By: Brett Aaron of Aaron Outdoors
When I see the dogwoods start to bloom, I really get the itch for chasing long beards. Turkey hunting is one of my favorite things to do and having a successful season usually comes down to scouting preparation. You may ask, “How do you prepare?” My answer is Stealth Cams, and specifically, the innovation of Stealth Cam’s cellular trail cameras. They have made a huge difference in the way I prepare for turkey season. Stealth Cams help to set me up in the right position before the season ever opens.
I like to have a good idea of how many turkeys and more specifically, toms are on a property before I hunt there. You can also get a great visual on the size of the tom’s beard and spurs if you get that Stealth Cam in the right place. So, if you are after a true trophy tom you’ll know just where to be on opening day!
Here are my top FIVE locations to place your cellular Stealth Cam to nail down those long beards
1. Strut Zones– By far, the best place to get a tom on Stealth Cam is in his strut zone. This is a place where he can be easily seen by any approaching hens. These can include an old road bed, a clearing in the woods, a high point on a ridge. Think visibility, where would you go to be seen.
2. Fence Gaps/Open Gates– Another one of my favorite places to put a camera is on an open gate or a gap in a fence. Many times this is also along a road or well-traveled path. The opening serves
as a pinch point and funnels the movement down to an area that is easily monitored by a stealth cam.
3. Dusting Sites– I have found good luck hanging a Stealth Cam over a dusting site. Turkeys dust to keep their feathers in good condition and is essential for their health. Dusting sites attract the whole flock of birds and if you find one, I’d suggest hanging up a camera. This is similar to hanging a trail camera over a scrape for whitetails. Look for dusting sites along logging roads or under pine or cedar stands, somewhere dry with loose soil.
4. Roosting Area– Look for mature trees with good horizontal limbs 20 feet up or higher. Turkeys often likely to roost in mature oaks or pines with these horizontal limbs. They also like to roost over water like creeks, ponds, or rivers. If you can identify a roosting site, place a Stealth Cam near where you think they are flying up from. If you get a picture of one flying up to roost one evening, you’ll have a great leg up on him for the morning hunt!
5. Feeding sites – Another great place to put your Stealth Cam for turkeys is along a food source. Food sources can vary from the type of terrain you are in but it could be an oak ridge in big timber, a creek bottom with fresh, lush, green vegetation, or an agriculture field or food plot. Turkeys are like everything else, they have to eat. So, find what they’re eating in your neck of the woods and stick up a Stealth Cam.
If you can get your cameras out in these types of areas at least a month before season and keep them running throughout, you will set yourself up for your best turkey season ever! Don’t take my word for it though, check out www.stealthcam.com to check out their great lineup of cellular cameras so you can get those Stealth Cams out and let them start working for you!