AIRASSAULT
PMA Member
Decoys may be dependent on whether you are going to be bowhunting or gun hunting. If you're gun hunting, I wouldn't waste the money. I've had more toms hang-up once they see the decoys than they do come running in (In nature, the hens are suppose to go to the tom's). However, a lot of times, they may be necessary to get them to commit the last little bit to get into archery range. Decoys can make you or break you. Sometimes you just never know what they're going to do.
I use diaphram mouth calls primarily. If I'm in a windy day situation, I'll use a slate call a lot of times. I'm not one for extra movement though, so, I prefer the mouth call. You will find that turkeys have exceptional eye sight and can pick out the slightest little movements and it doesn't take long until they putt their way out off of the scene. The best way to learn is to get out there and practice. Find some public close by in March or first week of April and practice your calls and see what you can make happen. I wouldn't suggest doing this where you will be hunting though as you may un-necessarily educate them.
I use diaphram mouth calls primarily. If I'm in a windy day situation, I'll use a slate call a lot of times. I'm not one for extra movement though, so, I prefer the mouth call. You will find that turkeys have exceptional eye sight and can pick out the slightest little movements and it doesn't take long until they putt their way out off of the scene. The best way to learn is to get out there and practice. Find some public close by in March or first week of April and practice your calls and see what you can make happen. I wouldn't suggest doing this where you will be hunting though as you may un-necessarily educate them.
HorseDoctor
PMA Member
IMO: Box call or a push button call is easiest. A mouth call probably most versatile but tougher to master. Glass/slate calls are in the middle & I use them a lot with decent success. I shotgun hunt & love my "Pretty Boy" !!! Wouldn't be without it, but not everyone shares that opinion. I think decoys are a must for bow hunting. Good luck. Have fun. Be safe!
DoneRight
PMA Member
For a beginner slate calls would probably be the best way to go. Mouth calls and slates are pretty much all I use. I usually pack 5-6 different mouth calls, and 3-4 slates, and one box call for windy days. I'm of the opinion when calling to use different calls to see what will grab the birds attention, and then to sound like 2-3 hens talking/fighting with each other. Decoys can either help or hurt depending on the day. Sometimes they will run in, sometimes they will hang up, and sometimes they will look at the dekes and run. Biggest thing is to have good natural movement in the decoy set-up. Do not overcall, even if you have a bird gobbling to every sound you make be sparing with your calls, he will find you! Go to NWTF website and listen to the turkey sounds and try to mimic them with your call of choice. You don't want to sound like "fingernails on a chalkboard" when you go out.
SEIowaDeerslayer
Well-Known Member
Get a good box call and a slate call. If you're going to use mouth calls, get them now and start practicing. To be successful at turkey hunting, first thing is first you need to be good at calling and sounding like a real turkey especially if you're hunting birds that are pressured, which most are. I use a couple Primos slates, a Primos box, a couple of HS slates, and half a dozen mouth calls.
If you're bow hunting for them, get yourself a blind that is big enough to draw your bow in, make sure its black on the inside. Wear black when hunting them out of a blind. I use a Double Bull Darkhorse and its awesome.
I didn't use decoys much when I gun hunted. I only bow hunt them now and can honestly say that investing in some decoys that look like the real thing is an absolute necessity to consistently bring birds in to 10 yards or less. Brands like the Dakota Jake BTD, Dave Smith Decoys, and the Avian X Zinks are the best out there. I've had mixed results with the B-Mobile and Pretty Boy strutting decoys, just because strutters usually only bring in more mature gobblers. I use a Dakota Jake now with an Avian X feeder and Avian X upright. Works awesome.
Turkey hunting is a crazy sport and there are so many options out there and keep in mind what works for me may not necessarily work for you. Everything I learned turkey hunting came from experience and I didn't even bring a bird home until my 3rd of 4th year of hunting them.
If you're bow hunting for them, get yourself a blind that is big enough to draw your bow in, make sure its black on the inside. Wear black when hunting them out of a blind. I use a Double Bull Darkhorse and its awesome.
I didn't use decoys much when I gun hunted. I only bow hunt them now and can honestly say that investing in some decoys that look like the real thing is an absolute necessity to consistently bring birds in to 10 yards or less. Brands like the Dakota Jake BTD, Dave Smith Decoys, and the Avian X Zinks are the best out there. I've had mixed results with the B-Mobile and Pretty Boy strutting decoys, just because strutters usually only bring in more mature gobblers. I use a Dakota Jake now with an Avian X feeder and Avian X upright. Works awesome.
Turkey hunting is a crazy sport and there are so many options out there and keep in mind what works for me may not necessarily work for you. Everything I learned turkey hunting came from experience and I didn't even bring a bird home until my 3rd of 4th year of hunting them.
jmoose
PMA Member
best advice yet right there!
scout, scout and scout some more! you can be the best caller in the world and have the best looking dekes money can buy, but the key to turkey hunting is to be where the turkeys are.