Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

What has changed in your hunting style from your first couple seasons? I have gone from 12 gauge 3 1/2' #4 lead to a lightweight 20 gauge with #8 TSS. I have also lightened my load in my vest. I take only what I need and use. Calling and adapting/learning.  are more important than getting a bird too. More of an experience than a hunt. Any thoughts?

For sure the biggest changes for me compared to when I started is using a gun that patterns well now, learned how to setup better, sitting still, and patience. I lacked in all these when I first started.

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Man that's a LONGGGGG list.

My biggest changes are I stopped using decoys all the time, I went from Remington Nitro #4s to shooting 2.5oz of TSS #9s, I discovered patience, and my calling is focused on killing a bird not making him gobble.

Older = slower and almost to stop.

Worry about me and how I do it and no one else.

Age , having to adapt to make things easier ... I guess that's why i like air - cond trucks, instead of the old roll your window's down in July and Aug.. lol....

Although my equipment has evolved over the last 50+ years, my hunting "style"  has been the same for the last 40 or so.  Starting basically with a blank slate in terms of knowing how to hunt spring gobblers, it took me ten years to figure out the "ABC's" of how to hunt them.  Those ABC's consist of A: locating a gobbling bird, B: approaching to within "conversational" distance, and C: figuring out what he wants to hear and where he wants to hear it from.  If it doesn't "pan out",...go find another one until it comes together. 

Granted, I am somewhat slower, a bit more "rotund", and the bones ache a lot more than "way back when", but my methodology has been and will remain the same until "the end"   :o

Sitting in one place considerably longer than before especially if I don't hear any gobblers BUT I know they are there. Also, a lot more subtle calling.... clucks, purrs... soft yelps with or without responses. Use to go note for note with him cause I liked to hear him gobble.

Not too much has changed from the way I did things I'm beginning to revert back. I'm going to less items again, still shoot lead. Main difference I guess is one gun is wearing a sight due to my eyes.

It's hard to pin down the biggest change. I'm constantly adapting and evolving every season. Shot my first one when I was 8, but didn't really hunt on my own until I was 13. So I've come a longggggg way with just learning from a lot of dumb errors and what not to do in the last 12 years. I'd have to say calling ability has really taken off in the last few years. Used to only have a Gaskins Box Call that Tom Gaskins Jr. gave to me when I was a kid. Now mouth calls are my main deal with a really loud slate call for reaching out to the lost boys.

"The greatest teacher, failure is."  -Yoda

What's changed? 

Well, the first thing is that am now hunting property that has birds on it.  In the first few years, the best I could manage was hunting a property where they roosted elsewhere and would slip onto the property after flydown. 

Next, I'm able to hunt a full week at the beginning of season. For the first decade, I was limited to 1 or 2 days a year.  However, this is all ancient history. I was hunting turkeys unsuccessfully for years. Last fast-forward to 18 seasons ago, when I finally got my own 200 acres.  I was successful the first year, but I really didn't understand what was going on.

What was going on was that I always started out in the creek bottoms, because that was where the gobblers were roosting.  I then ran myself ragged for the next 4 hours trying to catch up as they invariably walked up hill and away from me. It took me a few seasons to figure out that I'd be better off starting my day at the top of the ridge and wait for them to show up.  That way I was ahead of them instead of chasing after them.

Once I stopped trying to get as close to the roost as possible, and hung back waiting for them to fly down and come towards me, I started being consistently successful.

I haven't changed much. I've gotten better and more efficient thru the years and that comes mostly from experience. I hunt more out of state, when I first started I hunted the same areas in my home state. After about 20 or so years you have found what works and doesn't. I've never been into the gadgets or decoys and I'm still using the same 870 I started with. Changed chokes couple times and shells that's about it.

I started out with minimal equipment and then started adding gadgets and gizmos. Realized I was getting away from depending on my skills as a hunter and wasn't learning or improving and reverted back years ago. Have also reached the point where being successful doesn't mean anything unless I feel I earned it.

Decoy --> No decoy
3.5" --> 3"
Single shot --> pump
Lead #5 --> Hevi #7
Pump --> single shot
12 gauge --> 20 guage
Hevi #7 --> #9 TSS
Vest --> fanny pack
Regular camo --> leafy camo
Production calls --> custom calls
Few custom calls --> lots of custom calls
Lots of custom calls --> few select custom calls
No patience --> more patient
Little success --> better success

I call a lot less now.

-Swapped to a 20 gauge
-learned when to and when not to call
-patience

When I started I carried a lot... I ditched the vest. Now I have a small hip pack from Badlands
I used to carry too many calls... Now I've learned which ones kill for me, my CODY World Class Slate and an old M.A.D. Glass
                                               and a half dozen mouth calls
I used to carry decoys... Still do but now there DSD's
I only carried a crow and owl for locating.... Now I carry a peacock and goose call too
Started out only as Run & Gun... Now I do use Blinds (Double Bulls) at times.
I started calling calling for others... I still do but do so much more with youth hunts, learn to hunts, bow hunts and newbies.
I started guiding for turkeys... Now I don't. I started this my 5th year of turkey hunting, I was having a lot of success and kind
                                            of fell in to it, did great, was fun but lacked what I enjoyed about turkey hunting, had a few bad
                                            experiences and figured out it is much better for me to call for who I want too, not by who I am
                                            paid to.                       
I started out by "learning" turkeys... I still am and has changed my hunts dramatically!
I used to shoot turkeys at longer ranges... I have learned how to set right for close kills, blind or not. I like 15yards and in 
                                            your face!

I didn't have binos to hunt with... Now my eyes are not as good, I have Swarovski's and now I can tell the calves aren't 
                                                 turkeys anymore before I make the hike LOL

Other things that I have added, a video camera (film almost all my hunts any more)

There's a lot more in all this, I have always keep a log of my turkey hunting experiences, successes and innovations! 
I guess to say I have been "lucky" with turkey hunting :)


MK M GOBL

For three years I've been hunting some birds that do not gobble ever as far as I know. Last year I spent 3 long weekends (3 days) and couple of 2 day weekends and never a gobble. I knew the birds were there and pretty much where they were. They seem to come to calling pretty good they just don't gobble. I can always get one or two but it is tough. Never know if he's coming when he's coming or which way he's coming from. Just have to try not to breathe or blink. At 61 it gets pretty painful. BUT!!! I can shoot them and nobody else around there can. Hehehehe.

I guess my evolution has been from being mystified by turkeys to realizing that they're a lot like us. They respond to stimuli and react to each other much like we do. When you put yourself in a turkey's place and think about what you'd do if you were him, it makes success a lot more frequent...

Stopped wasting my time trying to bust Fall flocks. Set up and call 'em in.

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Less stuff for sure. And a greater appreciation for the opportunity.

With health and foot issues, its really put an end to run and gun for me. I spend more time scouting to determine where the turkeys want to be, and sitting up.

Where I might have spent 30 minutes and move on, I pretty much set up and hunt that spot for the whole morning or evening. I believe its paid off many times over.

As I get older, I'm slower, Stay longer in a place, wait for things to develop, cluck more, scratch leaves more. I also wait longer and do more calling blind (when no bird is located), just walk and calling now and then. When I do strike a bird , I walk toward it and set up and do some calling, let the bird come to me on his TIME, and not my time. And I don't get mad when things don't work out, he'll be there for another day. And I love to get them close and personal, we wait all year, why not enjoy the bird coming in, hunting for you.

I started in the 1960's slow and steady.  Now I'm slower and not quite as steady. 

Other than some changes in clothes and equipment I still hunt about the same way.   Always been a bit of minimalist.   Back in the day we couldn't afford to much, could barely afford to pay attention.  Now that I can afford a little more, I realize I don't need it. 

Started runnin' & gunnin'...and I did way more of the runnin' than the gunnin' part.  I expect more turkeys saw me than I saw them.  Now, I find out where they like to be and I try to get there before them.

I went from a 12 gauge pump with factory full choke, to a single shot modified, to a semi auto extra full.  I don't really need that follow up shot, the extra weight helps soak up a bit of recoil. A Red dot helps tired eyes.

Went from Federal 3" #4s, to 3" Winchester plated #6s, to 3" Hevi #6s or #7s.  I've always liked shooting a big cloud of angry shot.  I don't reload, or I'd already be on the TSS wagon myself.

Never hunted from a pop-up blind.  I use natural cover with stake blinds when I need extra cover. No change there.

I use decoys sometimes.  Without seems more rewarding, especially if he hangs up & I really have to coax him in.

I used to sit on the ground, then added a vest with pad, now I ride a gobbler lounger and my back is grateful for it.

I went from military surplus camo, to TreBark, and haven't found anything better than Bottomland.

Turkeys have taught me patience and schooled me on what not to do.  Even though I know better, all these years later, I still do dumb stuff at times, just not as often.

A long walk back to the house with no socks taught me to never, ever leave T.P. at home.

My heart has always kicked into overdrive when I get one drumming close by.  I expect when that stops happening, I will no longer be drawing breath.

Jim

The biggest change is being confident and slowing down.  Most mistakes in your early years center around trying to do too much too quickly.  Scout, find good areas, make good setups and WAIT.  You'll kill a boatload of birds.

Slow down....Still carry too much stuff....Be more patient....Self taught on turkey hunting....Listen to the birds...They will tell you what they want to hear.

Quote from: davisd9 on February 13, 2019, 10:08:21 AM
Worry about me and how I do it and no one else.

Boom....best answer right here.

The biggest difference is where I hunt. When I began hunting turkeys in the early 80's I only hunted on private land. I now hunt a mix of public and private, and it is like daylight and dark in contrast. If you try the same tactics on public land that you use on private you will go home empty handed probably 98% of the time. I call very little on public land and when I do I call much differently than on private. I spend as much time scouting now than I do hunting.

Regarding shooting, I learned a long time ago not to try to "quick draw" and hurry the shot, just let him come in close and wait for an obstacle between us to move (aim) or just move rather slowly. Even though the bird sees the movement, he usually does not equate it with a predatory action, where as the quick draw thing will send him into orbit most times. I shoot #6's from an extra full turkey choke now versus #4's from an old 870 with modified choke long ago. Would love to try the new TSS loads.

Changed my old 28" Full choke tube barrel with a 20" X-Full choke tube, went to a Red Dot instead of the bead sight, move around a lot less vs run & gunning (a bit older now LOL), and greatly reduced the frequency and volume of my calls. Finally, spend a lot more time hunting with my eyes to catch those gobblers that materialize without a sound.

Confidence!!!!

Which leads to patience, kills more birds than anything else!

But the confidence also aids in knowing when to change positions as well, it's all about good decisions!


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I learned to move towards the bird after the first gobble, and call again softly. I used to sit tight.
I also carry a lot less crap in my vest.

Because of my car accident I had to start using ground blinds. I move me legs and stand up or stretch forward a lot to help the back and hips and I can't do that ground hunting. Going to see how I do this year on the ground though, would like to return to it at least a little anyway.

Oh and after pretty much losing hunting for 17 years I now enjoy all that I see when I am out there more, learned to love the sounds and the smells much more as well.

Leave the decoys at home. Always felt I had to sit tight when using them.

It's just been patience for me. I used to get up and move, running around like a fool. I've slowed down when I need to slow down, speed up when the right time presents itself. Some gear changes here and there...but mainly patience.

I still call too much, but sometimes it works!
I'm still addicted to the gobble.
I too, switched to a 20 gauge.
I use electronic hearing aids to hear a gobble over 200 yards.  They are worth the effort to carry them for sure.
I probably hid and set up better back in my younger days, I need to do better now.
I don't carry too much other stuff so I have room for a Gobbler Lounger.

For me my gun choke setup are way ahead of what I started with ! Patience during a setup and proper setup have come with experience. A few custom calls. And learning that there is probably a better way to get to him than straight across a ozark holler!!!

I have to say Gobblenut said it best,my hunting birds has never changed,I started in the early eighties,and chased gobblers the same way I started,find a bird ,see what he likes,bring him in gobbling if I can,if not move on.I'm now on oxygen ,if I can't get off of it ,I guess my hunting will make a drastic change,I will be,enjoying reading about others experiences,and dreaming a little.

Most notable change for me, is patience (like others have said). On those days where you get just a couple (if any) roost gobbles, I now set up where I know birds are around - somewhere - and I'll wait it out. Calling just every once in awhile, "casting for a bite". The Alps chair gets 95% credit, since I can sit comfortably for hours.

Back in the day, after striking out early - I would roam the mountain all morning, looking for a cooperative bird. Good exercise, but no more effective than sitting in the right spot for 3 or 4 hours.

Call less, listen more....

Tight barbed wire fences.

 :angel9:

Quote from: Gooserbat on February 14, 2019, 05:27:03 PM
Tight barbed wire fences.

Holding the tight barbed wire down while old man Gooserbat crosses and rips his pants

I quit the run and gun approach, choosing instead to set up decoys in a good spot, get comfortable (I've had some good naps in that ground lounger), and call. I incorporated a gobble call and increased my tag filling to nearly three per season up from one every three seasons when I just hen called. I also added a red dot scope since these old eyes had trouble trying to focus on the sights and turkey at the same time.

I guess I'd say patience. I can can sit there a lot longer than I use to. I scout more now than I did in the past. And I'm carrying a 20 ga now   

Not using decoys.


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Letting the birds dictate the situation.  Meaning if they are aggressive gobbling or yelping then ill do the same.  If they are quite then ill do the same.

Also patience.  Learning when I'm ready to move to new spot due to no action or gobbling.... I tell myself to wait one more hour.

I believe more patience has killed more birds for me than any type of calling.

Dads late 1950's  Army fatigues <Modern Camo
Sitting back up against tree <Gobbler lounger
Dads 30" barrel 12 Gauge pump<20 Gauge Youth Model
2 3/4" #6 Remington Game loads<Hand loaded TSS #9
Run to flopping  turkey<Walk to flopping Turkey
Try to convince others how great a Turkey hunter I am<Laugh at how many hunts I mess up.
Meticulously keep track how many birds I see die yearly <
Cant recall/dont care from one year till the next.
Cant sleep night before season opener <Sleep just fine
Walk hills, chase birds no problems<Leg cramps all night
Dont let a woman interfere with Turkey hunting<No change here. :angel9:

For me, just the slow progression of setting up closer and closer to gobbling birds.

Just after years of learning what you can get away with in the woods, realizing how close you can actually get... the bird has a much shorter distance to travel into gun range, and that makes all the difference.

It's not necessarily a change... but I'm completely open to use about all methods of hunting. I do a lot of big woods ridge running, but I also know that a blind and dsds are an absolutely awesome way to kill birds. I must admit it's a lot of fun watching these birds a super close distances.  Overall, I'm much more open and flexible in methods to kil birds.

once on a bird patience, patience and some more patience

I'm getting ready for my 5th season. I hunt in Michigan and have never had more then 3-1/2 days to tag a public land turkey. This year I have 7.

My first turkey hunt will be a weekend I'll never forget. I'm on a trout stream casting a dry fly early in the morning. I here a turkey gobble. I look across the river and watch for a bit. He's gobbling off the limb. I've never seen this before and I was forever changed. It was my first time hearing a gobble.

I met up with my buddy about a mile down stream and told him what I saw in amazement. I was a bow hunter (deer) and we both hunted waterfowl together. On the drive home we decided to turkey hunt. We stopped to buy licenses and upon doing so were told we would only have the following week to hunt. We were clueless as to how it all worked. With our fishing spot being on public land we made sure to have permits to hunt that spot.

The following weekend we went out to this little clearing not far from the river. We were so excited. We sat up against a big white oak tree in the center of the clearing shivering with excitement. As it got light we hit the box call. Gobbles rang out from what seemed to be all around us. It was like thunder rolling threw your chest. I don't think either one of us has ever seen the other so excited. We sat and scratched that box call and listened to gobbles for what seemed an eternity. Eventually the gobbles stopped. We sat up against that tree until dark. Never saw a feather.

The next morning (our last day) we had a plan. Make them gobble then follow the gobbles to get close. Should be easy enough. We sat up against our big oak tree and waited, and waited and waited. No gobbles. We covered every inch of that chunk of property that day calling every ten minutes. We never heard a gobble close enough to get a good direction on. We were completely defeated and mystified when the sun went down. That may have been our quietest drive home ever.

We have both become die hard turkey hunters sense. Not a week goes by that we don't talk about, plan and research our next hunt. We are constantly changing, adjusting and learning new things. Trying different methods. Failing and making new game plans. And failing again.

We have yet to find two turkeys who act alike or have two hunts go exactly the same. Our tactics are adjusted and evolve on the fly. We reevaluate our situation ever hour on the hour. I honestly believe this challenge is what has made turkey hunting our favorite week ever year. I think if I were able to say "this is what I do" and it regularly worked, I'd probably not love turkey hunting nearly as much.

But, I don't believe I have to worry because in my minimal experience over the last four years. I have zero idea what these damn birds are going to do EVER! Lol. That being said I have zero idea what in the hell I'm going to do.

Good luck this spring gents!


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Shotgun. I find myself carrying a shotgun more often. That's been the biggest change. Well, that and the quality of the calls I use.


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Don't need the big gun nor big shells to kill a turkey. :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an

Not running after them anymore, if I can't call him to me, I'm going home for Cheerios.....and coffee.

Awesome post guys.

A.G.E. for me. I hunt slower and much more silent, not calling but stealth wise. I hunt the same, start high and cover all the ground I can. Instead on covering it by 9am it may be 12pm now.

I have run the same Cody world class call since 1992 I believe, the gun is a 18 year old BPS 10 gauge. I have went to Nitro's, currently TSS, they are awesome! I have bought new camo every year or two. Stopped using a decoy in 91 and haven't owned one since.

I have started to branch out a little, trying to find something new I guess out of the same old turkeys. Last year I packed up, drove 250 miles across the state and hunted where I have never stepped foot. It worked out well for me, and I seen some new things. This year, 3 weeks from now I am going to Florida. That will be a new ball game I am sure, no guide, DIY. It is private grounds which is good, I think.

I have a 13 year old son that is starting to show a little more interest in turkey hunting. Which to me is awesome, he can carry the torch for the name when I hang it up. He has his own M2 20 gauge and a Cody world class slate. Maybe this year I let him run that call in the woods?

If I am fortunate I will die in the woods sitting beside a mature gobbler. If not, I want my friends to spread my ashes in a place they no I would love to be.

Hunting from a blind

I hunt a lot slower, sit a lot longer & sleep a lot more in the woods. I'm getting old!

30th Spring coming up and 59 here. Willing during the first 5 days to take a Gamble and hunt close to the road for once.

Simply really.
#1 Hunt when conditions are good. Blessed to have a job now where I can pick and choose days.
#2 Don't try to hunt more than 3 days straight. Past that I tend to be tired and hunt sloppy. Walked 160+ miles last season, mountains to lowcountry swamps.

going to try different calls this year 2 pot calls 1 box call and 2 wing bone calls I made

Patience. In my teens and 20s I was like a bull in a China shop. I killed a lot of birds but I also ran myself to half to death and blew oportunities that I shouldn't have. I'm 37 now and in the past few years I just feel like I've become much more patient and methodical in my hunting.

Has to be patience. When I was in my early teens hearing a bird fire back did it for me. Now a days(30) it's almost down to a science. If I shut up and don't hear a gobble for 30 min typically they show up. The best is when it goes silent and he lets a gobble out close .


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PATIENCE!  Which comes from confidence! Knowing how birds will use an area is huge, if I have confidence in a set up I can stay a long time!


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Quote from: Hoosier2 on March 02, 2019, 05:56:53 PM
Has to be patience. When I was in my early teens hearing a bird fire back did it for me. Now a days(30) it's almost down to a science. If I shut up and don't hear a gobble for 30 min typically they show up. The best is when it goes silent and he lets a gobble out close .


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Hate that! Don't mind a silent approach but when he gets in tight behind me and cuts loose, I nearly crap my pants.


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I do a lot more preseason scouting. I call a lot less and try to be more patient.

The shift I'm working now, is going to allow me to set foot in the woods every morning of the season.
Aside from any family obligations, I'm going to try it, for the first time ever.

Hopefully, I'll survive. Lol

Used to anchor down a lot/ Move often and with purpose like an Indian tracker
Used to call to the gobbler for his answer/ now I do the answering
Decoys ain't that bad/ Wouldn't use one except for a kid and even then iffy
835 Cannon with 6Hevis/ 20Ga Youth Weatherby with 9s
Used several calls/ Shouldn't take more than 2
Killed and kept spurs, beards, fans etc./ Trophy #s and items kept, and put into kill log for all kills, and detailed story journal of the more significant hunts from each year
Greed beyond belief/ Put kids on birds all year long
Used to poach a lot/ Now just slip a little on some questionable places

As said by Hooksfan, I've married an amazing bride but a woman changes nothing

I don't feel like I need to rush to set up on roosted gobblers like I used to, of the opportunity presents itself it's great to be set up on one in the dark and give him the soft talk but I used to feel like it was a lot more of a necessity and I know I educated some birds with less than desireable set ups.  As I'm older and more experienced now if I'm not in good position for that I'm more likely to wait till he flies down and get a better position before I make first contact, it's a game changer.

Probably the biggest thing for me has been realizing that kills immediately after fly down are great, but the majority of my birds have come between 930-1200. 

Quote from: Ranger on March 05, 2019, 09:38:34 AM

Used to poach a lot/ Now just slip a little on some questionable places

Why do you still poach on any level, or put it on a forum?

Quote from: LaLongbeard on March 05, 2019, 10:49:09 AM

Quote from: Ranger on March 05, 2019, 09:38:34 AM

Used to poach a lot/ Now just slip a little on some questionable places

Why do you still poach on any level, or put it on a forum?

Like I said, just a little slipping, not poaching.  I'd be more ashamed of the way some legally hunt regularly than crossing property lines occasionally but that's just me.

Quote from: Ranger on March 05, 2019, 07:16:24 PM

Quote from: LaLongbeard on March 05, 2019, 10:49:09 AM

Quote from: Ranger on March 05, 2019, 09:38:34 AM

Used to poach a lot/ Now just slip a little on some questionable places

Why do you still poach on any level, or put it on a forum?

Like I said, just a little slipping, not poaching.  I'd be more ashamed of the way some legally hunt regularly than crossing property lines occasionally but that's just me.

Yeah, slipping,  occasionally crossing lines, "thats just me" type really burns me up.  How about I come to your place and borrow your truck sometime, or maybe help myself to some food in your fridge.  Private property is private.  Ill add the exception that I know in some places its legal to go onto unposted  private without permission, but Im talking where its illegal and people do it anyways because they think the landowner "has enough" and won't mind or notice.

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