Katie Cope is a college student going to school for Business. She was born and raised in Upstate New York and she first started hunting when she was age twelve. Katie went turkey hunting for the first time about six years ago on a sunny day in May and she was fortunate to get a tom from forty yards that first season. She’s been hooked ever since!

Katie got the turkey pictured above when she and her father watched a group of turkeys regularly before opening day. They watched the turkeys’ routine and saw where and when they came into the field and how long they usually stayed. That’s how Katie and her father decided where to set up their blind and decoys.

Before this hunt, she had a high expectation that the birds would come out the same as they had for the past month. However, as sun came up, Katie and her father waited for the best time to start calling. When they finally made a few calls, Katie didn’t see anything. Then, her father noticed a group of turkeys coming silently from the left, which was in her blind spot.

In the field, there was one hen and one jake decoy set up and the group of real turkeys had three hens and one tom. As soon as Katie laid eyes on those birds, she started to shake and get excited. When the tom saw the jake, he didn't care about anything else and went straight to the decoy and started to fight it. That gave Katie the perfect shot at ten yards.

There were smiles all around when they retrieved the bird and Katie was thankful for the Turkey she harvested.

If you’re interested in turkey hunting, below are Katie’s suggestions for ladies looking to get into it:

My first recommendation for wild turkey hunters is to get to know their weapon. Take your gun to the range or shoot your bow many times to know your distance limit. It's crucial to know your shooting range so you can be prepared and make an ethical shot.

Second, be patient. I know it can be very difficult getting up early and not hearing or seeing any Turkey. In some circumstances they come in silently (like mine did), so patience can pay off when you sit there, especially if you know that you're in a great spot. Turkey can be hesitant or cautious while coming in because they might be heavily hunted or sense that something isn't right.   

Have great decoys. Over the years, we have tried many different brands of decoys that are lower in price. It's definitely worth spending a little more to get a great decoy. We noticed a major difference when we purchased from Avian-X. Ever since, we've had more turkeys come closer in range and that gave us more opportunities. These decoys are very realistic and have exceptional markings on them that make them look like real life turkeys.

Be comfortable. Nothing is worse than having clothes that don't fit you, or aren't right for the conditions, or waterproof. This is extremely important because it can ruin your hunt if you're uncomfortable in your gear. 

Thank you Katie!

If you'd like to be our next featured Hen Of The Month be sure to submit your own photo on our HoTM facebook post each month!

Check out our Lifestyle Apparel for Outdoors Women!