this year will be my first year hunting turkeys. I have done the research and practiced my calling, have shotgun patterned and ready. Just curious if anyone had tips that may be helpful.

Welcome to the forums first of all! You could read for days on this forum and get full of info. To get the best idea of what kind of tips you need tell us about the area you plan to hunt. Woods or fields? What state? Private or public land? etc.
Whatever it is try to keep movement to a minimum if you are not hunting out of a blind, don't over call, and make sure you bring a camera so we can see your bird!

1) Be patient
2) Don't overcall

Good Luck

Agreed. Also, don't do what I did the opening day of this season and go out without your calls. I had no way of talking to them and I was so mad! Don't forget you gun or shells either!

I will be hunting in an area that has fields and woods. They seem to be sticking to the woods right now. They are hanging along the old tote roads. I am in the state of Maine, Private land. I have heard from several people about the overcalling. How often do you call?

Well, it really depends on the situation. This is a subject best learned by trial and error, or in my case trial and lots of errors! When I get a bird to gobble it is tempting to just keep calling to him to try to really get him fired up. This can prove to be a big mistake. If he thinks the hen is hot he will wait for her rather than come looking. GENERALLY,once I have a bird gobbling I will wait at least 20 minutes before yelping or cutting again. I will use clucks and purrs and scratching of leaves. I want the tom to think there is a calm, content hen close by. There is certainly a learning curve involved here. Too bad I usually have to learn things the hard way! LOL!

Well I'm sure I will have lots of lessons learned the hard way. But heck that's the excitement and challenge of it all. Looking forward to trying a new thing. Turkey hunting is fairly new to the area. This is only the second year anyone is able to hunt them. Before it was always permit only and hunting turkeys has only been around since 1995 up here.

I agree with txjourneyman...call sparingly...maybe in 15 minute intervals to start out. If you get a gobble right after one of your yelps, wait a while...the gobbler has recognized you and may start to make his way over. There is a lot of trial and error involved in turkey hunting...especially if you are out in the field by yourself. If you know someone who really knows what they are doing, then I would try to hook up with them on a couple of hunts and just observe and ask as many questions as you can.

Sounds like you know where the birds are. If you can find out where they are coming from and going to, then you have half of the battle won! Once you know where they are coming from and going to, just set up between the two and call every so often. I think if you do this, you should have some pretty good results. Best of luck!

It sounds like tx learned from me

Here are some other questions people have asked me and I'm not 100% sure of the answers in dealing with turkeys?

1. How early do turkeys come down from roost in the morning?
2. Will Toms gobble from a tree?
3. Do Toms gobble year round?

Thanks for the help.