Turkeys have been actively gobbling for the past few weeks and have been frequently seen strutting in fields in the Stevens Point area. Hunters matching wits with these wary birds in the early season should find the scouting they did in the preseason to be a huge asset as they take to the woods in the coming weeks. Though weather, interference from other hunters and just plain bad luck are at fault for many unfilled turkey tags, often hunters fail to bag a bird because of a lack of knowledge of roosting areas, food sources and the habits of individual turkeys. Perhaps the best place for a turkey hunter to be when sunlight begins to filter through the trees along the eastern horizon is between a tom s roost and the roost of his hens. Roost trees are often on high ground, three quarters of the way up steep hillsides.
Turkeys also seem to prefer trees that provide a lot of cover, like pines and cedars.
Look for droppings and wing feathers in these areas. Gobbler droppings are about one and a half inches long and shaped like a J. Hen droppings will look similar but will lack the J shape. In the turkey s world, during the spring mating season, hens are supposed to go to the toms, not the other way around as hunters would prefer. With these techniques and a little luck, you might find yourself putting a pink tag around the leg of a gobbler this spring.