first timer

being new i would definitely get a decoy turkeys have very very good eye sight. i would almost go so far as to say they can see you blink from 50 yrds. so the more distraction you have for them the better keeps them from scanning for you. as for a call... id go with a chalk box.. i have a problem with the diaphragms they all but gag me. and they are easier to get the correct sound as far as pitch and calls go. maybe electronic? depends on your state regulations..

 

Skawez is right. Get yourself a decoy or two, ( I pefer three,2 hens,1jake) and a good box call and you'll be ready to go. After you hunt your first season, you'll be hooked. You'll go to bed at night with fans and hooks in your head.

A word of advice, don't listen to every thing everyone tells you about turkey hunting. Get out in the woods make a few mistakes, get busted a few times and you'll catch onto one of the greatest sports in the world.
Good Luck and keep your shot Heavy!
Sparky

 

I hunted this past spring First time ever,Bout all I did was scout the birds ,go back the next day and set up all camoed up ,at the base of a huge Elm tree and yelp and purr occasionall on my slate. to let the birds know . When they returned a few hrs later they came chargin to the call. . I would say I got lucky ,but I also studied up on turkeys and learned my quarry as much as possible. Full camo is a requirement I think as well.

 

I don't hunt with decoys anymore myself. If you use them on public ground be careful. If ya see someone, whistle or speak in an auditable voice,,,,DO NOT CALL at them. As far as callers I recommend some sort of friction call to start. Learn to condition the caller with sand paper or scotchbrite. If you chose a box, spare the sanding but use a good chalk thats not oil based. I hunt with mouth callers and slates but there are alot of good callers on the market. My favorite being an "ole yeller" by "Knight & Hale" good luck and don't get discouraged.

 

The evening before, if you can be in the woods and listen to where the birds roost. (fly up into the trees at night). it gives you a good starting point for the next morn.

 

I've been Turkey hunting for about 10 yrs. now and I can tell you some of the things I've learned. If you can start about 3 or 4 weeks before the season opener...by going out every morning at just before daylight and listen to where the turkeys are gobblin. You can almost pattern the gobblers and find which ridges they like to roost on and which way they fly down and which way they like to go when they hit the ground. These things can mean the difference between success and failure. Also another tidbit of advice...do not over call! If a Turkey responds to your light clucks...go silent on him for a while and see if he is really interested. The way I prefer to hunt is without decoys. I have seen Turkeys that would see decoys and take off running in the other direction. I guess that all depends on how much hunting pressure they get. I like to get to the woods about 45 minutes before daylight and see if I can hear any of the lighter sounds that they make before daylight. I like to get up on my ridge where I know they are and sit down and wait on daylight to come. Then as the first Gobbler sounds off I can quickly be close to him. I do very little calling and when I do call I use slate Friction calls. I like to slip to within 100yrds of the bird while he is still on roost and then give a few light ( tree yelps)...a lot of times they will fly down within sight and can usually be coxed in with just a few quite clucks. Dont rely on what you see on Television...but just get out and have a good time!! This is a sport that I continue to learn from every season and hopefully become a better Turkey Hunter. I have taken 2 gobblers every year since 2000. That is the spring limit in Kentucky. I hunt with my son who has taken several nice birds as well. We always look forward to spring action.:big_smile:

 

I've killed a few over the years. I've read there are more hunters shot during turkey season than any other time. So be careful. Just because you are the only one that is supposed to be hunting an area don't assume you are. Decoys have always worked for me but I make sure they covered leaving the woods for safety. I had one idiot sneak up on one of mine one time on private ground. And don't believe all you hear about "locater" calls. Guys around here start driving roads a month ahead of time stopping and blowing owl and all types of calls. By the time season hits the turkeys are tired of that crap. A box is the easiest but even easier is finding someone that knows what they are doing in your area. I like the season here because morels are just coming in about then. Nothing like being in a woods when it wakes up. Spiritual like.

 

According to th NWTF injuries in the Turkey woods has fallen by 50% since 1992 even though we have a lot more hunter, in the woods today. In 1991 accross the country injuries have gone from a high of 8.1 per 100,000 hunters down to a low of 2.95 per 100,000 in 2002. So, thanks to alot of hunter safety programs and the NWTF, we as turkey hunter have become a safer group of sportman. That said, doesn't mean we should get lacks, by any means. Be safe, keep safety at the top of the list when your in the turkey woods and by all means have fun and enjoy the great outdoors.

Here are some interesting facts that the Wall Street Journal printed in 1999.
These are injury results from different sports out of 100,000 participants.
880 Basketball players were seriously injuried. 800 soccer players left the field limping. 800 softball players were wounded on the diamond. 410 bike riders recieved injuries while pedding themselves into shape. 260 Tennis players left the court with torn ligaments, damaged cartilage and even more.
To make things worse, swimming is concidered one of the safest sports out there, 70 injuries were reported. Even more dangerous than Turkey Hunting.
You are more apt to go to the emergency room from playing a round of Golf than you are Turkey hunting.
So, all that being said, go out be safe and have fun enjoying one of the greatest sports on earth. "Turkey Hunting"!

Sparky

 

I use decoys all the time but I hunt private land alot. Do be careful using decoys on public land if you hunt there. The easiest call to use is the push pull type call. Slate or glass calls are easy to use also. Practice with them. There are alot of good instructional dvds out there that should help you out. If you know anyone who turkey hunts, get them to help you learn a few calls and about decoys.

 

Get yourself a Lynch's Fool Proof, Model 101 box call. Its a one sided, self return box. Very easy to learn with, and sounds real good too. Get some good chalk to go with it, and maybe a couple decoys (a couple jakes and a feeding hen). Get a cd and listen and practice, then get out there and pattern some birds before ya hunt. Know where they're comin from, and where they're goin, and about what time. Then pick ya out a setup, and "get er done"! You are going to make mistakes, dont sweat it, thats how we all learned. Time spent in the woods watchin and listening will be your best teacher. Good luck! :wink:

 

Sparky, thanks for the updated education. Great to see the results of the organizations have worked! Interesting stats.

 

I have bow hunted turkeys for 6 yrs. The first year was trial and error. Didn't even own a blind at the time. The turkeys won that year. The second year I bought a blind and was successful, scoring on a 16lb. jake. To up your odds in turkey hunting, full camo concealment is a must! A good box call, decoys will definently help in your success. If possible scout the area you are hunting 1-2 weeks prior to your hunt. Find where they roost and setup about 75-100 yds. away. Getting to the location undetected is a must too. I like to be there at least a half hour to hour before daylight. Early bird gets the worm! If scouting is not possible, a good locater call like a crow call will get the turkeys a talking. Sometimes this doesn't work, because the barametric pressure affects the vocalization of the turkeys.

Good luck and Shoot Straight

Mark

 

Call shy birds usually require alot of patience and when it comes to calling to them, I usually just purr, cluck, and scratch in the leaves. Call shy birds can be aggravating to hunt, but hang in there.

 

My best advise for wise call shy birds,,,is don't call em. Bobcat them suckersoooh:. If he'll gobble a day or two and goes the same way he'll likely do it again. Set up in front of him and smoke his head when he comes slippin by. Days scouting is the best time one can spend in the woods. I may scout for weeks listening and weigh the odds an go from there. The only thing certain bout turkey huntin is the uncertainty.

 

HOWDY,Ive been hunting them for 10 years in and a round Bennettsville.I found that 1 call works this year and dont work the next.

 

welcome to boc you will love it:smile2:

 

welcome to boc:wink:

 

I would get a decoy too and a good turkey call and try call you one in