Turkey reaping is one of several names for the practice of stalking wild turkeys behind a decoy. This method of hunting is also known by a less wild-sounding name: fanning. At its most basic, the hunter is both hiding behind a mock strutting turkey’s tail – or fan – and also advancing toward the prey.
In an ideal situation, not only does this practice allow the hunter to cross relatively open terrain towards a male wild turkey, but in many cases the gobbler will view the interloper as an intruder and advance toward the concealed hunter. The ensuing encounter, with a thundering tom turkey charging at a prone hunter behind a decoy, often ends up with close-range shots and a certain pulse increase.
Though we’ll get more into this later, turkey reaping can be a dangerous way to hunt, and not only because an angry turkey with large spurs is coming your way. More importantly, there’s a very real danger of other hunters mistaking you, the reaper, for an actual bird. The utmost caution must always be used.