HELP PLEASE!
 

Ok heres the deal, I have never gone turkey hunting before and its about the only thing around here I havent hunted. I think I am a good hunter however turkeys are supposed to be hard to hunt. I have about 120 acres of land to hunt, however all the sign is in just about 10 acres of it. I have seen flocks of hens and jakes, groups of up to 7 big toms and I have seen several spots in the area where they feed, dust, and roost. I know there are turkeys there because just yesterday I saw 7 toms with beards that touch the ground when they feed (i dont know how long that is but I guessed around 10 inches). The area is a big alfalfa field with small islands of trees, one of the islands being a patch of crabapples where I know they are feeding right now. I get to hunt in 41 days and I just want to know if I should hunt their feeding area, dusting area or an area of thick brush close to their roost. Also, they have not seen any hunting pressure and I have been able to stalk to within 15 yards with a camera and they dont seem to be afraid of people, and I see them almost every day feeding in the field. Would it be a bad idea to try to stalk the toms? Also I was wondering if I should use a gun or a bow being that its my first year. Right now I only have one jake decoy do i need more than that. Also I have NO IDEA how to call them. I know how to cluck and thats about it, what else do I need to know?? What kind of call should I use?? Anything I need to know that you can help me with please do I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
It flies it dies

If you want the animals to have rights they can have yours

RE: HELP PLEASE!
 

My biggest piece of advise is to back off on the scouting. Don't pressure the birds at all. Watch from a distance and don't let them know you are there. Next broaden your call range. Clucks might be all you need as they are a very common sound. However they don't caarry very far. 41 days is still along time, and patterns might well change. Keep scouting and try to set up near where they come down each day, or along the way they move after fly down. If you are going to use decoys a hen would probably be helpful since that is a toms driving interest in spring. The jake and hen togeather can create a dominance reaction from a mature tom.

RE: HELP PLEASE!
 

Go to nwtf.org and listen to all the sounds. Get a call or 2 and try to imitate them. Slate calls are fairly easy to learn, at least for me it was. I would not try to stalk them, in some states it is illegal, check your laws. I'd also use a shotgun. Search around here and you'll find info on what kind of patterns to shoot for. If you set up in a place where the turkeys want to go, then you won't have to call them as much. As far as decoys go you'll get all kinds of theories. Some guys like em, others don't.

RE: HELP PLEASE!
 

Chances are as the season goes on those birds will spread out a little more but I would hunt that field right away opening morning. Setup in a blind right in the field, if you use your decoys have them facing your blind as turkeys like to face other turkeys and this may bring them in closer. Call every once in a while but be patient. I killed two birds out of a field that sounds similar to what you are talking about last year and they didn't come in till 9 or 10 am. Get out there well before sunlight but be willing to stay out for a few hours. The funnest thing about turkey hunting is getting to learn from the turkeys themselves. I dont know if i've been much help but I hope so. Good Luck!!