Tony C. Zappia       Focus on the Outdoors

If you have ever spent time turkey hunting, you have no doubt made a mistake or two. Whether it was a missed shot, a poor setup or lousy calling, we've all "been there, done that" in the turkey woods. Those who say they have never erred, simply haven't spent considerable time chasing these wily game birds.

Some tips to make your experience more successful:

Patience: Ask any turkey hunter what makes them successful in the field and they'll note their ability to remain patient during times when birds may not be present or while birds hang up. Most unsuccessful hunters become very impatient when the action is slow and will prematurely relocate to another area. Learn when to stay put and when to move. This comes with experience and once you understand how birds will react to various conditions, you will consistently tag spring birds.

Stay still: When a turkey approaches your hunting setup, respect its ability to pick up the slightest movement. A wise, old gobbler is just as observant as a five-year-old whitetail buck. Even at a distance of 100 yards, a turkey can pick out the glare of your eyeglasses or gun barrel or your hand as you swat at a mosquito. At a distance of 30 yards a turkey can see you blink and will pick up the nervous twitch of your shotgun barrel as it rests against your knee. So, whenever you make any movement in the turkey woods — especially when a turkey is approaching — movements must be very slow and deliberate. If black flies and mosquitoes are thick, make certain you either have plenty of bug dope or good bug netting prior to going afield. The last thing you want is to have a mosquito land on your nose or eyelid as a big tom moves into shooting range.

Be comfortable: I can't count the number of times I have set up on a gobbler and had my legs fall asleep underneath me. As your legs go numb, you begin to lose concentration on the strutting bird. Your mind is fighting with you to move your legs but you know if you do you'll spook the bird. Buy a nice turkey vest that offers a padded seat and adjustable back support. This should help you remain comfortable and ready for the shot.

Taking the shot: It hasn't happened to me yet, although sooner or later my luck will run out and I'll miss a slam-dunk shot. If you watch hunting videos or TV shows, you have more than likely seen a fair share of misses from seasoned turkey hunters. The number one culprit for misses in the turkey woods is lifting your head off the stock of the shotgun. Faulty shots also occur from lack of concentration, poor aiming and shooting a moving bird. To stack the odds in your favor, if you shoot right-handed, point your left shoulder in the direction where you believe the gobbler will appear. This way you will have a good range of movement if the bird appears a bit behind you or well off to your right. Additionally, your aim point shouldn't be at the head of the bird. Instead, aim at the bird's wattles. That way, if the bird bobs his head the shot will still hit vitals found in the neck area.

Let them close the distance: Even though I shoot a Remington 10-gauge — the perfect gun to "reach out and touch" a strutting gobbler — doesn't mean I make a habit of shooting birds greater than 50 yards. Turkey hunters should learn and practice enticing lovesick gobblers within 30-40 yards of your set up. Even though the effective range of a well placed turkey load is greater than 50 yards, leveling the front sight on a bird within that 30-yard barrier will dramatically increase your rate of success. Moreover, the excitement really begins when you can get a fired-up gobbler within spitting distance of your setup.

Camouflage is king: One of the biggest kicks I get during turkey season is observing camouflaged turkey hunters wearing short boots and white socks. As they sit against a tree and pull their knees up to use as a gun rest, their white socks become warning flags to oncoming birds. It is best to wear camo pants, jacket or shirt, dull-colored boots, brown socks and, of course, a headnet. Try to match the pattern to your surroundings. Even consider camouflaging that shiny shotgun barrel. A little camo paint purchased at the local hardware store will do wonders in keeping your position hidden from a gobbler's keen eyesight.

Too much calling: Other than running around your turkey decoy singing a show tune, I can't think of any other distraction that will turn a bird off than over-calling. Very similar to over-calling waterfowl, wild turkeys, in particular, a mature tom, will not tolerate excessive calling. A good tactic is to match a gobbler's call for call if he's hot. When he begins to approach, use a soft call to sweet talk him into range. Finally, if a bird hangs up, simply stop calling. Curiosity, and the lack of calling, have put many a tom turkey in the oven.