new to turkey hunting need some help

[bobber guy]

this is my first year turkey hunting and got drawn for the first season and i have been told it will be easy since the birds will be dumb. is that true. so if you guys could help my out with what i need and if there are certain ways to hunt them is it like deer hunting. any help would be great.

[Borch]

They should be pretty receptive to calling the first season. Part of that is because of the lack of pressure and part due to the hens not being quite ready for love yet.

Btw,

These birds are always dumb. They have unreal survival instincts though.

Good Luck!

[Nate McVey]

Congrats on your first hunt bobber guy! It is quite the addiction. Check the following post for some very good info. that will help you get started.

Turkey Help

[bassphish2005]

Easy=turkeys....I don't feel these two words ever go together.They are a challenge anytime,Bobber be ready for one heck of a chess match.

[Wallydog]

Bobber,

The surest way to keep them as "dumb" they can be is to NOT go mess with them prior to the season. When scouting leave your turkey calls in the truck, period. BTW, some call turkeys dumb, which they can be. I choose to think that turkeys are not smart or dumb, just WARY. They have been a prey source since them moment they hatched from the egg. One slip up and they become dinner for someone or something!

Do yourself and others a favor and arm yourself with as much knowledge and information as you can absorb tween now and opening day. GO to seminars, rent instructional videos, read Tom Kelly's book "The Tenth Legion" and others.

Best of luck, be safe.

WD

[96trigger]

Turkeys are not the brightest, I will give them that but, I second the survival instinct. Also, uncanny eyesight and the ability to detect danger. One wrong twitch and the head goes up and woosh, gone. That might be your biggest challenge. Your going to be on the ground so the birds will be eye level. Easy for them to pick up movement.

Turkey hunting is a blast. It took me a while to get into it, gut the morning I saw my first big tom floating across the field on a misty spring morning, I was hooked. Hearing him gobble and seeing him come across that field was both exciting and a little freaky at the same time. Good luck. Be sure to camo everything, no shiny parts on the gun. I recommend tape, I tried everything but tape worked the best until I finally bought a camo gun.

[Quetico]

If I could only hunt one animal the rest of my life it'd be turkeys without question. But these birds can be difficult.

Concealment is key. Stay in the shadows and keep everything covered. Use tent style blinds to keep yourself hidden. These provide great cover and allow you to raise your gun without being seen. Make sure to set-up blinds early. They cost a bit more but are well worth it when it comes to staying out of eye sight.

[treble]

This is my first year hunting turkeys too, i was wondering how often a follow-up shot is needed? I have a pump gun and an over/under. I imagine if i am sitting down it might be much quicker to follow up with my over/under, but am i going to need a second shot that quickly?

[Quetico]

From my limited experience, dont plan on a second shot if you miss with the first one. I know a few guys who only use a single shot. I would say you wont need a second shot that quickly. I've always used a pump but looking for a new semi-auto.

[123fish]

I would use the pump. I have heard lots of stories where more than two shots were needed. You'll be able to pump fast enough to make any follow up shots in most cases.

[Tipup101]

I would love to get an over under for turkey hunting. They are ment for the sport.

[treble]

yeah i think i am pretty much stuck with the pump, i remembered that i dont have interchangeable choke tubes on the over under

[Tipup101]

Pattern it any way. I have 870 wingmaster with a modified choke that patterned awsome at 40 yards with 3inch no 4 heavyshot. That over under might surprise you.