Turkey Bonus:

Unorthodox Tactics
Thinking “outside” the box

By John Sheely

It was late in May, and I had drawn a tag for the last spring turkey hunt in southern Michigan. I preferred the second season, but was still determined to take a longbeard even if they had already been heavily hunted. This was only my second year and I was still not confident in my calling ability but I had scouted, found roosting sites, and had a perfect plan. 

Towards the end of our season the birds will usually stop responding to calls, especially in the high-pressure areas. To counter this problem I devised a plan to sneak into range while it was still dark, then call lightly when the birds hit the ground. I would set up near an oak deadfall, 300 yards from the roost. The birds had walked past these logs each time I had been in the area so this was a sure thing, the birds had to walk past me. Unfortunately, sure things only work in your dreams! My vision of a majestic tom walking straight toward me turned into all the birds flying in the opposite direction to strut in a different meadow. 

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