new turkey hunter here

[gersdorf]

I am going to be going turkey hunting this spring and wanted to get any advice i could on turkey hunting. I went out two years ago and didn't have much success. how long do you call? how many calls do you use? what locater calls do you have the best luck with? how long do you sit and wait after the tom quits calling to you?

 

[deadeye]

Many different opinions to those questions. Also like to change it up during the season. My best advise is to get out there a couple nights before your season with an owl call. Hit it hard right before dark. If you hear them head back within about 100 yards or so the next am. Let them fly down and see what they do. Thats where you will want to hunt (where they go that is). Also note what the nearby hens do. Do not take a call to mess around other than a locator call. Good luck!

 

[jkratz5]

Deadeye, good advice.

A little to add once you get in the field, especially for a beginner try not to over call. You will quickly learn what is over calling once you listen to the hens in your area. My best advice is to limit your calling (1 sequence every 15 minutes) unless you feel the situation is right to call more (like a bird is hung up on a creek or fence or after several 15 minute sequences he is still in the same spot, etc.)

Also, be patient, try not to get up and move all the time. Get into one of their prime strutting areas (ridge top, field), setup and wait, several hours if need be.

Finally, if you can hook up with someone who has hunted them for years that is a great way to learn the ropes.

Kratz

 

[blake]

[ QUOTE ]
if you can hook up with someone who has hunted them for years that is a great way to learn the ropes.

[/ QUOTE ]

While many of us on this site learned to hunt turkeys on are own, I must say I agree with Kratz. Find an experienced, successful turkey hunter or two in your area and try to get them to teach you what they know.

Most turkey hunters I know are willing to teach others "The Art of Turkey Hunting".

 

[LoessHillsArcher]

What we do (and we are new to this too) is find the roost. Then we have two pairs of hunters and each sit on opposite sides of the roost in the fields in our popup blinds. Then once the birds fly down, most of the time they fly down to one of the pairs of hunters. If they don't then we setup in highly traveld turkey routes and sit all day. We just make a few yelps and clucks every now adn then. This has worked best for us throughout the past 2 years. Good luck and one word of advice I have learned that hard way is: don't get too excited when a bird gobbles to your calls off the roost, just call like 2 times and real softly, if you get too aggresive more than likely he'll hang up on roost and eventually fly away!

Good luck!

 

[moosehunter]

Go out and get yourself a slate or glass call and 3 or 4 strikers. IMO they are the one of the easiest calls to use. I use a sharp loud call to locate the birds then everything after that is mostly purrs. If nothing responds in a half hour move 100 yards and call softly again. Repeat that again if you have to. If they still don't respond go find another bird. Last year was the 1st year I ever had a tag left over, bow or gun, so I guess this method works for me. Either that or I find the dummest birds in the woods..........

 

[muddy]

Be patient, persistant, and KNOW that yo'ure going to mess up A LOT your first couple years. Other than that, have FUN!

 

[bukket]

Scout, scout, scout. If you're hunting public land or pressured birds scout a little more. Know the morning and evening routines of the flock you're hunting and then get yourself set up on Day 1 to intercept a gobbler coming off the roost or going to it.

I haven't taken decoys into the field for 2 seasons now. I carry a slate and mouth call that I didn't use last year. My success during the upcoming season correlates directly to how much time I spend in the next 5 weeks hunting without a gun.

Like I said, if you're hunting birds that are being chased by other parties you'll want to know their routines. Calls and decoys stop working pretty quickly when the season opens.

 

[risto2351]

gersdorf,
Do like Muddy says and be patient and persistant. The best thing to do is take a veteran with you and you can learn a tremendous amount of knowledge.
Watch a lot of DVDs and read, read, read.Each bird is different and all the advice you have received so far is correct but different to each bird.
I use as many calls as possible. The box and slate are the easiest. I had a buddy that only used one diaphram and shot a bird everytime.

As far as locator calls try an owl hoot in the morning and night. Crow calls are also good. Some others I have used are coyote, pileated woodpecker, peacock, and a goose or duck call.

As far as how much and how long it will depend on the bird. Some factors include: what season is it?, hunting pressure, time of day, weather, and are the birds with hens or not.
How long to sit will depend on the bird and your patience and how long you are willing to wait. If the bird is moving away from you and gobbling you can circle around him if the terrain allows. If the bird quits gobbling he may be coming in. He may just be standing there waiting for you to come to him.

I know a lot of this is vague but patience and persistence and just having fun like Muddy says is the key.
Stick with it because you will learn something everytime you are out.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Risto

 

[GunnerJon]

I know it has already been said, but find a hunter who knows the ropes and see if you can tag along.

I taught myself to hunt turkeys and it was tough. I made a ton of mistakes and screwed up more hunts than I can count....but it was a blast! I got that first bird under my belt and kept learning.

I started hunting with some very knowlegable friends years ago and the helpful hints, tactics and scouting tips sckyrocketed. I learned more from those buddies in a few years than all those beginning years combined.

I absolutley love turkey hunting. I hunt both spring and fall and scout all year round. Know the birds, know their roost sites, travel corridors, feeding sites....anything and everything you can. Scouting before the seasons can pay off BIG.

Take the time to pattern your gun as well. Any shotgun/choke combination can kill a turkey...but know what range you can go out to.

 

[kbgibby]

Ditto to all that's been said. I hunted some with a friend early on and it helped a lot.

Probably the biggest thing I learned (the hard way) was to stay put. If you've got a bird you think is coming in, sit until you think it's time to leave ... and then stay put another 30 minutes. I typically hunt 4th season and those toms and jakes can sneek in undetected just when you get up to move.