First time going after turkey WITHOUT my bow!

[suzukigs750ez]

Hello all,

I'm new to shotgun turkey hunting. Been hunting turkey with a bow. In some ways, i feel like i'm cheating but in others i feel like i may have the advantage now. I'm used to up close and personal from a blind. A few questions...
I'm hunting a 90 acre property and see a few birds come through a few times a year (on my cameras). They may just not be in the right spot which could be why i don't see the birds often.
If they come through on my cameras a few times, is there a good chance they're there more often than i'm seeing or are turkeys not habit driven?
If i call early morning even not hearing a fly down or response, are the odds that they're not around or should i try a few hours?
Hunting with a shotgun, do i NEED to sit in my blind or should i move spot to spot or? I'm used to getting in the blind at 6A and staying for 6 hours or so waiting for something.
I'm going out with my Benelli M4 and a carlsons longbeard XR choke. Going to pattern a few rounds and see how the gun does before the season starts in a month or so.
I'm not the greatest at knowing WHICH call to use or in what order. How do you learn what's appropriate and how do you remember? I have called turkey in before on my pot call but i think it was pure luck along with david halloran's quality call. I also have a box call made by Paul's calls. Need to practice on that... i seem more effecient on the pot call. Absolutely terrible on a diaphragm call which is the one i want to learn the most lol. Any other tips or tricks/learning material is welcome! I'm from connecticut, hunting in east haddam specifically if that helps any.

[Marc]

My limited thoughts...

I find a blind to be a disadvantage shotgun hunting (unless it is raining).  Sometimes even a small move can make a big difference.

90 acres is a pretty small area, but big enough that being mobile would be necessary.  If there is high ground (with good habitat)I would start there.  Move as little as possible, but as much as you need to.

You will need to get used to less movement waiting for a bird, but I really dislike hunting from a blind, compared to sitting in front of a tree with the freedom to move quickly, and to better enjoy my surroundings.

Just because birds are roosted on the property, does not mean they will stick around...  Just because birds are not roosted on the property does not mean they do not pass through at some time.  Either way I would want some evidence of fresh turkey sign and use.

I previously hunted two ranches in close proximity.  One ranch always had roosted birds that moved off as the morning wore on...  Larger nearby ranch rarely had roosted birds, and is a proven later morning/early afternoon area.

Learn to yelp and cluck and purr, and cut...  Call very little (if any) to birds on the roost.

I am a big fan of getting a bird worked up, and then giving him the silent treatment.  If he continues to gobble while coming closer, I will stay quiet.  If not, I go from there.

I like a box call for ease of use, volume, and realism...  Easiest call to use and sound realistic on.  Pot calls are second.

I am not a master on a diaphragm, but am proficient, and if I could only use one call it out be a mouth call.  Scott Ellis has some good videos on Youtube.  They are realistic, versatile, and you can run one without any movement.

You could do everything correct, and all too often that bird still won't come (especially if hens are involved).

[suzukigs750ez]

I don't know how much of this you want to suffer through but here is the full video of my first turkey hunt from a blind and the second is the shot i took with my bow. It was a damp morning and my pot call was giving me all sorts or trouble but i was still able to get them in. The lead hen was responding to me for about an hour and when she came in with her group i continued to taunt her with all the sounds she was making. It worked out for me. This was one of two times i was able to call to and get response from turkeys. My turkey hunting over the last three years has been about none out of the four or 5 i've hunted. Worth it though as i have a 3 year old that took up those 3 years. I'm going to get back to it this season and the new addition as i had mentioned is that i now have the ability to use shotgun.
Thank you for your advice. Once i understand the behavior of the turkey i think i'll be all set. Finding the sign for me is the easy part as i know the property well. Not having to conceal my draw is also an advantage as it will allow me to hunt parts of the property i otherwise wasn't able to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKnqItLm-Fo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e-gfwcxIBbg

That was one of my most proud shots i've taken. I followed the turkey through my peep/sights and when she paused i quite literally had to send the arrow through an opening in the branches/leaves smaller than your head at 20yd. Not difficult as i practice but in the back of my mind i was fearing wind blowing the arrow into a branch/leaf and ruining the shot. It worked out. Hopefully with shotgun i have the same luck!

[falconiii]

There's a saying from a good friend from Tennessee, that there is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.

That's what it's like leaving the blind for the first time. Get out there. Read, read, read the material on this forum, then get out there and make mistakes. From what you've said about your approach already, you're thinking smarter than most.

Best wishes.

[GobbleNut]

I'm new to shotgun turkey hunting. Been hunting turkey with a bow. In some ways, I feel like I'm cheating but in others I feel like I may have the advantage now. I'm used to up close and personal from a blind. A few questions...
I'm hunting a 90 acre property...
Hunting with a shotgun, do I NEED to sit in my blind ?...

My thoughts: 
>  If you are enjoying hunting the way you do, go for it...whether it be with a bow or shotgun.  Turkey hunting for me is more about the entire hunting experience and not the weapon type.  Personally, I would not enjoy hunting that way, but to each their own. 
>  Regardless of weapon type, 90 acres is not much ground to hunt on. My first inclination would be to search for additional property, whether public or private, to hunt.  If you are stuck hunting where you are, I don't think you have a lot of options on how to approach hunting it...but (as Marc suggests) I would at least ditch the blind and learn the basics of setting up properly in a "natural setting". Again, however, if you prefer sitting in an enclosed blind for whatever reason, go for it. Without question, if you are using a bow or shotgun the blind makes things much easier...but my personal opinion is that hunting out of a blind is indeed (as you state) "cheating".
>  With the proper skill development in calling, hunt strategies, and woodsmanship, you can still have those "up close and personal" moments wherever you hunt. For me, fooling a gobbler in that "natural setting" and getting him to come close is a primary attraction...especially when they come to your calling gobbling, strutting, and drumming. 

What I would do if I were you:
Look into finding new ground to hunt where I could at least have the opportunity to explore a bit and expand my hunting style. Learn the turkeys in those places and then apply hunting strategies, calling, and woodsmanship skills that fit them. In the long run, I think you would discover you enjoy turkey hunting much more by doing that. 

And finally, if you like what you are doing now, don't worry about MY opinion...and stick with what you are doing!

[Marc]

I don't know how much of this you want to suffer through but here is the full video of my first turkey hunt from a blind and the second is the shot i took with my bow.

It is always a great accomplishment to harvest a turkey with a bow!

I dabbled in bow hunting, so I know it is much more difficult.

"My" preference is to hunt without a (turkey) blind whenever possible.  I feel confined, and to a degree restricted as far as making a strategic move...  And...  I just plain do not enjoy sitting in them.

I know others that enjoy hunting out of a blind...  Comfort from the elements, you can move much more within the blind without fear of being seen...  Me, as soon as I am sitting in one, I want OUT (unless it is raining)...

I suppose there is no rule or law that says you cannot set up a blind in a strategic location, and move if need be.  Me, I'd leave the camouflage shooting tent at home...

Especially when we are hunting alone, hunting is a selfish activity, and as GobbleNut points out, hunt the way that makes "YOU" happy.

[Bowguy]

Are you successful w a bow? If not at least somewhat consistant it's all irrelevant. If you were I'd think this question wouldn't be posed.
You need to learn turkey hunt basics. Find the birds no matter where they are. Not necessarily today on a random 90 acres.
Pattern them so you know where they are and which way they're headed.
Actively scout by listening. Forget the cameras.
Learn to call. Practice every day and you shoulda been for years. Paul's calls for instance won't miraculously make a turkey caller out of you. None of this is negative. Just food for thought.