Everyone, in my neck of the woods we have about 75 days till the opener. I was wondering if we could get all give our best turkey hunting tip and get over 75 hunting tips together..
I have 2 very good tips.
1. Always travel with a mouth call in your vehicle and practice practice practice.
2. Never ever do into the woods without some toilet paper in your vest. Never know.
Take your gun with you when you go hunting. It is fairly important.
Dont forget to bring your gun or bow.
Load your gun. Almost cost me a bird two years ago. But luckily I have a single shot break action so I was able to reload silently when his fan was to me and I got him.
If you think you've waited long enough wait some more, your on his time.
get there early. stay late. sit still in between.
get a comfortable seat. X3 on bringing along the gun
Turkeys are extremely simple creatures, hunt them that way
Always let someone know where you are hunting and what time you are expected to return in case of an accident.
Shoot the strutter!
Quote from: EMSDJ2 on February 07, 2011, 10:04:49 AM
Always let someone know where you are hunting and what time you are expected to return in case of an accident.
Yeah someone that dont turkey hunt :TooFunny:
No matter how hard its raining,never use your decoy for a hat. :fud: :newmascot:
1. always take a first aid kit!!!
2. always bring snacks in case you are in an emergency situation
3. water is a must bring item
keep after it, Ive hunted mornings where I didnt hear my first gobble til 10am
patience,patience,patience
When hunting in the south, always use some kind of mosquito repelant, or thermacell.
PERSISTENCE kills a lot of gobblers!!!! Don't forget the THERMACELL!!!!!
Shoot the one with the strutter !
Take a kid hunting.
Never shoot at a gobbler that is in strut. Get your sights on him, cluck excitedly at him to get him to drop out of strut, then close the deal.
FC
Don't force the issue. If things aren't right let him walk off then regroup.
Dont over call he knows were your at! and like previous have said your on his time.
Always keep a good set of rain gear close by in the spring time.
If you can always hunt the afternoons. If a turkey gobbles after 4pm and you don't have a crooked barrel you're going home with a bird
Tuesday is a good day to be in the woods.
call cadence is critical
know where your gun shoots
Call softly and carry a big stick.
Dig In ! Good Things Come To Those Who Wait !! :newmascot:
Dont leave your binos at home. One season I stared at what I thought was a stump out in a cutover and it turned out to be a good bird. Spooked him. If I had my binos he may have taken a ride. Binos are just as important in dense woods if not more so than in open land.
Quote from: manville ridgerunner on February 07, 2011, 09:47:19 PM
If you can always hunt the afternoons. If a turkey gobbles after 4pm and you don't have a crooked barrel you're going home with a bird
Exactly right! :icon_thumright:
Learn how to call softly and go to it all through the day. You will regularly kill bigger birds calling softly.
It is much more important than knowing how to cackle like a coven of witches.
FC
Quote from: redarrow on February 07, 2011, 10:45:22 AM
No matter how hard its raining,never use your decoy for a hat. :fud: :newmascot:
This is my favorite.
1. Do not bushwack
2. If you are new to calling, do not ask you buddy how your calling sounds, ask someone that will be honest even if it hurts your feelings.
If a noisy hen won't let him come to you, try to be two hens. Yelp on a pot and cut with a mouth call, and walk on top of her. Everytime she starts up again it might mean he is starting to stray away from her, walk on top of her again but be ready for him to poke his head out, and don't get caught.
dont get stuck in a paticular way of hunting evry bird is different, dont be afraid to try new approaches to this wonderfull sport,and stay out of the call classifieds you still need money for gas :TooFunny:
I say always take 2 PB and J sandwiches. They will last for days. If you think it, he has already done it.
Bring extra smokes and chew. It could take a while.
Scout. Scout. Scout. Scout. Scout. Scout. Learn what he does and you will kill him.
Hunt the afternoons. You don't hear as much gobbling but if you get one gobbling after 4pm it as much as a sure thing as sure things get in the turkey woods.
Leave the decoy or decoys home or in your truck!
Call and make him come and look for you!
Don't forget your Squealing Hen call! :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Think outside the box. Anything is possible in the turkey woods.
Get him excited and then make him hunt you.
Dont forget that scratching the leaves can be just as deadly as a yelp.
Quote from: guesswho on February 07, 2011, 06:08:21 PM
Don't force the issue. If things aren't right let him walk off then regroup.
Whole lot easier said than done. IMO this could be the best advice here. :icon_thumright:
patience, persistance, DON'T OVERCALL
headbanger
Take a kid with you pass on some of that know-how . :cross2:
If I'm trying to set up on a specific bird and the terrain allows, I like to get into a position that will give me a shot as soon as that bird comes over the top of a hill, around a corner and so-on. If that bird can hear you but cannot see you many times he will come looking, and you will almost always get a shot as soon as he comes into view if your setup is right. If you can tell that he is getting close, STOP CALLING...he will usually stay on a straight path right into your setup.
dont over call!
Now What is around you at all times. Make sure of your target.
Quote from: dirtnap on February 06, 2011, 09:24:18 PM
Take your gun with you when you go hunting. It is fairly important.
And shells! Done that once but keep spares in my glove department now :icon_thumright: Also, dont forget your gun leaning against a tree after you kill one and then a mile and half later when you get back to the truck you realize your missing something :character0029:
Quote from: Big Timber on February 08, 2011, 09:56:20 PM
Don't forget your Squealing Hen call! :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :z-guntootsmiley:
Dont get so close to a roosted bird that he can see you.If he sees you the game is over. This is the voice of experience talking.
Call soft and dont over call, mouth call and box call at the same time, patience. move your eyes before moving your head. Dont call if they are within 50yds, they will pinpoint you and there gone. :boon:
-Dont underestimate the value of having a comfortable turkey seat....
-When you decide it's time to make a move, give it 10 more minutes.
Never,ever,ever give up.Things have a way of going from really bad to really good very quickly.Unfortunately,the opposite is also true.But you aint gonna kill one sleepin on the couch!
They are only turkeys,not rocket scientists.They dont have the ability to think,only react.Sometimes simple is better so dont overthink the situation.
Even if t starts to rain lightly keep hunting. When this happens i like to check open areas, fields, food plots, roads/firebreaks. Caught a gobbler this way
That tolit paper thing is pretty important , And your gun to
Scout, SCOUT, scout and scout!
If you know there are birds there, you will be more patient and hunt harder.
No matter how short you think you're going to be out, eat some breakfast.
No matter how well you know your hunting spot, bring a compass.
Bring enough water for all day.
Go over in your mind 100X:
-Where you're going to aim;
-How you will keep your head down;
-How you will squeeze the trigger;
-How you will take several deep breaths;
-When you'll take off the safety.
-How you will recognize your chosen target -and if the area beyond the target is a safe area to shoot.
-Different scenarios -if he comes here, there, behind you...etc.
IOW go over as many variables as you can in your mind while waiting.
And most of all be in tune with, and enjoy, your surroundings. You never know when this might be your last hunt!
Relax and enjoy the fact, "your not WORKING....." :happy0064:
Use your ears twice as much as your call.....
Listen to the woods.....
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 12, 2011, 07:24:04 PM
Relax and enjoy the fact, "your not WORKING....." :happy0064:
Use your ears twice as much as your call.....
Listen to the woods.....
Now that is a great tip!
Make sure the action on your pump gun is fully closed.
Eject and chamber another shell immediately after the shot just in case a follow-up is needed.
I like to take the little foil pouch juice bags with maybe even a few-pre-frozen if its going to be a warm day. Half full water bottles can slosh and crinkle and make a lot of noise when you are walking.
I wear glasses and have found that slowly tipping my head down to shield them with the brim of my hat has kept hens that walked in on me ahead of a gobbler from seeing my eyes/glasses and spooking.
Move in the shadows and out of direct sunlight when ever possible.
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 12, 2011, 07:24:04 PM
Relax and enjoy the fact, "your not WORKING....." :happy0064:
Use your ears twice as much as your call.....
Listen to the woods.....
EXACTLY. Enjoy the experience and listen to the woods, they have something to tell you.
Don't forget your water, suprising how thirsty you get when you forget it! :popcorn:
having your license and tags can be usefull
One thing I found very useful when hunting with my young son out of a blind was taking lots of snacks and reading material for him. Some kids don't have much patience. I think we read green eggs and ham 6 or 7 times. :fud:
If you it try and take your safety off quietly on your 835 with gloves on. MAKE sure the safety goes off. It will not shoot if it aint ALL THE WAY OFF. Missed a big gobbler a few years ago because the gun wouldn't shoot.
Put bug spray on before you leave your truck.
Carry a small pair of pruners
Have extra gloves and facemask.
Any day is a good day to turkey hunt, no matter what the weather is. Never give up, no matter what and hunt as many minutes as possible. Always keep a positive attitude. Can't count the number of times I've helped people kill birds when they had all but given up hope and there were only minutes left in the hunt or this was the last stop before they had to leave. God bless.
Be Ninja like.....and what everyone else said. Don't forget to take a nap out there,Because a rested turkey hunter is a good turkey hunter. ;D
Use your squealing hen call early and often. Make sure to go buy the new lee and tiffany endorsed magnet top box call too. ;D
Can't kill dem birds wit out 'em.
I will reiterate in my own words what a couple other posters have already said. Always remember turkey hunting is not all about the kill. It's about being in God's country, taking part in a tradition that has been carried on by generations of our ancestors. Take the time to stop and appreciate the silence, the beauty, and all the awesome sights and sounds of the spring woods. To paraphrase from one of my favorite Ruark books, "Some folks go through this life stone blind with their eyes wide open, moving too fast to really see whats around them". Never lose the sheer enjoyment that comes from simply being out and away from the hectic fast pace of the modern world, and the thrill of yelping in that next gobbler. If you lose that, you have lost what it truly means to be a hunter. Now, I'll get off my soapbox. Just had to throw that in there. Happy hunting everybody :z-guntootsmiley:
Quote from: moore on February 14, 2011, 06:34:53 PM
here my tip I left in my team forum.When hunting in a blind bring something to piss in. I had a gobbler comein silent and when I opened my door to relive myself PUTT PUTT there he went
before deer season i stock up on gatorade bottles, they work pretty awesome for relieving yourself...
charlie
i guess a good safe tip for all is ............be sure of your target b4 pulling the trigger.sometimes after waiting and watching for a bird you might just see something out of your tired eyes that is'nt a turkey but maybe a hunter adjusting his cap..remember,,after the trigger is pulled ,you can't recall the shot .. let's all be safe and have a fun season to to share good memories with each other..happy huntin'
Quote from: Gobblestopper on February 12, 2011, 10:13:46 PM
I like to take the little foil pouch juice bags with maybe even a few-pre-frozen if its going to be a warm day. Half full water bottles can slosh and crinkle and make a lot of noise when you are walking.
Know this post is way old, but I'm new to the site so reading back through. Thought this idea was GREAT! I always hate how my water bottle sloshes around when I walk. I stay out all day and cover miles running and gunning, so I'm goin start carrying some of these. Thanks Gobblestopper!
Some great tips here... Most of the important things (such as patience) have already been mentioned. Here are three things I have not yet seen mentioned:
1. Make a written hunting list, and check off all items before the hunt... I am, and always have been pre-alzheimer's...
2. Camouflage netting to put over your box call or pot call while in use... I put a small piece of camo netting, over or in front of my friction calls. It reduces the chance of getting busted by a bird that is closer than you think.
3. The gun is up and ready as soon as I set up... If a bird sneaks in on you, and you have to raise the gun to shoot, your chances just went down significantly.
Quote from: redarrow on February 07, 2011, 10:45:22 AM
No matter how hard its raining,never use your decoy for a hat. :fud: :newmascot:
LMAS
Bring food and water, you are on his clock now. Have patience. Make sure of your target, and yes, bring toilet paper.
Know your gun. How it shoots and where it shoots
sleep in, walk slow, and cluck loudly!
Most turkey seasons are only a month long, so hunt anytime you get the chance. Eleven months is a long time to wait for the next Spring.
Be the tree. Sitting still is one of the most important things in turkey hunting.
Baby wipes are your friend.
Jim