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Post by bullseye on Jan 7, 2006 16:55:47 GMT -5
I don't know if it is because I am getting older or just starting to focus on what is important in my life, but I am going turkey hunting (at least I applied for a WI turkey permit) with my brother in the spring.
Many years ago we hunted and fished together but distance, work, and having babies made us too busy to do that. Well my kids are all grown up, his kids are all grown up, so we have decided it is time to hunt and fish together again.
He has bagged a tom in each of the last few years and figures we should be able to each bag one this spring. He says he calls pretty good and seems to be successful. I told him I have never done it so it is probably something he will be able to teach me like I taught him more years ago than either of us want to count.
Once the dates are set (WI has a real weird turkey season thing going) I will take off the days we get to hunt. They are in 5 day groups with 2 days off before the next group starts. He commented that when we are not turkey hunting we can be fishing.
That sounds like my kind of a vacation.
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Post by Bill on Jan 7, 2006 22:40:38 GMT -5
Turkey hunting and fishing go pretty good together. How could it not.
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Post by calsibley on Jan 10, 2006 20:56:44 GMT -5
Hello Tom,
What the world really wants to know is what will you be wearing? It's quite a shock to suddenly realize you're very close to a turkey hunter and didn't have a clue he was even there. There's probably no one who can hide himself as well as a turkey hunter. In fact, it's almost scary to think someone is watching your every move closely without your being aware of it. What do you think? Best wishes.
Cal - Montreal
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jan 11, 2006 10:49:23 GMT -5
If you don't have these two items, I'd get them. Otherwise, you'll be ok.
1. facemask 2. camo or brown jersy gloves - and I think this is even optional
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Post by bullseye on Jan 11, 2006 13:03:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the advise PBR. My camo collection is pretty good. A couple of years back the wife and daughter stopped at Wal-Mart at the right time. Their camo was 50% off. With both of them being hunters they filled up TWO carts full of camo and brought them home. When I commented on additional items we might need they immediately went back. Unfortunately they were pretty well cleaned out when they returned. Their timing was just right.
I have camo masks for fall and for summer (mosquito netting) but March in Wisconsin is tough to tell what weather we are going to have one minute to the next so I think I will bring them both along. I have a variety of camo gloves so I will make sure both the mask and the gloves get packed.
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Post by deputydon on Jan 11, 2006 18:09:00 GMT -5
Also before you go buy some life size turkey targets (head and neck ) Sit them out @ 5; 10; 15; 20; 25; 30; 35; & 40 yards and PATTERN your gun w/ turkey loads. I always have my hunters do this. You would be surprised @ your pattern at differant yardages. And it will give you a idea how big the head is @ say 35 yards vs 10 yards. Plus it's fun to do and look at the results. It's money well spent.
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Post by bullseye on Jan 11, 2006 20:43:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip DD, I am going to use my brother's gun (only one of us can shoot at a time) and he has his all patterned. If this grows into more years I will probably get a new barrel for 3" for my old 870 and then I will have to go thru that process.
I am kind of getting anxious to see what the DNR will send in the mail.
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Post by jimh on Jan 12, 2006 10:47:25 GMT -5
bullseye i know everyone has their own idea when it comes to the one hunt they think is at the top of all the other critters we hunt but for me Spring Turkey Hunting is the top bar none. you get both visual and audio responces and they can be intense. nothing says "oh shit"better than a good spring hunt. by the way keep an eye out for the mushrooms too. good luck and please share your story if you go.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jan 12, 2006 21:24:04 GMT -5
(only one of us can shoot at a time) No No No. NONONONONONO For god's sake, I'm going to have to stroke!!! I'd rather have you sitting on the right side of your brother b/c you're left handed. Two guns. Right next to eachother on the same big tree. You'll cover over 180degrees with relative ease so long as he's right handed. Use your 12ga 3" 870 full choke - buy some federals or winchesters and you're good to 50 yards. That's far superior than having one person 30 yards ahead of the caller. I'm full of crap 99% of the time. But dammit if you only have to believe one thing that comes out of my mouth this year, this is it. And I know it's early in the year...
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Post by bullseye on Jan 13, 2006 6:58:25 GMT -5
I will take your recommendation under strong advisement PBR. There is one problem with the setup though. While I am predominantly RIGHT handed I do use either for many tasks. What I am is left eye dominant and it must be somewhere in genes because so is my brother. I also do not want to be the cause of you having heart problems at such a young age so I will try and learn from your experience in this area. One question, what size shot do you recommend?
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Post by deputydon on Jan 13, 2006 8:54:05 GMT -5
5 or 6's are deadly. 4's are better if you can get them. BUt they all pattern differant sooooooooo pattern the gun yourself even if it has been.
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Post by Jack on Jan 13, 2006 12:06:22 GMT -5
As to shot size, let the pattern board tell you. In my state, the largest shot you can use is #2, and the smallest is #8. BTW, th vast majority of turkey hunters use 2,4,5, or 6 shot, I believe. My shotgun patterns Winchester's 2 ounce load of #5's the best, so that's what I use. If the best pattern had come from #2's, I'd use those....
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Post by klsm54 on Jan 13, 2006 12:50:12 GMT -5
I agree with Red. Two guns is ALWAYS better than one... If your 870 is not a "Magnum" reciever, they were marked as such back when they made 2-3/4 and 3" recievers, it will NOT handle 3" loads. The ejection port is too small and you are stuck with 2-3/4" loads. BUT, all is not gloom and doom. If you have a full choke barrel, and pattern your gun with 1-1/2 oz loads of 2-3/4 inch magnums, I'm sure you will find a load that will pattern very well out to at least 40 yards. Even a modified barrel can often do the trick at reasonable ranges with the right load. You can still switch guns with your brother so the guy in the most probable shooting position has the big gun, but the other guy will still have adequate firepower if ol' Tom sneaks in the back door. A old gobbler, or even a small hen, has remakable eyesight. And even with the best camo known to mankind, you are not going to be able to turn and change position on a bird that sneaks in over the wrong shoulder... I have killed many turkeys with 2-3/4" loads. As a matter of fact. I have killed several with standard high brass 1-1/4 oz loads of #6's. AND, I have shot 2, that I can recall, with those 1-1/4 oz loads from my Model 12 that sports a modified choke. Yes, tight chokes and heavy loads are able to reach out a little farther than your old rabbit gun, but if a hunter is sensible about the range he shoots, and patterns his gun to find a load with a nice even shot dispersion, that utility gun will work just fine.... ;D As a matter of fact, a 3" 20 gauge, especially if it has a full choke barrel, will also make a good turkey gun.. I have always preferred #6 shot, but I do think that whatever patterns best, 4, 5, or 6, is the best choice. I like #6 because of more shot, better chance of the "Golden BB" theory kicking in.... ;D... One well placed shot (golden BB) in the head will do the trick, but the #4's and 5's do have a little more energy and one #4 will kill at a little farhter out than one #6. But...if the ranges are reasonable, you'll have a lot more than one BB to do the job....
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jan 13, 2006 20:48:48 GMT -5
I think if you used 2 3/4 you got to use 6's - you got have the most density you can. 3" is a hard call to make unless you want to go broke buying 10 boxes of shells to find out... 3 1/2 in shells I like the 4's...
4,5, or 6's it's kinda up to you. I think it's more a mental thing...
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Post by bullseye on Jan 14, 2006 12:55:18 GMT -5
My 870 is a pre 1970 model (purchased in '64). According to Bill the action is long enough on these old ones to take a 3" shell. (Don't know for sure but that's what Bill said and he's the shotgun expert.) I am going to give it a whack and see what happens. I generally trust Bill when it comes to shotguns. HOWEVER, when it comes to loading shotgun SHELLS I have proof that he is not always on the money!!!
I have had experience with the eyesight of a turkey during bow season. I almost wonder if they saw me blink. I would think there is also a slightly different mind set here too. If I see a turkey during deer hunting it is about the same as seeing a deer during turkey hunting. It is not what you are after so they are nice to watch. The heart starts going a little faster as you anticipate the possibility of a shot, and it seems the possibility of making a mistake increases too.
Scott I like your logic on why to use 6's, it makes sense. The more BBs you have headed that direction the better the chance of bagging. It should also give you a tighter pattern. It probably cuts your distance a little but not much.
I looked up on the DNR website and it says the drawing date is "late January" so I will have a few weeks before I find out if I have a permit or not.
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