Aite guys i need some help here, just trying to get some info. Turkey season starts saturday here in Ga. and im all fired up about it. I've always been a huge deer hunter cause thats all we've had on our land, well i seen/heard turkeys all through deer season. This will be my first year hunting them. I done went out and got all my calls and decoys, I've drove everyone in the house crazy practicing so much. Can i get some quick tips and advice from some experienced turkey hunters? Anything like deer hunting? Does the moon or wind have any affect on them? I got a 1000 questions but just give me some advice please Thanks!
One thing is to not overcall. If you get one to respondwait a while to call again. More than likely if one gobbles while you are calling he will come investigate. It may take him a while to get to you, but he is probably on his way. Wait 10 min or so then call again, and if you can tell he is getting closer wait another 10 minutes. Another good thing to do is to go out in the mornings/evenings and listen to hear for gobbles before the season actually starts. You just want to find out what area they are using, and by listening and glassing fields this will help your chances. Another thing is go out the night before the opener and try to roost a gobbler. Use an owl call or a coyote to try to get one to gobble on the roost. This will help you know where to setup in the morning.
__________________
2007 Hunt N Camp attendee
'07 Guardian equipped with:
Black Gold Radiant sight
Spot Hogg Whammy rest
Fuse stabilizer meta peep sight
100 grain Rage 2 blade
100 Grain Wasp Jackhammer sst
Goltip CAA Arrows
Alot of trial and error, you'll second guess your decisions alot. MOmightymite hit it on the head when he said don't overcall, that'll kill your hunt quick.
Basically just get out in the woods and listen and evaluate, then make your moves accordingly.
Good luck!
In two hours i'll be headed to chase 'em
__________________
"A hunting license is a ticket to the ultimate health spa. It will cleanse the soul. It has never failed me." - Ted Nugent
It's time for Americans to stand up and take our country back, we are losing it!
general18, MOmightymite mentioned using owl call to locat birds to put to roost. If you
are unable to "roost" any birds you can, and I always do, try to locate them at sunrise
with the owl call. later after morning you can use a crow call as a locator instead of just
calling with a turkey call, this can end up sometimes with quiet tom's sneaking in on you
and getting busted. You don't have to worry about the wind at all, they won't smell you.
Good thing too. When a turkey is where he could possibly see you. DON'T MOVE he will
see you. Wait until his head is behind something before you move.
Well i appreciate everyones help! Im loaded up and ready to head down to camp after work today. I would like to get one with my bow! Am i pushing my limits for a first timer? And when do i setup the decoys?
Set up you decoys near the location of a calling gobbler at first light while he is on the roost, make a tree call, if he gobbles back, call no more until he flies down then make a call....a cluck will do if he is close, if not a yelp, if not in sight rake your hand in the leaves to simulate a feeding hen.
If no roosted gobbler or he doesn't come in, set up your decoys on an old road or edge of a field about 25 yards away with the jake decoy facing you and set with your back to a big tree to breakup your outline and for safety...
If you are in transit and hear a gobbler, get as close as possible without taking a chance of spooking him, set up your decoys, hide, get ready then make a call.
Keep in mind they often come in without gobbling and don't give up to quick just because you don't hear him calling....sometimes they take a long time. Last year one of my Spring gobblers took an hour an a half to determine my decoys were not going to come to him......
One of the most important things that I can pass on is be in the woods before daylight...Often after they fly down they gobble much less and you will not have any idea how many are there, where they are at or think there is a gobbler in a country mile.......Good Luck
One thing to remember is if the winds are high then a turkey will hone in more on fields instead of wooded timber. It will be to noisy for them to use there hearing to locate predators. They will stay more toward open fields and small open areas where they can utilize their eyesight more.
If you get a tom that wont come in because he has hens with him, Pick out the hen that is the most vocal and try to mimic her every sound. call her in and the tom will follow.
and like veryone has said be ready at all times. i was sitting calling one day in a wooded timber and all of a sudden a tom blew my eardrum out with a gobble. he had snuck in on my calling behind me and sounded off less than five yards behind me.
use multiple calls. I would rather sound like two lovely hens than one.
And you have already got the first thing down. dont be afraid to ask questions.
Aite well i think i have an idea what to do. All i can do is try! i sure would like to get one though! Since i'm not very good with the diaphram should just stick to the slate and box call? the only thing is that im kinda screwed if they get in close i wont be able to call,
Yea come on!
