Turkey Patterning Tips
Turkey Hunting Tips: Turkey patterning is the act of discovering a turkeys daily routines and habits. Although turkeys will not always follow exact routes, they generally can can be patterned with some degree of consistency. This article provides a few basic patterning tips for turkeys.
The hunter will be able to establish basic turkey patterns through observation and proper scouting techniques. The idea is to locate roosting areas, feeding areas, watering areas, dusting areas, strutting areas, and so forth. Establishing these patterns will help the chances of success.
The roosting areas can be located by observing turkey movements late in the day. Turkeys will generally be found near roosting areas about an hour or so before sunset. At sunset they fly up into the roosting tree. Listening for fly up sounds and monitoring late day activities will help establish a roosting pattern.
Although turkeys feed throughout the day, feeding patterns can be established by observing ground scratchings and understanding what food is available in the area to be hunted. Locating large amounts of scratchings in a specific area on a regular basis indicates a good feeding area.
The climate and weather conditions will play a part in how often a turkey needs to obtain water. If it is hot, the turkey will need water more often. Watering patterns can be found by observing creek banks, ponds, rivers, or lakes. Watch for heavy turkey track areas.
Turkeys will use dirt or sandy areas to dust off its feathers. Watch for half moon shaped impressions on the ground with turkey tracks. These areas are often found near field edges.
Gobblers will often fly down from a roosting tree first thing in the morning and go to a strutting area. This is where the gobbler meets up with the hens. Watch the open ridge tops, field edges, or other open areas. Look for back and forth type turkey tracks and drag marks made by wing feathers.
Using Turkey Patterns
Once a hunter is able to pattern the movements of turkeys, this information can be used as a starting point for hunting set-up locations. The hunter can move from one area to another based on time of day and when the turkeys are likely to be in a specific area. This provides several options as to how a turkey will be hunted.
These turkey hunting tips for turkey patterning are provided as information to aid the hunter in having a successful hunting experience. Be safe and good luck.
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