ORIGINAL: MOTOWNHONKEY
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? What ever you use for deer will be fine. Very true, I used my whitetail setup. Question, are you in blind or out? Reason I ask, out of a blind I don't recommend red, white or blue fletch. These are the same colors as turkeys heads and I want you to be safe if other hunters are in the area. Also, out of blind, take your quiver off, although not necessary for shooting, the color of your fletch is less important, your quiver laying to your side, your arrow nocked, he isn't going to see that.
2) Should I use decoys and if so, what is a basic set-up? I like 2 jakes one hen, or a lone hen Again, I agree. Face the jakes towards you and the hen facing the opposite way you think the gobbler will come. Gobblers will take other gobblers head on putting the gobbler between you and the decoys. When it comes to hens, once they make eye contact, the may strut and hold up. If the hen doesn't "look" at them, they tend to come more and will take a hen from the "rear".
3) What kind of call should I use? Box calls work great. learning to use mouth calls is fun. Again, great advice but I'd like to add, don't hesitate not to learn glass or slate calls. All calls call turkeys and what worked yesterday might not work today when another call will. Be versatile and have many calls. The mouth call is also a great call to learn as mo said. Once your bow is in your hand, the mouth call is all you have.
4) Do I go in 30-60 minutes before dark to set up like deer hunting? Get set up before first light. You can hunt turkeys successfully all day long. It is best to be out at first light. You'll hear them gobble before coming off the roost. That will pretty much tell you where they will be come evening as well. If you don't have success right off the roost, stick with it, they may be henned up, usually are and the hens will leave them after a while and they will be looking again.
5) Calling sequences....how long between calling sequences?Once you get a Tom in sight just give some purs and soft calls and see how he responds. If he is comming to you just get ready. If he hangs up try some more aggressive calls but over calling usually will make a Tom leary. just watch his demeanor and you will figure it out. Excellent. Less calling is more. We call it, taking the birds temperature. If he's responding and coming to a certain call, use it and be subtle. When he's dedicated, be silent, watch and listen. If he stops responding, be silent and listen, he may be coming on a string.
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.
Turkey hunting is a ton of fun and easy to pick up on. Good luck this spring. More great advice from mo! Have fun, experience will tell you what to do. The biggest advice I can give you, BE PATIENT. Some gobblers will RUN in, others may take an hour or more and come silent.
Shadow