Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Turkey Hunting 101

  1. #1
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Chicken Dinner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Occupied Virginia
    Posts
    8,477

    Turkey Hunting 101

    I've never been much of a turkey hunter as I was always focused on fishing or tax season in the spring. I've got access to a bunch of new ground and would like to give it a try. I've got both a box call and a pot call and have never been able to make a mouth call sound like anything other than a scalded dog. Can anyone share some basic tips? Stuff like where to look/how to locate them would be great.
    "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Raoul Duke

  2. #2
    Grand High Exalted Taser-Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Saratoga Arkansas
    Posts
    5,161
    Poultry aisle at Kroger, saves money and time for important things like fishing


    You're welcome
    "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones"
    Albert Einstein

  3. #3
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Chicken Dinner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Occupied Virginia
    Posts
    8,477
    I hear ya. But I dearly would love to shoot at least one, once.
    "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Raoul Duke

  4. #4
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Bwana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    North Dakota
    Posts
    3,504
    If you can get to some high ground to glass at first or last light, you might be able to locate some roosting trees in the vicinity of clearing or farm fields. Other options include using locator calls such as coyote howls, crow call, etc. and expending boot leather looking for turkey sign like tracks, j-shaped big bird turds, or feathers. Bring your binocs, some snacks, and enjoy being out in God's awesome countryside.

    If all that fails, simply ask the landowner where they are, most likely they can cut down on your scouting time.

  5. #5
    Delta Dufus Big Muddy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Flatlands
    Posts
    9,595
    Just fish and work on taxes, all day....then, head to the woods around 4:00 p.m....sit under the tallest tree in the woods, and wait for 'em to roost....but, don't shoot until they're sound asleep on a tree limb, and sitting in one big cluster fokk....depending on how tall the tree is, you'll prolly need some double-ought buckshot....after they all fall dead to the ground, then you can decide, which ones have a beard....you'll want to select the one with the longest beard to haul back to your truck.

    I'm sure Cap can give some even better advice on corn usage, if you're hunting time is limited.
    Southern Gentleman

  6. #6
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    Or you could use the Hombre method, which involves driving around drinking coffee and stopping every once in a while to listen for a gobble, then if you do set up a deke and start calling.

    It works.

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  7. #7
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Hombre's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    1,591
    Turkey hunting is probably my favorite season. Most of the key for me has been locating them early AM before sunrise or preferably the night before right after dusk. A lot of people use a hoot owl call, I'm not a fan. The issue I have always had is a hoot owl doesn't carry very far and if there's any wind or you've got a decent bit of ground to hunt its hard to locate quickly. Because of this I started using a coyote howl call, I had one that I used coyote hunting but honestly used it more locating turkey than anything.

    Generally I go out at dusk make stops on the property. If I get a gobble back I leave it alone. Locating them on the roost is probably the most important so you can be in the right place early in the morning. Once those gobblers come out of the tree there's going to be one thing on their mind, if they get hen'd up before you start working them with a call its going to be tough.

    My two favorite calls are a slate and a mouth call. I use the slate again because it is louder, if I get one heading my way and they get closer I switch to the mouth call. One I can use that without the use of hands, and two as they get closer there's less movement.

    Final thing I'd say is decoys, I always use them. If for nothing else they've provided a lot of excitement. I've had a coyote put the sneak on a decoy....I've also had a jake puff up and start drumming around a decoy.

    Basically what BBP said above

  8. #8
    Administrator Captain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    NC/SC
    Posts
    10,110
    I deer hunt because it's something to do till Turkey season comes in.
    I turkey hunt because I HAVE too!
    I should come up there and call you a bird or 6
    A Government that pays people to do nothing destorys their willingness to do anything!

  9. #9
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    Do they have wild turkeys out there in Snowflakivania hombre?

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  10. #10
    pUMpHEAD SYSOp Thumper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Mickey Mouseville, Florida
    Posts
    23,869
    100% ditto what Hombre said, but I sometimes substitute a crow call just for the heck of it. I've also been amused by the antics I've seen around my decoys.
    "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness" - Mark Twain

  11. #11
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) HideHunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    SE Iowa
    Posts
    2,480
    Scout.. and then scout some more..
    If you turn a dog loose to hunt – you’d better to be ready to deal with what he trees.

  12. #12
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands)
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,302
    I guess I'm kinda lucky.
    Don't need to buy turkey caller's, they just show up!

    Story:

    Around this time last year, I was over at the property.

    Came out of the 5th wheel door and a fricken turkey goggles at me.

    Scared the crap out of me, because I didn't know he was around.

    I goggled back at him and he kept goggling at me.

    I could hear him most of the morning.

    Here are some pictures of the turkey's and the one I named Thanksgiving.
    Attachment 8643
    He's still alive. Catch him on the camera a lot.

    2015 Attachment 8644

    Feb 2016 Attachment 8645

    What I want to know, is where do all these guys go?
    They don't stay at the property all year.

  13. #13
    pUMpHEAD SYSOp Thumper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Mickey Mouseville, Florida
    Posts
    23,869
    Ha ha ha! Ya' danged blonde! Ya' wear goggles, turkeys gobble.

    They can move a few miles away, but they're probably still in the same general area, you just don't see them.

  14. #14
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    Goggle goggle!

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  15. #15
    Administrator Captain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    NC/SC
    Posts
    10,110
    Goggling is what Thumper does over them Adam apple wimmins...
    A Government that pays people to do nothing destorys their willingness to do anything!

  16. #16
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands)
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,302
    Well heck!

    I wrote gobble gobble and I even skimmed for misspelling.
    I didn't even see I wrote goggle goggle!! LOL Or maybe my computer spell checker changed it.

    At least ya got a chuckle out of it.

    During turkey season, I have to really watch driving the highway.

    Those dang things are so stupid.

    They look up to see me driving down the highway, as they wander along the road, and they still decide to come right out in the road!!!
    Just missed hitting several of them last year.
    Even laying on the horn, don't stop them from continuing into the road.

    I've got deer whistles on the truck...do they make turkey truck whistles?
    ???? lol

    Wonder if I can keep them, if they are road kill??

    I also see herds of them, during this time of the year and fall, in farmers fields!

    Just never seen that many turkeys before.
    I bet I counted over 200 on one trip to town, last year.
    Last edited by Sunshine; 02-26-2017 at 06:04 PM.

  17. #17
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) HideHunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    SE Iowa
    Posts
    2,480
    Neat pics.. Move around that state a little and you can take the "Mini Slam".
    If you turn a dog loose to hunt – you’d better to be ready to deal with what he trees.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •