Post by Bill on Feb 28, 2007 23:33:05 GMT -5
I have a few differant idea's on how to hunt turkeys.
One thing I do like to use is a blind. For one thing you don't have to worry about the sock's being white. You just need to have a camo shirt and hat and face covering. Be careful if it has windows all the way around as you can see the person inside moving if the back windows are open along with the front. It might just be a shadow but it will spook a turkey. My favorite blind is the double bull with the shoot thru camo screen all the way around. I also like to take a couple lawn chairs and put them inside as sitting all day can be tedious. Sitting on the gound makes it hard to see out and gives the crawly creatures a better chance at getting to you.
By the way I use Sawyer Duranon Permethrin Insect Repellent. I take all my clothes I plan on wearing and spray them down good then put them in a garbage bag and tie it shut until I am ready to put them on. Last year on a turkey hunt in Kansas I did this. I recomended that the guy I was hunting with do it also. He didn't. He spent half his hunting time picking ticks. I had one and I swear it was actually crawling off of me. It didn't make it, my leatherman did a number on him.
I also talk along more than one type of call. I have a slate call and a box call. They both sound totally differant. The reason I do this is I have 2 sets of Flambeau Collapsible Foam Turkey Decoys
with a jake and two hens to a set. Last year I had to replace one of the jakes as it took one heck of a beating from a Tom turkey. ;D
Belive me, I had so much fun watching and calling in turkeys on one day that I failed to get my turkey. I kept thinking that I had all the time in the world. The next day it was pouring down rain and blowing about 30 mph and I didn't even get close to a turkey.
I also would recomend a shotgun with a short barrel or something no longer than 26" and preferably 22"s long. My wife is going with me this year and has a new shotgun to try out. She got a Beretta 391 Urika 20 ga with a 24" barrel. It can handle 3" magnums. Her load will be Remington #6 Heavy shot. I have a bunch of chokes for it and will be trying to see what patterns best with it. Its also sporting a set of tru glo adjustable rifle sights in fiber optic with a three dot set up. Green/Red/Green. I have no doubt that the load will more than be able to handle any turkey that exists if it is within 45 yds.
Also remember, turkeys can with only about a 30 degree movement of their head see 360 degree's. Their eyesight is awsome and they are movement orented due to their food and the preditors.
Also don't get all involved with which call is best, just buy one that you can make a turkey call on. I have had turkeys answer a car door slaming. You also will do well to have a locator call such as a owl or a crow call.
I probably get less turkeys than most people do as I love hunting this way and get all involved in watching them and seeing what I can get them to do rather than shooting them. BUT, if all else fails and you really think you have to have one just hurd them into a hog wire fence and take your pick if your tough enough. ;D
One thing I do like to use is a blind. For one thing you don't have to worry about the sock's being white. You just need to have a camo shirt and hat and face covering. Be careful if it has windows all the way around as you can see the person inside moving if the back windows are open along with the front. It might just be a shadow but it will spook a turkey. My favorite blind is the double bull with the shoot thru camo screen all the way around. I also like to take a couple lawn chairs and put them inside as sitting all day can be tedious. Sitting on the gound makes it hard to see out and gives the crawly creatures a better chance at getting to you.
By the way I use Sawyer Duranon Permethrin Insect Repellent. I take all my clothes I plan on wearing and spray them down good then put them in a garbage bag and tie it shut until I am ready to put them on. Last year on a turkey hunt in Kansas I did this. I recomended that the guy I was hunting with do it also. He didn't. He spent half his hunting time picking ticks. I had one and I swear it was actually crawling off of me. It didn't make it, my leatherman did a number on him.
I also talk along more than one type of call. I have a slate call and a box call. They both sound totally differant. The reason I do this is I have 2 sets of Flambeau Collapsible Foam Turkey Decoys
with a jake and two hens to a set. Last year I had to replace one of the jakes as it took one heck of a beating from a Tom turkey. ;D
Belive me, I had so much fun watching and calling in turkeys on one day that I failed to get my turkey. I kept thinking that I had all the time in the world. The next day it was pouring down rain and blowing about 30 mph and I didn't even get close to a turkey.
I also would recomend a shotgun with a short barrel or something no longer than 26" and preferably 22"s long. My wife is going with me this year and has a new shotgun to try out. She got a Beretta 391 Urika 20 ga with a 24" barrel. It can handle 3" magnums. Her load will be Remington #6 Heavy shot. I have a bunch of chokes for it and will be trying to see what patterns best with it. Its also sporting a set of tru glo adjustable rifle sights in fiber optic with a three dot set up. Green/Red/Green. I have no doubt that the load will more than be able to handle any turkey that exists if it is within 45 yds.
Also remember, turkeys can with only about a 30 degree movement of their head see 360 degree's. Their eyesight is awsome and they are movement orented due to their food and the preditors.
Also don't get all involved with which call is best, just buy one that you can make a turkey call on. I have had turkeys answer a car door slaming. You also will do well to have a locator call such as a owl or a crow call.
I probably get less turkeys than most people do as I love hunting this way and get all involved in watching them and seeing what I can get them to do rather than shooting them. BUT, if all else fails and you really think you have to have one just hurd them into a hog wire fence and take your pick if your tough enough. ;D