Travel light. Move quite a bit unless gobbling close. No blind . Used decoys occasionally but never did any good with them. Haven't used them in a long time. Red dot on a 20 gauge, tss#9.
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How do YOU turkey hunt?
- Thread starter Kevin Snook
- Start date
I have a scope on my gun. I got it years ago based on threads on this forum after I had a gun not patterning right. Optics allow you to adjust whereas a bead is set. The older I get the more I appreciate the scope.
I prefer to sit at the base of a tree. No blind no decoys ( I'm not lugging it), and call them in. I use TSS. Most shots are inside 40 yds. The ones that aren't, aren't by much.
I prefer to sit at the base of a tree. No blind no decoys ( I'm not lugging it), and call them in. I use TSS. Most shots are inside 40 yds. The ones that aren't, aren't by much.
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I think it's amusing how we put restrictions on the methods and presentations that are acceptable for killing a gobbler.
Everything is dependent on the availability of birds and the hunting pressure. The place I hunt used to be a turkey paradise. You could go in any field and hit a box call a few times and turkeys would come from every direction. Your criteria for harvest could have been a slingshot only!
Now it's much different! Like anything else, populations shift and game gets more wary. Now there are more hunters than turkeys harvested. You can use a slingshot if you want. You are never gonna kill anything.
Personally I like to run and gun. Decoys are a detriment because they frighten turkeys. Yelping can also work against you on occasion. Under these conditions you will do whatever it takes. That usually means only calling to a gobbling bird when he's in the mood to check out that shy hen whose soft clicking and purring in a tone he finds alluring. If you can ambush him, that's a bonus. That takes skill believe it or not.
I like to make it challenging but not impossible. Some years I get two but most years I may get one or none and that's enough challenge. I hunt most everyday that are good days for them to gobble. I don't want to hunt turkeys that don't gobble. It's challenging to me and that's what makes it worthwhile for me.
Everything is dependent on the availability of birds and the hunting pressure. The place I hunt used to be a turkey paradise. You could go in any field and hit a box call a few times and turkeys would come from every direction. Your criteria for harvest could have been a slingshot only!
Now it's much different! Like anything else, populations shift and game gets more wary. Now there are more hunters than turkeys harvested. You can use a slingshot if you want. You are never gonna kill anything.
Personally I like to run and gun. Decoys are a detriment because they frighten turkeys. Yelping can also work against you on occasion. Under these conditions you will do whatever it takes. That usually means only calling to a gobbling bird when he's in the mood to check out that shy hen whose soft clicking and purring in a tone he finds alluring. If you can ambush him, that's a bonus. That takes skill believe it or not.
I like to make it challenging but not impossible. Some years I get two but most years I may get one or none and that's enough challenge. I hunt most everyday that are good days for them to gobble. I don't want to hunt turkeys that don't gobble. It's challenging to me and that's what makes it worthwhile for me.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Seems like every hunt is different on the tactics. Sometimes I'll run and gun if I don't have Intel on a bird. Sometimes I'll sit 75 yards from a bird I've roosted the eve before for hours without him gobbling until he fires up.
About the only absolute.... i won't shoot a bird after 5pm, particularly so if I can hunt the next morning. I'd rather put him in a tree that eve and spend hours overanalyzing my set up for the next morning than kill him and miss out on the mental masturbation.
About the only absolute.... i won't shoot a bird after 5pm, particularly so if I can hunt the next morning. I'd rather put him in a tree that eve and spend hours overanalyzing my set up for the next morning than kill him and miss out on the mental masturbation.
I don't have a red dot or scope on mine. Just dual beads (front and back). I sometimes run and gun, and will sometimes cover a few miles in a morning. Mostly just try and get one to gobble and try and set up, and if he seems difficult, I will shut up and wait him out. I will sometimes use a decoy but, not much. I've never used TSS, and never will. I like Winchester Long beards. I tried to get in an argument over at old gobbler turkey forum about TSS once. But, nobody took the bait.
Wooden Arrow
Well-Known Member
no red dot, no scope. i carry a deke, but it's just a foam pad when i lean back. have never killed a bird over a deke or from a blind. or with a bow, missed 13 and counting. 
only shot one bird over about thirty yards, and that was my mis-judgement of range. 46 paces... going to my old model 37 winchester 20 gauge this season... weighs about half what my 10 did. "less is more, more or less"
only shot one bird over about thirty yards, and that was my mis-judgement of range. 46 paces... going to my old model 37 winchester 20 gauge this season... weighs about half what my 10 did. "less is more, more or less"
ttf909
Well-Known Member
Whatever it takes to get one down. As of late in a blind with decoy as its small acreage. But this year may be a little better since I got a new rob roberts edition benelli m2 on the way to the house as of today. Thanks nwtf
I'm amused by people that are critical of others for putting optics on turkey guns. They've obviously never patterned a shotgun and assume every shotgun shoots where you point it with different chokes/ammo. I also shoot a scope and have for years.
I've been chasing them for 30+ years and have done it all at some point. These days I travel light as I can carrying my gun, a few calls, water, snacks, and an inner tube seat. Often I carry a bipod so I can have my gun up on it in case something slips in silent on me. I like to move around but one place I used to have was 40 acres so I couldn't roam around much. That taught me patience and patience kills turkeys. I use a red dot on my 20-ga shooting tss and want them at 30 if possible because to me getting them close is what it's about. I've killed them at 50 but rather they come on in while putting on a show.
I call them in and shoot them in the face. I prefer to do it on large acreage WMA's, where I can roam all day. But, I now live in Middle TN and have to make due with what's here.
Back against a tree and a gun and call in my lap
Kevin Snook
Well-Known Member
I'm not being critical about optics on a shotgun
I personally have just never seen the need
You pattern your gun then adjust your hold
BamaHudson
Well-Known Member
Happy to see most of the posts in this thread..
Same here. Prefer hunting in trees over fields, enjoy the challenge and woodsmanship required. No blinds or decoys either. Model 870 20ga and trying to get them in close. I haven't migrated to TSS yet, might when I run out of my current supply of shells. I tend to wear a vest in the early season or in the mornings but eventually lose the vest and run and gun with a mouth call.
I can understand blinds for turkeys for gentlemen who are a little older or have medical ailments. My buddy's dad has pretty bad back problems so they sit together in a blind and I think that's great.
I know its "legal" but for young, able bodied guys I just get a bad taste from taking the easiest possible route for killing a turkey i.e. Reaping/decoys/shooting at 60+ yards with TSS. Yeah it's a dead bird but you really couldn't make it any less challenging than that without putting them in a cage. Do something challening that requires developed skill. Makes it so much more rewarding. Just my opinion.
Same here. Prefer hunting in trees over fields, enjoy the challenge and woodsmanship required. No blinds or decoys either. Model 870 20ga and trying to get them in close. I haven't migrated to TSS yet, might when I run out of my current supply of shells. I tend to wear a vest in the early season or in the mornings but eventually lose the vest and run and gun with a mouth call.
I can understand blinds for turkeys for gentlemen who are a little older or have medical ailments. My buddy's dad has pretty bad back problems so they sit together in a blind and I think that's great.
I know its "legal" but for young, able bodied guys I just get a bad taste from taking the easiest possible route for killing a turkey i.e. Reaping/decoys/shooting at 60+ yards with TSS. Yeah it's a dead bird but you really couldn't make it any less challenging than that without putting them in a cage. Do something challening that requires developed skill. Makes it so much more rewarding. Just my opinion.
your last sentence is exactly the "need"
Turkey guns are closer to rifles or precision shooting then true wing shooting. You squeeze the trigger, not pull like duck or dove. You AIM at a precise spot vs instinctive shooting or lead and swing shooting.
The MAIN reason I went to an optic years ago was your last sentence. I DO NOT like trying to guess hold at various ranges and especially if my hold is either barely on the intended target OR in some case off the target all together.
Me personally I want to aim EXACTLY where my intended shot is going, and I want it to go to the same spot no matter if im shooting off an unnatural shooting position or not. to be clear im not advocating you SHOULD run one or you are at a disadvantage if you dont. Can and will it reduce common shooting mistakes, absolutely.
Kevin Snook
Well-Known Member
Kill em or run em off. I do use an eotech. Would not do without it.
