Do'nt forget to get those permits before feb.1-10. Did anyone bag a gobbler,or has a good hunt story for last years hunt?
Did my app last week for my son & I. Last year I called in two toms on opening evening - shot one - 9" beard. Took my son out before school the next day. We saw lots of turkeys but no shots. As we were getting ready to pack up, a coyote came 'jogging' right at us - my son nearly soiled his pants! I doubt it would have actually attacked, but I made sure of it anyways and dropped him. With school he was not able to go much and did not get his first bird. Maybe this year!
That is a great story. Nice to see that you get your son out to the woods. It is vary common to see those pesky animals when hunting for turkeys. I have had them atack my decoys.
Congratulations to who were successful in the 2010 spring turkey drawing. I wood be happy to help out with any questions you have about setups,calling ,decoys and every thing else you would like to know, to be successful this season. GOOD LUCK!
What do you recommend for a nice slate call? Gonna finally retire a 20yr old one. Just want a soft, natural, sweet sound - not raspy/loud/tinny sounding. Prices are all over the board. I don't want to overpay but am willing to invest a little more in something if its worth it. Should I also watch what kind of striker it comes with?
There's alot of slate calls on the market. Get one that sounds good to you. Now try different strikers, wood, plastic or glass. Each striker will have it's owen pitch. how the tip of the stiker is shaped or sanded will give you a different sound. Try cupping the palm of your hand under the base, will also fine tune your sounds. I have all three skrikers and a HSstrut slate on one side and glass on the other.You do not have to spend a lot of money. Some thing middle of the road will last. And at least two kinds of strikers. Now start draging each striker across your slate find your sweet spot. When you find that spot work it. I like a soft wood striker on slate and a plastic striker on glass.
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Thanks - I'll shop around & try some out. Last yr I was disappointed that most stores either didn't have any out to try, or the ones out were so abused it wasn't worthwhile. Maybe this yr i'll have better success with that.
make sure you get in the woods and setup 40mins.before the birds start to sing. Turkeys will see you walk through the woods, I have found that turkeys have a short memorey that dose not exceed 40 mins. If old tom remembers you, He will take another path to water, his dust bowl or where he is going to feed and avoid you. The moon is going too be full opening week.
Bought a split tongue quad reed at Lunkers today, going to try my hand at the diaphragm calls this year, since I'll be trying to kill one with a bow. Can't get it right, but I assume with practice it will get better. Any pointers?
1jav
If you have never used a diaphragm call before. I would start with a 2 reed or a two and a half cut. It takes a lot of effert to master those four reed calls. HSstrut makes a cd/3diaphram pack. Comes with three calls a two reed, a two and a half cut and a three reed split. I got one for my son, he's coming a long nicely. Now lets talk bow hunting! Set your decoys about 15 to 20 yards out. Face them looking right at you. When old tom comes in, he will face the decoy and fan out his tail in display. Now you got time to move and take your shot right where the sun don't shine. It is a tuff hunt. You got to be vary still. When that happens, it happens fast.
Also thinking about using a bow this spring. Hopefully the shoulder is strong enough now after surgery last winter. It wasn't yet this past fall, but I've been working out really hard this winter. Shooting 'em with a gun is still cool but almost getting too easy - never missed one yet and have about 10 under my belt - time for a new challenge! Is a blind a must? If so, do you have a prefered make/model (would also be used for deer in fall). I have a great ridge (roosting area) and nearby field edge/wind row (feeding/strutting/travel area) I could set it up on just prior to the season and leave it there (private land behind my house).
I agree, the quad mouth calls are more difficult. I'm no pro, but I do use mouth calls some. Can even keep two in my mouth and swap them w/ my tongue if I want a different sound or to sound like multiple birds. I'd also suggest a double reed to practice/start with. But keep that quad handy for the future once ya get better! On days when you have a flock located and the birds are talkin a lot, I've even used both hand and mouth calls at the same time so it sounds like a group rather than just a single bird. More times than not, though, limited calling has served me better than too much. Depends on the day-let the birds dictate (kinda like bass fishin!)
No a blind is not a must. Having your own property and setting your own blind up is an advantage. Make sure your blind has enough room to move around in and has openings designed for bow hunting. Get a blind thats going to hold up and last.
Picking the right decoy is key to attracting birds. Decoys that are in positions with their necks straight up are in the alert stance. This may alarm the bird to be cautious and not want to come in. Get Feeding Decoys or a relaxed stance.
I have a strutting tom (w/ tail fan from a real bird I shot) and three different hens. Good point though - the hens are fairly upright so maybe I can put the stake in angled downward slightly so they look like they are feeding - something to play around with!
The first three years I hunted, I did not use decoys. I found that old tom had a hard time pinpointing my position. On the fourth year I hunted with a friend that had several decoys. It seemed to be more diffcult to bring any turkeys in close. I believe that with the decoys close to my position, that there is a better chance of being spotted. Any movement will be picked up by the sharp eyes of the birds. I have had Many toms and hens in my lap, 5 to 7 peaces from my position. If they can't see you and they are intrested they will keep looking. I do not use decoys. When I hunt alone.
A friend of mine asked me if the gauge of shotgun makes a differece when taking old tom? With the advancement of shells and chokes today, any thing between 20gauge to 10 gauge is going to take old tom. It just depends on how much you are willing to spend on shells. I use a 10 gauge HxH single shot. With 3.5inch mag 4 shot and a xfulchoke My son uses a mossburg 500 20 gauge with xxfulchoke and 3in mag 4x6. It really gets out there. The average shot is genneraly 20 to 35 yards, give or take. You realy need to match your amo with your choke. Sometimes having to high of brass and too tight of choke, will give you a pattern larger than you may relize. Just takes a day out to the range.
There is a great article in march woods-and-water. On farm country gobblers. Three pages of excellent information. Also in field and stream, is a small article on strikers. Being a norther woods hunter, I found that there is a big difference in both of these hunts. With all the pressure in the northern part of the state. Southern farmland may be this years best bet.
Trying to bring that big tom, or any tom in close can often be quite a task. How many times has tom answered your call, only to hang up just out of reach. Soft yelps of purrs just do not panout. Try this. Most flocks have a domenet hen. She's the one who picks who she will mate with ' usually an adult male. challenging her for the flock or that mate can bring the hole flock right in too your lap. Get her attention with sharp cuts and clucks in a rapid sequence. Then listen to her as she returns with her calls. Copy those notes to a tee, or as close as you can. When she comes to challenge that strange new hen. The rest of the folk will follow. Because every one likes a good fight.
Remember that hunting turkeys over a bait pile is illegal. Don't get caught, you could loose your gear and the right to hunt.Plus pay a fine and or spend time in jail. Make sure your bird has a beard. There has been many cases of hens with beards taken , these are legal to shoot.
Here's an easy way to take the feathers off your bird. Get your self a 4-6 gal. pot. Fill it with water, bring the pot of water to a boil. Add a half a package of paraffin wax, the kind your grandmother used for canning. When it comes to a boil. Take it off the stove and out side. Drop your bird in to the pot of water for about 40 to 60 secends. Any longer you take the chance of cooking the skin .I usually hold it by it's feet. Take bird out let the bird cool and the wax set up some. The feathers will mat and the skin will soften. This makes it easy to get all the feathers off . Evan the small pinfeathers. Leaving the skin on your bird will keep the bird from drying out, when you cook it. Do not let your Bird get cold before you pull of the feathers.
Thanks for all your tips!
I personally just breast out turkey since I've yet to find a way to cook one where the legs/wings taste any better than leather. Since they run/fly all the time they're just too tough for me. The breast meat alone feeds our family of 5 at least two meals, tastes great, plus it makes cleaning a whole lot easier! Marinade overnight and then grill
I'm with you on just breasting out your bird. But if you would like to cook the traditional roasted turkey leaving the skin on helps keep the bird from drying out
My son insists on an illuminated rod dot scope for his shotgun this year. Bought a Bushnell trophy 1x28,for shotguns. We took it to the range. After putting 4 rounds throw the shotgun the scope locked up and the electronics stopped working. I am going to send the scope back to Bushnell. Any suggestions for a replacement?
Great Day!! My son bagged his first Tom this morning here in Indiana , he is only 7 and shot a 22 lb. tom with a 10 inch beard. It was an awsome experience to watch it unfold. goodluck to all others out huntin!!
great job to you and your son!!! Tried to talk my wife into going, but she doesn't have the heart to do it.
1jav
That must have been vary exciting for you and your son. Way to go gamehawg
Well another season has come and almost gone. Lots of birds taken this year. Had a great hunt myself. Don't forget to get your fall hunt app. in on time. If any one would like to share their hunting experiences for spring turkey hunt 2010. I'm always interested in a good story. Congratulations on a successful spring turkey hunt 2010.