Turkey season is two months away
Season dates can ebb and flow based upon the state you live in, but as cold nights turn into spring mornings, the sound of thunder as the sun peaks over the trees is a sound we long for. It’s an outdoor game of chess and the sole reason turkey hunting gets in your blood. You are either consumed by it or you aren’t. There is no in-between. And with two months to go, now is the time to make sure you are prepared for your turn to pursue the American wild turkey in 2023.
Do not pull your cameras
If you have pulled your game cameras my suggestion is to get them back in the field. Sure, birds may still be in winter flocks but I like to put cameras in clover plots, logging roads, and locations I know turkeys travel on the properties I hunt. Personally, I do not own cell cams but if you do, you can get real-time MRI (Most recent information) about when the birds arrive, what they are doing, and how they travel.
Boots on the ground
We have a break in action this weekend from my kid’s wrestling tournaments so we are going to take advantage of the situation by heading to the farm for a workday. Activities include refreshing mineral sites with Trophy Rock, filling feeders, running a few traps targeting nest predators, and the boys will certainly be looking for sheds, but in the middle of all this action, I’m doing two things:
- Looking for turkey sign
- Assessing blind locations
Both boys tagged turkeys in 2022 with Justin taking a 24-pound whopper of a bird but I am always thinking about how I can level up and position blinds to gain an edge on the birds. I’m also looking for tracks, feathers, droppings, and anything that helps me understand how the birds are using my property.
Can you run a ridge?
As a personal trainer and coach, I wholeheartedly believe that being in shape helps you tag more turkeys. At a minimum, I would encourage you to begin a walking program. More steps will help you prepare your body and makes moving through the turkey woods easier. If you want to level up, I would suggest rucking which is walking or hiking with a weighted pack. We also offer two strength programs through Fit To Hunt that are designed for turkey hunters called The Strutter and Extreme Strutter.
The Strutter is a beginner program or a routine that can serve as a supplement to an existing strength training program. Extreme Strutter is our advanced strength and conditioning program for the turkey hunter who seeks a greater challenge or will be chasing birds in really challenging terrain.
To consistently kill turkeys you need stealth and the physical abilities to get to and go where the birds are; sometimes in a hurry. Use our Strutter workouts to help you get and stay #FitToHunt this season!
The Accessories
February is also a great time to take inventory of your gear and see what, if anything needs to be upgraded or purchased such as:
- Calls
- Decoys
- Ammunition (20 gauge loads are awful hard to find so do not wait to start looking)
- Boots
- Camouflage
- Vest
- Blinds
And while you are taking inventory of your calls, throw a diaphragm call in the truck and start practicing. Mouth calls have always been the weakest part of my calling game and so making improvements now will help you sound better in the field in April.
I love hunting but chasing wild turkeys is something that consumes me. As Col. Kelly said, “I don’t hunt turkeys because I want to. I hunt them because I have to.” We hope these tips help prepare you for the 2023 season. If we can be of service, shoot us a message at info@stayfittohunt.com or follow us on our social media channels.
Good luck, we cannot wait to see your pictures later this Spring, and Stay #FitToHunt!