Hey fellas,
The thread on how many turkeys you've killed got me to thinking...what is the #1 piece of advice all you accomplished turkey hunters have for us newbies?
Unlike some of the turkey masters on here, I've only hunted turkeys for four years, and I've killed 5 birds (2 toms and 3 jakes). My first two springs I didn't kill a bird. That being stated, spring turkey hunting is incredibly addicting, and I think I like it more than either waterfowl or upland hunting, which are two areas I'm a little more experienced in.
I put in my time scouting, put in my time practicing with my calls, and consider myself a fair woodsman. I'm more than willing to work at this to be succesful. Any advice?
Greg
#1 piece of advice - PATIENCE!
When you set up on a turkey and he seems to be gobbling and getting closer, and suddenly shuts up or you lose your visual on him......wait a good 5 or 10 minutes longer before peeking around your tree or getting up to move on him. He just might be standing right behind you coming in silent.
my kill ratio went way up when i learned to get in close and be sparing with the calling, i get up earlier than most and stay until i have tom in hand or its dark. when i say close i mean 50-75 yards of roost tree and watch it unfold when first light appears.call lightly and be patient and i hope you have a wonderfull spring :anim_25:
Good point about patience. Happened to me last spring thought for sure he was gone, little did I know he was standing 10' behind me full strut staring at decoys, that is until he saw my big fat head peak around the tree at him.
Dont UNDERCALL
Patience is what kills turkeys.....he has no deadlines and no watch.
Quote from: Sherrell on February 27, 2011, 10:28:20 AM
Patience is what kills turkeys.....he has no deadlines and no watch.
bingo.. and know the lay of the land
You cant ever have to many places to turkey hunt. I spend all year lining up places to hunt for the upcoming spring. When the birds aren't acting right in one area bounce to another.
Like Shotgun said have different options and SCOUT!!!
Put as much time in as possible the longer your out there the more chance there is you will run into a bird in the right mood.
If you have killed 5 birds in four years just keep doing what your doing
Know the area you're hunting. It's a whole lot easier to call a turkey if you're between where he is and where he wants to be. Turkey hunting is 75% woodsmanship and 25% calling.
1. Pay attention to detail. "Know whats going on around you at all times."
2. Don't push the issue. You don't have to kill him in the next five minutes, let him walk off if thats the best option then move on him and try him again.
3. Have fun. Don't take defeat to serious, it's all part of the game. Be able to laugh at what just happened.
It sounds like you already have a good idea of whats going on.
:hello99: :wagon: To me it sounds like you have a great start! Your in the right spot right here on OG. You will get some great tips here. :anim_25: I beleive patience has helped me as I got older..
Thanks for the replys.
Good luck this spring everyone.
Greg
Quote from: guesswho on February 27, 2011, 12:05:33 PM
1. Pay attention to detail. "Know whats going on around you at all times."
2. Don't push the issue. You don't have to kill him in the next five minutes, let him walk off if thats the best option then move on him and try him again.
3. Have fun. Don't take defeat to serious, it's all part of the game. Be able to laugh at what just happened.
It sounds like you already have a good idea of whats going on.
Yep all of that! Also, don't take any advice from Camoman. :begging:
Patience ,Patience, Patience and then wait some more.
Woodsmanship and don't know if it's been said but patience will kill turkey when nothing else will!
Like all the other guys are saying PATIENCE, I don't know how many times i sat for long time only to see a gobbler running off after getting up to move . Just because he didn't Respond doesn't mean he isn't coming. When you think it's time to go, Wait i while longer. Killed lots of birds that never called back . Came in silent
I am also a fairly new turkey hunter and I have to agree patience is number one. I have learned that usually the last 100 yards they will come in silent. The birds I have shot came sneaking in silent after gobbling there heads off until they reached that 75-100 yard mark. Scoot
It ain't rocket science. Don't over complicate it. Considering your success thus far keep on doing what ya been doing.
Have fun!!!!! A turkey is a turkey every day of the year and we are only turkey hunters for a small % of that so they have the upper hand. Understand this and have fun and if you kill one it is a plus. Enjoy nature while out there also.
Pay Attention to everything around you. Weather, Wind speed and Wind Direction, Temperature, Habitat, Dusting Areas, Roosting Areas, Water Source, Food Source, Travel Areas, Fences and other Obstacles, Other Gods creatures such as horses, cattle, coyotes, hawks etc etc etc..... basically anything and everything that can alter or dictate the pattern or habit of a wild turkey. Take mental and written notes of all your experiences that day while out and about but most of all try and learn something each time afield so help you in your quest to tag a wild turkey even if that little detail may seem ever so minor.
Never be afraid to try some new or different.
And of course.... Patience is key to turkey hunting. I have found one way of learning to be a more patient hunter is to sit back and relax and enjoy what God has given us all to take in out there with Mother Nature. Look and observe the little things that the majority of mankind overlooks like the large number and varieties of birds, insects and plant life there is around you. I have found that if you take the time to truly cherish Mother Nature herself that it will help you with the ability to enjoy life and become a more patient person.
Good Thread Steve
Al
When hunting roosted birds, set up close and wait till they hit the ground before calling. I used to call while they were in the tree and they'd sit up there and gobble longer and call in other hunters. Patience and woodsmanship will kill you more than perfect calling, and some days they just won't respond, but he may tomorrow. Lastly, don't waste the whole season on an unkillable bird that refuses to work (my buddy did this last year and went birdless), in the long run it's more productive to find a new bird that will work.
Lern the lay of the land you are hunting intimately, Practice woodsmanship every time your in the woods and be extremely patient.
Quote from: redarrow on February 27, 2011, 01:07:36 PM
It ain't rocket science. Don't over complicate it. Considering your success thus far keep on doing what ya been doing.
Yes .Don't overcall,don't undercall, be patient ,scout all of this is good information but among all of it have FUN and be SAFE ....
All lot of great advice has already been given. This might've already been mentioned, but never give up! Hunt as long as you can. I've had numerous days where I didn't get on any birds in the morning, but then was able to strike one and call him in and kill him in the afternoon/evening. Of course, it helps that I get to hunt until sundown in Washington and Idaho.
Enjoy every change at a bird. Tell yourself there is a bird, withing seeing distance, you just have to find him before he finds you. When setting up near a roost, at least throw your call in game once. Getting lucky and having one wonder by is OK, but if you call him in, thats special.
You need to think on your feet, make good decisions quickly. Mistakes are just part of it. After enough mistakes you will know more about what not to do than most. Think about what went wrong and what might have worked and what did work and why. Above all, enjoy the challenge.
- Patience is HUGE! But you also have to push the issue sometimes. The problem is learning when, and that only comes through experience.
- Knowing the lay of the land is also HUGE. Learn the land or you will learn lessons the hard way, I promise you that. We'll all been there and done that.
- Overcall? Undercall? What I would say is that it is all relative. Some guys love to hear themselves call. Some guys call very little. What is right? Only the turkeys know for sure!! I try to do what the turkeys are doing. If they are loud and vocal that day, I'm loud and vocal. If they are quiet and subdued, I tone down my calling.
- If you're not sure if you should do something, be patient for a while, but if he still doesn't come in, do what you were thinking about. Sometimes there is only 1 way to find out if it is right or wrong, and that is to try it. You'll know what to do the next time you're in that situation!
Good luck this spring!!! :anim_25: :turkey2:
Listen for the subtle, often overlooked vocalizations turkeys make, like spitting/drumming, and such, sounds that can get overlooked alot. Also, pay attention to crows, as they could be messing around with turkeys when a bunch get together cawing. Use a pair of good binoculars. They are worth their weight in gold in the turkey woods!!!!!!! Learn the terrain of the lands you will be hunting. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. So many people think they have to hunt a certain way to kill turkeys. Hunt the way that puts meat on the table. Good luck this spring, sounds like you're doing pretty good so far. God bless.
Quote from: knightrider on February 27, 2011, 10:24:12 AM
my kill ratio went way up when i learned to get in close and be sparing with the calling, i get up earlier than most and stay until i have tom in hand or its dark. :anim_25:
:you_rock:
Sounds like you're doing pretty good. Keep up the good work....
One word...."Dedication". Every consistently successful turkey hunter I know is dedicated to it. They dedicate themselves to learning to be the best caller they can be. They dedicate themselves to learning the habitats of the birds they are hunting. They dedicate themselves to spending as much time as they can scouting before the season and then hunting hard and long during the season.
Casual hunters kill birds once in a while, but few of them kill birds consistently...unless they just happen to have exclusive access to a turkey gold mine.
Listen to recordings of live turkeys.
Started to like this site
Quote from: Flydown on February 27, 2011, 12:20:27 PM
Quote from: guesswho on February 27, 2011, 12:05:33 PM
1. Pay attention to detail. "Know whats going on around you at all times."
2. Don't push the issue. You don't have to kill him in the next five minutes, let him walk off if thats the best option then move on him and try him again.
3. Have fun. Don't take defeat to serious, it's all part of the game. Be able to laugh at what just happened.
It sounds like you already have a good idea of whats going on.
Yep all of that! Also, don't take any advice from Camoman. :begging:
agreed. be patient. that ol tom will teach you all you need to know about hunting them, and killing them. hunt often, hunt long. There is no teacher like experience.
Oh and if camoman asks you to be on his prostaff say no... I heard his Prostaff attire is a pair of nut huggers, a plastic police badge, and pink 5 toes running shoes...
Quote from: Executioner on February 27, 2011, 08:22:11 PMUse a pair of good binoculars. They are worth their weight in gold in the turkey woods!!!!!!!
:agreed: :icon_thumright:
find some land to hunt that has a bunch of turkies on it, then find someone that has hunted for a while that you can trust and befriend them , I learn a lot hunting with other folks.
When you think you have given him long enough sit still another 30 minutes.
patience, patience, and more patience
Quote from: FttFttVroom! on February 27, 2011, 10:22:19 AM
#1 piece of advice - PATIENCE!
When you set up on a turkey and he seems to be gobbling and getting closer, and suddenly shuts up or you lose your visual on him......wait a good 5 or 10 minutes longer before peeking around your tree or getting up to move on him. He just might be standing right behind you coming in silent.
a pile of old gobblers has died because of a patient hunter.
Great advise :icon_thumright:
As others have stated, patience and woodsmanship are key components of successfully and consistently bringing home a gobbler. Dedicate yourself to being the best caller you can be, but don't overdo it once out in the woods. Know what kind of pattern your gun shoots, and know its limitations. If not satisfied with what its doing, you can play with different choke/load combos until it suits you. Lot of good information on that subject in the turkey guns forum on this site. Last but not least, enjoy yourself. After all, thats why we all do this. The day hunting no longer brings me enjoyment and excitement will be the day I hang up my vest and shotgun. But I don't see that ever happening. ;D
If you get into an area and he hang sup out of sight do not be afraid to go in there later and see what caused it. LEARN every trip. Learn their habit sin a particular spot.
Good Luck!
The most important part of killing a turkey is right before you pull the trigger. This is where most people screw up and either not get a shot or take bad shots. Be patient, be still, until the right moment and then make a good clean shot. You might have to fight an increased heart rate, uncontrollable shaking, increased breathing, sweating, and other emotions that are indescribable. If you can make it thru all that and still make a good clean shot you will become a turkey hunter. I didn't say good turkey hunter. There is alot more stuff to do to become a good turkey hunter. Good luck,
TRKYHTR
Use a shooting stick or some type of barrel support. I've blown a lot of opportunities when I had to mount the gun or make large last second movements. When you know "he's on the way" have the gun up, supported, and take the first good in range shot. I hunt with a guy that has this down pat. He is always ready and it pays off. His birds never know what hit them.
My advice would be find a seasoned turkey hunter and pick his brain. They will not be very forthcoming at first but if you are respectful eventually they will open up with strategies you had never dreamed of. If you have some birds but are having problems killing them ask them to go with you and watch how they move in the turkey woods. I had a old man take me and my dad under his wing (we were deer hunters) and teach us the ropes. Best thing he ever taught me was when you want to get up wait 15 min. then after that 15 min. wait another 5. It is amazing how many birds I have killed in that last 5 mins.
I guess I'll have to add patience, its killed many turkeys for me and my partners over the years.
:z-guntootsmiley: :z-winnersmiley: :wav:
Patience and don't move.
Dont move and keep looking.
Patience is only good IF you are in the right spot to begin with so for me, scouting is number one....and it's not even close.
Learn the birds and where they want to be and you'll be successful.
Go fishing instead, the turkey population is very scarce ;)
Scouting, and that means know what is all around you, walk the area you are hunting look at maps and get to know whats there.
Patience as others have said when you decide to leave wait another 20 minutes.
In Minnesota we get 5 days to hunt.
I plan on hunting every day no matter what the weather is.
Turkeys live in the weather every day and go about the business of being a Turkey every day.
The more time in the woods the better you will be.