#1 best turkey tip ever

[ruffbritt4]

Don't get antsy and over call when they are being quiet, call about every fifteen minutes to half an hour then stay quiet.

Agreed. If one suddenly goes silent, I shut up, get the gun up, and assume he's on his way. Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes an hour, but he's coming

[rifleman]

Can't remember if I made an entry to this subject but I hope I added this.  Once you are set up in the right spot and make a call do not move anything but your eyes until he shows up.  I've had many to sneak in and all that is visible is about 4 inches of neck and his noggin as he is looking for any movement that ain't right.

[Colbrian2002]

Be absolutely still, put the decoys at the range your shotgun patterns best. Be patient and wait an hour after you are ready to leave.

[Tclipse01]

Between calling, shut up and melt into the woods.

The guys that are fidgeting and/or checking phones/texting every 2 seconds are shooting fewer turkeys. It's an obvious thing but have seen too many guys spook a quiet bird that was coming, because they weren't paying attention and were messing with crap in their pockets.

You see it a lot taking a new guy hunting. Tom comes in without gobbling, sticks his head up from behind a bush at 60 yards, sees the hunter moving around, and backs out. Hunter never saw him and didn't know what he missed out on until you tell him.

Nationwide there are probably a thousand birds a year that get a second chance at life because of people moving when they didn't need to.

[Lcmacd 58]

Between calling, shut up and melt into the woods.

The guys that are fidgeting and/or checking phones/texting every 2 seconds are shooting fewer turkeys. It's an obvious thing but have seen too many guys spook a quiet bird that was coming, because they weren't paying attention and were messing with crap in their pockets.

You see it a lot taking a new guy hunting. Tom comes in without gobbling, sticks his head up from behind a bush at 60 yards, sees the hunter moving around, and backs out. Hunter never saw him and didn't know what he missed out on until you tell him.

Nationwide there are probably a thousand birds a year that get a second chance at life because of people moving when they didn't need to.


This is absolutely true ... i take my phone for emergency purposes .... so it's on silent

[2chessies]

My turkey hunting mentor told me "When you think it's time to leave for a new spot, wait 15 minutes longer."  Simple words that have turned many of my potential unsuccessful sits into a punched tag.

[High plains drifter]

"Shoot 'Em In The Face"  I first encountered that expression on here and was a little offended. I recon I mellowed a little since then. LOL  My number 1 is be aware of your body movement

yeah that's offensive.

[Poconodoghunter]

Stay still, call but not overall. Let them hit the ground then give it to him.

[Davyalabama]

7 pages --- lot's of good stuff, you boys been doing this a while. 

Well OP, I can't give you the Number 1 thing (too much sage advice on here) --- How about the number one thing for this time of year, it's mid February -- get out there and scout, try to follow a flock around all day, yep, all day -- listen to the sounds they make, the subtle sounds ---- these sounds through the day can get an old gobbler to come looking for that little hen -- listen to how the hens get jealous and have a quick "come to Jesus" meeting, how quick it can be --- listen to the scratching cadences --- pay attention to the "boss hen," figure out how to call her and get her temper flared, you'll need this in your back pocket later.      Now, don't think where you see these turkeys is where they will always be, turkeys roam, you'll have to do that too throughout the season. 

Don't fret over mistakes you make, learn from them ---- In the days ahead, when you've killed a bunch, the ones that got away will be the ones you talk about the most.  Also, if you know where he wants to be later in the day, he is still killable, period.  One mistake is not the end of the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's just the end of that chapter.

[Prospector]

Love all these! I'll add one but not as the #1 best tip but just a tip: If you can see him ( and he can see your locale as well), every call you make DECREASES your chance of killing him.

[bigwoodstom]

Other than the obvious, my tip would be to hunt all day when you can. I've killed a lot of birds late in the afternoon particularly on public ground.

[High brow drifter]

I have buddies who every time I say " hey you wanna hunt in the morn"   say things like... Its gonna be to windy ..or man this cold front is gonna shut em down so ill wait.. or they saying it might rain. i really should go to work ect..   but they will talk turkey with me .. Now Im no expert and dont claim to be anything here.. I just love to hunt turkeys and I end up wIth a limit most every year ... my secret you ask?
 ROLL OUT OF BED AND GET OUT THERE!!!!!

 Ok there it is fight me 
 

I agree, you have to get out there, and you have to scout, and know the area that you're hunting I agree.

[High brow drifter]

Get to know the area that you are hunting. Learn where the turkeys like to hang out. Get out there early in the morning, be quiet, don't use any light. I don't sit up against a tree, I like to make a small ground blind. Learn how to call, and get good at that. Talk to other hunters, talk to farmers, have several different areas to hunt if you can

[BrowningGuy88]

I think it was Mike Pentecost I heard say it, but "Your Feet and Your Seat kills turkeys".

You have to have turkeys to start with. After that, putting boot leather on the ground to find a gobbler. Then the patience to sit there and play the game.

If you have birds to hunt and you are willing to stay with a gobbler all day or until closing time, you are ahead of 90% of hunters out there in my opinion.