It’s a typical hunting scenario. You’re on a high vantage point at dawn, listening for a tom to gobble off the roost. When you hear one, you move in on the bird, seeking a good calling location from which to lure the gobbler into gun range.



How you move in frequently determines how successful you’ll be at getting that bird to come.

Here’s a good rule of thumb. Get as close to the turkey as you can without risking spooking him. If you can set up at 100 yards, you’re a lot more likely to pull him in than if you’re 200 or more yards away. So move in as close as possible.

I rarely move straight toward where a turkey is gobbling. I’ll check the terrain and vegetation and will usually circle to move in. If a gobbler is on a ridge in front of me, I’ll move sideways, then go up or over the ridge to make my approach. I stick to cover; I won’t cross an open field or meadow unless I have to. I don’t want to expose myself in case the gobbler is closer than I think or in case other non-gobbling toms are in the area.

I don’t “call my way” to the gobbler. I try to be patient and let the gobbler gobble on his own to let me know his location. If I’m not sure where he is, I’ll simply stop and wait until he gobbles again. This takes patience. But I don’t want him to know I’m anywhere in his woods until I’m close and ready to try to call him in.

When I get within 200 yards, I begin slipping as quietly as I can. I walk instead of run, and I’m careful not to break limbs or crunch leaves loudly. (Soft leaf crunching is a natural sound in the woods and usually won’t spook a gobbler.)

When I get close enough (depending on terrain and vegetation), I’ll pick a good calling spot, set up, get ready, then make my first call – soft and sweet. If I’ve done everything right, he may come in on the run!