16 Nebraskaland • March 2022
IN THE FIELD
By Todd Mills
SPRING GOBBLER PREP
You can never start preparing early enough for turkey
hunting. Planned preparation prevents poor performance,
and although I find this applicable in all facets of life, it's
crucial for hunting success.
Too many times I've not done my homework and paid
for it later. The following are some ideas to help you avoid
mistakes I've made in the past:
Confirm with Your Farmers
Nothing can ruin a hunt faster than somebody else
showing up to hunt the land you had permission to hunt.
Although this may lead to new hunting partners, it usually
ends up in a confrontation of some sort. One big mistake
many hunters make is not checking in with landowners
before every season. They just show up assuming they
still have permission. It's also handy to have them give
you a handwritten permission "slip" each year so you've
got proof. Whichever direction you go, don't make the
mistake of not checking in. And while you're at it, take
the landowner a gift certificate to their favorite local
restaurant as a thank you.
Gear Check
Don't wait until the last minute to check your to-do list and
check your gear. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't check my tent
before going out a few years ago. I didn't remember that a
brace had broken the year before. That, of course, made for an
interesting hunt as I held up one end of the tent with a long
branch. Make sure you do an inventory on decoys, clothing,
tents, chairs and even the choke you use.
Expand Your Territory
Don't count on last year's "honey hole" for gobblers.
Turkeys travel and so should you. Take time in early- to mid-
March to drive around the areas you like to hunt. Birds are
usually still really grouped up at this time, and if it's a nicer
day, they'll be moving. Knocking on a door early last year led
me to taking a really nice tom on property I had never hunted
before. Expanding your territory will pay dividends.
Todd Mills is a former Avian-X and Mossy Oak pro staffer
who divides his outdoor time between hunting waterfowl and
turkeys.
The proper amount of turkey hunting preparation leads to spring opportunities like this. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
