Eddie Salter – Nationally-Known Turkey Hunter and Caller Tells About Tough Toms
Some of Eddie Salter’s Most-Frequently-Asked Turkey Hunting Seminar Questions
Editor’s Note: Eddie Salter began hunting at the age of eight near his home in Evergreen, Alabama. After learning turkey-hunting techniques from his father and grandfather, Salter called-in and harvested his first gobbler at the age of 10. Salter began participating in competitive turkey calling and amassed an impressive list of titles, including seven Southeastern Open Turkey Calling Championships, six Alabama State Championships and two World Open Championships. Named one of the top-10 sportsmen in the U.S. in 1986 and 1989 and with almost four decades of turkey-hunting experience, Salter is recognized as one of the country’s leading authorities on turkey hunting. He’s appeared on ESPN, TNN, The Outdoor Channel and ABC’s 20/20 TV show and in numerous hunting videos and television commercials for Hunter’s Specialties and has been featured in many outdoor magazine articles and radio interviews.
1) What’s the number-one thing you need to be successful when hunting turkeys – your equipment, your gun or your ability to call?
Salter: Actually, none of the above. The number-one thing you need to be a successful turkey hunter is having turkeys to hunt. You can have all the equipment in the world, the best gun and the best calls on the market, but if you don’t have turkeys, you don’t have anything.
2) How do you locate turkeys?
Salter: I use owl calls and crow calls, but I use crow calls the most.
3) What kind of shot do you like?
Salter: I like to use the shot that’s shooting the best in the gun I’m using on that particular day. For instance, my .20 gauge shoots No. 6s great, but my .12 gauge shoots No. 4s the best. You’ve got to look at the pattern your gun produces with several different shot sizes and various brands of shells to know which brand and which shot shoots the best in your gun.
4) What single call do you use the most?
Salter: The call I use the most is the hen yelp, because I hear hen turkeys yelping in the woods more than any other call they make. I’m convinced I can be very successful taking turkeys with just the hen yelp.
5) Do you really think wearing camouflage is important when you’re hunting turkeys?
Salter: I certainly do. For instance, if you walk in your house and an ashtray is knocked off the shelf, you know it because the ashtray is out of place and inappropriate. When you come into the gobbler’s environment, you stick out like that knocked-off ashtray if you don’t have on camouflage. The turkey will see you. I believe in the importance of camouflage, and I use camouflage to help me blend into my surroundings.
Today's video tip from Eddie Salter
Tomorrow: More of Eddie Salter’s Most-Frequently-Asked Turkey-Hunting Seminar Questions
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