Successful hunters have a plan, often locking in promising outdoor campaigns a year or two in advance. Taking the long-term look at important hunts allows you to gradually build up gear supplies and save money for the event. Realtree’s Steve Hickoff recommends planning now for the 2017 turkey season and reveals how to make it your best ever.

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The recent spring turkey hunting season is long gone. What you do now though – especially the questions you ask – can help make next year’s gobbler-chasing campaign successful.

1. Permit and Lottery Hunt Deadlines?
Such details can easily be forgotten with the fall hunting seasons approaching.

Maybe you’re in deer, duck or autumn turkey mode right now. Next spring’s hunts are far from your mind. They shouldn’t be. Check deadline dates for turkey hunting permit and lottery applications. Call state wildlife management officials to get an inside angle on what’s expected of hunters. Follow the procedure. Do they offer special archery turkey hunts? Are lottery permits often leftover?

Tip: Once you acquire application dates and other important details, write them down on an old-school calendar or put these deadlines in your phone’s planner, scheduled as reminders.

2. How Many Turkeys Were Killed?

This one is trickier, with a range of results, depending on which state you plan on hunting… [continued]

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