Tips for Youth Turkey Hunting with Drew Schliem
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In this episode of the Wisconsin Sportsman Podcast, host Pierce Nellis welcomes back longtime guest Drew Schliem, a passionate turkey and predator hunter from Southern Wisconsin, to discuss youth turkey hunting strategies and early season tactics. Drew emphasizes the importance of preparing young hunters for success by using light loads, red dot sights, realistic targets, and proper decoy setups to reduce recoil anxiety and build confidence. He shares his philosophy of prioritizing the kid’s positive experience over the harvest, advocating for patience, proper setup, and realistic expectations. Drew also details his scouting approach—using trail cameras, mental notes, and weather patterns—to predict turkey movements and optimize blind placement. He offers practical advice for hunting public land without decoys, including using a buddy to call and employing concealment techniques. The conversation touches on landowner relations, emphasizing transparency, gratitude, and follow-up to maintain access. Drew also reveals his calling strategy: minimal calling early in the season to avoid spooking dominant hens and letting decoys do the work. The episode concludes with Drew’s enthusiasm for the upcoming season and his commitment to mentoring new hunters through his Predator Podcast and social media channels.
Use light trap loads (e.g., 2.75” dove loads) for youth hunters to prevent recoil trauma and build confidence.
Set decoys 20–25 yards from the blind to allow shot pattern expansion and improve success rates.
Prioritize the kid’s positive experience over the harvest—success is measured by enjoyment, not just a turkey in the bag.
Scout early and often: use trail cameras, check roost sites at night, and adjust plans based on weather and bird behavior.
Minimize calling early in the season—turkeys are often quiet after roosting, and overcalling can spook dominant hens.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Sponsor: Whitetail Institute & Lone Wolf Custom Gear
Introductory sponsor segments for Whitetail Institute (food plot seeds) and Lone Wolf Custom Gear (mobile hunting equipment), highlighting their USA-made products, lifetime warranties, and seasonal discounts.
Sponsor: OnX Hunt & Huntworth Gear
Sponsor segments for OnX Hunt (mapping app with compass and CarPlay compatibility) and Huntworth Gear (turkey hunting apparel), emphasizing their utility and quality for spring hunting.
Sponsor: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Promotion of the Wisconsin chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, highlighting their mission to protect public lands and access, with a call to join and support conservation efforts.
Youth Turkey Hunting: Preparing New Hunters
“If a kid can still have a positive experience and miss, then you really did a good job, you know? So not getting frustrated yourself, not, you know, not throwing in the towel when they quit, showing them that you can keep going.”
Decoy Setup & Range for Youth Hunters
“I would never put them closer than 15. I always try to step them off to 20 and even if they're at 25, I'm fine with it. If they're not almost in the blind with you, it makes it so much easier.”
“If a kid can still have a positive experience and miss, then you really did a good job, you know? So not getting frustrated yourself, not, you know, not throwing in the towel when they quit, showing them that you can keep going.”
“I would never put them closer than 15. I always try to step them off to 20 and even if they're at 25, I'm fine with it. If they're not almost in the blind with you, it makes it so much easier.”
“My experience more times than not has been they go the other way. And if I've done my job scouting and everything is the way that I want it, I'm probably not going to call it all.”
Host
Guest
Turkeys
other
Wisconsin
place
Drew Schliem
person
Pierce Nellis
person
Coyotes
other
Lone Wolf Custom Gear
brand
Predator Podcast
media
OnX Hunt
brand
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
organization
YouTube
other
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