Ok, my Dad has never been turkey hunting with me but about 4 times he knows nothing about it but just deer hunting, butI havealways liked it but NEVER gone with anyone but myself turkey hunting but I have got lucky enoguh to kill 2 jakes and a couple bearded hens. I have been wanting to kill a big ole longbeard SO BAD. I have got a couple calls (The Freak Crystal, primos sig. seris mouth call, Lynch box call, and a hoot owl call) I've got the Freak down.

I roosted 5 jakes a gobbler and a bearded henFriday night.

Ok, I shot a bearded hen this moring which is the first bird i've shot in2 yrs, but when I shot the bird I was wandering if I would ever see him (the gobbler I rooster Friday Night)again sowill birds spook easy from a 3 1/2 in goin off, if so will he not come back?

He couldnt of been but over400yds away when he flew down(im on top of a ridge)and I got set up about 150-200yds before he flew downaway from him and he was gobblin his head off, I just got set up some where I have seen birds. He shut-up all at once and 10mins later this bearded hen showed up do you think they where togther? or broke up the hen was on top of a ridge 40yds away when I shot it.

Does it matter between a feeding hen decoyor an alert hen decoywhenI am call to a gobbler because I got a feeding hen.

How far will a turkey usally fly down from the roost? will they fly out in the feild or drop straight down?

If you have any tips please tell me Im wanting to call in my first longbeard.

Is it easier to call a bird up hill or down hill I forgot which way it goes?

Thats all I can think of now thanks.

Ok, I shot a bearded hen this moring which is the first bird i've shot in2 yrs, but when I shot the bird I was wandering if I would ever see him (the gobbler I rooster Friday Night)again sowill birds spook easy from a 3 1/2 in goin off, if so will he not come back? Give him alittle time. he will not go far.


Does it matter between a feeding hen decoyor an alert hen decoywhenI am call to a gobbler because I got a feeding hen. a feeding hen will give a bit more security to an approaching gobbler

How far will a turkey usally fly down from the roost? will they fly out in the feild or drop straight down? a turkey will fly as far as he can if he wants to. thats why you should set up the dekes so he wants to come to you.

If you have any tips please tell me Im wanting to call in my first longbeard. Dont over call, be patient, if your getting jakes in then your doin at least something right.

At htis point you need patience - If the Jakes come in let them go....the Tom may not be far behind......and use both decoys as long as they are hens and space them about 15 yds in front of you and at least 5 -10 yards apart. Nervous turkey group together remember that!

Now as far as the shot - it meant nothing - if the Tom was not there you did not spook him. The Tom I shot in TN this yr had two hens to which THEY CAME BACK AND STOOD AROUND FOR BETTER THAN 15 MINUTES.
I hunted the same exact area the very next day and could have shot 2 Jakes!
The noise means nothing - hearing noise and then seeing unwanted MOVEMENT does!

There is going to be a point in time soon for you tha he will gobble hsi fool head off as hens won't be coming to him. Even in the morning if he answers your calls and goes silent - you be silent. Silence at this stage means he is with hens but he knows where you are (that other hen - you!) Then if after an hour or maybe two you hear a gobble - answer him -

Oh and I do call sporadicly every 15-30 minutes and then just sit there enjoying the day......again as I started - If you can sit long hours motionless and be PATIENT - you will be a better turkey hunter....

JW

Turkeys are odd, don't forget it. I had nothing answering me, nothing moving for almost 30mins. I just hit a slate yelping softly on and off relaxing in the chair when I got blasted from a gobbler less than 30yds ahead of me in high grass. This is my third year and I'm just now getting gobblers to answer my calls. I had a double with one shot last year, but my gobbler last weekend is the first one I've had actually gobbling AND coming in to my calls. They're going to do what they want to do, no matter how irritating it is. Just enjoy the fact that you're able to be out hunting them, there are many who can't or aren't able to.

Hey Dustin,
Welcome to HNI. Stick around on this site and you'll learn a lot. I'm new to turkey hunting also and I've learned more from these guys than you can imagine, it probably would have taken me years to learn everything on my own. It looks to me like you know more than I do, I'vestill haven't killedmy firstturkey yet.
The call that I really like is the Primos Jackpot with slate. From what others have told me, a wood pot sounds better than a plastic oneand slate is much more forgiving to the beginer. The slate won't be as loud as glass or as waterproof as aluminum but it probably isn't going to sqeek on you either.
Good luck......Mike

im pretty sure u always stay higher than the turkey. call them up

I dont know much about turkeys either (im also 14). But I've been hunting for 3 years for turkeys and it seems that every year I learn much more about them just by watching them.

Things I've learned are to not call to much. The turkeys might come to check it out but they wont be to interested in it.
If you are to overcall then it would be best if you have a few decoys out.

Here isa major newbie mistake that I quickly learned. If you have a tom walking to you, dont move... Not at all. They have AWESOME eyesight and can spot pretty much any movement.
Make sure if you hear a faint gobble and the gobble keeps getting louder and stronger to get your gun up in a shooting position so you dont have to move as much.


I havea quick question...
I saw your avatar and I was wonderin if you were put on our team as an alternate or if you just found our avatar and used it. The reason I ask is because I have never seen you in our team thread and I was searching the alternate sign up list and couldn't find your name.