Turkey hunting - starting out

[MJD]

I thought I would harness the diverse knowledge of the crowd here to set me on the right path as I look to blaze a new direction in my hunting experience.

I’ve hunted deer, bear, ducks, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, elk.....etc for the past 20 years, but have been turkey hunting twice, going along with friends for giggles.

I have read through the NWTF “turkey hunting 101” and would love some pointers from all you experienced folks. What do I need to know and what basic equipment do you recommend?

I’ll be hunting in the Berkshire Mountains of western MA, for what it is worth.

 

[DocRock]

There’s Turkey all over the place out in the Berkshires, so that’s a great start. You’ll need a call. Can’t imagine MA allows electric calls, so you have several manual options, from box to slate to mouth. Calling is as much art as science and you can get lost for months watching calling vids. Box calls are probably easiest.

Decoys are another subject on which ‘War and Peace’ type volumes can be written. A 3D foam hen and Jake have served me well for a lot of years.

Are you going to shoot lead or TSS? 12 or 20? I do a lot of moving, so I have migrated to a 20 ga youth gun and TSS. Plain old #4 lead will work well out to 45 yards with a tight choke, but you have to pattern your gun and shot. I like a HiViz sight that fixes to the rib, but it’s not necessary.

It is said that if turkeys had a better sense of smell, we’d never see them. Good camo - not fancy, just good enough to break up silhouette - and a severe economy of movement are most critical. They have great sight and hearing.

Good luck!

 

[MJD]

I have a story of falling asleep on a beautiful spring day in PA after climbing a decent slope to get on a good bench, and nearly drawing down on a decoy after waking up from that peaceful slumber...

The second of two turkey hunting experiences, and falling asleep against that gigantic white oak still ranks among the best naps of my life.....

 

[troy fairweather]

Go deer hunting that's when I always see them lol.

 

[Jeff62]

What DocRoc said. Go have fun. Turkeys are better at picking up on movement than deer. Otherwise, your skill sets already achieved will serve you well.

 

[FL-NC]

Camo, a good comfortable low profile chair, learn not to move, decoys and decoy placement, pattern your gun with the correct shells, calls (and learn how to use them) and most of all scouting. Make sure there are turkeys where you are hunting. Look for tracks in the sand, and try to find the trees where they like to roost (there will be turkey poop under the tree).

 

[buck460XVR]

The one thing to never underestimate is a turkeys ability to hear and pinpoint the exact spot a sound came from. I have called to Toms two farms away and had them come to within 5 feet of me without ever giving another call. That is why not moving is so important. They are looking for a hen....and seeing movement other than that, will make them balk. Turkey are never in the same place more than once by coincidence. They are extremely easy to pattern. Pattern where they go and you will have success.

 

[MJD]

Appreciate all the good comments so far.
The guidance I have read on calls is, for beginners, pick one, learn how to use it, and don't go insane when using!
Any recommendations on a box call (or other type of call) to start out on?

 

[JFrank]

Come to Libby, we are infested with Turkeys.

I could shoot 50 a day and still have too many.

 

[natman]

A box call is easiest to start out with. One issue is that they require both hands, so I have a small pull call mounted on the barrel so I can get the tom to gobble and stick his neck out right before I shoot.

This problem would go away if I used a mouth call, but if I put a mouth call in my mouth, I start drooling like a Saint Bernard with a mouthful of peanut butter. It was stop using a mouth call or drown.

I like to call as little as possible. Remember, you're trying to sound like a native while speaking a truly foreign language when you don't know the words. IMO, the more you call, the more likely you're going to make a mistake and give yourself away. If a tom is looking for a hen, a yelp or two every ten minutes will get him to look for you. If he's not, all the calling in the world won't.

 

[DocRock]

...I like to call as little as possible. Remember, you're trying to sound like a native while speaking a truly foreign language when you don't know the words. IMO, the more you call, the more likely you're going to make a mistake and give yourself away. If a tom is looking for a hen, a yelp or two every ten minutes will get him to look for you. If he's not, all the calling in the world won't.

I ascribe to this point of view entirely. Especially as I am not a proficient caller and just use a cheap box call.

I am by no means or definition a turkey hunting expert but I hunted at the Old West Invitational (Hulett, WY) a few years ago and had a guide who was indeed. He described calling in much the same way, saying "We study their calls and behavior and, with enough time and practice, you can become an excellent mimic. But we don't really know what they mean. So best to keep it to a minimum and have the hen playing hard to get." In fact, when we had a Tom that was hanging outside range and wouldn't come out of a treeline, he stopped calling altogether, and sure enough, that hot and bothered gobbler came looking and met his end.

 

[JustSomeGuy264]

I'm no expert but something I've developed over the years is patience. If a tom is gobbling and gets quiet all of a sudden dont just give up on him, hang tight and pay attention he might be sneaking in on you.

There's so much that goes into it I could talk about it all day. One thing for sure, when they're fired up its the most fun I can have with my clothes on.

 

[dawei]

Here is one of the very best turkey hunting forums on the internet!

http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/

 

[Laphroaig]

I think that a turkey's behavior changes day to day. Sometimes they'll come running gobbling all the way no matter what you do, some days they'll sneak in behind you, others they won't come no matter what you do. Fortunately, everything falls into place often enough to keep me coming back. But they make a fool of me more often than not. A gobbling turkey coming to a call is the most exciting hunting in my book.

They aren't that smart but notice the slightest thing that is out of place. Don't move!

I've tried a bunch of different calls, but have an old Lynch box call that just sounds great and that's what I use most often.

 

[natman]

I think that a turkey's behavior changes day to day. Sometimes they'll come running gobbling all the way no matter what you do, some days they'll sneak in behind you, others they won't come no matter what you do. Fortunately, everything falls into place often enough to keep me coming back. But they make a fool of me more often than not. A gobbling turkey coming to a call is the most exciting hunting in my book.

True. I've had plenty of days where they would gobble, but just wouldn't move no matter what I tried. OTOH, I once got out of my car and heard a tom gobbling his head off. I walked up to my blind, waited 10 minutes for things to settle down and gave one yelp. The tom ran 150 yards to where I was as fast as his legs would carry him. I was home in time for breakfast. That was fun, but I'm glad it's not that easy all the time.

They aren't that smart but notice the slightest thing that is out of place. Don't move!

I wouldn't call them smart either, but they are incredibly wary. I guess you get that way if you're in the middle of the food chain.

 

[Double_J]

Turkeys will make you look stupid quick, they are very jumpy and quite aware of their surroundings.

A dear friend of mine has called them in to just a few yards outside shooting distance and had them fly away due to some unknown reason. He describes hunting turkeys to be more addictive than hunting women due to the challenge.

 

[Howland937]

A lot of things you'll learn as you go. Over-calling is a mistake a lot of people make, like others mention.
I never used gobble calls or Tom decoys because I might be hunting the one that just got thumped yesterday. This also can lead to the ones that come in quiet.

Hens can come out of nowhere and distract a Tom that was headed your way. He's not likely going to leave those hens for you no matter how hard you call...but I've been able to get the real hen to lead the tom right in with some subtle clucking more than once.

Just like other game, pressured turkeys are harder to hunt. Patience is important. If you scare one off, leave it alone for a couple days.

 

[Howland937]

Go deer hunting that's when I always see them lol.

And vice-versa. I had a yearling fawn put it's nose right into my jacket while I was turkey hunting. Figure it was wanting the apple I brought as a snack.

 

[Sniper66]

I've killed turkeys from a blind and without a blind, always with decoys, a strutting jake and 2 feeding hens. I've killed most of my turkeys from my blind; strategically placed after advance scouting. Both ways of hunting have pros and cons. For me though, either one is a rush. I've had amazing hunts both ways....one hunt from my blind stands out. The toms flew out of the woods from their roost and landed in the middle of my decoy spread. My buddy and I had 3 tags and filled all three in about 10 seconds.
Best non-blind hunt: I called in 4 toms in a group, calling them away from a. dozen live hens (and they say that can't be done) and at one point could have killed maybe all four as they were all lined up with heads forward as they gobbled at my decoys. But, I waited until one stepped forward and shot him. The other three attacked the fallen one and I could have easily shot more, but didn't want to be greedy. This all unfolded about 20 yard in front of me. Amazing excitement. That's what awaits you. Good luck.

 

[natman]

I called in 4 toms in a group, calling them away from a. dozen live hens (and they say that can't be done) and at one point could have killed maybe all four as they were all lined up with heads forward as they gobbled at my decoys. But, I waited until one stepped forward and shot him. The other three attacked the fallen one and I could have easily shot more, but didn't want to be greedy. This all unfolded about 20 yard in front of me. Amazing excitement. That's what awaits you. Good luck.

The first turkey I killed was the biggest one ever. He flew across a meadow and three hens followed him. Seeing four turkeys flying at you is quite a sight. After I shot him, the hens started calling for him. Their yelps brought out a chorus of gobbles all around me. I figured the hens wouldn't be lonely long. The tom weighed 22 pounds - dressed and ready for the oven.

Turkeys will take any opportunity to step up on the dominance hierarchy. I once shot a tom and he dropped like a rock. My box call fell off my lap so I looked down to pick it up. To my amazement when I looked up the tom was on his feet again! I couldn't believe it! So I lined up to shoot him again when at the last second I saw a wing flutter above the grass. The standing turkey was a different one who had rushed in out of nowhere to dominate the one I'd shot. It would have been awkward if I had shot the second turkey because we have a one-a-day limit here.

 

[buck460XVR]

A lot of things you'll learn as you go. Over-calling is a mistake a lot of people make, like others mention.

.....I've only been hunting turkeys for about 40 years. Was a time when under-calling cost me more birds than over-calling. Experience will tell you when and if to be aggressive or to be subtle. Generally, the closer they are, the more subtle and less you call. First off, you need to know if the birds are hearing you. If a bird is two-three farms away, you need to call loud and often to know they are there. Then once you know they are there, you need to keep being aggressive till you know they are coming. Once you know for sure they are coming, you can shut up. If you can see them and they are coming in, unlike the hunting shows, you do not need to keep calling to keep them gobbling. This many times will make them hang up, thinking an aggressive hen should come to them. Toms coming in warily because they are not used to hens being in that particular spot or having been disturbed there before, will not respond to overcalling, and one needs to be subtle with soft purrs and clucks. If you are dueling with hens or your tom is henned up, you need to call to the hens and not the Tom. Hens call aggressively, many times we do not hear them because their calls are not as loud as gobbles. The Tom I took two years ago was in a group of three in a pasture about 800 yards away. No way for me to get to them without spooking them(kinda what most strut zones are like). I was calling loud and often and they would respond every call, but would not move. Had a hen pass by me on her way to them and we started to argue.....she with loud and aggressive yelps, clucks and putts. I answered with what she was doing. We exchanged calls for about 5 minutes without a break at all between calls. She finally gave up and went to the toms and they shut up. Half an hour later she came back past me and we argued again for a extended amount of time. As her calls became more and more distant, the toms came closer and closer and soon climber the overlook on the hill where I had set up. Shot a tom with 1 1/4" spurs at 10 yards with the Model 1897. You have to work with what the birds want. I generally only call about once every half an hour if I know toms are in the area. More when they first respond, less once I know their intentions. Sometimes tho, if the day has been without much activity and I haven't been hearing much of anything, I will call often and loud with long sequences. Windy days are a no-brainer......you call loud and often just to make sure anything hears you. Those are the day when a Tom will appear right in front of you while gobbling and you haven't heard a thing. Years ago my long time hunting partner and I had patterned a pair of Toms that used the circular firebreak around an old large, deserted dump as their strut zone. The day was windy and we never heard a response. My buddy decided he was going to sneak around and see if the birds were on the other side of the firebreak and told me to be aggressive and loud so he could hear where they were. So I set up where I could see one corner of the fire lane and started to call. Loud as I could with my mouth call in long assembly type yelps and cutts. Next thing I knew I saw what I thought was a red marking flag in the brush. Happened to be the waddles of a Tom in full strut with his brother beside him. Took him @ 20 yards when he popped his head up. As he did his death flop, his brother watched and I could have shot him too. A few minutes later my friend comes running up to see what I had got. While I never heard a sound the whole time, he said as soon as he got downwind of the birds, he heard them respond to everyone of my calls. He said for a while they just stayed in one spot and gobbled/displayed. But before he could sneak up for a possible shot, they took off running in my direction, only stopping everytime I called to gobble. Ever since that day, I often wonder if those Toms we think come in silent, were really silent.

 

[MJD]

There is clearly a lot to learn here. I don't have too many turkey hunters in my circle, so good to read these stories!

 

[Sniper66]

The calling experiences really define the unique quality of turkey hunting. I've called ducks, geese, coyotes, even squirrels, but nothing beats turkey calling. It is hard to pick the most memorable hunt. Last year I was in my blind and called Toms out of the woods; two individuals that came out from two different locations, one about 200 yds and the other about 300 yds. One came toward me but stopped at 75yds and strutted back and forth for several minutes but would not budge. The other one did the same thing from about 100 yds. I called softly, they would gobble but not come any closer. This went on for maybe 15 minutes and one finally gave up and went back into the woods. The one to my far left continued to tease me when suddenly over my right shoulder, I hear a very loud and close gobble. And here comes two Toms from that direction and they are headed to confront the teaser on my far left. In the process they walked directly in front of my blind (about 25 yds) and stopped to issue a challenge to the distant gobbler and I dropped one. Turkeys have been my most satisfying hunts for the past 4 or 5 years. One of the features of turkey hunting that I really love is I can do it successfully alone. I've had some rewarding deer hunts too in this same time frame. But, deer are a lot more work once it is on the ground. Last big plus.....My wife loves eating wild turkey and she does not like venison.

 

[MJD]

I’ve been engrossed in reading about turkey hunting the last few days. Turkey calls alone, holy smokes there is a black hole you can jump into. Think I might grab a Primos O Betsy pot call and do some practicing....there are turkeys in the back yard occasionally, so we’ll see if I can stir anything up. The state game lands are only a few minutes away to start scouting! Excited to go this new direction with hunting.

 

[Sniper66]

Try the mouth call. It is best for coaxing in reluctant Toms when you need to keep your gun shouldered. Otherwise I use the slate. Not that difficult to learn, but some slates are better than others.