I fell in love with the Turkey Woods as a little girl, and that love has only grown as I have. Let me tell you what it’s like and why I love it so.
Slipping through the woods with only a headlamp, boots quiet on leaves still wet with dew. Everything is still. The world hasn’t woken up yet. You settle against a big oak, maybe with a decoy out front, and kill the light. It’s just you, the trees, and the anticipation.
The slow unraveling of dawn begins. The horizon glows faintly blue.
Suddenly—
From across the ridge, it erupts—sharp, throaty, unmistakable. A tom gobbles and then gobbles again…this time closer. He’s on the roost.
You wait, patient but electric, then let out a soft yelp. Nothing too crazy—just letting him know you’re a hen, waking up too.
As the sun cracks the treetops, the woods come alive. Squirrels rustle, woodpeckers knock, and then—you see movement. A fan. He’s strutting. His feathers glow bronze in the sunlight, and his beard swings. You freeze. No breathing. No blinking. He’s locked in, puffed up, and slowly making his way toward your call.
Closer. Closer. Your heart is pounding so loud you’re sure he can hear it.
Maybe you take the shot. Maybe he hangs up just out of range and you watch him fade away, smarter than he was before. Either way, it’s pure adrenaline and a raw connection to the wild. That’s a morning in the turkey woods.
Turkey hunting is one of those things that seems niche until you do it—then, it becomes a full-blown obsession for many people. Here’s what makes it so great:
The Challenge
- Wild turkeys are smart. Like way smarter than you’d think. They’re extremely wary and have sharp eyesight and hearing. Outwitting one is no small feat.
- Calling is an art. You use different calls to mimic hens and bring a gobbler into range. Knowing when to use them and when to shush is all part of it. When it works, it feels like you’ve mastered a secret language.
The Experience
- Spring mornings. Most turkey seasons happen in spring, and there’s something magical about being in the woods at dawn, everything waking up, hearing a gobbler thunder from a treetop.
- Up-close action. Unlike some other types of hunting, turkey hunting often brings the action in close. You’re calling them to you, which makes for some intense and memorable moments.
The Strategy
- It’s interactive. You’re constantly making decisions—when to call, when to move, when to stay silent. It’s almost like chess with feathers.
- Scouting matters. Knowing the land, roosting spots, and patterns gives you the edge.
The Payoff
- Wild turkey is delicious. Leaner and more flavorful than store-bought. And when you’ve worked for it, it tastes even better. (I personally like mine fried up and in nugget form)
- Full-circle satisfaction. It’s the whole package, from locating birds to calling them in, to preparing a meal.
The turkey hunting season and the turkey woods do and will always hold a special place in my heart and have changed me for the better. If you love turkey hunting as I do, consider taking someone new. You may just change their world.
