I don’t really know anyone who likes to wait until the very last minute and then be unprepared. This is especially true of most of the turkey hunters I know. So, with less than eight weeks until the opening day of our upcoming spring gobbler season (and less than seven weeks until the Youth Spring Gobbler Day), we need to begin preparing for the thrill of the first day. For planning purposes, the Youth Day is on Saturday, April 21 and has a one-bird limit for the hunt. The regular season begins on Saturday, April 28 and runs through Thursday, May 31 with a two-bird limit for the season. So, what do we need to do in the meanwhile?

Get Organized:

Take out your turkey vest and remove all of the items you are carrying, spread them out and examine each item to make sure it is still functioning properly. Doing so now allows you plenty of time to replace or repair items as necessary. A fresh set of mouth calls is always a good idea to start the spring season. Prepare the surfaces of your slate calls and chalk the paddle of your box calls. If you have room in your vest to do so, consider carrying an array of several mouth calls, two box calls and perhaps three slate calls — one of which should be a glass surface for rainy or high humidity days use. Carrying extra calls allows you the opportunity to present an interested gobbler with multiple tones and sounds, with varying pitch.

Check to make sure you have a light set of raingear — a little shower is no big deal, but if you happen to be caught out in a sudden heavy rain, you will be glad you have packed a set, which can easily fit in a large vest pocket. A comfortable seat cushion is a must if you will be sitting for long, which can easily be the case. In turkey hunting, patience is a key ingredient to success and the more comfortable you are, the longer you will be able to sit as motionless as possible waiting for a slow approaching gobbler to slip into range.
Pattern Your Shotgun:

It is amazing how many hunters purchase a shotgun and assume that — new and right out of the box — it will shoot exactly where you point it. After all, it is a scattergun, right? Not necessarily. The pattern can vary considerably sometimes, depending on what ammunition you are using. By taking time now and patterning your shotgun with the various turkey loads that are available, you can easily determine which one patterns best from your own gun. Then, prior to the opening of any season, you should verify the pattern — especially if you have a scope or red dot sight that may have been bumped or moved slightly in the off season. After missing a gobbler is not the time to realize that your sight has mysteriously become misaligned!

Get in Shape:

Like most folks, you have probably been a bit sedentary over the winter months. Now that the temperatures are rising take time on the nicer days and start hiking to build up your endurance for when you will be climbing the hillsides and covering a lot of ground in search of an elusive old Tom. While you are doing so, you can be scouting out just where the turkeys are feeding and perhaps locate a roost site or two. Additionally, it may provide a good opportunity to find a shed antler or two and allow you to begin planning for your fall deer hunting.

Put forth the time and effort now, and you won’t have to rush around at the last minute trying to find things you need to replace broken or worn out gear or gadgets. Your body will thank you for being in better shape when you discover the gobbler that you have been seeking is “just over the next hill” – after you have climbed what seems like too many hills already!