Here Is A Turkey Hunting Technique For Michigan Hunters

The Michigan turkey hunting season is coming up, so it's time for hunters to get ready. I have a tip on a technique I've been doing for the last 3 years that might work for you.

Michigan Turkey Hunting Season

There is nothing like sitting in a blind early in the Spring and hearing that first gobble from a Tom as the sun rises.

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I have hunted turkey for over 30 years and have been very successful or lucky in Michigan and Indiana at consistently harvesting trophy birds. What has helped me is that I hunted near where I lived, allowing me to study the birds all year long.

I have learned a lot about using turkey calls, decoys, male and female behavior traits, and where to set up to hunt. There is always something new to learn about turkey hunting, and I may have stumbled upon something that may help you in the woods this season.

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Here Is A Turkey Hunting Technique For Michigan Hunters

I hunt on my property in the Manistee National Forest in Newaygo County. I have a picture window that lets me see the field and the woodline I hunt for turkeys. When I first got the place, turkeys would always show up in February and March and work the area. The turkeys didn't show up a few years ago, but I knew birds roosted in the woods behind my property. The birds were going to the field on the backside of the woods instead of my place. I was concerned I wouldn't see any turkeys, so I tried something.

What I started doing in late March and the first 3 weeks of April was, in the morning before I would go to work, I would hit a couple of turkey calls. I mainly use a gobble call, but sometimes use my hen call. Turkeys can not only see great, but can also hear great. Knowing birds were roosting in the woods behind me, I knew they were hearing my calls, and for the last 3 years, within a week or two, turkeys began showing up.

Seeing the birds in advance allowed me to pick out which birds we could harvest. We harvested 3 mature Toms from one blind because of this method. I know everyone doesn't live where they turkey hunt, but you could drive by the area, step out of the vehicle, and make a call or two leading up to your season. I set up my blind before the season starts, and made a few calls to let turkeys know there might be other birds in their area. Both male and female turkeys are territorial and will eventually come to see who is making turkey sounds in their area.

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What I think is cool is when I hit these before-season calls, and the birds answer me back. If you know where birds roost, that is the key. Never get right up on where they roost, but find a way to get to a blind near the area, and eventually you will get them to come your way. I started with the calls two weekends ago, and now every day, turkeys are in my field near where my blind will be in a few weeks. This has worked for me 3 years in a row, and it might work for you too.