What is fanning and reaping turkey hunting?
Fanning, also known as “reaping,” is the act of moving behind a turkey fan or a decoy into shooting range of a tom, and this tactic has grown in mass popularity in the past 10 years. It’s gone from a fringe tactic to one that’s now being deployed by many turkey hunters.
Is a turkey fan considered a decoy?
The TurkeyFan is the first and only decoy designed for on the move, proactive “fanning method” style of turkey hunting.
What does it mean when a turkey is drumming?
Spitting & Drumming. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), male turkeys make this soft, guttural sound by forcing air up from their bodies. They almost always spit and drum when they strut, but also do so when not strutting.
What turkey decoy does Michael Waddell use?
strutter decoy
Turkey Decoys
Michael uses a homemade strutter decoy and occasionally a hen and jake decoy that he stuffs in the back pouch of the vest.
Is turkey reaping legal?
Whether you bowhunt or gun hunt, reaping is an option worth consideration provided it’s safe and legal in your area. Remember that for most turkey hunters, reaping is an in-the-moment decision prompted by a bird that has decided to hang in no-man’s land.
What does reaping turkeys mean?
Reaping is the stalking and killing of a tom turkey using a decoy of a strutting gobbler as cover. Most of the time, this takes places in a field where a tom is “hung up” with hens and not responding to calling or hen decoys.
How do you make a turkey fan?
Buckmasters: DIY Turkey Fan Wall Display — Simple and Inexpensive!
Do turkeys get decoy shy?
Super-smart “field turkeys” have been the nemesis of turkey hunters for decades. Those birds fly down out in the middle of a wide open field where they can see anything and everything that can possibly approach to inflict harm on them. They are call shy and decoy shy. They just won’t budge.
Why do turkeys fan their feathers?
Because “strutting” is the term used to describe the behavior of a turkey puffing its feathers. This is what makes this bird go from bland to grand. Indeed, turkeys exhibit this fascinating behavior to attract mates, show their dominance, or defend against predators.
Why do turkeys fan their tails?
TURKEY FACT #4: Tom turkeys aren’t the only ones that swagger and fan their tail feathers to woo mates and ward off rivals. Some hens strut, too. TURKEY FACT #5: Young turkeys — called poults — scarf down insects like candy. Poults develop more of a taste for plants after they’re four weeks old.
What is in a turkey vest?
DECOYS AND STAKES
Most generally, I carry a hen and a jake decoy with stakes. I also carry an extra stake in my vest in case I lose or break one. Carrying decoys in a turkey vest is a good practice, as it increases safety.
What is the best state for turkey hunting?
Tennessee is at the top of many turkey hunters’ lists, mostly because it’s a beautiful state with liberal limits, lots of public land, and accessible to most anyone in the eastern half of the US. Hunters get up to three turkey tags per season and there’s about a quarter of a million Easterns to chase.
Can you turkey hunt with one decoy?
The single best decoy anyone can own is a submissive, half- or quarter-strut jake. If you’re into shooting any legal turkey, this type of jake will draw in anything with a beard. These dekes are effective all spring, so long as you pair them with the right birds.
How do you make a turkey fan for hunting?
Collapsible / Packable Turkey Tail Fan – YouTube
How do you build a Turkey fan plaque?
How to Mount your Turkey Fan and Beard on DIY Plaque – YouTube
How far should turkey decoys be from blind?
Position the decoys 10 yards away from your blind.
Set them up at 10 yards so you know when the bird is within bow range.
How do you get a turkey to respond?
Turkey Calling Tips For Beginners | Basic Turkey Calls – YouTube
Can female turkeys fan their tails?
Lovett Williams Jr. of Florida, perhaps the nation’s most esteemed wild turkey biologist, has written of strutting hens, and said it’s fairly common for hens to briefly fan their tail feathers while jousting with rival birds.
Why does my turkey puff up at me?
Females or males inflate their plumage to intimidate a predator threatening their brood. So, whenever turkeys sense a threat, be it human or animal, they can use this behavior to show the predator that it is likely to go wrong if it decides to attack!
Why does my turkey follow me around?
Turkeys will follow you around for hours seeking your approval! They love to run circles around you often causing you to almost trip, but never stop suddenly if they are behind you, they are destined to collide into your legs!
Why do you need a turkey vest?
A turkey vest is essential to being a versatile turkey hunter. A good vest can organize and carry the calls, tools and other gear you’ll need for success in any scenario a spring gobbler may put you in.
What should I carry in my bird vest?
The Best Vest
There are all sorts of things you’ll want take with you into the field: shotgun shells, water bottles, snacks, a mini first-aid kit, a compass, your hunting license, and on and on. And the more time you spend with boots-on-the-ground, the most stuff you’ll want to take.
What is the hardest state to turkey hunt?
5 Worst States for Turkey Hunting
- 5 | Rhode Island. The smallest state in the union (1,045 square miles) only offers limited turkey hunting opportunities.
- 1 | Louisiana. We love Louisiana for its people, lifestyle and culture.
- 2 | North Dakota.
- 3 | Nevada.
- 4 | Delaware.
- 5 | Rhode Island.
- 1 | Louisiana.
- 2 | North Dakota.
What is the hardest turkey to hunt?
1. Easterns: Hunter pressure in tight habitats make this subspecies the most difficult in the country. More turkey hunters roam Eastern states than any of the others. An Alabama Eastern three-year-old longbeard might be the most difficult turkey of all.
When should you not use a turkey decoy?
A turkey that sees a decoy might charge in to kick a potential rival’s butt. However, if the bird has had its tail whipped, it might avoid the setup because it doesn’t want another fight. Standard early-season setups usually include two or more hens and a strutter or jake decoy.