Beginner turkey hunter questions

Poleaxe

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As much of an outdoorsman as I am I've never tried turkey hunting., but after finally accomplishing my 3lb crappie I want to try and kill a long beard. I'm need some advice tho with some questions if some don't mind. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

1. Being in the woods early I know is important. Do you climb the top of the highest Ridge and wait for them to come off the roost or do you search for them owl hooting upon entering the woods? Will they respond on the roost?
2. Do I just walk around and listen before I make an attempt to go after them?
3. How far do I push towards them when I have located them?
4. What calls do I start out with? Yelp, Purr, or what?
5. If someone is with me do one of us call or both?
6. Should the caller setup behind the shooter?
7. How much calling is too much?
8. Is a decoy even effective in the woods?
9. As good as their eyes are can't they peg out a blind like deer can sometimes. Probably won't have time to brush it in and they don't use trail systems much like deer so their less predictable.

That's all I have to ask right now.
 
Lots of good turkey hunters on here and I'm sure they'll chip in with some tips. Assuming you have birds on your hunting grounds, you should be able to hear a gobbler at dawn. If you have time this week, go listen a couple of mornings before the season opens to help pinpoint roosting areas. Don't call, just listen.

When you set up on a bird with gun in hand, try to get within 80-100yds and use the terrain or vegetation to your advantage. As for calling, think of it as a conversation...a dialogue. Let the bird dictate when you call, what you say, and know that you are actually reversing nature when you call one to the gun as typically the hen goes to him. Learn what turkey talk means like the difference between a cluck and a putt. There are scores of clips on YouTube to listen from real turkeys to championship calling contests. Regardless of your choice of caller, practice practice practice.

Good luck to you, and you'll know if you get bit by turkey bug if you end up sleep deprived over the next few weeks but still get up day after day to do it all over again.
 
sab":13lfl1ag said:
Get with a successfull turkey hunter and ask him to help you and take you

Yup that's the quickest way! Find a mentor if possible and ask as many questions as possible.


Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding"

Sent from my phone because I'm that coo
 
#9 about the blind - they pay no attention to it on my experience. I've setup right on the middle of fields before and killed them. I've bad turkeys brush up against the blind as they walk past it.
 
If you have time pre scout an area for signs of fresh feeding areas or roost sites. If you don't, on opening morning before daylight, get to where you might hear birds on the roost. If you do, head their way using cover along the way until you get 100 yards or so from them. Back up against a big tree and have a seat. Make a couple of calls to see if you get a response. That's all it takes to let a turkey know you're there. Don't carry on a conversation with a bird on the roost. You'll just keep him there longer and may cause him to fly the other direction. When he hits the ground make a couple more calls and if he's not locked up with hens he may be headed your way. If so, enjoy the show. If you have someone with you I'd advise getting between him and the birds. Better to call too little than too much. There's a time for calling and a time not to. If he's coming in I wouldn't call. Dekes can work anywhere but they're a visual attractant. If they can't see them they're useless. They have great eyesight and catch the slightest movement. Camo up. The greatest asset a turkey hunter can have is knowledge of the terrain in the area he hunts. Many times the birds go away from the caller. Hens are notorious for leading gobblers away. You'll have to circle around and try to get ahead of them. Knowing what's in front of you and where the turkeys are headed is invaluable. Enjoy.
 
Thanks for the tips brothers. I've been constantly reading stuff and watching videos. Good ole JAY B called and told me he would help me out and go with me. I've got tons of land to hunt that have turkeys but I've just never had any desire to go. I try and limit my hobbies so I'm not away from home like I am October thru December. Any of you want to go sometime give me a shout your welcome to come with me.
 
Poleaxe":3h1losy6 said:
As much of an outdoorsman as I am I've never tried turkey hunting., but after finally accomplishing my 3lb crappie I want to try and kill a long beard. I'm need some advice tho with some questions if some don't mind. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

1. Being in the woods early I know is important. Do you climb the top of the highest Ridge and wait for them to come off the roost or do you search for them owl hooting upon entering the woods? Will they respond on the roost?
2. Do I just walk around and listen before I make an attempt to go after them?
3. How far do I push towards them when I have located them?
4. What calls do I start out with? Yelp, Purr, or what?
5. If someone is with me do one of us call or both?
6. Should the caller setup behind the shooter?
7. How much calling is too much?
8. Is a decoy even effective in the woods?
9. As good as their eyes are can't they peg out a blind like deer can sometimes. Probably won't have time to brush it in and they don't use trail systems much like deer so their less predictable.

That's all I have to ask right now.

I generally try and get high at daylight if I'm in a new spot and don't know where the birds will likely be.
I never and I mean never use a locator, most birds will gobble a few times if their in a vocal mood. If nothing gobbles I sit down where I can hear well and wait, no calling just waiting for one to sound off. Some days they'll be quiet on the roost but light up once on the ground.
Personally I hate hunting rooster birds and really prefer to wait to start on them once they're on the ground.
Depending on the terrain and foliage I try to get as close as I possibly can before making the first call at a bird. You can get pinned down in a really bad spot by wandering and calling or not holding off and getting the best set up possible
I like the one caller approach as two can really over do it, and I like to sit together so we can communicate, but will certainly drop back if a bird hangs up.
There's no right answer to the amount of callng. I call very little once I get a response, but I go by feel once I'm on a bird and every hunt is different. Over calling is a huge issue, and a good rule is to stop calling when it's clear a bird is closing the distance and do not call if he's closr or you can see them
You don't need a decoy for any reason, anyone saying otherwise doesn't know any difference
I don't hunt out of blinds and cringe at the thought of sitting in a blind
 

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