turkey hunting

I have never gone just for turkeys so any info on the subject would be awesome
Like calls
where to hunt
how to hunt
if i hunt out of a stand is that ok?
and the whole 9 yards

 

You have to be EXTREMELY quiet and extremely well camouflaged. Turkeys have the best sight and hearing of any animal I've ever hunted. Scent is not a big issue.

As far as the stand is concerned, not saying it can't be done. But turkey hunting is almost always done on the ground (behind cover or in a blind).

If this is your first try I wouldn't suggest trying to call yourself. There are many different calls for different scenarios. I would suggest goin with an experienced caller if you know one. And work on the calls in your free time.

Lastly, just a little helpful hint....
Turkeys are not fond of crossing barriers (ex. barbed wire fences, creeks, ridges, etc.) so if at all possible, set up where there are no barriers between you and where you expect the turkeys to come from.

Did I miss anything?

 

Decoys are your friend. Not always a strutting Tom though, they can be a little intimidating. I usually use a couple hens, and sometimes I put out my Primos B-Mobile strutting Tom decoy. It's awesome to watch a tom come running in and put a beating on your decoy

 

I knew I left somethin out... Haha

 

Don't overcall...

If you get in early, you can hit them with a crow call and they will "shock gobble" - hopefully still at roost. Stop, QUIETLY get to within about 100yds of where you think they are roosted and set in. You can hear them fly down sometimes and then start to gently work them. Less is more with calling since they expect the hen to come to them. You gotta make him WANT your call...if another hen lights up (like a real one)...you have to out call her or he will hen up and you have to move on and find another bird.

Its addicting as hell.

 

Thanks guys!!
I plan on trying this all out for the first time this year

 

so i guess i need to get a blind too right?
and do i just get closeish to the turkeys then set up a blind and call? or is there another way?

 

Yes you definitely need a blind. And if your in a field, get across the field from them and call them over. Don't get on top of them

 

First you'll need some calls if you don't already have some. 3 basic calls that have been used to call in millions of turkey are a box call, friction call, and a push-button call. They're prob. the easiest to use, and they're just a realistic as any other calls out there. Maybe get a few mouth calls if you can use them or if you want to learn. Practice, practice, practice. If you can yelp you can call turkey.

you'll need some lite camo cause it gets hot. A vest to carry your equipment isn't a bad idea either. Rubber boots are a godsend if you plan on doing a lot of walking through mixed terrain. Don't forget the bug spray or thermacell, ticks and mosquitos will eat you alive.

As said in earlier posts, ground blinds and decoys work wonders.

locator calls come in handy if you want to find out where that old gobbler is at. Use an owl call in early morning and late afternoon, Use the crow call any other time.

Watch some turkey hunting videos to get the feel of it, they really help. Turkey hunting isn't rocket science but it aint always easy.

hope this helps.

 

Thanks for all the info guys!!
So if i go out and use a locator and dont get a response should i just go home?

 

Great locator is a crow call.

 

no, I wouldn't say that. This is where some scouting will play in. If you don't get a response then you can go where you would expect them to be based on where you've seen them before or where there is a lot of sign ie. tracks, droppings, feathers, strut marks or dusting sites.

just like deer hunting, you gotta do some homework.

I would "roost" the turkey the evening before you plan to hunt. Get him to shock gobble and remember where he gobbled from. in the morning before daylight, get within about 100 yards of where his roost is if you can. set up and do some soft calling. Don't call to aggressivly while he's still in the tree. When you hear him fly down, then start cutting and yelping. Try to get him excited, then stop calling. He might come check you out he might not, it isn't cut and dry just because he gobbled at your call. You have to remember that in nature, the hen goes to the gobbler but you're trying to make the gobbler come to you cause you can't go to him. Sometimes they just hang up and won't come in and sometimes the come on a string. That's why they call it turkey hunting.

 

i have a crow call an owl call and a gobbler call i think and i also have a box call (well i dont my dad does but i can use them)

 

Ok thanks!
when should i start scouting for these turkeys?
our season opens april 4
and where should i start looking

 

Then I think you'll be in pretty good shape

 

ima have to start using them to practice

 

Most definitely. They have some instructional videos on the internet that can be helpful

 

I'd start scouting a couple of weeks before season 1 week before at the latest.

look for places of food and leading to food. Open areas and fields are good places to see them strutting and feeding especially after a rain.

 

my hunting ground consists of an alfalfa field...do turkey like that?

 

They're predictable in the rain, hunt a field if it's anything more than a slight drizzle. Good luck.