Spring turkey season is the average hunters “spring tease”, and here in good ole’ Kentucky, the oh so special month of turkey season in 2015 goes from April 18th to May 10th. According to the KY Fish and Wildlife Administration,
A hunter may take a male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard. No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day. No more than two (2) birds may be taken per spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or female turkeys with visible beards, may be included in this two-bird season limit. Turkeys taken by youth during the youth-only season count toward the spring turkey bag limit.
So- with that out of the way, lets get down to the basics
- Gear – Like any other hunt, camoflauge clothing is a necessity for blending in with your surroundings. Investing in outerwear that is thin and made using 3D technology will almost ensure that those gobblers won’t know where you’re at.
- For your outerwear, Bass Pro Shops has a nice selection and I personally like the RedHead brand. Not too pricey, and you don’t lose quality. For $70 you get the pants and jacket.
- The type of boots that you use depends on where you’re hunting, but since were focusing on Spring turkey hunting, make sure that the boots aren’t insulated or you may get too hot. In the Spring, I like to stick with my muck boots.
- For turkey hunting, you will need to cover your face, neck and head. It would be a good idea to invest in a hunting mask – Scent-Lok Full Season Ultimate Headcover is a good choice, covering your face, neck and head in one piece.
- Lastly, you will need gloves. Many hunters don’t wear gloves in the warmer weather but they have more of a purpose than to keep the warmth in. Camouflaging as much of your body as possible is the best/safest way to go.
- Calls – For the beginner, I would recommend the box call, but you have many choices. I personally like mouth calls, and I use the Primos Cutter Diaphram Turkey Call (3 pack). Box calls are much easier to use but average around $20-$50, whereas the mouth calls are only $5-$15.
- Decoys/Blinds – There are many turkey decoys available, from jakes to hens.. thunder chickens to funky chickens. The Flextone Thunder Chicken has much credibility originating from Outdoor Channel’s Wild Game Nation – which is a hunting reality show featuring the family behind the Flextone brand. You will also need a blind to sit in. Some people (very experienced individuals) are able to sit with their backs to a tree, but you have to limit almost all body movements if you go this route.
- Weapon – Remington has a variety of ammo if you’re interested in hunting turkey with a shotgun, and Outdoor Life put a variety to the test. You may also hunt turkey with any type of bow (including crossbows) in Kentucky, during Spring season. This depends primarily on your location, because the laws are different state by state. See Kentucky laws below:
There’s no season like turkey season! Happy hunting folks & thanks for reading Wild4TheWoods!
Jenna Taylor
*Gobble Gobble*
Modern Pursuit 