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Things NOT to do

CopperHead77

CopperHead77

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This might be a good time as turkey season approaches and lots of people start turkey hunting for the first time to maybe list some lessons learned or things not to do that are common newbie mistakes.

Here's one----Never go out and try to call birds up before the season!! You'll just make an already cautious bird even more cautious,and harder to kill!
 
Don't just make sure you put shells in the magazine. Make sure you put one in the chamber also. I got lucky and didn't have anything come close enough to shoot at when I noticed I didn't put one in the chamber.
 
Don't let anyone tell you that birds won't come through high
(thick) weeds and brush to get to you. Called one in and set up the way he would have come in if he didn't come through all that stuff and he came in to my left (which I shoot left handed) and needless to say that one walked off.
 
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that there is a set of steps or rules to follow, turkeys will break them all.

Don't ever set-up with your bad sholder (right hand for right handed folks) facing the bird. You can't turn that direction to shoot.

Don't set up where you can't see over the lip of the hill, more times then not the bird won't stick his head over.

Don't spend all day cruising blowing owl calls.

Don't walk away from what sounds like a single hen, it maybe, but she may have company.

Don't let the bird get too close, and don't take too long a shot.

Don't call as loud as you possibly can.

Don't think you can outdraw a gobbler, they are the Johnny Ringo of the woods.

Don't rush your shot, take your time and kill the b*****rd.

Don't forget to sit down during the hunt for 15-20 minutes with no calling, and just listen. Many times a needy bird will sound off with no encouragement.
 
Dont move to quickly towards a hung up bird. Try working him for a little bit. Then as he is playing his game ( gobbling close, then gobbling farther away, gobbling close ,then farther away) wait until he gobbles away, get up quickly, and make your way across the obstacle (fence, tree, road, creek, etc). Make sure you use the terrain to cover you. Once you are on his side of the obstacle cut at him and let him know you're there. Then its all scratching in the leaves and soft purrs and clucks. The ones that have worked for me have come in on a string this way. This doesn't always work, but I've killed a lot of hung up birds using this method.
 
Never wear red, white or blue while turkey hunting. White haired guys make sure your white hair isn't visible on the back of your head where your hat fastens together. I heard of an old man that his white hair was visible & he leaned out from the tree he was against to try & see the turkey. He was unaware that another hunter had slipped in behind him. The turkey had been gobbling really good & then got quiet. When the hunter behind the old man saw white ease out from behind the tree, he thought it was the turkey's head & he shot, hitting the old man in the back of the head. Be careful out there.

Like Setterman said, careful about buying into what a turkey is supposed to do or not to do. There are no "ABSOLUTES" in turkey hunting.
 
As a rule, when you have a tom responding to your calling, DON'T overcall! Try to make him think that this "hen" is actually not hearing his gobbles, or is not really interested in him, or even moving farther away from him, and that he will have to come within view of that "hen" to get her attention!
:cool:
 
Don't quit hunting just because the birds don't cooperate. Each day is different. Some years you get em, some you don't!
 
IrishJ said:
Good Thread.


When you've called and got responses from a gobbler then it turns quiet and you think he has given up and left the area give yourself 30 more minutes.

I learned the hard way to sight tight a little while longer.
Click to expand...

One of the hardest lessons to learn, and even veterans need reminded of it every year.

Turkeys work on turkey standard time, and there is very little we can do speed them up. Patience has probably killed more gobblers than just about anything.
 
VolDoug said:
IrishJ said:
Good Thread.


When you've called and got responses from a gobbler then it turns quiet and you think he has given up and left the area give yourself 30 more minutes.

I learned the hard way to sight tight a little while longer.
Click to expand...

One of the hardest lessons to learn, and even veterans need reminded of it every year.

Turkeys work on turkey standard time, and there is very little we can do speed them up. Patience has probably killed more gobblers than just about anything.
Click to expand...

Boy ain't that the truth.
 
enjoy the hunt regardless of the outcome as it may be your last.

try and learn something every-time you are out there.

try anything you think may work....it wont work if you dont try it.
 

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