I've been an avid bow, rifle and waterfowl hunter but have recently decided to take up turkey hunting this spring here in Maryland. I'm not to familiar with setups, strategy's etc. I will be hunting mountainus hardwoods with a few grass fields. I've been working on learning to use a diaphram call but haven't got the hang of it yet, plan on using a slate type callif I don't get a handle on the diaphram by spring. Should decoys be used in spring? If so, how should theybe setup.Any tips on strategy/setup would be helpful!!

Welcome to Turkey Hunting! Nothing like it.

I hunt the mountains. A few things I use......
Ifind an area where turkeys have been sighted in the spring I will check DOW websites etc. I then finda place in that area that has ridges with water close and a small open area. I go to a high spotafter fly up timeand call (owl call) then make a mental note of the located roost and check it the next afternoon.
I hunt Merriam's and they tend to use the same small area night after night year after yearto roost, yours may not.
Iuse decoys about half the time I hunt,I have found that if I am in the roost area I don't need one anyplace els I use a hen about 6 ft. from a Jake and the Jakefacing me at about 20 yards from me, that way the tom will turn his back to you ( so you can move if you need to without him seeing you) so he can face the Jake. Also affective is a Jake and hen decoy in the breeding position.
I get in close to the roost and set up well before light after I hear turkeys I call softly one or twice then just before they fly down I use a wing on a tree and use the fly down cackle, they think they have a hen in close, thiscan really work well when there arehens roosted with the tom.
Tip.. if a tom cuts you off when you call he is coming in, if there is a pause before he answers you he is probably just responding and is not really interested. in the second case I increase my calling and or change my position if he cant see me move.Yelping louder and cutting can really help change there minds.

I hope this helps, good luck!

Welcome to the sport. You are in for an exciting spring whether you tag one or not. My advice would be to stay on these forums all through the season and ask alot of questions. There are alot of experienced turkey hunters on hear to learn from. I've been hunting turkeys for 10 years now and with relatively good success but I seem to learn something new every year from these guys.

I will jump to one of your questions and give you the best answer I know how. Should you use decoys...Yes.......and No...... This is a loaded question and you will hear different from everybody. I own more turkey decoys than I know what to do with but dont use them like you would think. I ALWAYS have some in the truck and 98% of the time carry at least one into the field with me. I dont use them nearly that often. I do generally however use a hen decoy. Not always needed and 80% of the time doesn't hurt. You are pretty safe with using 1 hen and at times it will make all the difference in the world. Jake decoys is another matter. It can either bring them in running and send them running and anywhere in between. I really try to get to know the birds I'm hunting and what mood they are in before bringing out the jake. Example, one year we killed 2 birds on consecutive mornings in the same setup, I would say strictly because of the jake decoys we had out. We had many dominant birds in the area and we knew this from hunting them the week before with no success but being able to watch them. The next year in the same area I had a bird going nuts and coming right in and watched him pop out, see the jake decoy, shut up, turn around and walk straight away. Any way hope this helps and good luck.

Thanks for all the info.!! My biggest question is where to hunt. I will attempt to use RockyMtnGobblers tips on locating roosts and plan my attack from there. Should the owl call be used at sunset? dark? What time do turkeys typically fly up to roost? When I do locate a roost how does this effect where I should set up to hunt? Where I will be hunting I have the option of hunting the woods, with many hills and ridges or a powerline strip with a creek running through. Which would be best? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm trying to soak up as much info. as possible before the spring. Thanks again for all the help guys!!

Beings you are hunting Easterns in an area that sounds like there is alot of woods, The turkeys are likely to not roost in the same spots every night. Some may roost in the same general areas but not very often the same exact trees. Turkeys usually fly up shortly before dark. Sometimes you can get them to gobble in the evening and sometimes not. If you do you know where to go the next morning. If not, you can do one of two things. Go to a spot you have seen turkeys alot, a spot that seems likely for them to be and setup. Or you can use your own call in the morning and get them to gobble. When you get one roosted in the morning, slip in as close as you dare without spooking him and setup. Dont use much turkey calling until he is on the ground though. Also power lines are great places for toms to go and strut. Espesially mid morning once he is done breeding hens. Another thing I have learned from my experience, alot of the birds I hunt like to roost near and alot of times right over water. So the creek might be a good starting place in the morning. I know I've missed some stuff and will think of more to tell you later but hope this helps. Sounds like you have a pretty nice place. Is it private or public ground?

Thanks jepcho!! I hunt private ground. Both of my grandfathers have a good amount of private ground, within about 5 miles of each other so its nice to be able to pick and choose my hunting spots without worrying about alot of hunting pressure. My cousin saw a group of 6 toms this fall while bow hunting (bachelorgroup I'm assumming). Should I consider hunting that general area in thespring, orcan I expect them to move locations in the spring? I live about 30 miles from the land however, so using a locater call the night before would not be my best option. Can I use a crow or owl call the morning of my hunt to help locate the roosted turkeys? Your info. has been truly helpful, as well as everyone elses on this board. I'm sure I will be on here a good bit bugging you guys in the coming months so don't let me get to annoyning. Thanks again!!

You can try hunting in that area, In the spring however turkeys tend to break up and spread out and wont be in their bachelor groups. The hens will break up too. They will just spread out more. And yeah, my favorite time to use my owl call is early in the morning.

I live in Flintstone MD and am used to hunting in the hills. I have found out that it is easier to call a turkey up a hill than down a hill. In the spring I always have three decoys with me B-Mobile, She Mobile, and the She Mobile with the swinging head. Last season I kill two big toms and called in four others for my friends along wth to many dam jakes to count. I use the Will Primos diaphram call and all i can say is practice practice practice. I go to a college 30 minutes from my house and practice in that time. Owl calls are a locater call that will make a turkey shock gobble I use mine just before dark to roost birds for the next morning and at first light to locate birds. During the day light hours a crow call is also a good locator call. I feela good box call is a must for a beginning turkey hunter. I recommand the primos heart breaker. On windy or raining days turkeys will hang out in open places such as power lines so they can see predators better. Another important factor in turkey hunting is a good turkey choke and possibly hevi-shot. I will be trying Winchester high density shells this year. Good luck and always ask questions.

I would deffintly say do alot of scouting befor the season. If you find out were there hanging out and doing alot of strutting early in the morning thats a good spot. That will usaully be right around there roost spot. Welcome to turkey hunting by the way its one of the most exciting things to do. When you here that turkey gobble and he gets closer and closer its a rush.

Thanks Gobble! I hunt in Hancock, not to far away from Flinstone. I appreciate all the info. you guys have given me. I'm sure I'll be back with future questions.