ORIGINAL: virginiashadow
I have barely ever tried turkey hunting. I have seen some and even shot at one last year and missed at 25 yards with my bow. Anyways, I am planning to hunt turkey this spring gobbler seasoln with my bow. I have some basic questions to put me on the turkey.
1) What color fletchings should I use?
2) Should I use decoys and if so, what is a basic set-up?
3) What kind of call should I use?
4) Do I go in 30-60 minutes before dark to set up like deer hunting?
5) Calling sequences....how long between calling sequences?
Those are just some of the basic questions I have at the moment...any tips would be GREATLY appreciated. I would really like to learn how to turkey hunt. I think this would be a great way to get my son (who is only 3 1/2) into hunting when he gets older...he could sit with me in a ground blind when it is not so cold. Thanks all for any tips on turkey hunting.....the more basic the better.
Shadow
1) it really won't matter unless you have really bright flourescent colors...in this case movement will be the hurting factor....best, if possible, to hunt from a blind
2) i would say decoy would be good...atleast one hen..but two won't hurt..i like to have one "feeding" and one "alert" or just standing up..a good starting set would be the "love triangle" will get to hens and a jake...just in case you find a really dominate tom..
3)as a beginer i would say a simple box call (push button) would be fine..or a slate call (practice is a must here)
4) that depends on your birds..private or public? lots of factors here? alwasy get there early unless you "put the birds to bed" (watch what tree they fly up to the night before to roost) then you will need to be there early to listen to them gobble before they come off of the roost so you can be ready for them...knowing your terrain and watching the birds day to day travel patterns will really help here
5) this is really dependant on you...and lots of experience...i will say overall "less is more"...on the roost you want to call very little to none at all, IMO, although different species may have different habits...if you know where birds are and know what they do then calling will be easy
best advice i can give....get some turkey hunting videos and watch them ( i like primos, hs strut, and real tree) ..watch what they do, how they do it, and when they do things......simply for your knowledge not to say they are right or wrong...but trying to imitate there calling is good too..
hope that helps