So, I recieved my written permission to access some private land for the spring 09 turkey hunt this year. I had mentioned it a couple of times to my dad and uncle over the last few weeks, and my uncle spoke to the guy that owns the property that we deer hunt on (currently). He got me the written permission card that just states that I indeed do have permission to be on his land. SO, when the crabass neighbors call the police, because there is a crazed nut out there, playing Marine sniper, in a Ghillie suit. The CO won't have any issues with me. But, this isn't the reason for my post. I know turkeys are a bit more keen than deer, and I am by no means up to date on my technology with the bow. That being said, I am going to use the boomstick for my first season. I know the basics, but I was wondering if any of you have any advice at all. Any seasoned pros out there? Maybe someone with a turkey reference in their screen name? (wink, wink) I have arial views of the land that I will be hunting on, I have ran into some very decent toms up there, the only problem is that I only know where they are in the Fall time. Any chance they will be in the same area, come spring? Any tips for me are helpful. I just wish I could do this from a tree. I have had more than enough ops in the last two deer seasons to skewer me a bird. In fact, my first time seeing turkeys while hunting, was me sitting in my stand, watching two toms fight, while three hens just followed them around. Those dudes are ruthless! They were taking down half inch saplings while tumbling around! Wicked way to introduce someone to their world man. Very cool to see. For the record, I will be using my dad's Browning BPS 12 ga. pump. It's my only choice right now.
I don't have any reference to turkeys in my name, but I may have some info that could possibly be of help. I've hunted turkeys since I was about 12, and I'm 20 now, and have killed 5 or 6 so far. The turkey in our area tend to roost in the same trees year round, and move in the same patterns a majority of the time once they fly down off of roost. Turkeys like open areas that provide a good strutting zone in which they are visible to any hens that may see them. The turkeys in my area tend to walk along the tops of ridges so that they have a good view of the area around them. I would definitely recommend using a decoy, as it often makes them focus on it in particular decreasing its chances of seeing you. Don't have the decoy looking at you either, because the turkeys will sometimes look to see what the decoy is looking at. I don't know what types of calls you use, but I have the most success with a mouth diaphragm and slate call. If its a really windy day take a box call because the high pitch of it will go quite a ways. I can't really think of anything else right now to help you out. Usually after I shoot them and they start flopping around I stand on their neck just to make sure they don't get back up, and it also eases the death process. Turkeys are tough animals, and its not unusual for them to get knocked down and get back up. Hopefully you find something useful out of what I said haha. Good luck hunting! Turkey hunting is very tough, as it takes some hunters YEARS to get their first turkey, even with a shotgun. I've been pretty lucky so far.
I've got a bit of experience turkey hunting. A few pointers........ DO NOT CALL TO YOUR BIRDS BEFORE IT'S LEGAL TO HUNT THEM. I can't stress this enough. Turkeys can become call shy VERY quickly. Other than this, spend enough time in the woods the few weeks before your opener to see where your birds are roosting, and where they typically go to after flying down. The trick to calling turkeys is to be setup where they already want to go. It's a LOT easier to call a turkey 50 yards out of their intended path, than it is to completely call them in the opposite direction.
Oh yea, another thing. Gobblers can be very picky as to what calls they will respond to. That is another reason you want to bring several different calls. I almost always have 3 different mouth diaphragms that I take out with me when hunting.
Don't take aim until the tom is strutting and facing away from you, turkeys have a great field of vision. Aim for the head, they are some really tough old birds. Patience, when the toms are coming, let them continue coming! Good luck.
Can someone help me out with this? The link I have posted below, is to the MN Hunting Regulations. Can someone go to this, follow the tabs down to turkey, and read it. Am I reading this wrong, or can I really NOT use a shotgun?!? This does not make sense to me at all. I don't want to use a shotgun, and find out that it was illegal, but using a .22, or larger, rifle does not make sense to me at all. Especially since the zones that you can hunt turkey in are below the rifle/shotgun line we have here in MN. If I have to choose between rifle and bow, I think I am a bit more confident with a bow. I know it would not be easier, but that would have to be my preference. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/2008/full_regs.pdf
