COLUMN: Driftwood Outdoors: Time to prepare for turkey season

Turkey season is approaching fast.

Across the Midwest, most turkey hunters are less than two months away from early morning drives fueled by gas station coffee. If things go well, strutting gobblers will send chills down our spines on opening day. For me, there is no rush in the outdoor world like the one felt while trying to lure an old limb hanger into range.

Greening hardwoods dotted with red buds and dogwoods represent the arrival of spring. Gobbling turkeys, aggressive crappie and morel mushrooms lure us outdoors. The excitement builds quickly this time of year, but successful hunts rarely happen by accident. The best hunts result from preparation, and right now is the window when getting ready matters most.

Preparation for the coming season begins with taking inventory. Pull your turkey vest from the closet and go through the pockets. After you throw away last year's half-eaten snacks, lay everything out. Check calls for working condition. Mouth calls often need to be replaced, box calls need to be chalked, and the surfaces of slate calls need to be roughed up. Make sure your gloves and facemask are still there and in good shape. Put loose shells back in the box or correct pockets. Organization prevents opening morning frustration.

Your shotgun deserves special attention. Every season, hunters assume last year's setup is still dialed in. Too often, those hunters discover problems at the worst time. Clean your gun thoroughly. If you're using a scope or red dot, make sure the mounts are rock solid and the sight is dialed in. Make sure the shotgun cycles shells properly. Most importantly, head to the range and pattern your shotgun. Patterning isn't just about confirming accuracy. The process builds confidence.

While preparation of your gear is paramount, scouting may be the single most valuable task hunters can focus on right now, especially if you're planning to hunt public land. Turkeys follow predictable patterns before hunting pressure arrives, and early scouting reveals where birds roost, travel and feed. Listen at dawn when possible. Glassing field edges in the evening should clue you into roost areas birds regularly return to. Take morning drives around your hunting area.

Boots on the ground are another way to locate birds, but you run the risk of bumping them out of the area. I would not recommend scouting in the woods you plan to hunt in the days leading up to the season. If you want to get out now and walk your area looking for shed antlers, then keep your eyes open for turkey tracks, droppings and scratching areas in leaves. These are clear signs that turkeys are using an area regularly.

Knowing where turkeys are before hitting the field on opening day changes everything. Instead of wandering and hoping to strike a bird, you can slip quietly into a known area or set up near a consistent travel zone. Public-land hunters need to have multiple locations identified ahead of time, since hunting pressure can change turkey behavior quickly once the season opens.

Preparation should also include calling practice. Whether you favor a box call, slate call or mouth call, spending a few minutes every day working on cadence and control makes a difference. I do a lot of this while I'm driving to and from work. Good turkey calling isn't about volume, and it's not for show. It's about realism and restraint. Go on YouTube and listen to recordings of real turkeys. Imitate that, not some award winner selling you how-to tips. Being familiar with your calls helps you react naturally when a gobbler is listening.

Perhaps the greatest reason turkey season holds such a special place is what it represents. It marks the true arrival of spring. Songbirds return. Trees and plants bloom. Rivers warm and fishing opportunities expand. Campgrounds reopen, and travel plans begin to take shape after a long winter indoors. Another year is upon us, and we have the opportunity to make the most of it. Use these final weeks wisely and enjoy another season of adventure in the turkey woods.

See you down the trail...

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