How To Attract Turkeys

Ever watched a flock of wild turkeys strut across a field and wondered what it would take to see them in your own backyard? You're not alone! Attracting these fascinating birds can bring a touch of the wild to your property, providing hours of entertainment and a connection to nature. More than just interesting neighbors, turkeys play a role in controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.

Whether you're a seasoned wildlife enthusiast or just starting to appreciate the natural world, understanding how to create a welcoming habitat for turkeys can be incredibly rewarding. Knowing their needs – from food and shelter to water and safety – is key to successfully drawing them in. It's also important to do so responsibly, ensuring their well-being and avoiding any negative impacts on the local environment. By following some simple guidelines, you can significantly increase your chances of enjoying regular visits from these majestic birds.

What are the best foods to offer, and how can I keep predators away?

What specific food sources attract turkeys most effectively?

Turkeys are primarily attracted to a diverse range of foods, but hard mast like acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts are highly effective, especially during fall and winter. These provide essential energy for survival during colder months. Seeds, berries, and insects also play significant roles throughout the year, with preferences shifting depending on seasonal availability and nutritional needs.

The appeal of hard mast lies in its high caloric content and the fact that it stores well naturally, offering a reliable food source even after the initial drop. Acorns, in particular, are a favorite, although turkeys will readily consume other nuts depending on what's locally abundant. Their strong beaks and gizzards are well-suited to cracking and digesting these hard-shelled foods. During spring and summer, turkeys transition to a diet that includes a greater proportion of insects, berries, and green vegetation. Poults (young turkeys) especially rely on insects for protein, which is crucial for their rapid growth.

To attract turkeys, consider planting or preserving habitats that offer a variety of food sources throughout the year. Maintaining oak, hickory, and beech trees is a long-term strategy. Supplementing their diet with strategically placed food plots can also be effective. These plots can include plants like clover, wheat, or chufa, which provide seeds and forage. However, it's crucial to check local regulations regarding supplemental feeding, as it may be restricted in some areas to prevent disease transmission and maintain natural foraging behaviors.

How can I create a turkey-friendly habitat in your backyard?

Attracting turkeys to your backyard involves providing the essential elements they need to survive and thrive: food, water, shelter, and nesting areas. Focus on creating a diverse landscape that mimics their natural woodland habitat, with a variety of native plants, open areas, and protective cover.

Turkeys are opportunistic omnivores and appreciate a varied diet. Encourage natural food sources like acorns, berries, seeds, and insects by planting oak trees, berry-producing shrubs (like elderberry or serviceberry), and allowing a section of your yard to grow wild with native grasses and wildflowers. Avoid using pesticides, as these can harm turkeys directly or deplete their insect food source. Supplement their diet, especially during lean winter months, by scattering scratch grains or cracked corn sparingly. Be mindful of overfeeding, which can lead to dependency and attract unwanted pests. Providing access to fresh water is crucial, especially during dry periods. A shallow bird bath, a small pond, or even a consistently filled dish will be appreciated. Shelter from predators and the elements is also vital. Create brush piles from fallen branches, allow dense shrubs to grow, and maintain wooded areas if possible. Turkeys roost in trees at night, so mature trees with sturdy branches are a significant asset. For nesting, turkeys prefer secluded areas with dense ground cover, such as tall grasses or low-lying shrubs. Leave leaf litter in certain areas to provide both nesting material and cover for insects that turkeys feed on. Avoid disturbing potential nesting sites, especially during the spring breeding season. Consider these things to attract turkeys:

Are there specific calls or decoys proven to lure turkeys?

Yes, several calls and decoys are proven to lure turkeys, though their effectiveness can depend on factors like the time of year, hunting pressure, and the turkey's individual personality. Common and effective calls include the yelp, cluck, purr, and cut, while popular decoys often mimic a hen in various poses, sometimes combined with a jake decoy to provoke a territorial response from gobblers.

Using the right calls involves understanding what each one communicates. The yelp is a hen's basic call, used to locate other turkeys. The cluck is a soft, contented sound that can reassure approaching birds. The purr is often used when turkeys are feeding or content, and it can be effective at close range. The cut is a loud, sharp call, typically made by a hen looking for company; it can be very effective in getting a gobbler's attention, especially early in the season. Mastering these calls and varying their use based on the situation is crucial. Decoys are visual cues that can seal the deal. A single hen decoy in a relaxed posture is often a good starting point. As the season progresses, or in areas with higher hunting pressure, a more subtle approach might be necessary, possibly using no decoys at all or positioning them further away. Introducing a jake decoy, especially later in the season when breeding competition is high, can provoke a dominant gobbler into approaching for a fight. Remember to position decoys in a safe and visible location, and always prioritize safety by clearly identifying your target before taking a shot.

What are the best times of day to attract turkeys?

The best times of day to attract turkeys are typically early morning, from sunrise to mid-morning (roughly 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM), and late afternoon into early evening, from about 3:00 PM to just before sunset. These periods coincide with their natural activity patterns of foraging, traveling, and roosting, making them more receptive to decoys and calls.

Turkeys are most active shortly after they fly down from their roosts in the morning. They'll be searching for food after a night of rest. This makes early mornings prime time for setting up decoys and using calling techniques to mimic the sounds of hens looking for a mate or a flock gathering to feed. A successful strategy often involves calling softly and infrequently at first, gradually increasing the volume and frequency if you don't get an immediate response. The goal is to pique their curiosity without spooking them. As the day progresses towards midday, turkey activity generally slows down, particularly during warmer months. They might seek shade or rest. However, activity picks up again in the late afternoon. Turkeys begin moving toward their roosting areas in the evening. They are again vulnerable to calling and decoys as they are often grouped, and this is a valuable time to entice wandering toms.

How do different weather conditions affect turkey attraction strategies?

Weather significantly impacts turkey behavior and therefore necessitates adjustments to attraction strategies. Optimal tactics change depending on whether it's a sunny spring morning, a drizzly autumn day, or a snowy winter landscape; calling intensity, decoy placement, and even the preferred time of day to hunt all hinge on the prevailing weather conditions.

Weather dictates turkey activity levels and habitat preferences. For example, on clear, calm spring mornings, gobblers are more likely to respond aggressively to calling and readily approach decoys in open areas, as they are actively seeking hens. Conversely, during windy conditions, turkeys tend to seek sheltered areas like thickets or lee sides of hills to avoid being exposed, making it harder for calls to carry and requiring hunters to position themselves closer to potential roosting or loafing spots. Rain often silences turkeys, causing them to become less vocal. In these conditions, hunters should focus on patience and strategic positioning, using soft calls and relying on visual attraction with decoys. Cold and snowy conditions present unique challenges. Turkeys will conserve energy by limiting movement and seeking food sources in areas with less snow cover. Identifying these areas and using calls that mimic contentment feeding or soft clucking can be effective. Decoy placement becomes crucial; a single, highly visible decoy placed in a clearing can draw turkeys from a considerable distance, especially if natural food sources are scarce. Moreover, hunting times may shift later in the day as turkeys wait for the sun to warm up the environment before becoming more active. Paying close attention to localized weather patterns and how they influence turkey behavior is key to developing a successful hunting strategy.

Are there any plants that turkeys are naturally drawn to?

Yes, turkeys are naturally drawn to a variety of plants that provide food and cover. These include plants that produce nuts, berries, seeds, and soft mast (fleshy fruits), as well as those that offer dense foliage for protection from predators and the elements.

Turkeys are opportunistic omnivores, and their diet shifts depending on the season and availability. In the spring and summer, they heavily rely on succulent vegetation like grasses, forbs (herbaceous flowering plants), and berries. Fall and winter diets consist more of hard mast like acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts, as well as leftover grains from agricultural fields. Plants like wild grapes, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, elderberries, and crabapples are excellent sources of soft mast. For hard mast, planting or promoting the growth of oak, beech, and hickory trees will provide a sustainable food source. Creating a diverse habitat with a variety of these plants ensures that turkeys have access to food and cover throughout the year. Consider planting native species that are well-suited to your local climate and soil conditions. In addition to food sources, think about providing areas of dense cover, such as thickets of shrubs or evergreens, where turkeys can roost and seek refuge from predators. This holistic approach to habitat management will significantly increase your chances of attracting and retaining turkeys on your property.

How do I keep turkeys coming back to my property?

To keep turkeys returning to your property, consistently provide them with the resources they need: a reliable food source, suitable cover for protection and nesting, a water source, and a safe environment free from excessive disturbance. Consistency is key; turkeys learn food source locations and will revisit areas that reliably meet their needs.

Creating a welcoming habitat is crucial for repeat visits. Turkeys are attracted to diverse habitats offering a variety of food options throughout the year. Consider planting food plots with a mix of grains, legumes, and grasses attractive to turkeys, such as clover, wheat, oats, and chufa. Native fruit-bearing shrubs and trees like blackberry, crabapple, and dogwood provide valuable soft mast. Maintaining areas of mixed hardwoods and open fields provides a diverse food supply from acorns, seeds, and insects, all vital components of a turkey's diet. Furthermore, managing the landscape to offer both open areas and dense cover is essential. Turkeys need open areas for foraging and dusting, but also require thickets, brush piles, and wooded areas for roosting and protection from predators. Consider controlled burns or selective thinning to create a mosaic of habitats. Providing a reliable water source, like a pond, stream, or even a bird bath, is also important, especially during dry periods. Minimize disturbance during nesting season (typically spring) by avoiding mowing or other disruptive activities in areas where hens might be nesting. Reduced hunting pressure can also contribute to increased turkey populations on your land.

Well, that's all there is to it! Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to bring those beautiful birds flocking to your yard. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your turkey-attracting adventures. Be sure to check back soon for more wildlife tips and tricks!