Best times for scouting turkeys before the season starts?

Pre-Dawn Scouting

Scouting at dawn is crucial in Rhode Island’s turkey season. Start 45 minutes before sunrise and move quietly through the woods, listening for the sounds of turkeys stirring. Look for areas with abundant food sources, such as agricultural fields, berry patches, and wooded edges. Take note of any turkey sign, such as droppings, feathers, and scrape marks, which can indicate the presence of a gobbler. Use a quality pair of binoculars to scan the surroundings without being seen.

Late-Afternoon Scouting

Scouting in the late afternoon, from 1 hour before sunset to 1 hour after, can also be productive in Rhode Island. Turkeys often return to their roosting sites during this time, and you can get a glimpse of their movement patterns. Look for areas with dense coniferous cover, such as pine or spruce trees, where turkeys often roost. Keep an eye out for turkey vultures, which often circle above the roosting site, and try to position yourself to get a good view of the turkeys as they fly in.

Tracking Turkey Sign

Tracking turkey sign is an essential part of scouting in Rhode Island. Look for the following signs: droppings, which can be a giveaway of a turkey’s presence; feathers, especially tail feathers, which can indicate a rooster’s presence; and scrape marks, which are shallow scratches on trees that turkeys use for communication and marking their territory. Take note of the direction of the scrape marks, as they can indicate the direction of a turkey’s movement. Use this information to plan your hunting strategy and increase your chances of success.