Game Cameras for Turkeys
I recently received a question asking if I ever used my game cameras to try to get pictures of turkeys, and where the best place to put them is. I have on several occasions used my game cams to help scout out new pieces of property that I have been given permission to turkey hunt on.
It is more difficult to pick up turkeys on a game cam than it is to pick up the deer. Deer are notorious for using well established trails. Deer trails are easy to find, and I often place cameras in these locations when scouting for deer. Turkeys on the other hand tend to roam more through the woods and don't work established trails like deer do. Because of this, turkeys are not as easy to pattern for camera placement. I can tell you, that if you are picking up any turkeys on your game camera, then the number of actual turkeys in that area is most likely substantially larger.
So where are the best places to set a game camera for turkey pics?
Feeders are a no-brainer, but be informed of your local hunting laws. Some states do not allow the use of bait for turkeys. If your local laws allow it, then a bit of corn can go a long way for bringing turkeys in front of your game cam.
I often opt for the edges of fields. Fields along the edges of woods are a major draw for turkeys. These fields are often strutting zones that bring turkeys in regularly. If you can locate a 'hump' or high section in the field, the big gobblers will often strut on the higher points of the field. Game Camera Pole Mounts are a helpful aid for being able to get your camera in the right position.
Clearings in the middle of the woods can often be a good location for capturing turkey images. As turkeys work through dense sections of woods, they often seem drawn to clearings or other open areas.
One trick I have used that has been very successful in the past is to make use of a decoy with your game camera. I have some old Feather Flex hen decoys that had been gathering dust in the garage. I placed a few of these decoys in a small clearing near an area that I was told birds often roosted. I found that these decoys worked well for drawing turkeys within range of my game cam.
