Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Name a helpful tip or trick you can share with all of us ...  My little tip - buy one of those Dollar Tree Store - men's Shaving Brush. The best 1.25 cents you can spend for brushing off your calls especially pot calls after conditioning them. This way you don't have to blow on your calls etc...

Tupperware Little Wonders 6oz bowls for keeping your pot calls dry. I have about 15 of them. Oh buy the older ones if you can, the new ones are VERY shiny and seem to be the colors of a turkey from what I have seen.

For those who use rubber bands on their box calls to keep them secure while walking. Try the rubber bands off of fresh vegetables such as broccoli, Leeks and asparagus, etc.  They are usually either blue or green in color.

I am not sure what is the huge difference, but all I can tell you is that they are some of the strongest I have used and they will last for a very very long time. I have some that I have used for two-three years which is unheard of for a rubber band.

Go to the range with a box or two of target/dove loads, shoot them all with your off hand, have killed a handful of birds over the years that snuck in on the wrong side, a quick swap of shoulders and it all over for mr gobbler!

A little trick I use. When ever I set up against a tree for a gobbler, I always grab a branch and set it along side me. With little movement, I can slowly rake the branch through the leaves at my side to mimic a feeding hen. Works real well.....

Quote from: Tom007 on February 04, 2023, 04:51:18 PM
A little trick I use. When ever I set up against a tree for a gobbler, I always grab a branch and set it along side me. With little movement, I can slowly rake the branch through the leaves at my side to mimic a feeding hen. Works real well.....

Excellent advice. I always have a branch with me to scratch in the leaves to help him take those last few steps to get into range.

Another tip, if you cannot afford the Woodhaven pots covers (Al from Enticer makes some as well), you can just save the Daisy lid off of your sour cream container and they will fit about 90 percent of the pot calls just about perfect. Take a little camo paint and give them a quick spray out in the yard to get rid of that bright white lid. But they work great to keep protect your pot call surfaces from polishing on your clothes and also sweat free.

Quote from: Greg Massey on February 03, 2023, 10:35:28 PM
Name a helpful tip or trick you can share with all of us ...  My little tip - buy one of those Dollar Tree Store - men's Shaving Brush. The best 1.25 cents you can spend for brushing off your calls especially pot calls after conditioning them. This way you don't have to blow on your calls etc...

While you're at the Dollar store, pick up a pack of the smaller black stretchy hair ties. Great for securing a box call and keeping it quiet while on the move.

Quote from: mountainhunter1 on February 04, 2023, 06:33:54 PM

Quote from: Tom007 on February 04, 2023, 04:51:18 PM
A little trick I use. When ever I set up against a tree for a gobbler, I always grab a branch and set it along side me. With little movement, I can slowly rake the branch through the leaves at my side to mimic a feeding hen. Works real well.....

Excellent advice. I always have a branch with me to scratch in the leaves to help him take those last few steps to get into range.

Another tip, if you cannot afford the Woodhaven pots covers (Al from Enticer makes some as well), you can just save the Daisy lid off of your sour cream container and they will fit about 90 percent of the pot calls just about perfect. Take a little camo paint and give them a quick spray out in the yard to get rid of that bright white lid. But they work great to keep protect your pot call surfaces from polishing on your clothes and also sweat free.

Great tip. I need to start collections those tops. Thanks

Thanks for all the great tips, as usual Greg, nice informative post.....

For the 410 shooters.  Here's a couple nice storage cases for your shells.  The chewing gum container holds nine shells, the other is out of a Hornady 30-06 box, I'm sure other calibers would work as well.   Holds five shells.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52673589606_6493b5fa57_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52673096167_79ffb1df0d_z.jpg)

Make sure your logged into onx before you lose cell service.

I kill a lot of birds standing up, especially in steep terrain, those birds that go past you out of sight sitting on the ground are dead meat, and you see them coming much easier!

Standing in a pine or cedar or on the back side of a larger hard wood tree, only thing sticking out is half your head and your gun, they have no clue your there!

Quote from: Paulmyr on February 06, 2023, 08:49:43 PM
Make sure your logged into onx before you lose cell service.

Also, if it's an area you may lose service, you can download the map. Then your gps still works with no cell coverage. Every pin point & features still work as normal. You can even use it on an old phone with no service as long as you downloaded the map over wifi prior.

Quote from: wyetterp on February 11, 2023, 04:06:05 PM

Quote from: Paulmyr on February 06, 2023, 08:49:43 PM
Make sure your logged into onx before you lose cell service.

Also, if it's an area you may lose service, you can download the map. Then your gps still works with no cell coverage. Every pin point & features still work as normal. You can even use it on an old phone with no service as long as you downloaded the map over wifi prior.

Exactly, but all that only works if your logged in/signed in before you lose cell service.

Learned it on here last year and it was great. But grab a stick to put under your pad when up against a tree. Will flatten out your position and allow you to sit much more comfortably for longer.


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Another tip I learned is while your walking and calling (trolling for gobblers), I always stop before each call and pick out a quick set-up spot/tree. Too many times I made a call in a bad spot on the trail and had no good backdrop. Now, If I hear a gobble, I know I can make a quick move to a pre-determined spot close to me. This is critical if your response is real close to your position.......

Easy way to estimate 40 yards.

Simple to know what is 3 feet or 1 yard right in front of you. Take that distance and do it five more times to get to 5 yards from your set up tree.

Then double that distance to 10 yards. Then add that distance again to get to 20 yards, then again from the spot to get to 30 yards, then again for estimate for your maximum 40 yards.

Check yourself with a range finder if you are carrying one, or after the hunt is over stand up and step it off. Practice makes perfect.

Quote from: Dtrkyman on February 06, 2023, 10:00:01 PM
I kill a lot of birds standing up, especially in steep terrain, those birds that go past you out of sight sitting on the ground are dead meat, and you see them coming much easier!

Standing in a pine or cedar or on the back side of a larger hard wood tree, only thing sticking out is half your head and your gun, they have no clue your there!

Great hint!  We've talked about this tactic before, and it is a hint that everybody should consider when they are setting up on a bird.  Before going into "sit down with your back against a tree" mode, always take time to consider the terrain and ground-level cover and make your decision about sitting or standing based on what is the best course of action in each situation. 

As Dtrkyman says, there are times when sitting rather than standing in the wrong situation will cost you birds if you hunt long enough.    :icon_thumright:

Carry some thin wire or zip ties in your vest, because sometimes it is better to have a limb tied out of the way and use it for cover than to snip it off. On some public land it is against the regulations to cut vegetation.  I have also pulled a small tree top over slightly, then wired it to another tree to give me shade where there hadn't been enough to start with.  This really helps on a spot you intend to return to hunt from in the future. 

Jim

I've mentioned it for years but haven't in the last couple of years.  Late season is a prime time to resort to gobbler talk.   During late season, especially in the south, a lot of gobblers are as interested in getting the ole gang (survivors) back together as they are hen, if not more so.    Another tip along this same train of thought.   You or a buddy kills one half of a dynamic duo.   That survivor is really vulnerable to gobbling and or gobbler yelps for the next several days. 

If you use pot calls, take a mouth call container, one of the single ones, and cut your piece of scotch brite and your sand paper just big enough to fit in there. You can also add a thin stone if you like those. It's completely quiet and doesn't take up as much room as a primos slick stick or having everything separate.


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Three tomato stakes cut down to 40" and sharpened on one end...camo burlap 32" wide by 12 foot long.  Staple the burlap to all 3 stakes with a staple gun....roll it up and you have an easily portable quick blind for running and gunning. 

Another trick is piece of hog panel bent into a half square cut windows into each section.  Cover in camo or vegetation of your choice.  It is light and portable and can be moved easily.

A photo of a palmetto covered hog panel.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230227/3f82d13ff44eb4a962cae0c52b4ed5d4.jpg)

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I keep green scotch bright on a safety pin on the inside of my vest for quick striker tip cleanups - saves digging in the vest - another tip - the bird looks his best right after you kill him - pictures are better in the woods to me than in the back of the truck - take time and enjoy the moment!

Quote from: Tom007 on February 14, 2023, 02:52:03 PM
Another tip I learned is while your walking and calling (trolling for gobblers), I always stop before each call and pick out a quick set-up spot/tree. Too many times I made a call in a bad spot on the trail and had no good backdrop. Now, If I hear a gobble, I know I can make a quick move to a pre-determined spot close to me. This is critical if your response is real close to your position.......

This is very important.  I do the same thing. 

Quote from: WildTigerTrout on March 02, 2023, 08:37:37 AM

Quote from: Tom007 on February 14, 2023, 02:52:03 PM
Another tip I learned is while your walking and calling (trolling for gobblers), I always stop before each call and pick out a quick set-up spot/tree. Too many times I made a call in a bad spot on the trail and had no good backdrop. Now, If I hear a gobble, I know I can make a quick move to a pre-determined spot close to me. This is critical if your response is real close to your position.......

This is very important.  I do the same thing.

I used to do this before my car accident.

You can usually watch Goodwill and get you nice camera tripod for less than 10 dollars and buy you one of those shooting adapters off Ebay for a tripod and make you a pretty nice portable shooting rest ...

Try to learn when a bird makes particular calls, so your situation and call sequence makes sense to the Tom.  I could be wrong here, but for instance I never hear them purr after louder yelping,  they always purr, cluck and maybe soft yep if they are going to yelp at all in that situation.  If a fight breaks out it is totally different though.
Timing is just as important, if not more important than sound quality,  as long as you don't sound like a dog Barking.

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Quote from: Wigsplitter on February 28, 2023, 09:49:33 PM
I keep green scotch bright on a safety pin on the inside of my vest for quick striker tip cleanups - saves digging in the vest

Great idea.  I just sewed a piece of scotch bright to some velcro.  I wrapped it around the strap of my Glenda Green satchel for quick access.

Quote from: Notsoyoungturk on March 04, 2023, 04:27:02 PM

Quote from: Wigsplitter on February 28, 2023, 09:49:33 PM
I keep green scotch bright on a safety pin on the inside of my vest for quick striker tip cleanups - saves digging in the vest

Great idea.  I just sewed a piece of scotch bright to some velcro.  I wrapped it around the strap of my Glenda Green satchel for quick access.

Get a mini carabiner, punch a hole in a piece of 150, 60 grit emery cloth, and a piece of green scotch brite and hang on the outside of your vest.  You don't want to be looking for it when you need it. 

Change out the thin carry strap from a turkey chair and replace it with a cheap wider/padded gun sling ... 

Everybody has that sweet spot on their pot calls.  I put a raised 2-3 mm adhesive sticker on wooden side of my call at the 12 o'clock spot of the area I like. I can reach down, without looking, and orient the call to begin calling.  Nice early in the am if you are using it for soft clucks or tree yelps.

Here's a tip that might help save a new hunter some agony! If your allergic to poison oak/ivy take your gloves off before you pee. Don't ask me how I know this.

I learn to estimate distance as I walked to work.  I walked bout two miles into work in the morning and I would pick out an object in front of me and make a guess then made a one yard step counting each one until I got very good at it. For many years I would do this about every where I walked for several years and have retained the accuracy amazing well for many years.

+1 on taking the gloves off ... 

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