How do you turkey hunt and why?

[bearpaw]

IT"S ALMOST TURKEY SEASON!
Everyone has their favorite turkey hunting methods. I put a few options in the poll and can add others that are mentioned.

I've probably hunted most methods possible but my favorite method is calling without decoys on public or private land, anywhere I can get a response. I like this method because it doesn't tie me down, when I'm calling I like to be able to move if I feel it's needed and I don't like having to go back after decoys or pick them up before I move. I've never bow hunted turkeys myself, just with clients, but I'm thinking about trying this year if I get enough time to hunt for myself.

Tell us how you hunt, your favorite methods, what works best for you, and why?

[Rainier10]

I use a whole bunch of the options above.  I am hunting with my kids and I am actually not hunting.  I am just out there for them.

It is on private property, where I have seen birds before, in a blind with calls and decoys, using a shotgun.

[Karl Blanchard]

Strictly run and gun for me.  I want to cover lots of country and hunt active birds.  Nothing better than cat and mouse with mature tom turkey.

[rtspring]

Bow! Spot and stalk.  Induce a gobble then stalk him down!!!  Its dang near as fun as elk hunting.   

Trust me you will fail....  Ah but when you connect it is awesome.. 

[jasnt]

I like calling with out decoys. Mostly public land.  I too like to be able to run and gun. I like team hunting and sending the caller back 50-100 yards. I've hunted them by spot and stalk and still hunting or ambush but I prefer calling responsive birds. I do tons of preseason scouting. Not only patterning but also I start putting them to bed end of March.  After work I head straight to my hunting area and rush to a high point I can where I can hear for a long ways. I pack my gobbler call and as soon as it's getting dark(sometimes they gobble first) I do a gobble. Often I'll get a few min of return gobbles(one or 2 from each tom or group of toms as they roost) I just take note of all the roosting areas and where the toms seem to be roosting. By April 15th I've got plenty of birds located and patterned to be sure me and mine have a good season. others in the group do the same to other areas. Together we can get on birds all over even if my area gets pressured to much or my friends area gets hit hard we aren't out with out a clue. It's all of our back up for when your fav spot turns in to a parking lot.

[Big game archer]

For me there is nothing better than calling in mature toms on public land, particularly in the mountains at high elevation. Pretty challenging but very rewarding! I usually start my day using a decoy but will often abandon it if I have to make quick move to close the distance.

[lewy]

For some reason decoys do not work for me, have had far more turkeys see the decoys and run for the hills than act interested. I like to run and gun, cover lots if ground pick up a few sheds along the way

[kirkl]

I mainly run and gun till I find em then it's hide and call if they wanna play.

[lokidog]

Whatever method and where ever I can find them.  I checked eleven boxes  and would have been twelve if crossbow was on there.  I could probably have checked ML as well since I did miss one once that way.   

I do like to run and gun, usually not using a decoy.  I prefer private, but public land works OK too. I've gotten one in most of the ways mentioned, including staking out a chicken coop that the birds like to hit in the morning. 

[kevinlisa06]

Run and gun for the wife and I.

[Camp David]

A lot of methods. I'm blessed with being able to hunt on private land I also hunt a lot with my bow. Getting them off the roost has been successful at times. I like to hunt out of a ground blind and "cold" call; my decoy success has been marginal. The blind allows me to see them with out being spotted; turkeys don't seem to worry about the ground blinds at all. Turkeys can be creature of habit and  its possible to set up an ambush if they are not being responsive to calls. Finding and setting up near a popular evening roost and strutting zone can be a great way to take a nice gobbler.

[Henrydog]

Find the Roost and come back for fly down.  I love the anticipation of the sun coming up knowing they are there.  I love the noise when they start calling from the trees and the confusion of fly down

[turkeydancer]

I've had great success not tying myself down to one method, but prefer sneaking into their kitchen and setup in the direction they want to travel, and then calling them in ... usually calling sparingly, but let them tell me what they want (take their temperature).  If they move away from the calling, then I may just get ahead of them and then wait them out.  To me there is no incorrect method to give a tom a piggyback ride to my truck.   

[dawei]

I run & gun albeit slowly as I am an old fart, (soon be 66). I hunt the Klickitat in places Jerbear took me. After having my shooting shoulder replaced in 2008 I now do all of my turkey hunting with a 20ga. Ammunition & choke technology have really improved by leaps & bounds compared to when I started turkey hunting in the 1970's. Sometimes I use decoys but not always. Do use a blind when available.

[WaltAlpine]

Mostly run and gun in the Fall and Call from a blind or with my back to a tree in the Spring.
it's the most fun I have except playing with my grandson!