First I just want to say thanks for all of the help that you guys have given me already. I hope I'm not asking too many silly questions. Anyway enough of the sap.

First off I am shooting a rem. 870 express magnum. It will shoot 2 3/4, 3, 3 1/2's. I was thinking of trying something in the 3" shell size. Is there a particular choke\ ammo combo I should look at? I've looked at a number of turkey hunting web sites and there seems to be a lot of chokes out there. As a beginner I know I need to pattern my gun to see what it likes to shoot, but I don't want to spend $80 on a Rhino choke and later find out that my gun doesn't like it. Is there a descent choke\ ammo combo you guys think that would be good for the beginner?

Second, I've seen a lot of different vests as well. Other than all the pockets and padded seat what else is there? I don't want to break the bank trying to get set-up for turkey hunting my first year. Do I really need a vest\ seat or can I get by with my big game pack the first year. My big game pack has a water bladder in it and is not that heavy. I usually carry my survival gear, water and food in it. I only have an "Ol Yeller" and some mouth calls for now and they will fit in the pack that I have just fine.

I'm sorry for being sooo long winded but I have so many questions. I have gotten myself some videos and begun to watch them and I am going to the sportsmans show this weekend to hopefully talk to other hunters in my area about turkey hunting in Colorado.

Popere - I'll check my gun closet and see if I can find a gift for ya.

I bought an 870 Supermag and got the Madd Maxx choke for it. I kept the turkey super-full that came with the factory setup.

If I can find it (I may have already given it away) you can have it.

I'll get back with ya.

Remington Super Full Trky
Winchester Supremes 3" #4 Shot (Black Shells)
Nice Tight Patterns At 45 Yards.

I went without a vest my first year and it cost me too much losing calls, strikers etc. It sure helped organize me in that way. Cheaper in the long run. I would get something cheap to sit on at least. Sometimes being still for long periods of time is required and that's hard to do if you're not comfortable.

Here is what I've been using, it is awesome out of my 870 using Winchester Hi-Velocity 3" #5's. No need to look for anything better IMO!


Find it here at Midwest Turkey Call Supply

And this is the vest I choose to use. It's the Mossy Super Elite II. It's a super vest and VERY comfortable + plenty of pockets.



Find it also at Midwest Turkey Call Supply

Good luck!

As far as shells/choke, most of the after-market tubes will give you good performance. And it seems that Winchester HV shells will pattern well in most guns. The tighter the choke, the smaller the shot that'll shoot well through it.
As to using a vest, its like using a scope on your deer rifle. Yes, you don't need it, but once you get it, you wonder why you hunted without one. Sitting on the cold, damp ground for a couple of hours without a pad is no fun. Besides, in the off-season, it's my storage container. All my turkey hunting stuff resides in my vest. Come spring, I throw in a couple of shells and go.

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to the sportsmans show here in town this weekend and hopefully I can find some deals on equipment.

Since you are on a tight budget I would suggest:

http://www.hunterspec.com/Updateable...&categoryID=33 (CHOKE TUBE)

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...712&hasJS=true (VEST & SEAT CUSHION)

My first year I used a barrowed Model 12 and used all my camo from deer hunting and a cushioned seat that I had laying around the house. I wasn't going to break the bank on something I wasn't sure I would ever do again. for calls I had an HS Strut box call I got at wally world.

Spend as little as you can the first year because once you experiance it it becomes an addiction. Second year was a rough one to justify all the expense to my wife, but she loves me so everything was cool.

Good luck and enjoy it.

Yeah, I hear ya Spatrat. I'm lucky to have a wife who encourages my to go hunting. I;m going to the sportsmans show here in town this weekend and hopefully there will be some deals on turkey gear.

On a good note I just got a call from a buddy of mine who has a lot of privaye land in western Kansas and has invited me to come hunt his property. He also has a booth at the sportsmans show this weekend and has free tickets for me and a couple of buds. Great guy.