Spring Turkey Checklist

Each spring I find myself dusting off the turkey gear and each year that list becomes more and more complete to where now I finally feel I’ve got my spring turkey checklist figured out.

• Confirm permission to hunt on private land. Many hunters are lazy…too lazy to give the landowner a courtesy phone call to not only confirm you can still hunt their land but to also tell them just how much you appreciate them letting you hunt. I even go so far as to send thank-you cards with pictures of hunts or, if they enjoy it, even offer some of the meat from your harvest.
• Got ammo? If not you better secure some ASAP. Too many people wait until the day before the first day of the season to get ammo just to learn that their ammo is picked over. Don’t fret too much if your favorite load is picked over (see next tip)
• Sight in your gun. Yes, you have to do this before *every* hunting season. If you hunt both fall and spring turkey seasons you still need to shoot before each. There are a number of reasons your sites or scope could be off…too many to enumerate. If you are lucky you’ll only need a couple of shots to confirm nothing has changed.
• Check your boots. Without the gun and ammo you can’t shoot the bird so those two things are the top pieces of turkey hunting equipment but boots are a close second. Ensure your boots will keep you warm for the wide temperatures swings of spring. Case-in-point, right now it is 38 degrees and in two days it will hit 68 degrees. Your boots need to be able to keep you warm yet breathe just enough when the temperatures rise.
• Rain Gear.

Don’t let a cold spring rain ruin your hunt. Let’s face it, the birds will be out regardless of the weather which means despite rain you can still harvest that bird.

• Scouting. You must know the land you are hunting and how the birds use it. If you can’t at least identify a couple flocks of birds, where the roost and their tendencies during the day you could be in a for a long hunt. This is the number one reason for unsuccessful hunts.
• Get in early. I like to get setup an hour before sunrise. Tomorrow sunrise is at 6:37. it takes me a half hour from the time I park to the time I am setup and it takes me 45 minutes to get to the farm I’ll be hunting. That means I need to be on the road by 4:15am.
• After the above it just a matter of ensuring the rest of your turkey equipment is handy. Here’s what I double check on each year:
  • Hunting License and Tag. Don’t forget them at home.
  • Check the weather. It is import to be mentally prepared for what ever weather mother nature will throw at you.
  • Knife and field dressing gloves. It is much easier to pluck the birds shortly after harvesting them and in the spring I like to avoid bringing ticks home by dressing them in the field.
  • Heat packs. Temperatures in Iowa can dip below freezing so having heat packs is a convenience you may want

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  • Turkey calls. I keep a variety of mouth call and a slate call on me at all times. You should have started practicing back in late February or early march.
  • Turkey decoys. Sure you may not use them but you had better pack them anyway just in case.
  • GPS Unit. Completely optional. I will use this particularly on new land to find my way to my morning setup since new land is hard to navigate in the dark. You GPS can also serve as a watch.
  • Camo. I like to dress in layers so I can adjust what I’m wearing based on the current temps. Be sure you include a face mask.
  • Blaze Orange Vest.

  There are a lot of turkey hunters, mushroom hunters and others in the woods. Ensure your safety by wearing blaze orange on your way in and out of the field.

  • Mobile Phone. Accidents can still happen and a mobile at the very least will allow you to phone for help and, if possible, GPS-technology on your phone could help authorities find you in the event you go missing. It’s also convenient when you need to call in to report your harvest to the Iowa DNR
  • Pruning Sheers. Don’t let foliage frustrate you. A compact set of pruning sheers will allow you to quickly trim anything in your shooting lane(s).
  • Scent control. OK, this is probably the most controversial thing but I prepare for turkey hunting just like I do deer hunting. Why? Deer and turkey often frequent the same places and deer can effect turkeys particularly when they are within eye sight of one another. Minimize your presence by using the basic no-scent systems on the market. I do it all exactly the same as you would deer season minus playing the wind. While the odds of such a thing are slim why risk it?
  • Camera and tripod. Hey, if you harvest that bird you’ve been after you want to remember it properly. Too many guys wait until they get home and take photos in their backyard. I prefer the authenticity of an in-field shot like the one you see here.
  • Tick checks. Spring is tick season and to avoid the common illnesses they can transmit it is imperative to get all ticks off of you within 24 hrs. I personally do a tick check prior to getting in my vehicle after the hunt to avoid getting any of the pests in the truck where they can roam a few days before finding me. This *has* happened to before. After the vehicle tick check I strip all non-essential camo and put into an air tight bin until my next hunt. When I get home I wash any clothes I didn’t put in my air tight bin such as socks, t-shirts, camo pants, underwear, etc. If you missed any ticks and they are still in with your clothes washing and drying them should take care of them. Finally I will do one last tick check in the shower just in case. I know this seems a bit extreme but given the serious nature of the illnesses ticks can transmit I feel this is a critical. Besides you don’t want the very sport you love being your very demise, do you?

This list has evolved over the past decade. If you have things you do that I may have missed I’d love to hear suggestions.

Tags: Hunting