What do I need to kill Tom?


johnf

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I've never had time to turkey hunt and have never done it. I don't want to spend much, but would like to go out.

This is what I have.

Benelli Nova in camo with 28" barrell. I don't want to buy another choke. But am planning on getting a turkey sight put on the rib.

I've got all the camo that I need.

Do you use any scent control for turkey?

What size shot do you use? I know I should buy several brands to see what patterns the best. Do I need to try different sizes too?

What kind of calls are easiest to learn to use?

Which ones are the most "cost effective"?

How long do you stay in one spot. I notice on the showes they move around a lot.

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Re: What do I need to kill Tom?

If you've got the camo (head to toe) and the gun, then you don't need to spend much at all.

Get a good box of turkey shells (#4, #5, or #6). Buy a box of at least two sizes to pattern your gun.

Pick up a box or slate call. You can get one for under $15 at Walmart.

I highly recommend you get a full choke tube. You can pick up a good one for under $20.

That's it. Sit down at the base of a tree and you'll have all the basics you need.

Be sure to pattern your gun ahead of time, so you know your effective range.

Be safe!

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Re: What do I need to kill Tom?

You might as well consider spending more time than you're talking about. Once you start hearing birds gobbling you're liable to get adicted like the rest of us. Get ready to recieve an ample supply of humble pie too. grin.gif

If you don't have a full choke or turkey choke you better get one and then check your pattern before you go.

Thank goodness you don't need to worry about scent control. If we had to worry about that we turkey hunters wouldn't kill too many birds.

I'd suggest choosing either #5 or #6 shot but whichever one patterns best for you is what you should use.

The easiest calls to learn are box calls. 2nd to that are slate calls. Box calls are a bit limited in the different calls that you can reproduce but by adding a slate call with it you can learn to reproduce any sound a hen turkey can make. Diaphram calls are the most difficult calls to learn to use but you may want to get one and start practicing with it. I feel like the main advantage of a diaphram is you don't have to move or use your hands to reproduce calls. That's real handy for up close and personal work on a bird.

How long I stay in a spot depends on the bird I'm working. At this point I'd suggest if you are working a bird and he is staying close by, sit tight and wait him out. If he shuts up, sit tight for at least 30 minutes before you move. If he moves off gobbling try to use cover and out flank him getting in front of where he's going but be careful to stay out of his sight. Many times you'll hear them shut up when they get with hens. When this happens you can either continue to try work him or slip out and look for another gobbling bird that's not with hens. You can always come back and work that bird that got with hens later in the morning or in the middle of the day after his hens leave him.

A lot of this decision on when to move and when not to comes from experience of working turkeys so just listen and learn from hunting them. The way I learned was letting the turkeys teach me over time. wink.gif

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