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For a beginer I think you may do best if you try not to call to much. Pattern the gun at the range on a big piece of white paper.If you never shot a turkey, aren`t you turkey hunting, not trophy hunting.....

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trap,you should learn how to call,the turkeys that you are seeing now may alter their routine once the breeding season starts and the gobbler flocks break up.

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I strongly suggest you get a call and learn to use it. No matter how well you have patterned them, things don't always go as planned. Besides, you will find, if you stick with it, that calling a gobbler in close enough for the shot is the most thrilling experience in the realm of hunting. At least for me. If I had to choose one type of hunting it would, without a doubt, be spring gobbler hunting.

There are many calls that are so easy to use. There is really no reason not to get one. A push pen yelper is probably the easiest.

As to the jakes question, I know that Mississippi has a law that requires only gobblers with a 6 inch or longer beard may be taken. It is the only state that I know of that does this. You will notice my "signature" at the bottom of this message. I don't shoot jakes because it will only take one year for that bird to become a longbeard. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't, especially with this being your first year. By all means if you get a shot at a legal bird, then take it.

You are correct on the glasses thing. A buddy of mine used to wear glasses until they fogged up one spring morning during a light rain when he had a bird in at about 20 yards. Spooked the bird while tryign to clear his glasses.

If you need some advice or have other questions, email me. I don't want to bore everyone on here with too many details. I will be out of town this upcoming week, but will answer next Sat. if you have more questions.

No jakes!

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The sport of turkey hunting is all about calling the bird into shotgun or bow range, i.e. 35 yds. or less,IMO. Turkeys are still in winter flocks at the present time and will in the next 2 to 4 weeks begin to breakup for the breeding season. These jakes will probably be pushed out of the area by mature gobblers as these fields are prime struting grounds. You need to pattern your gun using different size shot(#6,5,4 are the most popular) and load combinations to get your best pattern. Try to place 15 plus pellets in a 3 inch circle at 35 yards to insure a devastating kill. Friction callers are simple to use,easy to learn, and you have time to become very proficient before the season opens. Many call makers have good instuctional tapes to teach you how and when to call and I suggest either a Knight & Hale or Primos. Eye glasses are a bitch, I've been hindered by them for 41 years, but you can still hunt. You will need to wear a full face mask that you can see through. Contact lenes are much better, no fogging, but a face mask are camo grease paint is still necessary. I went to contact lenses 4 years ago just when I'm hunting and it makes so much easier. Best of luck and be safe.

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