Gearing up for turkey hunting

[HD]

I would like to know what gear everybody takes out turkey hunting, and what type of places you hunt.

What gun do you prefer?
What type of call do you use?
Do you use decoys?
How many?
Do you use a ground blind?
What do ya bring along in your back pack?
Do you hunt state or private land?
What's the land like, hilly, swampy, hard woods?
Do ya put the birds to bed? (trick question)
How much scouting do ya do?


I, myself, I use a old beater coast to coast 12 gauge pump, painted camo, full choke.
I use 3 types of calls, mouth, box and slate, depending if I'm calling for some one or by myself.
I have 3 colapsible decoys that I use, but only if the situation needs them (if you are on a well used trail you might not need them)
When I guide for kids, I use a blind (cause you can get away with the kids wiggling around)
My pack has a knife, zip strips (for tagging) tp, some lunch, all my calls, a small foldable saw, shells, face mask, decoys and a butt pad for sitting on.
I have state land that I hunt and private land set aside for the youth hunts.
I like hunting hard woods the best.
Yep, I put the birds to bed.......I let ya question me on this one if ya don't know what it is.
And I scout as much as I can, because I have kids that I would like to see get birds.


 It's almost turkey season !!!


Hunter

[HD]

There's gotta be a turkey hunter or 2 on here.................



Hunter

[HD]

No turkey hunters?...............I have a hard time believing that nobody turkey hunts but me.



Hunter

[Crazy4Outdoors]

I love turkey hunting; but I have to admit, my husband does most of the "prep" work.  We hunt our own private land and our neighbors.  Ours is wooded with some open valley fields, some is swamp; neighbor's is ridge top property which is where we like to set up.  I shoot a Remington 12 gauge; we both carry backpacks but his has more "stuff" in it.  I just need the basics -- a couple extra shells, a box call and a slate call, chalk, 1 or 2 decoys, knife, license, flashlight, facemask, gloves, water bottles, and a couple pieces of candy!  We're close enough to home that when we break, we go home and eat.  We don't put the birds to bed but we do some scouting before hand.  Use either 2 hen decoys or a jake and a hen, but have also hunted without any decoys (if birds are acting "smart").  We typically sit up against a tree, a pile of logs, anything natural for cover; have used our ground blinds before and also tried store-bought blinds, but I'd personally rather be out where I can see everything, as long as I have good cover.

Can't wait - we'll be taking our 12-yr. old out 1st season; then 14 & 16 yr. old go 3rd season, and husband and I got 4th.  As long the kids have good luck, I'm happy!

[HD]

That's some good information Crazy!

And I was just about to kill this thread, cause I thought nobody turkey hunted.



Thanks for the post!

Hunter

[Super Star!]

Im goin for the first time in the black hills next weekend.

What i have to use

My Bow  (ganna shoot his head off)
a Hen decoy
my double bull blind
a box call
and a lot of luck

Im going with a pro turkey hunter ( Auggie) . So i hope to bag one

Now im and 999

[Lee Borgersen]

I'm not much of a hunter, but I did manage a nice 13 pound Butterball a few days ago. I roasted it tonight, but only ate half.

"I would like to know what gear everybody takes out turkey hunting, and what type of places you hunt."

What gun do you prefer? ............Don't need one.
What type of call do you use? .........I holler what isles are the butter balls in?
Do you use decoys?..........Only if I were to steal one.
How many? ..............As many as I need.
Do you use a ground blind?..........A What??
What do ya bring along in your back pack?......Don't use one, I just carry my wallet.
Do you hunt state or private land? .........N/A
What's the land like, hilly, swampy, hard woods?........It' full of shopping carts and other shoppers.
Do ya put the birds to bed? (trick question).......Can you rephrase the question?
How much scouting do ya do?............I usually scout for adds in the sale section in advance.

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[HD]

That's a good one!     



Hunter

[Munk]

Gun---- I use my Franchi 612 with the extra full choke loaded with Federal 3" copper 5's
Calls--- I use a raspy twin reed diaphragm (H.S. Strut) ,Knight & Hale box call, and a glass slate
 Decoys--- 3 Hens and a jake decoy
Ground Blind--- Yes
Back pack contains extra diaphragm calls, chalk, deer sticks and jerky, thermos full of coffee and a roll of T.P. (the most important item)
I hunt private land normally.
The land is hardwoods with agricultural fields bordering, there is a pond at the bottom of a large hill. I sit just inside the hardwoods overlooking the grass field and pond.
Yes, I ALWAYS put the birds to bed...
Scouting is normally done in the very early spring with a trip back about 30 days before the hunt. The landowner where I hunt usually keeps an eye out and gives us sighting reports, (location, number, time of day, direction of travel, etc.)
Can't wait for the season to start, boys have already had a couple contacts with the landowner and it sounds like a good season coming up. Looking forward to the cool nights, cold beer and warm campfire, with a large sprinkling of B.S. on the side....

[Tami]

Looks great SMG

[HD]

Anybody else?

First season starts on Wednesday.........

I hope you people are ready, I know I am!!

I also got a new youth gun for the daughter to shoot! So, she's ready too!

Good luck to everybody that's going out! Let the games begin!

Hunter

[Crazy4Outdoors]

Good luck to you and your daughter too, Hunter.  Our son will be out early tomorrow morning with my husband; hope he has good luck! 

[Grute Man]

My son (Hockey #12) is going for the first time this year.  A friend of mine is taking him due to my stoopid work schedule.  Anyway here's what I do know about it:

What gun do you prefer? - archery only - Bear Odysse II
What type of call do you use?  not sure
Do you use decoys?  Yep
How many?  not sure
Do you use a ground blind?  yep
What do ya bring along in your back pack?  TP, food, binocs, camera,
Do you hunt state or private land?  private
What's the land like, hilly, swampy, hard woods?  hilly wods
Do ya put the birds to bed? (trick question)  ?? Umm I hope he puts one on the table.
How much scouting do ya do?  This is a special hunt and there wont be scouting time allowed.

I have never turkey hunted - YET.  So this is all I know.  I really hope he gets one.

Grute

[HD]

That's GREAT you guy's!

Crazy, I hope he gets one too!

Grute, he get signed up for the youth turkey hunt?
To bad you can't go......

I think that program is a really cool deal.
They do all the scouting for ya, Most times they get the kids on turkeys, cause they know where to hunt.

I got drawn to guide a child with special needs this year, so I'm pumped!
and I'm guiding for a few other kids.
Besides hunting with my own kid......Man, I'll be turkey hunting most of the season!
(not shooting, but I'll be there doing the calling)


Hunter

[Grute Man]

Sounds like fun.  I took a bunch of kids deer hunting last year and most were very appreciative.  There's a lot of satisfaction in teaching a kid to love the same things we love.

GRUTE 

[HD]

Day 1:

Real windy all day, couldn't get the tom's to talk hardly at all.
With the snow we had, and now, all the standing water, might be tuff for the next few days.
Only seen 3 hens, no jakes, no toms.

Hopefully it will get better.

Anybody do better?

Hunter

[Duckslayer]

I wish you luck my friend!  Hope that it goes better before it is over!  Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[HD]

Day 2:

Wind has calmed down some. I located some gobblers last night, but when they got out of roost this morning they went the other way. (that's why they call it hunting)

Didn't see a bird this morning except for the birds that got down from roost.
Been tuff, still not responding to calls (but hey, it's only the 2nd day)
Not hen'ing up yet.

Went to go check another spot this evening, and dang, if I didn't get a ticket from a state trooper!
For years, the state said it was a turn lane, but now, "it's the shoulder" (don't figure) SO, I wasn't in the mood to go out tonight. (  , now, I gotta go to court)


Well, maybe tomorrow.........

Hunter

P.S.  Thanks Duck! 

[HD]

Day 3:
(reporting on day 4)

Hunting was a little better, my buddy got drawn for the first season, never turkey hunted before.
I couldn't help him out for the first couple days cause I was guiding for a youth. Anyways, I called in a group of 4 jakes for him and he took one of them.
(not a big bird, but it's a bird)
I took some pics and was going to post, but he don't want me to.

Didn't get out this morning cause I slept in.
(keeping a tough schedule)


Hunter

[Grute Man]

My oldest son, Hockey #12    got out today but didn't see any birds.     They had some transportation complications at the very last minute so he got a late start.  Hopefully, he'll do better tomorow.

Grute 

[Crazy4Outdoors]

Nothing Wed. morning.  My husband called in a nice tom Thurs. morning for our 12-yr old son; he shot and missed!  Bummer.  Friday was raining cats & dogs and windy so he passed on sitting out Fri. morning.  I sat out w/him Fri. afternoon after school...in the pouring rain....should have known better.  The only thing we got was soaking wet; we didn't hear or see anything. 
But.....Saturday morning, my husband sat out again w/our son and got a jake to come in; again it was raining pretty hard; he looked at Adam and said "do you want to shoot a jake"?  The answer was "sure", so he took a shot and got it!  He was pretty excited!  Good eatin' whether a tom or a jake!
Glad he was successful; that always makes the kids more excited to get out again next year.  Next up is our 16-yr old son and 14-yr old daughter during 3rd season; starts Saturday!

[Cody Gruchow]

Hunter my friend i havent heard from you in awhile, im sure your busy with turkey season, hows that going?

[Grute Man]

Well Hockey #12 got out twice last weekend and saw a few but they were at a long distance.  He said some other guy came into their area and started blowing a locator call and wouldn't stop.  Finally my buddy who took Hockey got up and yelled "You're on private property! Get off!"  The calling stopped with that.

Then yesterday he rode his bike up to the corner store to get a pop and on his way back a turkey ran across the road in front of him.     Now we're pretty close to down town White Bear Lake so that's a pretty uncommon sighting. 

Well better luck to him for next time.  Now he at least has tried it and knows how much work it can be.

[HD]

Yep, I ain't been on much....been doing alot of scouting.
(and getting ready for planting season)
I didn't have anybody signed up for the 2nd "B" season, so mostly just planning, because, I have a special little boy signed for the "C" season that starts on the 26th.
I'm trying my darndest to make his hunt sucessfull!

That's great to hear Crazy! It's ALL about the kids!

Grute, even though he didn't get one....I bet he still had fun trying!

Nice posts guy's!!!!!!  THANKS!


Hunter

[HD]

I forgot to add...............PLEASE post your pics!

If I get some, and they will let me post, I'll put some up!

Keep it fun! And enjoy the hunt!


Hunter

[kenhuntin]

 April is wonderful  Had a good season seeing a monster on monday cover two hens while chasing 3 persistant jakes away. The big boy came off roost and crossed  150 yards of corn stubble but stopped 60 yards short of me when he saw the decoys. He just stared at them and gobbled a while and retreated. I only hunted a couple hours of the mornings Tuesday and Wed. Heard gobblers answer me but no takers. Thur. a gobbler gave up his location when the thunder rolled over. I hammered him with calling and 20 min. later he showed up. when he saw the jake decoy he got real low and skirted the spread. A water hole trained him within 45 yds. so I harvested him. 23 lbs. 9 " beard but no spurs just little pink scales where they should have been. I have yet to see a jake with less. Now I know why he did not challenge the jake he probably got beat all the time.

[HD]

VERY nice Ken!   

I went with the daughters boyfriend this morning and called in a jake for him.
He harvested it, only went 18lbs and a 3 inch beard.
We are a little shy on big toms this year in our neck of the woods.
What can ya do, a bird is a bird!
Trouble up here is they have been just introduced, and large toms are still tuff to come by.
We're work'in on it though!

After the hunt we went fish'in and got a boat load of blue gills, and that was fun too!


Hunter

[HD]

Been a long time since my last post on this one......

I finally got a big tom to come in for a special friend!
(seems some people don't want their pics on the web) cough, cough, point, point, hint, hint


Now It's my daughters and my turn (we put in together)
Been real busy with field plantings, food plots and turkey hunting, Sorry, I can't keep up.

I'll let ya know how it turns out!
Hunter

[kenhuntin]

So did this special friend bring home a bird? or is it the fact that this person does not want a picture of the miss strewn about?

[HD]

A bird was harvested......just SOME people seem to be shy about what is viewed on the internet.
(the more I rass him, maybe he'll open up and let me post some pics)