Newbie turkey hunters need advice for first season

[mule]

I'm looking for some advice on how to get myself and my wife into turkey hunting. I mostly hut pheasant and grouse along with some waterfowl but have never done the turkey thing. About 4 months ago I got my wife a nice Matthews bow for our anniversary hoping that it would get her more into hunting and she wants to try turkeys first. (she actually asked for the bow, she has a 60 yard indoor range at her office!!)

We plan to go out during the last 2 weeks for the over the counter spring archery hunt (I also will be putting in for the lottery)and we don't have anyone to show us the ropes so we are on our own. That being said here are some of my questions.

1. Are there any good books/DVD's to give us some insight on what to do and how to call them in?

2. Are there any guides in MN who could help us out?

3. I only have one possible option for private land to hunt so I would like to keep some public land in mind. Do you have any recommendations on a location? (I'm not looking for you secret spot, just a general location.)

4. To purchase the over the counter tags would she still need to apply for the lottery? (I am still a bit confused after reading the regs)

5. Do you have any words of wisdom for us new to the sport?

[DonBo]

The DNR and volunteers from the NWTF put on clinics all over the state. I HIGHLY recommend going to one of these. They are very well worth the time.

There are loads of guide services who cater to turkey hunters, a quick Google search will help locate the the right one for you. Make sure they are experienced in archery hunting.

A guide will be able to put you on some top notch private land. Bowhunting public land at the end of the season will be a very tough endever.

You do not need to apply for a tag to take advantage of the OTC permits, however, I would apply for an earlier season anyway if only to build preference points for next year. An earlier season with fewer pressured birds is typically a huge advantage for bowhunting turkeys.

Words of wisdom? Get a pop-up blind, sit down and shut up.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[Archerysniper]

You should also look into the DNR Becoming a Outdoor Women program for your wife. Last year I mentored a young lady on her first spring archery turkey hunt, we the mentors bring all our gear that is needed for turkey hunting the dnr sets up the hunting spot so all she would have to do is show up with her bow and camos.

[goblueM]

Words of wisdom? Get a pop-up blind, sit down and shut up.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

second that... especially in late season. if you can pattern them that's a huge plus. lots of times late in the season you pretty much have to hunt them more like deer... know where they are gonna be and camp out. pretty tough to do your first turkey hunt with a bow! should be a lot of fun though

[Wallydog]

Mule,

I beleive guiding for turkeys is taboo in MN............

Tho the harvest of a spring gobbler with a bow is considered one of the ultimate challenges it might be the wrong way to hunt for newbies. I'd highly suggest a scattergun for the first go around. Get one under your belts, then grab the bow.

Your choice certainly. The ground blind is nearly madatory with a bow and gives a great advantage with shotgun as well. Now is the time to read and watch video related to calling and hunt strategies and bird habits/biology. Save the killin ones for entertainment. Now is when you must start acquiring knowledge to do something entirely different than you've ever done. Learn about the saftey issues! Buy some decoys! Read "The Tenth Legion" by Mr. Tom Kelly. Establish which types of calls you can afford and operate. Attend a NWTF banquet. Attend seminars. Get jacked up for the thrill of a spring morning in the turkey woods. Remember it's not the gobbler, it's the gobble!

WD

[sticknstring]

Hope the two of you don't have much else going on in the spring because you're about to become turkey hunting addicts like the rest of us!

[ribsey_77]

mule,

This year I should be getting picked for the third season in 344 and i have always hunted on private land with lots of birds around. I also agree the a gun is the better way to start with but ha what do i know. I am always willing to have people along to show the ropes to even to follow me around for the weekend or a day. Turkey hunting is an amazing sport and the goose bumps are like nothing else with a gobbler screaming at 40 yards. If you are interested drop me a line and we could have a chat. [email protected]

[Shane Simpson]

Mule,

I beleive guiding for turkeys is taboo in MN............

Tho the harvest of a spring gobbler with a bow is considered one of the ultimate challenges it might be the wrong way to hunt for newbies. I'd highly suggest a scattergun for the first go around. Get one under your belts, then grab the bow.

Your choice certainly. The ground blind is nearly madatory with a bow and gives a great advantage with shotgun as well. Now is the time to read and watch video related to calling and hunt strategies and bird habits/biology. Save the killin ones for entertainment. Now is when you must start acquiring knowledge to do something entirely different than you've ever done. Learn about the safety issues! Buy some decoys! Read "The Tenth Legion" by Mr. Tom Kelly. Establish which types of calls you can afford and operate. Attend a NWTF banquet. Attend seminars. Get jacked up for the thrill of a spring morning in the turkey woods. Remember it's not the gobbler, it's the gobble!

WD

Guiding in MN is illegal if a fee is charged, otherwise it is perfectly alright to have someone guide you. I would be willing to lend my expertise if you so desire and video it for you as well. I recommend attending a NWTF banquet. You'll will meet a lot of other turkey hunting enthusiast willing to help out!

[Cheetah]

Mule, the SE corner of MN has quite a bit of public land. Hunting turkeys down that way can be pretty rough without being at least pointed in the right direction. Lots of ground to cover, steep hills, and quiet birds.

Turkeys have spread quite a ways as well, there are many in the metro area, but limited permits available unless you get an OTC archery late season tag. One option might be to check with any friends or family you have in the outskirts of the metro area and see if they have seen birds in the area, then try to get connected with whoever owns that land. Bowhunting the metro flocks would probably work well if you have them patterned.

[bmc]

Mule,

I'm a relatively new turkey hunter as well, this spring will be my 5th season. I'm self taught and have had good chances to harevest a bird 3 out of the 4 seasons that I have hunted.

I'm a die hard bowhunter, and totally agree w/ DonBo's "get a blind, sit down, and shut up."

It is very addictive and an AWESOME way to spend some time in the spirng woods.

Scouting will pay off huge!!! Private land will be better than public land, especially if it doesn't get hunted before you get a chance to hunt.

The hardest part for me was deciding on decoy set ups. I've stuck with an alert jake decoy and a hen or two with him. I've got a Primos B-Mobiel to use this spring and am excited to use it.

Call wise, I've had great luck with the Primos push button style call. I just can't use the mouth calls (diaphrams). I also have a box call that has a carbon paddle that has worked good for me.

Bowhunting turkeys requires pin point accuracy on shot placement. Do some research or look at past posts here on shot placment for turkeys. Broadheads w/ larger cutting diameters are recommended for body shots or using a Gobbler Guillotene or Magnus Bull head for head/neck shots.

There is TONS of info here and some very experienced turkeky hunters in this forum.

Best of luck in your new addiction!!!

Brian

[bustumup]

Scouting is the most important part of turkey hunting. Find out where they like to roost and watch them from a distance a few days before you are going to hunt. Then set up a blind in between the roost and feeding source. Don't bust the roost (get too close) even in the dark. They will leave and your hunt will be over. Try and set up a few hundred yards from the roost or a safe distance that you can approach the blind in the dark without alerting them. Remember, once they fly down from the roost, they are on their feet all day, so take your time-most birds are harvested between 10-2pm. Turkeys best scense is sight, if they could smell, nobody would be able to kill them. Calling-most important thing to know, don't over do it. A couple clucks and they will have you pin-pointed. It is amazing how well they can pin-point sound and most guys just keep calling and louder, but they know where you are. Just sit tight, they will come. Decoys- one or two hens should be fine to start out. set them 20 yards or so in front of you facing the blind, the toms will want to strut (show off there tail feathers) between the deke and blind. Hope this helps you and good luck! Post pics of you and your wife after you get r done!

[mule]

Thanks for all the info/advice.

My wife and I put in the lotto for E season in 462. I found a college buddy willing to let us hunt his land and hopefully teach us a thing or two.

Santa delivered my wife "The Tenth Legion" by Tom Kelly, calls, boots and camo so now we just need a blind and some decoys and we will be set on gear.

Now my only dilemma is whether to share the blind or split up. I assume splitting up will increase the odds of getting a bird, but would like to be there to see my wife take her fist bird.

Either way I cant wait.

[DonBo]

Splitting up is a good plan, IF you have a lot of land to hunt. If your hunting area is smaller than say 80-120 acres, you'd probably be better off sitting together. Otherwise you'd both be calling to the same birds.But you'r right, either way is good.