new to turkey hunting
 

Hello to all! I am in need of some help. The wife and I are new to turkey hunting .I was wondering what suggestions yall have to say to help us newbies.Actually we were wondering what items do we need to start hunting? we both are going to use 20 guage shotgun and our camo. that is all we have so far


any help will be greatly appreciated thank you

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

I was new four years ago, but got hooked my first time out. Nothing beats the thrill of a bird shattering the morning quiet with his gobble, or hearing a bird come into your decoys drimming like crazy. This year I got four birds (two in KS and two in MO) and called in two for my sons, so you really can catch on in a hurry. I learned a TON from a friend who had the patience to take me out a few times. If you can get out with anyone with some proven experience it will help a lot. That is the best single peice of advice I can give you. Get a call you feel comfortable with ...I started with a push button, then got a box call the next year. I couldn't get the hang of a slate call right away, but this year I used a slate call most of the time and even brought in a bird with a mouth call for the first time. But don't get discouraged about calls. Get one and learn the basic yelp. If that is all you can do, you can get plenty of birds. Different tactics work differently depending on where you hunt, but I find a single hen decoy (assuming they are legal in your state) works best. I set up withthe decoy in a field I know they hang in, call enough to let birds know something, and then shut up for long periods of time. Keys to turkey hunting include setting up in the right place --if you can get between where they roost and where they want to go you are halfway there-- and patience. Be very, very still. Move your head very slowly. Change positions infrequently, if at all. Each time you go out you will learn more about where they like to roost, which direction they go, etc. When you call you will hear hens answering. Try mimicking them. You will be amazed at how quickly you get the hang of it!

Good luck!

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

I would read as many of these posts as you can. This is a great forum, but works best if you have some specific questions. I would also watch some hunting videos---but with the knowledge that it is not as easy as the videos make it look. Butthey do give you a "feel" for turkey hunting. Subscribe to a magazine like Turkey and Turkey Hunting. Get a CD of wild turkey calls and do some practicing with a variety of calls. Go turkey hunting with someone who has experience. Finding a turkey hunting mentor is the best advice I can give.

Below is a link that has a lot of good turkey hunting info. But browse through this forum and you will also find a lot of info.

http://www.turkeyhuntingsecrets.com/library/libindex.htm

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

We will all help you out as much as we can! glad to see new people getting into the sport! First is there any specific questions you have about anything?

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

Get involved with nwtf, turkeys are one of the hardest animals to hunt and can be one of the funnest its hard to tell you what to all get on one post but scouting and calling are your two number one things the gear well go to basspro theyll help ya out. And good luck.

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

What season are you hunting ? Spring and Fall have different strategies hunting and calling...BT

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

I'm somewhat new to Turkey hunting. What is the difference between a spring hunt and fall hunt?

I have put in for the Fall hunt and am hoping to get out there.

Thanks
Tom

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

Tom ,
Spring is a hunt that you are inquest with the Gobblers. You will use hen calls and listen and work gobbling birds that work towards your calling setup. The spring hunt is more of a find the roost location of gobbling birds setup in a travel route that you feel or know they are going to take and your calling to that Strutting, Gobbling bird that will gobble all day long. The type of Calling used in ther spring time is Plain Yelp, Cutting, Clucks,Purring, Purr-Cluck typical hen soundfs that one would hear in the spring woods.

Fall is a little different from the spring hunt. The season bag limit includes hens and poults in most cases along with the gobblers. At this time of year Gobbling is very limited and you will use more of a find the flocks and Scare (Bust) them up. These birds are mostly the Dominate hen or hens with their young. The flock will scatter and your setup point is at or very close to the Bust. The Calling you will hear is different from the spring calling and as well as the calls that you will use to call these birds back. Assembly Yelping, Clucks, Gobbler Clucks , Gobbler Yelps, Kee-Kee and kee-Kee-Runs are all calls that you will hear and use for the fall. Most young birds will do the Kee-Kee and Kee-Kee-Run to regroup with the Dominate hen. By using this type of calls you could have a chance to bring into range one of these scattered birds. Gobblers on another hand are harder to hunt in the fall and are alot lost vocal. They tend to do Gobbler yelps that are very corse from the hen and will also Cluck and at most time sparingly. It can take Hours into days to regroup fall Gobblers.

I hope this gives you a insight of the two different hunts that turkey hunters can enjoy. The is a lot more to both of these type hunts , but I only gave you a quick run down here....BT

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

Can I read on this somewhere? I know nothing about Fall hunting. I don't know how to bust up Turkeys or how I would hunt them after I bust them up etc....

Thanks
Tom

RE: new to turkey hunting
 

A box call is a good starter, get a video and try to imitate those calling on their box, then I would try for a friction call, with a little practice you'll get real good. Remember rome wasen't built in a day, neither will your skills, be patient with yourself. Above all this will come with expierence, location is your best bet, so scout, get a owl hooter, a crow call, and a good vest for your calls, different turkey's like different sounds, have a few different calls and master them. As for calling yourself, many will say call alot or call a little, each trip is different and don't know what's going to happen. Learn how to feel the birds attitude or his excitement level. It takes years to do, some won't tell because it's probably the best kept secret out there other than location. Learn what types of calls do what and what they mean. Get into it, it's really fun and satifying. Any questions please contact me, I will be more than happy to help you and your friend. As explained before spring turkey's and fall turkey's have different agenda's. Folk here are great with advice. Ask questions it's the only way . Good luck lou-lou