Cost of Turkey hunting..

[dixieman]

Just bought my son a 535 mossburg for $240 so by the time you add calls,decoys,snake chaps...$500 you should by well stocked.

 

[cruff10]

You don't need all of that to get started.

You don't "NEED" Thermacell, Sawyer Permethrin

Im not sure where you hunt, but I dare you to come to the Hatchie Bottoms without a Thermacall and treating your clothes with Sawyers. The ticks will eat you alive, if the mosquitos and black flies dont carry you off first. And these Hatchie Bottom pests think Deep Woods Off is a "come and get it, supper's on" aroma.

One thing that has supprised me about turkey hunting is I have only had 1 tick in 5 years turkey hunting on me. ONly seen 1 black snake (now i'm screwed ! ha) Never had a mosquito problem either... But then again, maybe we know why you are call "Swamp" hunter. I hunt in the high mountains! Never had any issue with these....

 

[cruff10]

You don't need all of that to get started.

You don't "NEED" a vest.

He is correct. You can put your calls, strikers, locators, decoys, bottle of water, snacks, Thermacell, etc. in a Wal-Mart bag and carry it in. LOL

I prefer having everything organized and readily available. Not to mention the attached butt cushion and back cushion.

Now i'm now saying I don't use a vest. It is nice just not a have to have for a beginner. You can fit everything you "NEED" in two side leg pockets just as good. I like the vest, but I take my off more than on.

 

[cruff10]

You don't need all of that to get started.

You don't "NEED" a gps.

That depends. If you are hunting 25 acres, you dont. If you are hunting 2500 acres and go to any gobbling bird you do. I mark the truck when I get out and turn it off. Then, for the rest of the day, if he gobbles I can move on him wherever hes at and never worry about where the truck is until quittin' time.

The guy has said he was a bow hunter, If he needs a gps for deer hunting then he will know he "needs" a gps for turkey hunting. But if your a hunter of any kind you don't "NEED" a gps. Sure it is nice to have one when your lost. But you don't "NEED" one.

 

[cruff10]

You don't "NEED" a scope!!!! I don't use one.

He is correct. A scope is not a neccesity, but one heck of a convenience.

I only see a scope as a inconvenience. More the weight and more that can mess up on ya. Such as being knocked off sight. If red dot the battery dieing. Just makes more that can go wrong.

Now don't get me wrong. I know alot of people that LOVE THEM and i'm "NOT" knocking it. I just don't need it...

So it is not a NEED!

 

[ShaneHallum]

On second thought, dont buy the snakeboots, Sawyers, or Thermacell. Just spend you day in the woods looking for snakes, picking off ticks, and swatting mosquitos and black flies. Sounds like fun to me. :crazy:

Tell ya what... You go hunting without these things.. Tell me how it turns out.

I already have all that stuff from deer hunting.. Have fun picking the ticks...

 

[cruff10]

strut seat (worth its weight in gold)

True. But for less than $20, why not be comfortable?

For me this still is not a "NEED". For my type of turkey hunting, i'm a run and gunner. Never stay still until they are comming in hot a heavy. I do more walking and riding my 4 wheeler than anything.

I don't deer hunt for turkey. (Just sit and wait on one to come up) Not my style. If they ain't gobbling and coming give me a show I don't care about shooting them.

STill the seats are nice. But just some more weight to get in the way hiking in the woods for me.

Still you don't need it to kill a turkey.

 

[ShaneHallum]

I got some coon huntin' boots... they work wonders.

 

[cruff10]

All in all, I just want people to get out in the woods and enjoy turkey hunting as much as I do. I think alot of info on here was misdirected. If someone else was to read all of this that has never turkey hunted might get the wrong impression and think it is tooo expensive for me to try it. That is why I make the comments like I did.

I know in today's time it is hard just to go out and buy a gun and all kinds of hunting stuff just for a bird.

Sorry if this got out of hand.

All in all it can be as expensive or as "Cheap" as you want to make it. Just like anything else.

All in all enjoy the woods in the spring it is a blast!!! Best time of year for me to be out there!!!!

 

[Buckmark]

A gun that you have patterned and know it's effective range, shells, camo, basic call ( I recommend a slate), land, patience and time.

 

[Buckmark]

shotgun
choke
scope
scope mount
patterning targets
turkey loads
vest
snakeboots
a few calls
strut seat (worth its weight in gold)
a decoy or two just in case
Thermacell
Sawyer Permethrin
rangefinder
GPS

I think thats about it. No idea how much it will all cost.

Talk about high tech redneck. What is your list for taking a dump? If you think all that is needed I feel for you. But keep the economy going.

 

[TheLBLman]

What is your list for taking a dump? If you think all that is needed I feel for you. But keep the economy going.

:grin: I just spit my coffee all over the computer screen! :grin:

The main thing anyone needs to kill turkeys is experience hunting them. You'll only get that by doing it, although you can collapse time frames by finding an experienced turkey hunter to help you.

If you already own a "skeet" gun, why not just purchase a regular "full" choke, and use the gun you have? That's what I did for most of my life, and never felt much of a handicap in killing turkeys. And any shells you would use for squirrel hunting are adequate for killing turkeys.

All you really need is some patience, a shotgun, some squirrel shells, and maybe one of those push-button calls (or some kind of call you can use SPARINGLY and sound somewhat like a hen turkey). Everything else is just some extra icing on the cake.

 

[4onaside]

Swumphunter, although I have never met you, its a safe bet reading your posts that you have brown eyes.

 

[4onaside]

Well, like so many of your posts, anyone who voices a different opinion from yours is an "idiot". That's pretty poor, man. So, I just assumed that you were so full of it, that your eyes would be brown. No bet, I don't have the money of you affluent money people of Munford. "Nothing but the best for me", eh?

 

[4onaside]

In general... What would it cost me to get involved into turkey hunting.. I need a good shotgun,calls thats basically it.

I've always shot mine with a bow, during deer season.

SW, the boy just asked the costs for the basics, not the ultimate turkey hunter's wish list. Then you call the lads "idiots" for basically pointing that out to you. Then you wonder why these guys are "jumping on you". Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[showmehorns]

A LOT.....

 

[ShaneHallum]

Everything is good 2 go now. Sold my citori last night. my rear end is still burning from that deal. But I wasn't about to use that nice of a gun to turkey hunt with. Going today to look at some 835's. Ill keep everybody posted on what I buy. Thanks for all the input. positive and negitve.

 

[BV]

I started 11 years ago with a shotgun, a slate call, and a diaphram. Every hunters preferences are different, start with the basics and work on what you "prefer" later.

 

[showmehorns]

Everything is good 2 go now. Sold my citori last night. my rear end is still burning from that deal. But I wasn't about to use that nice of a gun to turkey hunt with. Going today to look at some 835's. Ill keep everybody posted on what I buy. Thanks for all the input. positive and negitve.

You really can't go wrong with a 835. And you can usually pick one up from a gun show for $250 or so. Choked up right with the correct shells, they are beyond deadly for turkey birds.

 

[cruff10]

In general... What would it cost me to get involved into turkey hunting.. I need a good shotgun,calls thats basically it.

I've always shot mine with a bow, during deer season.

SW, the boy just asked the costs for the basics, not the ultimate turkey hunter's wish list. Then you call the lads "idiots" for basically pointing that out to you. Then you wonder why these guys are "jumping on you". Hmmmmmmmmm.

That is what I was trying to say!!!! But I got jumped on because I made a few points. I didn't want the poor guy to think he couldn't do it if he did have all that stuff....

geezzz.... at least someone on here agrees with me