It's a familiar scenario for many turkey hunters: you’ve spent the early morning calling to a longbeard on the roost, only to watch him hit the ground and walk off with a group of hens, completely ignoring your calls. It can be frustrating, but the day doesn’t have to end there. In fact, some of the best opportunities to bag a bird often happen later in the day.
Seasoned turkey hunters know that the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. can be highly productive. After spending the morning with hens, gobblers frequently break away and start searching for more. This window offers hunters a valuable chance to catch a bird on the move, especially if you know how to approach mid-day hunting strategically. Here’s how you can make the most of the mid-day hours and increase your odds of success.
The Advantage of Mid-Day Hours
While early morning is often seen as prime time, mid-day hunting presents its own advantages. Early in the morning, gobblers are usually focused on the hens they roosted with, making them less likely to break away and investigate calls. As the morning progresses, however, hens begin to slip away to nest or forage, leaving the gobbler alone and more vulnerable. This is when he becomes more receptive to calls and may start covering ground in search of new company.
Mid-day hunting capitalizes on the gobbler’s increased willingness to roam and investigate sounds. When a tom starts looking for hens later in the day, his attention is no longer divided. This can lead to more direct responses to your calls and more opportunities to set up in a way that puts you right in his path.
Understanding Core Areas and Travel Routes
One of the keys to successful mid-day hunting is understanding the turkey’s core areas and daily travel routes. Gobblers tend to follow patterns, frequenting the same areas or traveling the same routes day after day. These might be strutting zones, feeding areas, or transitional corridors that they use as they move through the landscape. Identifying these spots through pre-season scouting or by observing birds during the season can give you an edge.
If you can anticipate where a gobbler will go after separating from his hens, you can set up in a strategic location and wait for him to arrive. The challenge here is that mid-day gobblers often approach silently. Unlike the loud, gobbling birds of the morning, mid-day birds may slip in quietly, so being patient and sitting still is crucial. If you have confidence in the area you’re hunting, trust the process and give the gobbler time to come to you.
Covering Ground for Active Birds
Sometimes sitting and waiting isn’t enough, especially if you’re unsure of the bird’s location or the action seems slow. In these cases, it’s time to get mobile. Mid-day is a great time to cover ground, calling as you go in hopes of striking up a responsive gobbler. A bird that gobbles back during mid-day is often a strong candidate for success—he’s likely alone and actively looking for hens, making him more inclined to come in.
When you get a response, the first step is positioning. Quickly find a spot where you have a good view and can remain concealed. Once you're in position, a few soft yelps or clucks may be all it takes to coax the bird closer. Resist the urge to overcall; often, less is more during mid-day. Let the bird come looking for you, rather than pressuring him with aggressive calling.
Using Terrain to Your Advantage
Another mid-day strategy is to use terrain features to guide gobblers toward you. As the day progresses, turkeys will often gravitate toward certain types of terrain—whether it's shady ridges during warmer weather or open fields where they can strut. Positioning yourself in or near these terrain features can increase your chances of intercepting a bird.
For example, if you’ve noticed turkeys frequenting open fields in the late morning, set up along the edge of the field or just inside the woods. The gobbler may circle around, using the cover of the trees, before stepping into the open. If it’s a warmer day, shaded ridges or low-lying creek bottoms can offer cooler areas where birds like to spend time. Understanding how turkeys use terrain can give you an advantage in mid-day hunting, allowing you to funnel birds toward your setup without relying solely on calling.
Being Persistent Pays Off
Mid-day hunting requires a slightly different mindset. You might not hear as many gobbles or see the same level of activity as you would at dawn, but patience and persistence can pay off in a big way. In many cases, mid-day birds are more willing to come in once they’ve split off from their hens, and this can lead to more consistent action as the day wears on.
At Three Hills Outfitters, we’ve had plenty of success hunting turkeys during mid-day. In both our Texas and Michigan camps, we often shoot just as many birds after 10 a.m. as we do first thing in the morning. Gobblers, separated from their hens, roam more freely during the late morning and early afternoon, making this a prime time to be in the woods.
Don’t Call It Quits Too Early
It’s tempting to call it quits after a slow morning, but those who stay in the woods for mid-day hunts often find themselves with great opportunities. Whether you’re sitting patiently in a well-scouted area, covering ground to locate an active gobbler, or using terrain to guide birds toward you, mid-day hours can be the most productive time of the day.
Next time you’re out turkey hunting and the morning doesn’t go your way, don’t head home too early. Stick around and take advantage of the mid-day window—you might find that this is when your hunt really comes together.
Related Posts
