First Timer

[quick]

I drew a turkey permit in this years lottery. First time trying, first time turkey hunting ever. I do plenty of other things like deer, pheasant and fishing of course just to name a few. But I moved from Texas to Minnesota and although I had plenty of chances to chase rios in tx I never tried. Then a guy I work with told me about turkey hunting and I decided I would try and see what this craze was all about. I will be hunting zone 341 in season H, and that's exactly my problem, I've been reading up a lot on this stuff and have already spent way too much money (according to my wife), and I was just wondering has anyone taken a gobbler this late in the season? Regardless I am going to try like **** but just wondering if there was anyone else out there that is or was in the same boat as I am in, that could give me some pointers to point me in the right direction. Anyway, I am really psyched out about just getting out in the spring. I would love any input from anyone. Thanks

p.s. Pray for me, My wife's threating to make sleep out on my kids trampoline in our backyard if I keep puffing on these diaphrams.

[Nova]

I am far from an expert, but I give what I found. 2 years ago I got denied in the lottery and was able to get a late season surplus tag. We found that all the hens were on the nest, the gobblers were very tired, bread out, and paid no attention to calls or decoys. We decide to try and cut them off going to and coming from feeding areas. we left the decoys in the truck and scouted a bunch before season to see where they were feeding. In the morning we would try to locate. Even though the breeding was over they still gobbled in the morning on the roost. We would find a bird and then try to guess where he would most likely head off to feed. On only our second try we managed to cut one off and he walked right by at 15 yards. We got real lucky. We never once made any turkey calls that day, just owl and crow locator calls to find him. The day before we found one with the locator calls and when he flew down we gave him a few soft purrs and yelps....very few. When he heard it he headed the other way. If the weather stays cold longer they will breed later and you might be in good shape, you'll just have to see how they are acting that time of year. Good luck, have a great time in the turkey woods and welcome to MN.

[Sky Carp Blaster]

We hunt zone 341. We have never hunted any other season than D. This will be our third year down there. Last year I got a surplus permit and hunted season G on the eastern side of wright county. I had many birds come in to the calling, four to be exact, all which I could have shot. You will probably have to wait and see how the weather is. No matter what, you should always spend time calling in my opinion. I'm sure you already studied up and everything, but just a few tips:

1)Don't call too much. Keep the gobbler guessing where you are at and only call every so often. Birds will shy away from over-calling.

2)Decoys really work well, especially when a gobbler is separated from you by a fence, ditch, etc.

3)I see you said you were using diaphrams. If you practiced a lot and are good at them, go ahead and use them. You said this is your first year hunting turkeys. My Dad's first year hunting he used the diaphrams and he sounded horrible. Just not enough practice before he went hunting. I have found a box call works well. I have only been on three turkey hunts in the last 6 years, and have called in 7 gobblers within shooting range, including a 25lb gobbler that I bagged, with my simple box call.

[Captain B.R.K]

It really depends on the weather. Each year is a bit different for when those toms are in strutin' form! Season H is one of the last, if not THE last, seasons to hunt.

If you don't get response from a call, try to do some scoutin' of turkey trails and cut em' off.

We could have a late spring, which means you could have a chance to get a lonely litt'tom all alone lookin' for some lovin'!

[Hotspotter]

Quick:

My brother has taken a mature tom and a jake in the past two years......341G. It's very doable, and like BRK said, depending upon weather, can be better than many of the earliest seasons.

I tagged along with him for a day last year. Birds were scattered, and gobbling. Just gobbling less than i'd observed in other seasons. We had to range quite a ways first thing in the morning to get to birds gobbling on the roost. He shot one of two jakes that came in on a string. The morning sun comes up hot and quick on some of the later May mornings. Gobbling activity on those mornings is often the same way.

Know the land you hunt. Have others been hunting it or the directly adjacent areas? This, and the attitude of the birds that morning should determine how agressive your calling can get. Stay more subdued if you can help it for the later season birds as a general rule though.

Keep in mind that you're hunting well past leaf-out, and much changes with full greenery. Gobbling birds are closer than they sound, you can get away with a tad more movement, and hunting in thick woods becomes difficult. Stick with a greener pattern camo, as you really stick out with dark grey/brown when everything is neon green.

Good luck,

Joel

[Borch]

The first year I took out my daughter we had good luck during the H season. The toms were still gobbling and responding to calls. It's not that way every year but you can definitely shoot a bird then. In fact if my daughters shoot one this year they'll have to draw a surplus tag during the H season.

Borch

[Captain B.R.K]

"Keep in mind that you're hunting well past leaf-out, and much changes with full greenery. Gobbling birds are closer than they sound, you can get away with a tad more movement, and hunting in thick woods becomes difficult. Stick with a greener pattern camo, as you really stick out with dark grey/brown when everything is neon green."

Keep in mind you might be able to get away with some movement, but so will those gobblers! Last year I had a gobbler come within 20 ft of me and not know it was there. Lots of green around me and it was sitting behind a big bush!

Guess I wasn't expecting it to come from there- but needless to say the more green/camo for you same goes for those old gobblers.

[quick]

Thanks for all the input everyone I will be sure to take all this into consideration, As far as my calling goes I think I am fairly decent, even though it's my first time. I bought a tape of turkey sounds and I drive a front-end loader at work that has a tape player in it, so when I get bored I pop the tape and start puffing on the diaprham trying to mimic the sounds. I've also been to the local library checked out some books and videos on turkey hunting and turkey habitat. I'm a big believer in the saying "chance favors the prepared mind" so I've been preparing. I know the comment was given that decoys work good, I've heard mixed results from different people. It seems like if you were to talk to 10 different people you'd get 10 different answers. Just wondering what everyone here thought about 'em. More pluses than minuses? If so what kinda setup do you prefer? As far as late season camo goes I've been researching that as well and I think I have decided to go with mossy oaks obsession seems like it would be a better choice for late season than a grayish tone like the break-up pattern. Thanks for all the tips guys it's nice to actually get feed back from other outdoorsmen and women instead of some book or tape

[Sky Carp Blaster]

I believe decoys work well. The first year I went, the first day I called in a tom without a decoy, but didn't get a shot. This was our first year hunting turkeys, so we really had no clue how to hunt them successfully. A guy we knew came and visited us and called us (Contact US Regarding This Word) for not using decoys and gave us his to borrow. A day later I called in another tom and bagged him. He stopped on the opposite side of a fence, and when he saw the decoy, he continued towards me. I believe this made the difference that day. Since then, I have always used a decoy. I use one of the foam collapsable ones. I have a whole set of two hens and a jake, but have only used one hen decoy. I have called in about 8 toms in three seasons, all using a decoy. Maybe it is other factors, but I have killed two

[Creek Kid]

I hope you have a blast! I'd like to give some advice related more to mindset and planning. It took me seven seasons to bag my first bird. The first day I ever tried turkey hunting I called in a tom (and a hen) 12 ft from me and never got him. I had heard so much about their eyesight that I was a afraid to move.

If you can see them and they don't respond to calls or decoys - go after them! I've wasted a lot of time waiting. Your chances aren't that great but it helps to know your actively trying to make something happen. I belly-crawled my first bird for 300yds and got within 15 yds of him while he bred a hen. Every bird is different. Some will coming charging in silently and some will gobble to beat the band and barely move. Some want decoys to come to them, some will mount them. I've had lot of success calling and getting them close but have alot of "if only..." stories too.

Pick a tree a or fenceline at a range you are comfortable shooting at. When ol' tom gets to that point keep your bead on him and don't let him get too close. The patterns on these new turkey tubes are the size of a dime at close range. When you pick that spot you're comfortable shooting at, don't second guess yourself. It sucks when you pass up pulling the trigger and you never see them again. Don't talk yourself into calling the taxidermist until he's over your shoulder.

Just some thoughts that I wish I woulda heard early on. Hope they help. Above all enjoy yourself out there! It's an awesome time of year to be in the woods. Some of the best sleep I've ever gotten is while I'm turkey hunting. Birds chirping, apple trees in blossom... GOBBLE - GOBBLE - GOBBLE!!!!