Outdoor tips with Jack Morris
BY JACK MORRIS
Sunday, February 26, 2012
2/26/12 at 5:57 AM
Listen to Jack Morris talk about preparing for turkey season.
Now is the time to watch, listen and track. It will pay off when early turkey season comes around, especially if you're planning to get a youngster out in the woods for the youth season the last weekend in March.
Turkeys often move from wintering areas to spring nesting areas, so don't assume you will find turkeys in an area where you may have seen them while deer hunting or doing other activities in the woods this winter.
Flocks this time of year often will go through what is called a "break" with hens moving toward areas that may have a little more low brush or thickets or terrain better suited for nesting. It may be a matter of simply moving from one valley to the next one over, or they may move quite a distance.
As the birds travel, you can find their tracks on the edges of farm fields and on natural game trails. One of the best ways to find them is to head out early in the morning and just listen as Mother Nature begins to wake up.
Some toms are starting to gobble now. Don't be tempted to use a turkey call, however. Keep that call in your pocket. There's no need to start educating the birds. Using a locator call like a coyote howl or owl hoot is OK, but it's best just to listen. If the birds are not in your hearing range, just readjust for the next day and get yourself in a little better position.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to do your homework and pre-scout for turkeys. They will get into a pattern and tend to stay in that pattern unless they are disturbed by predators, vehicles or what-have-you. If you have turkeys patterned, you are a huge step ahead of the game come April.
Original Print Headline: Outdoor tips with Jack Morris
Jack Morris is a professional guide and host of Outdoor Trails on KTBZ am1430. Contact him at 918-691-3840, jackswildlife@cox.net or see tulsaworld.com/jackmorris.
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