Have the privilege to go on my first Turkey hunt coming up this spring in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sounds like the bird numbers are very strong, definitely a plus, but I have a few questions. Hopefully some of you guys and gals out there with more experience can give some advice.

1st of all I have been doing some research on calls, so many different styles and brand names I am not sure exactly what I should be looking for, I like the pot/peg call and from what I have read it sounds like they give a real true to life call. Or, as a beginner should I be using a box call or maybe a squeeze box? I do plan on getting a mouth call, but it sounds like I will need plenty of practice before it should be used in the woods!
2nd I will be shooting my Browning Gold w/3" chamber, I plan on screwing in my full choke and doing some experimenting, but if anyone has any advice on a starting point with maybe a different choke tube and/or shells. (load size, shot size, brand name etc...) I will also be buying the camo tape for my shotgun, anything that I should look for or avoid?
Thanks in advance for any advice, this is a great site, I have gotten a lot of great info already!!
Thanks again,
SDBrowning

First of all , Welcome to the Board SD Browning!

There's a plether of knowlege floating around this board and you'll get plenty of tips and advice when you ask-
As far as calls go, the Box call and Friction type calls are probably gonna be the easiest calls to start out with for someone just starting use them, Mouth calls tend to be a little more invovled and take quite a bit more practice- If you decided to get a box call or Friction type you should be able to pick up on the basics of yelping and clucking in just a few days- Everyone is partial to different makers of calls and opinions vary on which is the best- Just pick you out a couple and get to practicing- Try and find a tape or there is several websites with Turkey vocals on them to get you started
One site with plenty of Turkey paraphernalia and one I think everybody here frequents and drools over is

www.midwestturkeycall.com

Oh yea, One last peice of Advice-
Run while you still can, cause the First Gobble you hear a daylight will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and then it's all over,
YOUR HOOKED!

Good luck to ya this Spring

Hi. Welcome. I would start out on either a slate call or a box call. It would be good to get one of each and get comfortable with each. I would learn the basic yelp, cluck, and purr. For a first year hunter that should be all you have to know as far as calling. If you arent sure about what to do....copy the hens. If you have any othere questions feel free to email me. Good luck this spring!

...TAKE THIS FROM A OLE TIMER,FIRST HUNT SIT STILL ...IVE LOST MORE
BIRDS WITH THAT THAN ANY OTHER MISTAKE..TRY NOT TO FLINCH
WHEN SHOT HAPPENS,SIGHT BELOW TURKEY HEAD,MAKE A GOOD
STEADY SHOT,AND YOU GOT A DEAD GOBBLER,PRACTICE OUTSIDE
YARDAGE ESTAMENTS,GET SOME LOW BRASS SHELLS AND SHOOT
YOUR GUN ALOT..BE FAMILAR WITH IT,EVERYTHING ELSE WILL
FALL IN PLACE..HOPE I HELP-YA....

When I first started turkey hunting I used a box and a slate call. I never made a yelp or cut nothing fancy for the first couple of years and killed turkeys by using a simple cluck and sitting stone cold still. Totoe is right get used to your equipment and stay still.

http://www.treetopturkeys.com/