1st Timer

[Code-Man]

So I figured I would try applying for a Minnesota Turkey Tag. Figured I keep getting told I would apply for 2 years then get drawn for where I want to hunt. Then I could scout this spring and see what I can find...well I got drawn for my first time applying. Only turkey I have ever hit before was with my work truck windshield...ANY TIPS?!?!?!

I have an old 870 Wingmaster I plan on using which is 3 inch chamber. It is my Grandpa's old gun so would like to get the first one with that weapon.

Any suggestions for the follow:

Shells?

Calls?

Decoys?

Just trying to figure out what I should do or plan of attack I know of a few areas that would be worth my time and I plan on hitting them pretty hard but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[DonBo]

WOW, you could fill a book with the answer to a question like that.

Let's start simple, shells: Your Grandpa's old gun will undoubtly be able to kill a turkey but, I'm assuming it has a fixed choke. Full? Probably. The newer guns all have interchangeable chokes and an Extra Full TUrkey choke is a huge benefit to be able to reach out a ways. If your gun is full choked you may need to keep shots at 35 yards or so. If it is a Modified, even closer. (These are guestimates) The shells you want to shoot are the ones that shoot best from YOUR gun. Stick to a Heavy Shot or a Copper Plated Turkey load in 4, 5 or 6 shot. Again, if you can shoot several varieties you'll see which holds the tightest pattern out the farthest.

Calls, there are THOUSANDS of them and if you stick to the sport very long you'll probably own a good share of them. Start with a good slate call and a good box call and you'll easily be able to make any call needed to kill that first turkey. Buy one with a CD attached to hear the sounds so you can mimick them.

Decoys are nice but not necessary. I love to use mine on the edge of a field or other open area and let them work for me. Sometimes if birds are willing to come to decoys you may not even need to call as long as they can bee seen from a distance. Sometimes decoys will send turkeys running in the opposite direction. Ain't life grand?

Look through all the threads in the turkey forum here and you'll gleen much good information on these questions and many more that you haven't even thought of yet.

Good luck! You're about to find out what real addiction means.

[Riverratpete]

Your choice of shotgun will be fine..I got mine a couple years ago with a 870, 12 ga..I like to use 3 inch ammo also. Aim for the head.

[Borch]

If it's an old 870 with a full choke it should be pretty tight. Donbo has given you great info. I'd definitely give the federal turkey loads with the flite control wad a shot. I know many folks with fixed chokes who have had very good results with this load.

Good luck!

[Code-Man]

I checked out the gun last night. I have had it for almost 10 years and it's my grandpa's old gun so it's a few years old. I don't have a choke in this gun nor do I have any threads to screw one in. Barrel is longer then heck so hopefully it'll work.

[Brad B]

since it is a old gun it will not have thread for the modern chokes. it is choked. look at the writing on the barrel it should say "Full" or "Mod" if the barrel is not marked you can take it to a gun smith and they can measure the constriction and tell you what the choke is.

[Hodgy17]

I have a remington 870 wingmaster also, i usually use either winchester magnum loads or hevi-shot for turkeys. As for calls i would go with the easy but effective box call. For a plan of attack i usually sit till about 8:30 then i do a lot of run+gun.

[Creek Kid]

Definitely try some different shells & pattern your gun @ different distances. Spend some time in the area you're gonna hunt. Grub out some spots around treetops and make a path to it so you can get there easiliy in the dark. Make mental notes about ditches and thick brush so when you hear something coming you already know what obstacles you're dealing with. Knowing what was between me & Tom has made a huge difference in success. (Not knowing has burned me more that I care to remember) Decoys are up to you. Every situation is different but one rule of thumb for me is if a gobbler answers you right away SHUT UP! When they start gobbling looking for a hen (you) that's when things are in your favor. My 2 cents. Turkeys have frustated me more than any kind of hunting or fishing. But when you make it work - it's awesome! Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

[Tom7227]

Best thing you could do would be to go to a turkey hunting clinic. DNR has them all over the state and they're worth the 2 or 3 hours it takes to attend one.

Get your clothing down. You can go from snow on the ground to 55 degrees, dry to rain, so be ready.

If you turn your head an inch while a bird is out there it may see you and be gone so fast you'll have to laugh. You need to sit virtually motionless. If you can't then you better get a blind.

Do the google on how to pattern a shotgun and the do it. You probably have the perfect gun for your hunt but you need to know how tight the pattern is with the loads you've chosen and you need to know how to sight the target. In a near stationary shot like you will have the fact that the gun shots high and to the left when you sight on it will be important - and yes they do vary. You're going to be shooting 35 yards max so once you've done thet close in patterning step back a ways and see what you have. You'll really learn something doing this. Don't get hung up on which super begeesus load you use - get some X4 shot lead 3 inch and you're probably good to go and it won't cost you a ton of dough to pattern the gun and still have 3 or 4 rounds left for the hunt.

Work up your outfit so you know what clothing you're going to wear and what gear you're going to have. Be sure to have something decent to sit on cause your cheeks are going to get cold and your back is going to ache if you don't. Have a small pruning shear along to cut the branches that want to stick you in the side.

Try to get to your spot a few days before your season and check it out and see if you can find spots you can get to without making a lot of racket.

Chose your call and see if you can make any decent sounds with it. Mouth calls are hard to figure out for some, box calls can be tricky if it's wet out and they take a lot of movement to work. Think about one of those simple ones that are a box with a little dowel through it that you push back and forth. Call less than you think you need so you don't screw it up.

Study at least a bit on how to tag the bird and gut it. GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO HAVING A BLAZE ORANGE VEST TO WALK OUT OF THE AREA WITH. TURKEY HUNTING CAN BE DANGEROUS. I have a Fleet Farm bag with me to put the bird in on the walk out. If you're really arrogant you can even start to look up recipies for cooking one up.

Be Safe. Have Fun. It's the neatest hunting experience you're likely to have.

[Code-Man]

Heading out today after my chiropractor appointment to scout and place trail cameras. Hopefully we get some luck, land owners haven't been seeing anything on the property so it isn't a good sign but with 3 trail cameras being placed on the property hopefully something walks by.

[Wallydog]

Code,

There has already been some very good advice tendered. I'll add a couple of things I feel are very important.

1. When scouting leave your turkey calls in the truck! No need edumacating those bad boys before you can shoulder the gun. Listen, look for scat & scatchings. Hope you don't see any birds.

2. When walking in the turkey woods ALWAYS wear your face mask and gloves. You could round a corner of trees or a hill and encounter silent birds. You have a fighting chance of frightening them less if you are in full camo.

3. You'll learn in time that it's not the gobbler.... it's the gobble!

WD

[Code-Man]

went out today...heard a few gobbles when I was waiting to go back. Checked cameras and only found pictures of deer and two iffy pictures. Put some corn and millet out in front of the cameras...hopefully in a few weeks I'll get some better pictures. If not it will still be fun.

[Code-Man]

Well last night I ran out after work checked trail cameras. Had two cameras out one on video one on pictures. 78 pictures and 10 videos in 3 days. Saw they were coming through 7-10 am 2-dark. Got out crack of dawn and the woods were alive with turkey's gobbling. Around 7 am saw my first hen around 7:15 saw my second all were about 50-60 yards from me. They were out for about twenty minutes then they slowly took off into the woods. About 8:15 a bird steps out about 50/60 yards away and I'm thinking it was a Jake. Too far for me to get a clear view with optics I had. About a few minutes later a second one showed up. I pulled up the optics and in the background of that bird was a tom strutting which I hadn't seen yet. I hit my call a few times and he gobbled back at me. Soon he was back to strutting his stuff for the hen. I gobble a few more times and the hen started heading my way and the Tom was hot on her heals. Got the blind ready and when he got to about 6 yards I drew back and waited for him to come around the tree. Let the arrow fly and dropped him in his tracks. 10.5 Inch beard with 1.25 inch spurs but he only weighed around 18/19 pounds. Going to get the fan mounted with the beard hanging off. They are also going to put the spurs on the mount also for me. Should be cool to see when it's all said and done. I'm so excited got my first turkey and got it with the bow to top it off. I posted some pictures on facebook and if anyone wants to check it out click the link. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2896245&id=13950794&l=ddcb3dd156

[DonBo]

Good job Code! A tom with a bow is a definite trophy. You should be proud.

[Borch]

Congrats Code-Man!

Your hard work scouting paid off big time!

Very nice bird!

[sticknstring]

Nice bird Code-man - congratulations! Odd coloration on that fan...

[Cheetah]

Congrats!

I shot a bird a few years ago with white-ish feathers in the middle of the tail as well. I asked around and apparently it has something to do with the bird not getting the best nutrients in it's diet and the tail feathers will show it in their lack of color.

[Code-Man]

The pictures will show 3 white feathers and the fourth one came out after the shot. They are perfectly centered so i thought it was the bird itself to have even number on each side. I'm very proud and now we are trying to get my buddy his and we'll see what happens. Thanks again!

[DonBo]

I've shot a few birds, both Easterns and Merriams, with that white coloring in it's tail. I think it's just something that happens, like a birthmark on us.

[derek5]

Nice looking Bird!