First season- what do I need to know?

MO Archer · 01-31-2007, 08:33 PM

Anyone have any advice for a first timer? I have a Primos Power Crystal and some Quaker Boy mouth calls. I have been practicing while watching DVDs and think I am doing fine to get out there. I have a Knight TK-2000 on the way and plan on concentrating hunting with it until I get one and then try to take the second one (if there is even a first one) with my bow. I have a ground blind and all the deer garb with rubber boots. Do I need to invest in decoys as a first timer? If so which ones are the best value for the money? I have been seeing turkeys while hunting and ATV riding in the same area, how early do I need to start scouting before season? Do I need to go out and call pre-season to find for sure where they are roosting? Thanks in advance.

r33h · 01-31-2007, 09:02 PM

Welcome to the addicting world of turkey hunting! Warning: once you start...you won't stop!

You will definitely need to be completly camo-ed out. Turkey have excellent vision and the slightest movement will send them running! As far as calls go, I think you should take a variety of calls that you already have and use the ones you feel most comfortable with. Some days, turkeys will respond to one call and not the other and other days the will respond to different calls. When you go out before the season starts, try to find out where they are roosting at. This can be done by going out early in the mourning and listening and watching with a good pair of binos. Don't take any calls out while scouting. You don't want to spook any turkeys accidently while calling during the pre-season scouting. When you find where they are roosting, try to get within 100 yards or so of the roost and set up there and wait for them to fly down and give a few light calls. Don't call too much during the early hours of the morning and don't call too loud either. Decoys are neccessary, however, if you are hunting an open field, can be very useful. Turkeys can see them from a far distance and come running from a far. There are pros and cons to decoys, but I wont go into the details right now.

Most of all, don't give up. I didn't get a gobbler my first season of turkey hunting, but I still got hooked just by seeing them come running to my calls and them responding to my calls. If you get one...great! If you don't, you will have learned a lot for the next season. Good luck!

bosstom3 · 02-01-2007, 06:34 PM

I would ask your buddies if any of them turkey hunt, I'm sure somebody does or they know someone who does. That is the best way to start, by watching and learning first hand. It should not be hard to find someone who will take you out. Good luck this season.

metaldonnieg · 02-01-2007, 07:07 PM

As far as camo, for quite a while now on every hunting trip I've been using a mossy oak hoodie and woodland BDU pants from the army surplus. I recently picked up some lightweight Gates camo gloves on clearance for a dollar at Wal-MARX and am planning on using a woodland pattern bandanna I usually use to hold my hair out of my eyes to hide my face. Is that sufficient? I've never really put much thought into my camo.

ultimag · 02-01-2007, 07:27 PM

MO, one tip I WOULD GIVE IS TO REMAIN PATIENT Metal I would go out and get me a camo face mask instead of a bandana

sachiko · 02-01-2007, 09:58 PM

Keep the advice coming guys. My dad and I are going after turkeys this spring. He knows how to find them but has little experience taking them. So any knowledge you pass on is welcome. (Very welcome)

Wingbone · 02-02-2007, 04:15 AM

It's mighty tempting to call too much with all those great new calls. Resist the temptation. You can call too much to a turkey but you can't hardly call too little. If you get an answer, shut up. He knows exactly where you are and will find you. As he gets closer, he mightcluck. He's asking "Where did you say you were?" If you can't see him, cluck back. If you can see him, don't.

metaldonnieg · 02-04-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Wingbone

It's mighty tempting to call too much with all those great new calls. Resist the temptation. You can call too much to a turkey but you can't hardly call too little. If you get an answer, shut up. He knows exactly where you are and will find you. As he gets closer, he mightcluck. He's asking "Where did you say you were?" If you can't see him, cluck back. If you can see him, don't.

I've read, maybe on here, that toms expect the hens to come to them so if you shut up once you get a response they go nuts trying to find the honey but if the "hen" is still talking to him he'll hole up and wait. Maybe just another way of putting that.