Late winter is a good time to prepare for spring turkey season. Doing some homework greatly increases a chance at a big ol’ Tom. Some preparation can be done at home during bad winter weather. Other things require outdoor activity on nicer days, weather-wise.

Indoors during late winter, brush up on your calling skills and experiment with new calls. Tune up. All calls need to be in good operating condition. Check mouth calls to make sure diaphragms have not deteriorated. Friction calls need checking. It is a chance to perfect the tone, cadence and intricacies of each call. By studying videos and trying to imitate them, you are learning from some of the best turkey hunting experts in the country. Watch their techniques and learn to match them.

As you study the calling of experts and attempt to imitate them, learn the how, where, when and why of attracting turkeys. Example: A loud yelping is sometimes better for young gobblers in the early part of the season. Yet, at some times, such as daybreak or late in the season, a more wary gobbler might be frightened away. Hunters can master these tricks in a few hours of watching videos, compared to learning this on your own, which might take many seasons.

Indoor activity includes making sure accessories are in order. Locate your clothing, headnets, hats and gloves. They can disappear from one season to another or may need replacement.

As the weather improves, move outdoors. Take time to pattern a shotgun or determine it effective range. This is especially true if you purchased a new weapon or had difficulty with the old one.

Next, scout out prospective hunting areas. Begin with friends, acquaintances and natural resources people. Call them and ask about probable areas to check. Begin early, as a lot of other people are doing the same thing.

Follow up by searching the areas mentioned. Look for scratchings, feathers, dusting areas and tracks. Hardwood forests and field edges are some of the best areas to begin.

As opening day of hunting season approaches, turkey breeding season also begins in earnest. Tom turkeys begin to gobble. Spend more time in the woods at dawn and dusk when the birds are most active. The more gobbling you hear, the better you will be able to pattern their activity. If they do not gobble on their own, annoy them with an owl or crow call to get them talking.

If you can locate a gobbler with an owl or crow, call in the evening prior to the hunt to possibly locate where he will likely be the following morning. Sneak as close as possible to the location before first light. When legal shooting hours arrive, make three or four soft yelps.

This is probably your best opportunity to take a tom.

Turkey hunting is one of the fastest-growing outdoor sports. Whether or not you’re successful depends upon preseason practice and preparation which are well worth the effort.

For more insight and tips for hunting throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.