Turkey hunting..How to?

[memphismason]

I am just going to start turkey hunting this spring. I have never been before, and I am green as they come.

I have a Extended Full Turkey choke, for my 870 express magnum.

I have some turkey shells that I have practiced with at 40ish yards and I feel comfortable with the shot pattern. 3" mags

I have three decoys, 1 jake and 2 hens

I have diaphram turkey calls that I feel comfortable with "putting" and "Clucking"

I have a slate call and a box call, pretty good with both of them.

A hoot Owl call and Crow call for locating.

Full camo...I even have a pop up blind that I though about using.

So with all this gear, I am still not sure 100% what to do. All I have to go by is Turkey hunting videos and TV shows.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

[ShaunM]

Practice, practice, practice, practice can't say it enough. When you pattern a shotgun you should get several different loads, I shoot mine at 30 yards then change targets and repeat. I go with the load that has more pellets in the actual body of the target. Again practice with your mouth calls. I used to drive my wife crazy around the house when I would practice, oh wait I still do. I like to use an owl call in the morning and the crow in the evening. The first part of Turkey season is always the hardest as the toms tend to stay with the hens. When the hens start to build nest and lay eggs the toms are easier to call in. Another good tip is go scout your area, wait until evening and see if you can hear them fly up to their roost. Most times turkeys will roost in the same area. If I can think of anything else I will post it.

[ShaunM]

Box calls and slate calls are for calling in those thunder chickens from a distence. When close I switch to my mouth call. Mix it up a bit to see what the turkeys respond better to.

[Guest IrishChris209]

I used to drive my wife crazy around the house when I would practice, oh wait I still do.

He also practiced at work

[Guest Jcochran88]

Practice, practice, practice, practice can't say it enough. When you pattern a shotgun you should get several different loads, I shoot mine at 30 yards then change targets and repeat. I go with the load that has more pellets in the actual body of the target. Again practice with your mouth calls. I used to drive my wife crazy around the house when I would practice, oh wait I still do. I like to use an owl call in the morning and the crow in the evening. The first part of Turkey season is always the hardest as the toms tend to stay with the hens. When the hens start to build nest and lay eggs the toms are easier to call in. Another good tip is go scout your area, wait until evening and see if you can hear them fly up to their roost. Most times turkeys will roost in the same area. If I can think of anything else I will post it.

+1 practice is the best thing for you. Don't think that you can call them in every time like they do on the hunting shows. I would suggest that you start scouting your hunting area in a week or two. Don't call to them while you are scouting they will become call shy and be a lot harder to call in when the season opens.

[Rightwinger]

I wouldn't worry to much about the owl or crow locater calls. If you don't hear crows in an area your hunting in, your not in Tennessee!

The gobblers will let you know where they are at at daybreak gobbling while still on the roost. If you know where they roost, get there in the dark and set up on them like deer hunting, get there early, get there quiet and a few calls to get them coming to you will work. If they don't come when you can here them, they won't come. When they are henned up, they just won't come off their harem.

[Guest Jcochran88]

Also, don't call real loud while they are still on the roost or right after they fly down. This sometimes will run them off.

[ShaunM]

He also practiced at work

Drove everyone there crazy to.

[Guest clownsdd]

Lots of good feedback, but turkey hunting is kinda like cooking good ribs. Ya can't explain it, you just have to work at it. Go out and have a good time.

[Guest sharpshooter01]

I have three decoys, 1 jake and 2 hens

I have diaphram turkey calls that I feel comfortable with "putting" and "Clucking"

Thanks

Good advise so far. I personally don't use decoys anymore just because I got tired of carrying them around and not using them. I've killed more turkeys without than with, but thats your decision, after you have hunted a while you'll know if you like toting all those decoys in the vest.

One more piece of advise, I would stay away from using the "putt" until you are ready to shoot, and If I have a clear shot on the gobbler I wouldn't even do it then. The putt is an alarm call to turkeys and when they hear it they may run off or at the least will be on guard looking for anything out of place. Trust me it's hard enough to kill a turkey, but when they know something is not right it is almost impossible. Good luck and the best teacher is trial and error.

[oldblue1981]

If the toms are henned up try mocking the hens by matching every call they make. i have had good success calling in the hens and when they come to you so will that old longbeard.

[memphismason]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Hopefully others will learn from this thread too.

Thanks again

[LazyAce]

I have a flock of 40+ that live on my farm. They are around the house all of the time. I can walk to within 20-30 feet of them and they just look at me. I had a friend who is into turkey hunting tell me that they are use to me but if a stranger shows up they would run. My cats think it is fun to chase them. Good luck

[Guest clutepc]

First Time hunting turkey for me as well... thanks for all the info everyone!

Should be a good learning experience..

[Guest frankcostanza]

Hopefully others will learn from this thread too.

It seems like there are more than a few of us on this board who will be going out turkey hunting for the first time this spring. We'll have to get together and compare stories...or maybe commiserate. Not sure which one will apply yet.

[Guest clutepc]

It seems like there are more than a few of us on this board who will be going out turkey hunting for the first time this spring. We'll have to get together and compare stories...or maybe commiserate. Not sure which one will apply yet.

I'm sure my story will involve my spooking a few right to another hunter

No matter how it works out I'll enjoy just being in the woods.

[ShaunM]

I'm sure my story will involve my spooking a few right to another hunter

No matter how it works out I'll enjoy just being in the woods.

Same with me, I love to be out in the woods no matter if I get one or not. By the way you can scare them my way .

[Rightwinger]

Just to tick you new guys off, here was the first turkey and so far....the best one I have taken. Beautiful electric blue and red wattle and carnuckle. The boy and I set up on him above the fields they were feeding in on a ridge. Its also an area we deer hunt in so we knew it well. We were both in climbing stands and folks...it helps! This bird never saw me when I stood to take the shot! We were in camo but not wearing face coverings or gloves as we do on the ground. If you know your in an area where they are, hunt them like deer!

[ShaunM]

Just to tick you new guys off, here was the first turkey and so far....the best one I have taken. Beautiful electric blue and red wattle and carnuckle. The boy and I set up on him above the fields they were feeding in on a ridge. Its also an area we deer hunt in so we knew it well. We were both in climbing stands and folks...it helps! This bird never saw me when I stood to take the shot! We were in camo but not wearing face coverings or gloves as we do on the ground. If you know your in an area where they are, hunt them like deer!

Nice

[memphismason]

very nice indeed

[Guest pl1ght]

I never hunted in my adult life, and grew up in VA where a hunters safety used not tbe required for hunting. So i just finished up my hunters safety course in TN and getting ready to join my father in law and his buddies in their multiple turkey hunts in a few weeks. Cant wait! Ill be the only one out there hunting with a Saiga 12 though.

[Guest clutepc]

Anyone ever tried bow hunting turkey using one of the stake style blinds,

I have a 54" tall x 12' long that I could hang between two stakes or trees.

Just curious if anyone has tried one of these with a bow or am I better off with a full tent blind.

Being my first year hunting and everything I have to buy I'm trying to watch cost where I can.

[Guest justaman30]

Here is my first turkey, taken last year in my first year turkey hunting.

[Guest DoDFire]

Gotta love put'n an arrow in one,,,,,, I've been lucky enough to take 2 off of my place with archery equipment and a few with the gun. Remember to be safe, This is one season when you need eyes in the back of your head.If you can call like the real deal then others that may hear you may hunt for the sounds you make. BE VERY AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS 360*,,,,, and when you screw up don't get mad at yourself it's just a learning op. Good Luck

[white Oak]

Be careful once you call a bird in you will be hooked. I practice on the way to work or any time I’m in the car alone. My wife put a stop to that in the house. Practice calling softly I don’t worry about knowing every type of sound a turkey can make just constrate on the most common. Cluck, yep, purr, ect…. Went you find a lonely gobbler he'll respond to just about anything. In the videos they come in and stand around and strut. That probably won’t happen that often if you get a shot take it!! When you find a mouth call you like buy a few and don't worry about throwing them away during the season. I always get a sore throat if I use one to long.