First off, welcome to the board and to turkey hunting. You'll find that is truely addictive.[:-] This will be my third year turkey hunting, but I have hunted for deer and small game for 25 years or so. My advise would be to watch some turkey hunting videos, get a few calls (box, slate, push button, mouth calls), continue to read the posts on this board, try to find some old timers in your area that have turkey hunted, scout your land for sign and open areas where birds will like to strut, feed, dust, etc, then practice.

On the calls, start out with the basics. Learn to yelp, purr, and cluck. I recomend to get comfortable with one or two calls and then practice some more. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A CHAMPION CALLER. Hope that relieves some of the pre season stress. Get a good locater call. I like my primos hammerin' crow. I rely on knowing where most of the birds I hunt are roosting and if they're not there, its too late in the morning for an owl hoot anyway, so I'll use the crow call. The most important thing I rely on is good woodmanship. If you know your terrain, when to move, how to move quietly, and how to make yourself invisible, these things will more than make up for a lack of calling knowledge. Another thing, don't over call. Turkey hunting is like picking up chicks......your the hen play hard to get, the tome will respond better if you don't over call to him. Call enough to keep his attention and he's more likely to come to your call. Call too much and he expects the hen to show up. Most of all, have fun and learn from your mistakes.