the turkey was hit than on whether or not thearrow stays in. Many arrows that hit a turkey will stay inwithout the aid of one of these special devices, because
turkeys are heavily muscled and thickly boned.
Since a turkey is a small target, accessories that
improve accuracy are recommended. These include bow
and peep sights, shooting tabs, and releases. Use brightcolored or fluorescent sight pins or paint dull-coloredpins white. This way, they will show up brightly
against the dark colors of a turkey.
A turkey’s hearing is good, so eliminate any
noisy bow accessories or moving parts. Lubricate
wheels on compound bows, put moleskin aroundthe arrow rest, quiet squeaky limbs and tighten up
any screws, bolts or other noise-making components.
Blinds and tree stands
Bow hunters suffer a major obstacle to making
good, clean shots at wary, nervous turkeys. Turkeys
have keen eyesight and will detect the movement
required to draw and shoot a bow, especially at close
bow ranges. A bow hunter who hunts without ablind has a poor chance for success. Using a blind is
the only consistent way to get close shots at undisturbed turkeys.
Successful bow hunter with long beard. Photo
by Rodger Benadom.

30

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

There are two major types ofblinds—ground and elevated. Groundblinds are the best and are either portable or constructed with brush and vegetation. Sharp-eyed turkeys constantly
scan trees for signs of danger fromabove. This means that you will be seen
in a tree stand even if you do not move.
Tree stands have other disadvantages,
such as the permanent-type stands used
for deer which are often in poor locations for turkey hunting. Portable stands
can be used, but the noise and generalcommotion involved in erecting one
may spook turkeys.
Blind location is critical. In the fall,
this should be within 30 yards of thepoint where you scattered a flock. In
the spring, precise location is not as important, but good strutting areas, roostsites, or feeding areas are best.
Decoy Tactics

An archery style blind will also accommodate a wheelchair-dependent hunter.
Photo by Karen R. Fothergill.

Turkeys either love or hate decoys
depending on their mood and the time of year. Spring
gobblers can often be enticed into close bow range witha decoy. Members of fall flocks are not always as easily
fooled.
Most experienced bow hunters use a hen decoy.
Positioning a decoy is important. If your decoy is too far
away, say 25 yards, and a turkey comes in on the far sideand sees it at 20 yards, the bird may hang up. Then it
is out of range at 45 yards. For maximum effectiveness,place a decoy no more than 10 yards away.
Some hunters use more than one hen decoy, a jakedecoy, or a small flock of decoys. The theory is that a turkey will be enticed to join up with the flock or a gobbler
may be enraged at the presence of a jake. These tactics
do not always work. Seasoned bow hunters occasionallyreport watching gobblers ignore jake decoys and fighthen decoys. Several decoys provide added opportunity
for a turkey to see something interesting, but it also
increases safety problems. Most hunters use only one hen
decoy.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

Shot placement
The best shot is one that breaks the turkey’s backbone or spine. This will immediately immobilize it. For
the best chance to hit the spine, wait until the bird isstanding erect with its back toward you. Aim for the
middle of the back. If the turkey is feeding or walking
with its head down, the moving spine presents a difficult target. A turkey with its head down can be made tostand erect by making one or two clucks with your call.
A hit in the neck is equally effective, but the neckis small and difficult to hit consistently. An attempt at
a neck shot will either kill the bird instantly or miss it
completely.
If the turkey is facing you, an arrow placed four
inches below the base of the neck is good. This will beapproximately an inch below where the beard is attached
on a male turkey. The arrow should break the back as itexits the body, and should cause damage to the heart or31

Comparison of Various Recovery Systems
Recovery System

Advantages

Disadvantages

String Trackers•Low cost•String may break•Direct tracking•Can affect arrow flight•Consistent operation•May not detect a turkey more

Heat-sensing Detector

			than a few yards away
•Higher cost

Audible Tone Arrows•Effective to several hundred yards•Arrow may not stay in turkey

   and for many hours•Higher cost•Moderate cost
Arrows with Radio Transmitters•Direct tracking at longer ranges•Arrow may not stay in turkey•Effective for many hours•Higher costlungs, or break a wing or leg.
A broadside shot can be good if you hit the point
where the wing connects to the turkey’s body, just below
the spine. This is a relatively high position on the body.
This will break a wing or the spine, or pierce the heart orlungs.
Shooting a strutting gobbler is risky business because
his feathers are puffed up, making the location of a vitalarea difficult to determine. Make a cluck or two to bring
the gobbler out of strut. Sometimes a gobbler will notcome out of strut. In these situations, the best opportunity for a vital hit is when he turns his fanned tail toward
you. Aim at the vent or base of the tail. Your arrowshould hit the heart, lungs, or liver and may also break aleg or wing.
Be sure to target practice in the position that you
will most likely be hunting. Shooting from a sitting position is very different, and more difficult, than from astanding position.
Turkey recovery
Bow hunters are often faced with the problem oftrying to recover a bird that was hit in a non-vital area.
A turkey that is not immobilized when hit is difficult torecover. Wounded turkeys will instantly fly or run away,

32

even with an arrow in them. There is usually no blood
trail, no trail of feathers and no tracks to follow.
Fortunately, there are products that will help a bow
hunter recover turkeys. String trackers, heat-sensing
detectors, arrows with audible tones, and arrows that
contain small radio transmitters are all examples of effective recovery systems.
A bird hit in the spine will collapse immediately. An
arrow that pierced the heart or lungs, without breaking
a leg or wing, may require you to do a little searching. A
similar hit that breaks a leg or wing will generally resultin a quick recovery.
A wounded bird that runs or flies away should be
pursued immediately, keeping it within sight or within
hearing. Listen for the sounds of the bird running in theleaves or the flapping of its heavy wings. Regardless ofthe situation, you should try to mark the direction offlight or run. If you heard a turkey make a crash-landing,
pinpoint the location.
Wounded turkeys will normally find a hiding spot
within 200 yards. They will hide almost anywhere. You
may find them in brush piles, under or by a log, in a creek
bed, under leaves or bushes, in tall grass, under rock outcroppings or up against the base of a large tree or rock.
Unless it is obviously dead, shoot another arrow into awounded bird to anchor it.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

MISCELLANEOUS
SCORING TROPHIES
Any turkey is a magnificent bird and is considered to
be a trophy. However, some hunters like to compare their
gobblers with others taken within their state or otherstates. The National Wild Turkey Federation developed aturkey trophy scoring system that would allow all gobblers to be compared against each other equitably. The
scoring system is based upon three measurements—
weight, beard length(s) and spur lengths.
The formula for overall score is: weight (lbs. andoz.), plus 10 times spur lengths (right & left), plus twotimes the beard length. All measurements are recordedin sixteenths of an inch. Weight must be measured to
the nearest ounce (for example, 22 lbs. 3 oz. = 22 3/16
points). Spurs must be measured along the outside
center, from the point at which the spur protrudes fromthe scaled leg skin to the tip of the spur (for example, left

spur 1 inch plus right spur 1 1/16 inches times 10 = 20
10/16 points). Beard length is measured from the center
point of the protrusion from the skin to the end of thelongest bristle (for example 12 2/16 inches times 2 = 24
4/16 points). Turkeys with multiple beards must haveeach beard measured and recorded separately. The total
score for the turkey in the example would be 22 3/16 +20 10/16 + 24 4/16 = 67 1/16.
Weights must be from certified scales with a current
seal from the Division of Weights and Measures, State
Department of Agriculture. Pictures are required for themeasurements of the spurs and the beard. In addition,
the scores must be witnessed. To register your turkey,
write Entry Rules & Application, National Wild Turkey
Federation, P.O. Box 530, Edgefield, SC, 29824-0530 ortelephone (803) 637-3106.

TROPHY MOUNTS
Many hunters will want to have all or part of theirturkey mounted. The most common mounts are thosewith the tail and beard displayed. The beard needs no
special treatment to be displayed. The tail fan shouldbe spread out and pinned to cardboard or Styrofoam.
Sprinkle salt or borax on the fleshy parts. Allow the tailfan to dry for several weeks and they will remain fannedout. To protect your turkey mount from moths, rub borax
into the feathers. Tail fans, wings and/or beards can bedisplayed by mounting one or all pieces on a wooden
plaque. To reduce the rate of fading, do not display yourmounted bird in direct sunlight or fluorescent light.
If you are considering a full-body mount, extra carein the field is required. Most taxidermists would preferthat you not field dress the bird, and may even charge
extra if there was improper field care. If possible, bringthe ungutted bird to the taxidermist the day it is shot.
If the weather is warm, you will want to make sure thebird is kept cool until you can take it to the taxidermist.
If you must field dress the turkey, be very careful to not
to get blood on the feathers. Laying the bird on its backand sprinkling corn meal liberally on the cut as it is being

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

made will help to soak up excess blood. You may also
want to stuff paper towel or cotton inside the mouth,
nostrils, and shot holes to soak up any blood.

Full bodyturkey mount.
Photo byKaren R.
Fothergill.

33

FIELD DRESSING AND CLEANING
Field dressing your bird allows the body to cool down
as fast as possible. However, if you wish to document
the weight, you should have your turkey weighed on acertified scale before you dress it. In any situation, it isimportant that you cool down the bird as fast as possible.
Careless handling of wild game can result in spoilage.
Turkeys that are not going to be mounted should
be field dressed like any other upland game bird. This isdone by cutting just above the cloaca to the brisket andremoving the entrails. The heart, liver and gizzard should
be separated from the entrails. Cut open the gizzard andremove the inner lining while it is warm. If you want tosave these three organs, they should be placed in a zipclose plastic bag and cooled immediately.
You can clean turkeys much like you do ducks, geese,grouse and pheasants. The advantage to plucking is thatyou leave the skin on which keeps the bird from drying out in the freezer and while being cooked. Plucking
turkeys in the field after field dressing is easier when the
carcass is warm, and all wing and tail feathers can beremoved by hand. When the carcass is cold, dipping thebird in scalding water helps feather removal.

Skinning a turkey is cleaner and faster, but the meat
may dry out when cooked. To keep the turkey fromdrying, cook it in foil or in a baking bag. Covering the
bird’s breast with strips of bacon during cooking will also
reduce drying.

THE FINAL REWARD
How do you cook turkey?
Wild turkeys taste like their domestic cousins, butthey tend to be less moist and have smaller breasts thanstore-bought turkeys. Three excellent cooking methods
to retain the natural juices are:
1. Cook in a kettle-style barbeque according to manufacturer’s directions for domestic turkey (approximately
12 minutes per pound). Requires less time than ovenroasting.
2. Roast in a commercial “brown-in-bag” according to
manufacturer’s directions for domestic turkey.
3. Deep fry in oil according to manufacturer's directions
for domestic turkey. Requires less time than BBQ.
Quick & Easy: Remove legs, thighs, and wings and boil
for stock. Partially freeze the breast and slice into ¼ inch
slices. Dip slices in egg batter, roll in flour, cornmeal, or
cracker crumbs, add seasonings and dry in medium hot
butter or margarine for two minutes on each side. Add
remaining carcass to stock.
34

Granny’s Turkey Soup
1 turkey carcass, giblets and neck2 medium onions, sliced
Water to cover carcass
3 large carrots, sliced¾ cup barley
3 stalks celery, sliced
1 large can of tomatoes, drained¼ cup chopped parsley
In a large pot, prepare turkey stock by covering theturkey carcass, giblets and neck with water. Simmer until
carcass falls apart and a rich broth results. Strain brothfrom bones, remove remaining meat and set aside. Addbarley and simmer for half the directed cooking time.
Add sliced carrots and cook with barley for about ten
minutes. Cut up canned tomatoes and add to soup withcelery, left over turkey meat and onions. Simmer until all
vegetables are cooked but not soft, add chopped parsley
and serve.

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

Guide to Wild Turkey Roasting Methods and Cooking Times
If you are fortunate enough to obtain a wild turkey, you do not want to make any mistakes about preparing it.
Since this game bird is not fat like a domestic store-bought turkey, you will want to guard against overcooking anddrying it out. Place a meat thermometer in the turkey thigh and consider the turkey done at 180°. Plan on ovenroasting the bird for approximately 18-20 minutes to the pound.
Rub the turkey inside and out with lemon juice, then salt and pepper it.
Stuff the body cavity including the neck-breast area, sew up the cavity, and rub the turkey all over with softened butter.
Put turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, cover with a loose foil tent and roast at 350°, basting with thepan fat and juices and/or with pan juices and white wine. Remove foil tent for last 30 minutes of roasting.
Amount of wild turkey per person
Roast, stuffed:
Temp/Time1 – 1½ lb.
8 lb.
350° 2½ hours
10 lb.
350° 3 hours
12 lb.
350° 3¾ hours
15 lb.
350° 4½ hours
20 lb.
350° 4-6 hours
Smoked Turkey Pitas½ cup celery, chopped½ cup bell pepper, chopped¼ cup onion, chopped¾ cup grapes, halved, or pineapple chunks¼ cup parsley, chopped½ cubed smoked turkey
Dressing½ cup yogurt½ cup lite mayonnaise½ tsp. cumin½ tsp. curry½ tsp. SpikeMix dressing and add to other ingredients. Let standin refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Mix again. Fill halved,
opened pita bread with mixture. Garnish with halvedcherry tomatoes.
Roast Wild Turkey with
Chestnut, Sage and Sausage Stuffing
A non-fruit chestnut stuffing that is good with turkey
gravy. Serves 6-8.

The Stock
Wild turkey giblets and the neck1 bay leaf
2 cups water
The Turkey
1 big tom turkey
Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

softened butter½ cup lemon juice½ cup white wine (optional)
Salt and pepper

The Stuffing½ lb. sausage meat, broken up
2 cups chestnuts, peeled and cooked
1 large onion, chopped½ tsp. thyme
2 ribs celery and leaves, diced
4 tsp. butter
freshly ground pepper
3 cups white bread cubed or commercial stuffing
cubes
Make a stock by first putting the giblets and neck toboil with bay leaf, then simmer for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile sauté the crumbled sausage. Add thethree vegetables and sauté in butter until onions andpepper are soft and the sausage is browned.
In a bowl, mix the remaining stuffing ingredientswith the sautéed ingredients, and use the stock to moisten the dressing as needed. Do not make too moist, forthe bird should be stuffed loosely; if too moist it will packlike cement. Taste for sage flavor, adjust accordingly.
Stuff and roast the bird according to the above roasting times.
When ready to serve, make gravy of dredging, 2tablespoons of the fat, the remaining stock, 2 tablespoonsof cream and 3 teaspoons of flour.
35

REFERENCES
Bochenski Z., Campbell, K.E. “The Extinct California Turkey, Meleagris californica.” Prepared for the
National Wildlife Turkey Federation, April 2004.
Unpublished. 9 pp.
Brown C.L., Vander Zowen, W.J. 1993. “Wisconsin
Turkey Hunter’s Guide.” Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 40 pp.
Dickson, J.G., editor. 1992. “The Wild Turkey Biology
and Management.” Stackpole Books, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. 463 pp.
Harbour, D. 1975. “Hunting the American Wild Turkey.”
Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 256 pp.

Higley, J. 1990. “Hunting Wild Turkeys in the West.”
John Higley, Palo Cedro, California. 154 pp.
National Rifle Association of America. 1991. “Wild Turkey Hunting.” NRA Hunter Serv. Div., Washington,
D.C. 182 pp.
Schorger, A.W. 1996. “The Wild Turkey: Its History andDomestication.” Univ. Oklahoma Press, Norman,
Oklahoma. 625 pp.
Williams, L.E., Jr. 1989. “The Art and Science of Wild
Turkey Hunting.” Real Turkeys Publ., Gainsville,
Florida. 331 pp.

Hewitt, O.H., editor. 1967. “The Wild Turkey and Its
Management.” The Wildl. Soc., Washington, D.C.
589 pp.

36

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TURKEY HUNTING SAFETY
Veteran turkey hunter Don Garver of the Illinois Department of Conservation has developed 10 commandments for turkey hunters. He calls them his 10 commandments for staying
alive. Some of these tips were given in previous segments as well, but they are worth repeating:
1. Never attempt to approach closer than 100 yards to a gobbler. The hen or gobbler you hearoften will be a hunter. The hunter may call so proficiently and realistically that he sounds
even better than a real turkey.
2. Never select a calling site with your back to a tree that is smaller than the width of yourshoulders. Small trees will not hide slight visible movements of your hands or shoulders that
may look like part of a turkey to a hunter stalking your calls. Use that tree to protect yourback where you cannot see.
3. Never jump and turn suddenly because you hear a turkey close behind you. That turkey
behind you could turn out to be the barrel of a shotgun exploding at you. Wait until the birdwalks where you can see it or call it back later.
4. Never select a calling site that does not allow at least 40 yards' visibility in all directions: 75
yards’ visibility is even better. Either hunt on top of a ridge where you can see down bothsides or hunt at least 40 yards down the slope of a ridge. Good turkey calls may bring inunskilled hunters.
5. Never stalk a turkey. The idea is to call a gobbler to you. If you have tried to call a gobbler
to you, do not attempt to move closer. If it is a gobbler, he will probably see you. If it is ahunter, he may shoot you.
6. Be careful when using a gobbler call. When you shake a gobbler call, your hand can look
like a turkey’s head and the gobble may attract hunters.
7. Do not think because you are fully camouflaged that you are totally invisible. You are plenty
visible to both turkeys and hunters when you move slightly. Sitting perfectly still will killmore turkeys than all the camouflage you can wear and sitting still will not get you shot.
Turkeys will always see you. The movement is what panics them.
8. Never wear red, white or blue clothing, not even undergarments of those colors. Red is thecolor many hunters count on to differentiate a gobbler’s red dewlap from the blue-colored
hen’s head. White can look like a snowball head of a gobbler. Leave those white handkerchiefs at home. Blue is the principle color of a hen turkey’s head, but this color is found on a
gobbler’s head as well.
9. Never assume what you hear or what answers you is a turkey.
10. Do not try to hide so well that you cannot see what is happening around you.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

37

A Turkey Hunter’s Code of Conduct
As a
Responsible Turkey Hunter,
I will:1. not let peer pressure or the excitement of the hunt cloud my judgment;
2. learn and practice safe hunting techniques;
3. hunt the wild turkey fairly;
4. know the capabilities and limitations of my gun or bow and use it
safely;5. obey and support all wildlife laws and report all violations;
6. respect the land and the landowner and always obtain written permission before hunting;
7. avoid knowingly interfering with another hunter and respect theright of others to lawfully share the out-of-doors;
8. value the turkey hunting experience and appreciate the beauty of
the wild turkey and its habitat;
9. positively identify my target as a legal bird and insist on a goodshot;
10. share responsible turkey hunting with others and work for wild turkey conservation.

38

Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California

Glossary Of Turkey Hunting Terms
Blind (Stand) an artificial or natural hiding area used to conceal a hunter.
Bow hunting hunting using archery equipment
Brood flock one or more adult hens with young of year offspring.
Calling site the location a turkey hunter establishes to call in a turkey.
Cannon-netting a trapping method which propels a net over baited wild turkeys.
Clutch the group of eggs laid by one hen in a single nest.
Droppings the feces (scat) left by a turkey; used by hunters in tracking wild turkeys.
Fall hunt takes place during the fall when wild turkeys are still in same-sex or brood flocks.
Field dressing the removal of viscera, feathers and skin, immediately after harvest.
Friction call A turkey call which produces sound by rubbing two parts together.
Game bird the bird species which are commonly and legally hunted.
Gobble A call (sound) produced by male turkeys.
Gobbler an adult male turkey; also called a tom.
Harvest to catch, capture, take, or kill an animal.
Hen an adult female turkey.
Hunt to pursue, catch, capture, take, or kill an animal, or attempt to do so.
Hunter’s ethics a code by which a hunter forms his/her thoughts and actions relating to hunting
Hunting license a certification required by law in order to hunt in California
Hybrid the offspring produced by crossing individuals of different subspecies or species.
Introduced species a species planted (released) in an area which is not native to that area.
Jake a juvenile male turkey less than one year of age.
Jenny a juvenile female turkey less than one year of age.
Mast a food source of nuts produced by hardwood trees such as oaks.
Natural history information relating food habits, habitat, distribution, range, and reproduction.
Patterning a firearm target testing a firearm in various situations to learn its shooting patterns.
Patterning wild turkey learning the daily or seasonal activities of a wild turkey or a flock.
Poult a young wild turkey.
Predator call a call which produces the sound of a predator (owl, coyote, etc.) of the wild turkey.
Recovery retrieval of a wounded or dead turkey that escaped from the original shooting site.
Roost a location (tree) where turkeys sleep at night out of reach of most predators.
Scout to visit a possible hunt site previous to the hunt in order to gain knowledge of the area.
Shaker call a turkey call which produces sound by being shaken.
Shooting zone a clear and safe direction in which to discharge a firearm or bow.
Spring hunt takes place when wild turkeys are involved in breeding (courtship) behavior.
Strutting a courtship dance performed by gobblers to attract hens for breeding purposes.
Subspecies a subdivision of a species which are different from one another but can interbreed.
Take to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, kill or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.
Tom an adult male turkey (gobbler).
Topography a description of the components and layout of a land area.
Translocation capture and relocation of turkeys to establish or augment existing populations.
Turkey call a device which produces sounds which mimic the calls of wild turkeys.
Turkey scale a mechanical device used to measure the weight of a turkey.
Upland Game Bird Stamp a stamp required by California law that must be purchased by all adult hunters in orderto hunt any upland game bird, including wild turkeys.

Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California

39Patterning Your Turkey Gun and LoadTo see how well your turkey gun and load pattern, copy this target and place it on a board at no more than 40 yards from where you plan tofire your gun. Then fire several loads at the turkey's head and neck each time counting the number of holes in the vital area (immobilizationarea). Six or more pellets in the vital area indicate a killing pattern. The ideal center of pattern is where the fleshy and feathered portion of
the neck meet. Become familiar with the relative size of the turkey by patterning your gun at 25, 35, and 40 yards. Never shoot at a turkey
beyond 40 yards.

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Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys In California