Time your Southern Ontario Turkey Hunt

So every astute turkey hunter knows that the best way to put that spring gobbler in the bag is to learn where the birds roost, hit the bush well before dawn, and get ready to bag your bird soon after. We'll let me be the one to admit that getting up at 4:00 a.m., driving to the bush, stumbling another km or more in the dark, and sitting quietly in the predawn darkness has never been one of my favorite things to do. I tend to be an early riser but I do like to see the sun up before me. Watching and listening to the woods awaken around you is an experience that is never forgotten, but I for one don't need that experience every time I go hunting.

If you know your territory, there is a great chance of bagging Mr. Gobbler before he gets the sleep out of his eyes and is looking for his early morning mating partner. But they don't simply vanish for the rest of the day after that; they're still out there looking for love, but there are some peak times to keep in mind.

Personally I love heading to the bush during the mid morning. The hens that were attracted to the gobbling toms first thing in the morning have started to disperse to feed or find nesting spots. That leaves the amorous toms looking for love in all the wrong places and often starting to gobble up a storm in an attempt to find his girl…or another one. Another bonus of heading to the bush a bit later is that the diehard early morning hunters have often packed it in by mid morning, leaving the entire bush and all the birds to you.

Although they may not gobble quite as much as in the morning, mid-afternoon is another good time to head out. The birds are again actively looking for mates and often come quickly to calls or to a hen decoy. Be on guard though because they are more likely to run in without signaling their approach with a round of gobbles and can often sneak up on unwary hunters.

So don't get into the rut of thinking that just because you didn't hit the bush before dawn that all is lost. Some of the best hunting, with the least pressure, can be had later in the day. Above all practice a safety first policy and have a great spring turkey hunt.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions