killer711 Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) i have never hunted turkey before and plan to this year but i have some questions 1) will a turkey cross a barb wire fence? 2) what time of day do i need to hunt them? 3)can i use buck shot? 4) what calls should I use? Edited February 7, 2011 by killer711 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Welcome to the forums!!! 1) will a turkey cross a barb wire fence? Absolutely. But if you can get around trying to make him do it you'll be better off. 2) what time of day do i need to hunt them? Whenever you can. Generally daybreak until noon-ish then the last hour or so in the day are better. 3)can i use buck shot? Check local laws. We can't in PA. 4) what calls should I use? Master the cluck, yelp and purr on whatever type call you are best with and you'll be killing toms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer711 Posted February 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 how many calls do i need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 how many calls do i need You only "need' one. However, a variety will broaden you options. I'd suggest getting a boxcall, a slate call and a couple mouth diaphragms. Practice as much as you can with all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 how many calls do i need Take it from a noob that's killed a grand total of one bird in about 15 years of trying, get a slate call and practice a little. IMO, for the time invested, it's the easiest, and best call to take to the woods. But, like Strut said, they all have their place, but the diaphrams can be difficult to learn for awhile. Start now if you plan to use them this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorado bob Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Buckshot----No use #6's with a full choke call the bird to within 40 yards---shoot it in the head & neck. Best call----IMO get a good box call---it's the easiest to use. The best one I think for a beginner is the Lynch Model 101--"Fool-Proof". It's a one sider----you can't go wrong. I still use mine every spring---still brings these Merriams. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer711 Posted February 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 if it rains should i stay? how much do i need to call? what if there is a big tom and he wont come in with in 40 yards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 if it rains should i stay? If you don't mind getting wet..............the, by all means, stay. Turkeys still die when wet. Opener timber and fields will often produce better on rainy days. how much do i need to call? Only as much as you need to in order to kill the bird. what if there is a big tom and he wont come in with in 40 yards? Personally, I will let the bird wander off and set up on him from another angle. If he won't cooperate at all one day, I'll leave him to die the next day or the one after that. I am staunchly against shooting too far. If i havent called a bird to very near 40 yards, it is my feeling i haven't beat him bad enough to kill him..............even though I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer711 Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 thanks for the help Im sure i will have more questions later on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Some good advice given by guys with way more experience than me. Turkeys will find their way over, under, or through fences, electric or barbwire. 3)can i use buck shot? Would suggest checking your regs. Here the largest size shot allowed for turkeys is #4. Would suggest finding a load that patterns best with the gun you are using. if it rains should i stay? Seem to see more turkeys around here when it is wet outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer711 Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I cant make up my mind if i should use a blind or not I have good camo and at the moment i am thinking about not using one so i can move. but then i think ''what if it rains'' and then I think I want one do you use a blind for turkey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Some good advice so far. Turkeys will cross fences, creeks, ditches etc. but generally the fewer obstacles between you and the bird the greater chance he will come into range. The best turkey killing loads out there contain #5 or #6 size shot. I use #5s myself. For a beginner I would suggest getting a slate call and becoming proficient on it before moving on to diaphrams or other calls. Slates are alittle easier to operate and they will make every turkey sound you need to make. Try learning how to use too many calls at once, and it could become frustrating. I would focus on one for now. A heavy rain can shut birds down, but a light drizzle can actually be a good thing. Head to the fields when its raining because thats where they seem to go when its wet out. I rarely use a blind, because I like to be very mobile. If the weather forcast says rain for the day, then I will grab a blind, but if its gonna be fair weather it stays at the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brudaman340 Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 I have been hunting turkey for 5 years and just got my first 2 last spring. Mouth calls are hard to learn but once you get them down they are great. Practice alot on all your calls though. I walked to the edge of a piece of woods and just yelped 3 times and in mid yelp the birds gobbled and cut me off so i just popped out my 1 hen decoy and waited. I called 1 more time with no answer and just kept waiting and the came right in. I think if i knew more about calling when i was just starting out I would have gotten more birds. Do not over call and research calling sequences that people do and it will help majorly. also learn what the calls your using mean and also so you know what the bird that is responding is saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclubbs2 Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 I have never hunted turkey either. My 14 year old daughter has taken an interest in hunting this year and really wants to go turkey hunting. I have some woods I can hunt and there are lots of turkeys there. I am going to take her for youth weekend here in MO. I am going to use a blind with her (she is fidgety). Should I set the blind out a week before so the turkeys are used to it or does it matter? I know with deer hunting it is best practice to have the blind sit a few days for the deer to get used to it. Just curious if the same applies to turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 You can set a blind up anytime and the turkeys won't notice it at all. I would suggest if you are doing a morning hunt to have the blind in place with the chairs in it the day before. The turkeys won't care if you did it the morning of the hunt but it sure makes it a lot easier on a dad if all he has to do is walk out to the blind with his daughter and get in and get set. (also make sure you tie the blind down if it's going to be windy or stormy the night before, it's no fun to try to go find the blind while your child waits - and yes I have done that lol) I have never hunted turkey either. My 14 year old daughter has taken an interest in hunting this year and really wants to go turkey hunting. I have some woods I can hunt and there are lots of turkeys there. I am going to take her for youth weekend here in MO. I am going to use a blind with her (she is fidgety). Should I set the blind out a week before so the turkeys are used to it or does it matter? I know with deer hunting it is best practice to have the blind sit a few days for the deer to get used to it. Just curious if the same applies to turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 well i use a box or a slate call but there are many you can get well and for the shot i can shoot out past 40 but i dont because i like them close and i use a turkey chock that is a .655 and 3 inch mags in 5s and 6s i even tryed 4s and they work to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loner Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 it looks, like you have already gotten enough advice to take a tom.turkeys are a creature of habit but where you hunt them has much to do with barriers,hills,brush,logs brush piles,creeks,gullies etc.public land as opposed to private you are familiar with is also a factor.rain will normally send the birds to open fields.they can't hear well during rain so they go for the sight advantage.under 40 yards about any tight turkey tube with with a turkey load will work on the head or neck.if you shoot lead shot,get 30-35 yards due to penetration.i like #4 shot because my guns pattern them well and they will take a tom a little further out if you underestimate the range.welcome to the sport.it is habit forming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 lots of good advice. unless the turkeys are coming to one spot day in and day out, you're probably better off without a blind. otherwise, by all means use it. i find myself having to "run and gun" more: I've got to move to a different location and setup more often than not to kill one. I don't mean to run with your gun! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pruts Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I have only been hunting for two years myself and only Turkeys for one, so I have very little knowledge myself. But the few properties I hunt have enough birds that I was able to fill one of my two tags in the spring and the one in the fall. As for time of day- I seen more turkeys in the morning (about 8:00) including a miss at about 20 yards, but both that I shot were in the afternoon one about 4:00 and the other just before 7:00. I did do a lot of scouting most of which just from the truck with a pair of binoculars (coffee too). Type of call- I only used diaphragm calls on the advice of a older friend who has hunted for a long time, because it keeps your hands free and dose not require the movement of other types of calls. But it dose take a lot of practice. Youtube has some good instructional videos and then I practiced around the house (driving my wife insane) and in the truck on the way home from work or whenever I could. Thanks to everyone else who responded, I thought some of the tips are good advice for myself, especially about the rain. On wet days I always stayed home 'cause I thought a sit would be fruitless, next year I will definitely try on a light rain day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlriggins Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 here is what I have learned from the school of H.K. hard knocks turkeys are smart and sometimes dumb somedays they talk all day and others they do not. be patient no matter what you do always wait another 5 to 15 min. before moving, giving up, calling etc. if you see a turkey stay put hens toms doesnt matter. any one turkey will rarely be the same turkey twice (you will see) anything you see hear or read on tv or book may or may not apply to your situation dont be afraid to throw all of this advice away and try something drastic (within the legal bounaries) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclubbs2 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Thanks for the advice guys. I can't wait for the season to start. I bought some mouth calls and have been practicing. I think i am getting them down fairly good. I am excited to get my daughter out there. I saw a huge tom the other day. Even though it would be a nice trophy for me I really hope she has the opputunity to take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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