--- title: Your Setup is Probably Why You're Not Killing Turkeys description: "Your Setup Is Probably Why You’re Not Killing Turkeys\nMost turkey hunters focus on just getting hidden, but that’s not what always kills birds.\nSuccess in turkey hunting is won or lost during the setup." image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Your%20setup%20is%20probably%20why%20youre%20not%20killing%20turkeys-1.jpg --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - Your Setup is Probably Why You're Not Killing Turkeys [Videos](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/videos) [How-To's](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/how-tos) # Your Setup is Probably Why You're Not Killing Turkeys 2 Min Read By [Just Hunt Club](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/just-hunt-club) ![Your Setup is Probably Why You're Not Killing Turkeys](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Your%20setup%20is%20probably%20why%20youre%20not%20killing%20turkeys-1.jpg) Most turkey hunters focus on just getting hidden, but that’s not what always kills birds. Success in turkey hunting is won or lost during the setup.    Understanding how to hunt wild turkeys requires more than just high-quality camouflage or the perfect shotgun; it demands a strategic positioning that accounts for a gobbler's legendary eyesight and wary nature. A proper turkey hunting setup involves analyzing the terrain to identify natural funnels and clear shooting lanes while ensuring you have adequate back cover to break up your silhouette. Finding the right spot is the foundation of effective turkey calling. If you are positioned in an area where a tom feels exposed or has to cross an unnatural barrier like a creek or a thick briar patch, even the most realistic hen yelps will likely result in a hung-up bird. Veterans of the spring turkey season know that the goal is to make the approach as easy as possible for the bird. By utilizing the best turkey decoys and positioning them to draw the bird’s attention away from your location, you create the window needed to shoulder your firearm. Ultimately, mastering the turkey hunting setup is what separates a successful harvest from a long walk back to the truck. Before sitting down, there’s one thing that matters more than anything else: how the hunt is actually going to end. In this video, we break down where a perfect setup turned into a missed opportunity, and how thinking ahead about shooting lanes and positioning can completely change your success in the woods. If you want to kill more turkeys, your setup has to be built around the shot… not just staying hidden. Check out Mossberg's full [Turkey Hunting shotgun](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/usage/hunting-sporting/turkey-shotguns.html) lineup. [![Share on Facebook](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-facebook.png?width=24&name=share-facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-linkedin.png?width=24&name=share-linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-twitter.png?width=24&name=share-twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Your%20Setup%20is%20Probably%20Why%20You%27re%20Not%20Killing%20Turkeys) [![Share on Email](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-email.png?width=24&name=share-email.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fyour-setup-is-probably-why-youre-not-killing-turkeys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### About the Author ![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/channels4_profile.jpeg) ### Just Hunt Club Just Hunt Club is a team of highly motivated Northeastern hunters that chase game and fish in a diverse and often overlooked region of the country. They have learned to adapt and be successful on mostly public access lands in extremely challenging circumstances. Whether chasing ducks, bucks, turkeys, or fish, these outdoorsmen demonstrate how to use extremely effective tactics to be successful while also showing the rich outdoor tradition and culture of the North-Eastern states. [See all articles by this author](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/just-hunt-club) ## Related Posts [![When a Longbeard sneaks in do this!](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(13).png?width=352&name=Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(13).png)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/when-a-longbeard-sneaks-in-do-this) ### [When A Longbeard Sneaks In, Do This!](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/when-a-longbeard-sneaks-in-do-this) While turkey hunting in New York Jon Lewis gives some stellar wisdom on what to do when a bird... [![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/where-your-first-call-comes-from-matters.jpg?width=352&name=where-your-first-call-comes-from-matters.jpg)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/where-your-first-call-comes-from-matters-more-than-you-think) ### [Where Your First Call Comes From Matters More Than You Think](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/where-your-first-call-comes-from-matters-more-than-you-think) In this turkey hunting video, we break down how to think differently when setting up on a gobbler,... [![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gobbling-not-coming.jpg?width=352&name=gobbling-not-coming.jpg)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/gobbling-but-not-coming-heres-when-to-leave) ### [Gobbling But Not Coming? Here's When to Leave](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/gobbling-but-not-coming-heres-when-to-leave)  Turkey hunting is often referred to as a chess match. 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