Will Primos’ Secrets for Successful Turkey Hunting
John E. Phillips 05.07.13
Author’s note: Will Primos of Jackson, Mississippi, the founder of Primos Hunting, is a Mossy Oak Pro.
I’ve never called to a turkey that wouldn’t come in within gun range. When I’m doing a turkey hunting seminar, this statement always is when the crowd breaks into laughter. But I think these words are true. That turkey may not come to me on the day I’m calling to him, but that ole gobbler will come to me or someone else on another day. My number one rule is when a turkey won’t come to you, back out of the woods, and try to call to him on another day.
My second tip is to not get too close to a turkey. I believe when you’re really close to a gobbler, and you’re calling to him, that gobbler thinks, “If you’re already this close, baby, come on.” However, if you set up a little further from the gobbler and start getting him excited, but aren’t coming to him, he’ll get fired up and come running to you. On many occasions, I’ve called to turkeys from 100 yards away and then backed up and called again like I was a hen leaving the area and had success.
If you’re calling from the side of a hill, and a turkey is gobbling from the other side, move to the top of the hill. If you’re yelping like a hen and he’s gobbling back to you, he’ll come to the top of that hill to see you. Old gobblers know that every coyote, fox, and bobcat in the woods can hear him gobbling and can hear you calling, so he wants to see any predators that may be between him and the hen he thinks is calling. If a turkey is going up a hill and spots danger, he knows that his legs are the number one thing that helps him fly. All he has to do is push off, jump up in the air, turn downhill, spread those big wings, and sail out of harm’s way in two heartbeats. If you try to call a turkey that’s below you, he probably won’t come. If he does, he’ll try to circle around and get on your level or come in behind you.
Everyone gets fired up about calling turkeys. I make turkey calls, so I want hunters to call to turkeys. But sometimes to get a gobbler within gun range, you don’t need to call to him; you just need to scratch in the leaves like you’re a feeding hen. Another tip is if you hear a hen calling, call back to her with the same call she’s making. That will make her mad, and if she has a gobbler with her, she’ll bring him in while she’s trying to run you off.
Sometimes you’ll have a better chance to take a turkey if you don’t call at all. The first time I ever went to Missouri to hunt turkeys, I went through a low place on a ridge where the terrain was mossy, so the sound of my walking was quiet. I had heard a turkey gobble in the direction I was traveling, and once I came out of that mossy place, I stepped into some dry leaves. I only took two steps before the gobbler started to gobble. He wasn’t 50 yards from me on the other side of the ridge. I didn’t move or sit down. I took the safety off my gun and scratched in the leaves with my toe. The turkey gobbled, came up that ridge straight toward me and never gobbled again. Turkeys have two feet just like humans. When you’re walking through the leaves, that sound may be misinterpreted by a gobbler, and he’ll think you’re a turkey.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
