New Guy
 

I'm new to turkey hunting and this forum. I've never hunted turkeys but have hunted deer and waterfowl most of my life.

I've got 100 acres in south Alabama with turkeys on it, a 3.5" twelve guage shotgun, and camoflage clothes. I don't have any other turkey hunting gear so I'd appreciate some advice from you old hands.

The stores here aren't very helpful so I usually buy hunting gear from Cabela's or other internet outfitters.

To get started, I'd like to get a good box call and a tape or dvd on how to use it. Could you advise me?

Thanks for your help.

RE: New Guy
 

First off, welcome to the forum. Your entering a passion that we know is turkey hunting. That being said, there are many, many good quality box calls on the market but I can't think of a tape, dvd that shows you how to use one. They are quite easy to use but I wouldn't limit yourself to just a box call. Too many times a turkey won't respond to a box call when he might have responded to a pot call....or vise versa...having several different types of calls increases the odds of a response. Cabelas carries several quality calls and here is another site to check out, www.rivervalleygamecalls.com The Fall Harvest box call is a real quality sounding call and you might want to invest in the MOJO glass/slate call. These two calls will make you very versital and they are both easy to use giving you exceptional turkey sounds....with whatever calls you decide to invest in, good luck and practice and we look forward to hearing about your success.

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome! Great advise already;)

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome Grizz.Hope to hear some success stories from ya this Spring.:)

RE: New Guy
 

Beware Grizzly Albert, once you start turkey hunting, you will be
hooked for life. You should check out the Primos Truth series, Knight
and Hale, and H.S. Strut turkey dvds. They will give tips on equipment
and how to call with different type calls. I hope this helps you, good
luck and have fun.

RE: New Guy
 

Another welcome aboard!! This turkey hunting is a sickness, are you sure you want to jump in? Just look at Rob!!!

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome aboard! If you want to learn more about turkey hunting just stay right here. Theres plenty of good info on this forum. Make sure you sign up for the turkey contest. Its alot of fun!

RE: New Guy
 

Another welcome your way Grizz!!LBB gives you some good advice on a box instructional aid,try this addy...
http://www.hunterspec.com/Updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=556&categoryID=33

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome to the addiction

RE: New Guy
 

Thanks to all for the nice welcome.

Cabella's has a H. S. Strut call with an instrution dvd and I've sent off for one. I hope that's a decent call.

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome Grizz. Make sure you eat some of those turkey you take, because it would be something you are missing if you are taking only for trophies. Get ready for Spring!

RE: New Guy
 

The best training you will get is by just going hunting and learning by your mistakes. You will make them for sure. I was never intoduced to turkey hunting. I learned many things on my own while hunting. Remember patience is a virtue. Once you kill that first gobbler you will be hooked for life. Remember it's no disgrace to kill a jake, especially if it's your first bird. Buy a couple of mouth calls and just practice. You have got a couple of months to practice. You don't have to be a world championship caller to call a turkey, but you will learn in time when to call, how to call, and which call they like at that time. It's fun just being out there learning. I'm getting fired up just talking about it. Don't forget to pattern in some turkey loads. Good luck.

RE: New Guy
 

just wanted to add my welcome....you'll soon be as addicted as we are....best of luck to you...you'll LOVE turkey huntin'.

RE: New Guy
 

Thanks again. I've started practicing with my call and am improving.

Next project is get a hen decoy. I see that they are mostly made of foam. Are these durable? It appears that one brand is much like another or is onesuperior? Again any inside information would be appeciated.

I've been seeing lots of turkey tracks on firebrake/roads and deer food plots so these look like good places to start hunting. Right? I could hide in the dense briars nearby.

RE: New Guy
 

Any foam decoy is fine. I use featherflex decoys. I have two hens and a jake. Know when to use them though. They don't alwaysguarantee you a turkey. The best thing about them is you can carry two or three around with you without weighing you down. Roads, clearings, and plots can make good strutting zones. Go out the evening before the hunt and try to roost one. You will know where to go the next morning. Use a locator call to get a response. An owl call works great late in the evening. If you don't roost one the evening before, go out in an area you have seen them before the next morning and use a locator call. I like the owl, but many others will work. Thick areas around openings are great. The hens will nest in the thickest areas. The gobblers will be close by. Good luck.

RE: New Guy
 

Welcome Grizz!! Don't overlook the push-button call for ease of use. Virtually fool-proof (nothing implied:D) and some can be attached to your gun for limited movement situations...good luck

Tom

RE: New Guy
 

GRIZZ, WELCOME.NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME YA'LL HAVE NEARLY EVERY THING YOU CAN IMAGINE, THATS HOW ADDICTIVE TURKEY HUNTN IS. GOOD LUCK, WHAT PART OF SOUTH AL.

RE: New Guy
 

Thanks again.

I see some advertised decoys are foam, some are collapsable, some polyurathane, etc. Frankly, I'm confused. How does a decoy collapse?

Could some please advise me on the different types? The merits of each type?

Let me say again that the stores around here are nearly worthless. If they had a decoy, which they don't, I wouldn't know if it was any good. Here's an example: I called one of the bigger stores about some turkey shot shells - They didn't have any - the chain's marketing idiots had sent them fine shot field loads.

RE: New Guy
 

You mean to tell me no stores in your area sell decoys or turkey loads? That's hard to believe. Just order them from Cabelas or Bass Pro then. All you do to a decoy is just fold it up and shove it in your game bag in your turkey vest. It's very simple. Like I said I use Featherflex foam decoys. I fold them in half and carry them in my game bag. That is if I'm using them that day. When you unfold the decoy it expands back into its shape. There has got to be a Walmart somewhere near you. They carry turkey loads, vests, and decoys. They ought to be on the shelves by now. I can't tell you which shells or decoys to use. That is up to you. I can only give you suggestions. I use Rem. Hevishot 3.5 inch 5 shot with an undertaker or Primos jellyhead choke tube,12 ga. and feather flex decoys, but that's just my preference. You may want to use lead shot. It is cheaper. Make sure though that you have a full or ext. full turkey choke tube.

RE: New Guy
 

one on one wrote:

GRIZZ, WELCOME.NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME YA'LL HAVE NEARLY EVERY THING YOU CAN IMAGINE, THATS HOW ADDICTIVE TURKEY HUNTN IS. GOOD LUCK, WHAT PART OF SOUTH AL.



I can attest to the trueth of this statement. I was in your shoes last year at this time and at this time I do have everything imaginable. Look out, this is very addictive, and fun or rewarding.

I also have bagged 3 nice longbeards in that time. 2 for the spring limit and one in the fall.

As far as decoys go, I have even seen them in a few Walmart stores, but I pretty much got all of my gear at Cabelas. I have found some good deals on Ebay too. Although on Ebay for good deals, only auctions with multiple items tend to be better.

Enjoy the your time in the woods and take a kid with you ifyou can.

RE: New Guy
 

Thanks guys for all your good advice.

I hunted for the first time last Sunday and didn't see any. A tom did gobble back to me so guess that, at least, I didn't run off any birds with my calling.

I did finally find a store in a nearby town where they "talked turkey". I got a decoy there and some #5 turkey loads. I patterned them and my full choke is okay but not great.

Any recommendations as to a turkey choke tube? Its pretty confusing. My shotgun is a Remington Super Magnum and I'm using 3.5" shells w/ lead #5 shot (most popular here). Again, any advice would be helpful.