Spring Turkey

[woody-99]

I am hunting the bird for the very first time..... I only have two days that I can get away and hunt. I have a mossberg 500 w/ a borrowed 28" barrel. What ammo, calls, gear would you recommend? Money is tight, and my wife started one of those budget things so I can't sneak any money :puppyeye:

[JHill]

Number 5 shot ammo, and a box call. Make sure you cover your face and hands, to cut glare. Don't move any more than you have too.

[JHill]

What season do you have?

[wadevb1]

I recommend a cheap crow mouth call. I'd cover as much ground as possible the last fifteen minutes of light blowing the crow call. Roosting toms will give up their location and you can slip in the following morning for ambush.

Don't try to get too close. A hundred yards is my goal.

[oldskoolford427]

They have very good hearing and even better eye site so good camo is a must!!!

[Avid]

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[miked]

The easiest calls to use are the box and slate calls. If you plan on hunting next year, start working now on mouth calls, they take a while to be even mildly proficient at.

Pretty much any 2.75" or 3" loads of 4, 5, 6's will work, just make sure they are heavy field loads or magnum's. I prefer 5 or 6's myself. I use copper plated lead shot because it is less expensive then the Hevi-Shot varieties. Hevi-Shot may extend your range a little depending on the choke/load combination.

Take you gun to a range and pattern it. This is probably the most important thing you can do. Many a turkey has been lost due to guns not hitting where the shooter thought they would or due to poor pattern density. I went through several different load/choke combination before I found one that works. This will vary from gun to gun and even between two of the same model guns. Pretty much any choke will work, just be sure you know the pattern density at given ranges for the choke you use. Full or turkey chokes will give you the longest range but improved cylinder or modified will work just as well for closer shots.

While hunting try to get set up for the shoot before you start calling. You want to have a little movement as possible when the turkeys come in. They will pick up color and ANY move you make. Don't set up facing the direction you think the bird will come from , set up so that you can shoot in the direction you think the bird will come from.

Fight the urge to over call. You will learn this from experience but sometimes less is more, but it all depends on the particular bird. Once I know a bird is heading my way I stop calling and wait.

Other gear you may need:
-ThermoCell - Must have if hunting when/where the bugs are bad.
-Camo clothing, including face and hands.
-Camo gun tape or sock if you gun is the least bit reflective.
-Decoys - they have their place but need is usually based on the hunter, some use them some don't
-Calls, as said above, for the first time just keep it simple, buy a box or slate call and practice with it before you head out. Check out YouTube or buy a DVD if you need help in what calls to use and how to call.
-Pad to sit on or some type of chair
-Pop Up blind. Not really needed but can be useful on rainy days or if you are hunting somewhere w/o a lot of cover. Unlike Deer turkeys don't care if it's brushed in or not. These are also really useful if hunting with a bow.

That's all that's coming to mind at the moment. it is one of the most frustrating yet fun types of hunting I've ever done.

If moneys tight, don't over do it. You don't need a lot of bells and whistles to turkey hunt. The only things you really need are a gun, camo and a call of some kind. But like any other sport, you can max it out easily if you desire.

[woody-99]

I am hunting the last weekend in April. I bought some Remington mag loads, no.5. It was only $7.99 for a box of 10. I am borrowing a bird barrel, and a box call. The camo is all set because I love to hunt whitetale. I am so excited to get out in the woods.

[Easyrider49]

If you wear glasses have them behind the camo too , lots of people cut holes in the camo head net so thier glasses poke out :nono:

[Hearse_driver]

nice