4 replies to this topic

[foggysurf]

first time turkey hunting and have no idea what to do.i just got off the phone with the property owner that lets us hunt, and 2 guys each got a tom friday.i have some duck loads (2 3/4, #3, 1350 fps) is the closest shell i have using a an older improved 1100. i also have full camo gear, but its not the right pattern or color.questions:1. should i just find a spot, and sit and wait, or should i roam around? There is a big pond (gunna bring some duck dekes too) that is surrounded by green grass with a bunch of oaks and aspen cover along the egdges. thought id find a spot to hide away into that also fronts the pond for a stray ducks, but dont turkeys like grass? I know you guys talk about 'hearing' them, so if i do, should i go towards the sound, or just wait and luck out they head my way - i dont have a call.2. what time? i suspect morning is the best, but i have seen turkeys all hours of they day. how does the rain play into the hunt? It is supposed to pour Sunday.2. can i smoke ciggies or is this a give-away. ima fidget-er, and often flare birds when i get impatient.thanks for any advice!Foggy

[turkeyman85]

1. If you hunting turkeys DONT SHOOT AT DUCKS! pick one and stick with it for the day untill you dont want to do it anymore!2. DONT SMOKE CIGGIES!!! turkeys can see very well but its your hand movement they'll pick up before your smoke!3.IF your a fidget-er I would get a stake out blind or stay on the move.4. I move to sound but I have lots of experiance on hunting birds,so I kinda know when its a person calling or a bird. (Im not always right tho).5. Morning is the best time and its better during the fall since they are very very vocal. To be honest theyre freaking loud.6. You can kill turkeys in thick timber,open grass lands with few trees,oak savanahs,or in town.But I say look for the best,fresh sign you can find and wait or try to track them. And I mean track them not stalk them!! there is a difference.7. GET A DANG CALL lol your gonna need one. even if you bust flocks you still need to call. Or if you can see them and you have a good Idea of where they're going try to circle around and set up in the best location for them to walk into your lap. Some times impossible. But good luck my friend hope you score.

[TonyS]

I would add to the good advice given to make sure you include gloves and a face mask. Turkeys are VERY visual. If they see anything not right they peek and scoot. Usually out of range. And definitely get and learn how to use a call. This usually isn't a see and shoot deal.Good luck!

[foggysurf]

1. If you hunting turkeys DONT SHOOT AT DUCKS! pick one and stick with it for the day untill you dont want to do it anymore!2. DONT SMOKE CIGGIES!!! turkeys can see very well but its your hand movement they'll pick up before your smoke!3.IF your a fidget-er I would get a stake out blind or stay on the move.4. I move to sound but I have lots of experiance on hunting birds,so I kinda know when its a person calling or a bird. (Im not always right tho).5. Morning is the best time and its better during the fall since they are very very vocal. To be honest theyre freaking loud.6. You can kill turkeys in thick timber,open grass lands with few trees,oak savanahs,or in town.But I say look for the best,fresh sign you can find and wait or try to track them. And I mean track them not stalk them!! there is a difference.7. GET A DANG CALL lol your gonna need one. even if you bust flocks you still need to call. Or if you can see them and you have a good Idea of where they're going try to circle around and set up in the best location for them to walk into your lap. Some times impossible. But good luck my friend hope you score.

wow. super thanks for the long informative post - too bad i am reading it waaay after the hunt! BTW, couldnt pull up CPC on my blackberry, and i didnt get notified i had a responce to this thread. oh well.1. good to know, cuz there was also a few coveys of quail that were tempting - no ducks btw.2. great reason to quit!3. found a perfect place for a blind.4. mostly by myself (the property is only a couple hundred acres)5. birds by others were bagged at first light.6. track vs stalk: now that sounds like hunting7. that was very apparent today. see below.well, no surprise i didn't get a turkey today, but had i read the rules above i might have. my bored-fidgety-ciggie-smokin-wanting to shoot a quail/duck-erge had me spook about 25+ turkey right about noon in a light rain. sigh. i heard 4 shots at first light and tried my best to stay put, but i couldn't. I came trompsing around the path (in my clunky duck waders), trying to flush a covey from a blackberry bramble and way down the trail the turkeys picked right up a flew away - actually a cool sight. i figured they were goooone, and followed their flight path onto the adjacent property (prolly not too smart, but it was raining, sunday, and there wasnt a house in sight). there i found some turkey feathers, of which i had seen none all day. actually, they were headed right at a spot i sat for hour earlier in the morning, so part of me had it right idea. much, much thanks. PS - i made sure there was no one else hunting today so as not to ruin anybody else hunt cuz i figured i was going to be a little reckless. We were all rookies at one time, but i am firm believer not to F-up someone elses day while you learn.

[Braz]

And don't wear anything blue or red unless you want anothr hunter mistaking you for a turkey.