Five Tips for Hunting Hung Up, Stubborn Turkeys

Nothing is more frustrating for hunters than a stubborn turkey that hangs up and refuses to come within range. Hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys can be challenging. However, you can get stubborn gobblers into bow range with the right tactics and strategies.

Turkey hunting can be problematic due to their keen senses and cautious behavior. The stubborn spring gobbler could already have a hen, sense danger, or blow hot and cold. But you can feel defeated when, despite your best tactics, the stubborn birds hang up out of range on the turkey hunt. 



Are you tired of dealing with hung-up, stubborn turkeys? I will share my top tips for hunting wild turkeys to increase your chances of successful crossbow hunting. So please read on to get my spring turkey hunting tips.

Understanding Stubborn Turkeys

A hung-up or stubborn turkey is a bird that has stopped responding to your calls. The wild turkey “hangs up”—in other words, refuses to come within shooting range. This behavior gets frustrating for turkey hunters because it’s not always clear why some turkeys act stubbornly.

Understanding turkey behavior is critical for perfecting your hunting tactics. Here are some reasons hunting public land gobblers is challenging:

• Stops responding to calls: For some reason, some stubborn turkeys may initially respond to your calls but then suddenly stop coming closer.
• Henned up: One reason a turkey hangs up is if it is already with a hen. Gobblers will often stay with hens rather than leave them to come to your calls. This behavior is expected when hunting in the early spring season.
• Cautious nature: Wild turkeys have excellent eyesight and hearing, making them very cautious birds. They may sense danger or become wary if something doesn’t seem right, causing them to hang up. Sometimes, your call may not be convincing enough.
• Changing moods: Toms can be unpredictable, sometimes responding eagerly to calls and other times being more hesitant or ignoring them altogether.
• Pressured birds: Hunting pressure can make the gobblers super wary and catch on to hunting tactics. So, if something seems out of place, they may stop their march.

Key Strategies for Success

Some effective tips for turkey hunting success include changing calls, mimicking a challenging tom, calling the hens, causing a different decoy, or going quiet. Typically, there is no single reason why a turkey seems to respond to your calls but decides to hang up. So, try using different tactics on your hunting trip.

Here are five tips that can help encourage stubborn turkeys to come closer, regardless of whether you are hunting on private or public land.

Tip #1: Call Less and Call Quieter

One strategy for hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys is to call less and call quieter. Gobblers may become wary if they hear too much calling or raspy yelps. By reducing the frequency and volume of your calls, you can create a sense of curiosity in the tom, enticing it to come closer to investigate.

How does changing your calling strategy work?

Calling less and quieter creates the illusion you are farther away from the tom than you are. Remember—curiosity didn’t just kill the cat. Curiosity can lure the turkey closer and well within bow range for ideal shot placement.

Tip #2: Master the Art of the Soft Call

The art of enticing a wild turkey to come closer involves mastering the soft call. When calling turkeys, it’s best to approach them like a hen trying to attract a gobbler. Soft yelps, clucks, and purrs are more effective than just yelping loudly. You can also try a push-pin, box, or slate calls to entice a turkey from its hung-up attitude.

Soft purring is a gentle sound made by happy turkeys while foraging or socializing. Learning this soft call is essential as it creates a calm and safe environment. Mastering the purr can help you lure birds closer by conveying a sense of normalcy and security.

Here are some tips on making a purring sound using slate:

• Hold the slate call in one hand with the striker in the other hand
• Use a relatively loose grip to hold the striker
• Apply light pressure on the striker against the surface of the slate call
• Make slow, circular motions striker, make slow, circular motions on the slate surface
• 
  

Tip #3: Use Deep, Long Calls to Mimic a Challenging Tom

When a tom turkey is with a hen, it typically indicates that the male turkey has successfully attracted a female. The gobbler’s primary focus is on maintaining the hen’s attention. The turkey can also become aggressive as he defends her from other potential suitors.

The first step is to observe their behavior to determine if the tom is displaying or is unconcerned. To lure the hen away and attract the tom, use deep, long calls. These affect both birds.

First, the stubborn turkey can view the calls as a threat and approach the perceived intruder. Second, you may attract the hen if she’s with a non-dominant male.

Tip #4: Decoy Placement and Strategy

Decoys are a valuable tool when hunting stubborn turkeys. However, incorrect placement can put toms off and mean that they never come within the bow range. Here are some tips on placing decoys to maximize hunting success. 

• Place decoys strategically: Set up your decoys in a way that mimics natural turkey behavior. Consider placing them in open areas where turkeys are likely to gather.
• The best hunting position: Place yourself between the bird and the decoy. Stop calling once the bird is interested in the decoy, and be prepared to shoot.
• Set the decoy close: Set decoys about 15 yards away to increase your chances of shooting a stubborn gobbler. Sometimes, the tom hangs up, waiting for hens to approach him. If he does this, he’s still in range.

Tip #5: Patience and Timing

Patience is crucial when hunting stubborn turkeys. It takes time for the tom to overcome its hesitations and approach. Rushing or becoming frustrated can scare the bird away. You increase your chances of a successful hunt by remaining patient and waiting for the right moment.

Timing and patience are vital when hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys. Patience keeps you alert, and excellent timing lets you choose the right moment. Rushing or becoming frustrated can scare the bird, making you wait even longer before a gobbler comes in range. 

Last Minute Tips and Tricks

Here are some more strategy tips to entice stubborn turkey to get within firing range of your crossbow:

• Experiment using different calls to see what’s most effective
• Use natural cover to conceal yourself and minimize movement
• Consider using a blind to hide your movements
• Learn the terrain and roosting sites so you know where gobblers are likely to go
• Check out a range of crossbow accessories that can make turkey hunting more successful

Hunting stubborn turkeys can be challenging but rewarding. Mastering various calls, strategically placing decoys, and being patient can increase your chances of success.



What has worked and hasn’t worked for you when hunting stubborn turkeys? Our community would love to hear your experiences, so please share them below.