I believe it’s safe to say that most turkey hunters live for the morning hunt. The gobbling at the break of day removes any question marks as to whether a gobbler is around. Excitement, enthusiasm and adrenaline are at peak readings. The decision making process begins and an approach is applied to a given situation. This usually involves the typical form of closing in on a tom, setting up calling and pointing your gun in the direction of the gobbling. You have an idea of where to be, where the bird is and that it’s time to work the bird. Aggressive tactics, such as trolling and covering lots of ground trying to strike a tom, often yield a positive outcome and put you in a similar setup situation. The fact that birds gobble and their location is known takes some of the guesswork out of it. Again, mornings generally provide faster and hotter action with vocal birds, making it the preferred time to turkey hunt.
The problem with mornings is they fade away and turn into afternoon and afternoons don’t always provide the same scenarios. In fact, gobbling, the success of aggressive tactics and even our energy levels fade with it. The pace of the activity dial turns down a few hours after they leave the roost and then tweaks back up later in the day. Without sound tactics, you can spend the afternoon looking at your decoys and texting your buddies at the diner.
I started turkey hunting afternoons 20 years ago — not because I wanted to, but because I was two hours away from home hunting on the Flint River. I had nothing else to do once the morning hunt was over. The others who hunted our lease at that time were out of the woods by midmorning at the latest, but I decided it was better to spend the afternoon in the woods even if I were napping. At least there was a chance of killing a tom. I did not know how to go about it but I learned. What I soon realized was that I averaged an afternoon bird almost every year and, in some cases, would not have gotten a limit without that effort.
As an avid turkey hunter, I’m often asked what is the best time of day to hunt wild turkeys. The answer isn’t straightforward as turkeys are active throughout the day and their patterns change based on weather, season, and flock dynamics. However, through years of experience chasing gobblers, I’ve identified the prime times to target these wary birds.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the advantages and strategies for hunting turkeys during morning, midday, afternoon, and dusk. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned hunter, you’ll learn insider tips to fill your tag during peak activity periods. Let’s dive in!
Morning – Target Fly-Downs and First Light Action
Without a doubt early morning offers the mostconsistent and intense turkey action. Here are the key reasons the dawn hours can lead to success
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Roost Fly-Downs – Nothing beats the excitement of a gobbler sounding off at daybreak before flying down to your decoys, Target known roost sites 15-30 minutes before sunrise,
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Vocal Gobblers – Lovestruck toms are at their most vocal in the morning as they seek hens. Aggressive calling incites fired-up responses.
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Limited Competition – With fewer hens on the ground early, you have less competition calling in lusty longbeards.
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Pattern Prediction – Roosted birds offer clues to morning patterns. You can ambush fly-down zones.
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Minimal Human Pressure – Be the first hunter in your turkey woods for a stealthy advantage.
Prime Morning Target Zones
To capitalize on morning activity, focus on these high-percentage areas:
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Roost Sites – Set up on fly-down corridors and within 100 yards of known roosts.
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Strut Zones – Intercept gobblers en route to open fields, pastures, or clearings where they display.
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Food Sources – Ambush feeding areas like crop fields, mast trees, and greens.
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Travel Corridors – Funnel toms along terrain features leading to strut zones and food.
Morning Hunting Tactics
Here are proven strategies for morning success:
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Soft Calling – Use subtle yelps, clucks, and purrs during fly-down time to avoid spooking birds.
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Aggressive Calling – Turn up the volume with excited cutts, cackles and gobbles as sunlight intensifies action.
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Roost Targeting – Pinpoint fly-down spots the night before by locating birds on a limb.
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Decoy Setup – Place decoys for maximum visibility in likely strut zones before fly-down.
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Concealed Approach – Use terrain like ridges, gullies and brush to slip close to vocal toms.
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Ambush Sites – Have blinds or natural cover overlooking prime areas to intercept moving gobblers.
Midday – Capitalize on Lonely Longbeards
Many hunters head home by late morning, but those who stay afield are rewarded with midday opportunities as patterns shift. Here’s how to capitalize after the morning rush:
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Roaming Gobblers – Loveless toms estranged from hens cruise open areas searching for love.
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Reduced Hen Competition – Nesting hens thin out midday contact with gobblers.
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Receptive Moods – Lonely longbeards are more likely to approach calls desperately seeking ladies.
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Relaxed Temperaments – Less hunting pressure makes gobblers less wary and easier to fool.
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feeding Frenzies – Full sunlight finds flocks busy feeding and less attentive.
Best Midday Tactics
Adjust your strategy to match turkey moods:
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Patience – Call sparingly and wait extensively when targeting wary gobblers.
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Mobility – Cover ground and use locators until finding gobbles. Pending birds require legwork.
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Open Areas – Scan pastures, crop fields, and large openings for lovesick toms.
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Food Sources – Set up where birds feed heavily like mast trees, clover fields, and managed openings.
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Ambush Water – Intercept thirsty toms along streams and pond edges in the heat of the day.
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Change Locations – Don’t stay stagnant if action lapses. Keep moving to increase odds of contact.
Afternoon – Hone In on Hens and Late Activity
Many hunters overlook afternoons, but this timescale offers underrated action. Here’s how to make the most of late day pursuits:
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Roaming Hens – Increased hen movement often pulls less patient toms from cover.
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Return to Routine – Gobblers resume strutting and feeding patterns as the day winds down.
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Vocal Activity – Late sunlight rejuvenates lovesick gobblers who sound off seeking ladies.
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Improved Mobility – Warmer temperatures allow easier walking without spooking birds.
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Dusk Positioning – Intercept flocks heading to roost sites. Set up 100 yards away.
Keys to Afternoon Success
As turkeys shift behavior, your approach must also evolve:
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Later Start – Allow normal activity to resume before engaging birds. Begin calling after 2 p.m.
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Roost Targeting – Identify fly-up trees being used and areas turkeys stage before ascending.
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Open Strut Zones – Clearings and fields near roosts are likely late day congregation points.
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Calling Sparingly – Less is more on pressured afternoons. Avoid overcalling wary flocks.
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Relaxed Demeanor – Move slowly and limit unnatural noises that can flare birds.
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Prepared Setup – Have a blind or natural cover ready in case birds approach unaware.
Dusk – Intercept Birds Returning to Roost
The evening offers a final chance to ambush returning flocks. Though difficult, tagged birds prove it’s consistently possible.
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Last Calls – Amorous toms will still respond to calling on their way to roosts.
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Unguarded Movement – Low light allows you to sneak into roosting zones without detection.
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Established Routes – Flocks use familiar corridors each evening for safety and navigation.
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Congregating Flocks – Birds group up before ascending to limbs making calling possible.
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Relaxed Pace – Slowly moving flocks can be more easily intercepted.
Dusk Hunting Keys
To effectively target twilight flocks:
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Scout Roosts – Identify specific trees and limbs used for evening perching.
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Map Travel Routes – Note terrain features and funnels birds use when returning to roost.
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Approach Early – Access roosting zones at least an hour before fly-up time.
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Concealed Setup – Have a ground blind ready within 50 yards of expected travel routes.
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Soft Calling – Use subtle clucks, purrs and low volume yelps to avoid spooking wary flocks.
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Limit Movement – Remain still once birds are audible. Let them come to you.
As you can see, every timeframe has advantages, so don’t limit your pursuits to just mornings. The keys are scouting bird patterns, having multiple setup options prepared, and adjusting your strategies based on conditions. With smart hunting and realistic expectations, filling your tag is very achievable no matter when you hit the woods. Just don’t underestimate late mornings and afternoons. Adjust your approach, remain mobile, and be ready when opportunities arise.
Mid Afternoon Trolling for Turkeys
No two turkey hunters are the same and many prefer to stay aggressive. The slower-paced “sit and wait” style of hunting doesn’t work for everyone. I’ll respect anyone’s approach, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes on any given day when it comes to putting a turkey on the ground, as long as it’s rewarding and works for me personally. My program is to always adjust to the conditions at hand and plan an approach based on conclusions drawn on a particular day. If birds are vocal, I’ll stay more aggressive. If they appear to have gone quiet, I turn the dial down.
I have not had a lot of luck moving and calling during the middle of the day when hunting in the Southeast. As a result, I slow down and move less. In fact, I’ve concluded that I do more damage and probably bump birds that I‘m not even aware of when doing this. I believe you can easily contribute to the “pressure factor” if you don’t recognize that a particular style of aggressive hunting is not working at certain times or on a given day. You can wear a good property out in a hurry if you don’t at least make an effort to put thought in the pressure you’re applying. The last thing you want is to push a tom to neighboring property.
If I do troll, it’s more of a slow-motion advance. I will move from location to location, stopping for short periods of time and cutting as hard and loud as I can to try and shock toms into gobbling. I may cut on a glass call, wait a couple of minutes and then do the same thing on a box call. I will use a crow call at times, as well as pay attention to real crows if they appear to be harassing something. I’ll then continue moving forward. I may spend 15-30 minutes in an area that I have reason to feel good about before continuing. This assumes you have a large enough tract to keep moving on. Smaller tracts may require that you set up for a long, motionless afternoon.
Afternoons in the Turkey Woods Can Be Productive
Birds can be taken at any time of the day as long as you’re in the field and vary your approaches. Self-discipline and a larger dose of patience comes into play. Just what the approach entails depends on the time of day, terrain features, hunting pressure and, to an extent, what part of the country you’re in. This is always on my mind as I hunt different parts of the country.
For example, out West in Montana, we may stay on the move most of the day looking for Merriams. In Texas, when hunting Rios, it’s more of a blended style of hunting involving trolling and staying with a setup for longer periods of time along with sequential calling. It’s the same in New Mexico, partly because it’s physically demanding but also because staying with a setup in the right location can be very productive, especially late in the day.
Generally speaking, afternoon hunting tactics for Easterns require a more passive and patient mindset, especially during the mid afternoon. For me, it has required a toned-down approach and picking good setup locations based on scouting and knowledge of the property. It’s much more difficult to simply drive around blind calling an Eastern. Even if you do locate a tom, he is so cautious that if there is any mistake, he is gone for the afternoon.
Turkey Hunting Tips – When Is The Best Time of Day To Hunt Turkeys
FAQ
What time of day are turkeys most active?
Turkeys are quite active in the early mornings so it’s important to get close to a roost, but not too close when setting up to hunt.
What is the best time to hunt turkeys?
The early stage of the breeding season typically means fewer hens have been bred, resulting in fewer hens laying their eggs. In this case, hunting earlier mornings would be the most effective. Getting as close as one can while the turkey is on the roost before calling is necessary, followed by soft calling.
Why can you only hunt turkey until noon?
The reason behind the laws regulating hunting to noon or 1pm in many states during the spring is due to hens going to nest. This being said, most hens will go to nest between 9:30 am and 10:30am. That is why many times if you can get a gobbler to sound off after this time, there is a good chance he will come in.
Is midday good for turkey hunting?
The more we learn about the behavior patterns of the wild turkey during the spring, through harvest data, radio telemetry studies of gobblers and just plain old hunting experience, the more we find that the absolute best time to kill a gobbler is between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
When is the best time to hunt a Turkey?
This holds true in turkey hunting, possibly more so than when hunting other game. From knowing when the gobblers will respond the best to your tactics, to knowing when to call on a specific hunt, as they say, “timing is everything.” Just as the fall hunting season catches whitetails during the rut, spring is breeding season for turkeys.
When is the best time to hunt hens?
Some hunters argue that the mid-day is the best time to hunt hens because they leave the toms to go back to their nest, leaving them eager to respond to calling.
Why is timing important in turkey hunting?
Timing is important in so many things we do, from a musical beat to hitting a baseball to timing the stock market. The better you can anticipate the pulse, peak or sweet spot the better you’ll do. This holds true in turkey hunting, possibly more so than when hunting other game.
Can turkey hunting be compared to fishing?
Turkey hunting can be compared to fishing, as anyone who has spent much time turkey hunting knows. Success can be elusive and unpredictable, with preferences changing from one day to the next or even within the same day.
Should I pick a Turkey early in the year?
It is hard not to pick early in the year because that’s when turkeys haven’t been pressured, but also, depending where you’re at in the country, it could make for a cold hunt. I’d have to say starting down south early is typically always good, while the farther north you go, later is better.
When is turkey breeding season?
Just as the fall hunting season catches whitetails during the rut, spring is breeding season for turkeys. While the decreasing amount of daylight induces whitetails to rut, the increasing photoperiod indicates it’s time for turkeys to begin the rituals and process of propagation.