Tips From The Pros: The Untamed's Top 5 Turkey Hunting Tips

From talking about their first turkey harvests to decoys and tips for hunters ready to bring home their first gobblers, check out the insights from these pros.

Turkey Tips From The Untamed

The Untamed (Josh Ilderton, Kirk Price, Trace Butcher, and Jay Cox answer some insightful questions about going after your first (or next) turkey and how to become a better hunter. 

Here are five turkey tips from these pros.

1. Briefly Tell Us About the First Turkey You Ever Harvested. What Was it Like?

Josh Ilderton: I had just gotten out of the Marine Corps and met a great friend of mine now, Keith Alfrey, and we really hit it off. We had been hunting hard for several days with a few close encounters, but I didn't close the door on any of them. 

We stayed after it that season, and Keith called a stubborn bird in for me, and I let the lead fly. It was awesome! I was hooked from that point! 

Kirk Price: The first turkey I harvested was with the person who really introduced me to turkey hunting, Chris Adkins. We were in Kentucky for their season opener, and I had missed a turkey on the first morning of the hunt. 

Being young and inexperienced, he reassured me I would get another opportunity. Later that evening, Chris called in a bird for me, and I successfully harvested my first long beard. 

Trace Butcher: The first turkey I harvested was with my older brother, Ryan Butcher. It was youth day in West Virginia, and before daylight broke, he had walked me a couple hundred yards to the ridge top where he had roosted a bird the evening before. 

Shortly after daylight, he called it right in my lap, and I had my first turkey! 

Jay Cox: I killed my first turkey when I was 15. It was my first time ever going, and all I really had to do was shoot. 

I didn't know anything about turkey hunting, but my cousin Jeff was already a master at it. He called four strutting, gobbling toms into 25 yards, and I shot. It was love at first gobble.

2. What Are Your Best Strategies for Using Decoys?

Josh Ilderton: I like using decoys at all sets unless the bird is just coming too fast or is too close to set them up. Depending on the time of the season and what the turkeys are telling me, most of the time, I set up a jake decoy with a hen, or I will set out a single jake or a single hen. 

Kirk Price: I prefer to use decoys in open fields and areas where they can be seen for a long way. 

When a gobbler is closing in, and he sees the decoy, oftentimes, he will lock in on the decoy and give you an opportunity to get a shot off. The biggest thing to remember is to make sure the decoy will be visible to the bird by placing it on the hump or roll of a hill. 

Using a decoy can be the difference between a bird hanging up just out of range or him coming in close for a shot opportunity. 

Trace Butcher: I have had great success with decoys, but there are certain places I will not use a decoy. 

Anywhere I am set up, and the gobbler can see my decoys from a distance of 50 yards, I will use them. I love watching turkeys interact with decoys, and it has brought them running in several times. 

But if I am thick cover, and he won't be able to see my decoys until he is right on top of me, he is more than likely already going to be in gun range. If not, he will look around long enough for "the hen" to provide me with a shot. 

Jay Cox: I like setting out my Avian X Jake and breeding hen to get the gobbler looking for a fight. I've killed turkeys due to a good decoy setup over my average calling ability.

3. What Call Would You Suggest for New Turkey Hunters? Why?

Josh Ilderton: All calls take practice, even for seasoned turkey hunters, but I think a basic slate call is a great start. The slate call can make every sound a beginner hunter needs to make to harvest his or her first turkey. But the key is to practice, practice, practice. 

Kirk Price: I would recommend a pot call or box call for a beginner turkey hunter. They are relatively easy to use with minimal practice but are extremely effective. 

Trace Butcher: I would recommend a box call for a new turkey hunter. They are easy to use, but I would also recommend picking up a few mouth calls to start practicing. Find the call that works best for you. 

Jay Cox: Get a slate call and practice, practice, practice. I really like the Woodhaven Cherry Classic Crystal. It's easy to run and sounds sweet!

4. If You Could Give One Piece of Advice to a Hunter Looking to Harvest Their First Turkey, What Would it Be?

Josh Ilderton: Hang in there like a hair in a biscuit! You will make mistakes, there will be misses, and hens will take your future first turkey harvest away, but consistency and hard work will prevail. 

Kirk Price: The piece of advice I would give to a new turkey hunter is to find someone experienced and ask to tag along. 

Unlike deer hunting, you rarely just "get lucky" with turkey hunting. It can be tricky to figure out when to call, when not, and where to set up. An experienced turkey hunter can teach you these things at a much quicker rate than you figuring it out on your own. 

Trace Butcher: One piece of advice I wish someone would have given me is to stay patient and not call every time he gobbles. It keeps him interested and curious about you – "the hen" – when you play hard to get. 

Jay Cox: Find someone with experience and ask them to take you hunting. I learned from watching and listening to guys that knew what they were doing.

5. And Finally . . . If You Could Go on a Turkey Hunt With Anyone (Dead or Alive), Who Would it Be? 

Josh Ilderton: My son, Brody. I can't wait to take him on his first turkey hunt. I love seeing his reactions when deer hunting, so I know he will get excited hearing a tom thundering coming in hot! 

Kirk Price: If I could turkey hunt with anyone, it would be the people I turkey hunt with now. I love sharing my spring mornings with friends and family in the outdoors. 

Trace Butcher: If I could turkey hunt with anyone, it would be my Grandpa. The stories he told me from when he was a young man have played a huge role in my life. I would have loved to have made a memory in the woods with him. 

Jay Cox: That's a tough one for me to answer. One of the best things about turkey hunting is getting to hunt with different people and learning something new from each of them. 

I've learned the most from hunting with guys like Jeff Cox, Bryan Delamater, and Mark Scroggins. If I had to pick one guy, though, it would be my Dad. I know one day we will have our last hunt together, and I'll want one more with him more than anyone. 

To learn more from these pros, follow The Untamed on Instagram: @TheUntamed and like their Facebook page.

Take These Tips and the HuntWise App With You for a Great Turkey Hunt

Now that you have some insight into common turkey hunting questions and a knowledgeable channel to reference, it's time to go chase some spring gobblers. 

Make sure you have the best hunting tool with you on your hunt! Download the HuntWise app for a competitive edge over other hunters, whether you're going after your first gobbler or your next one. 

HuntWise helps you find public or private hunting land in all 50 states. You'll also gain access to phone numbers for property owners, so you never have to watch a turkey wander onto private land and end your chase unsuccessfully. 

Download the app and try it free today! Drop pins to mark your favorite spots, share those locations with your hunting buddies to create your game plan and bring home a gobbler this season. 

Good luck, hunters, and shoot straight. 

Content updated February 16, 2024.