Any Turkey Hunters out there?

Hi Garth, Turkey season opened here in Louisiana on March 24. Me and my 10 year old son tried hunting a WMA in some piney woods for the first 2 weekends. We did not see or hear a bird. On the 9th of April another WMA in another part of the state opens for non lottery hunts ( I missed the lottery entry deadline). I figured it could not be any worse than the other WMA so me and my 12 year old daughter headed out there this morning for some scouting. We were at a good listening spot for 0630 but didn't hear or see anything. We scouted a few other spots until we happened across a hen while driving down the road just outside the WMA. At about 0815 we parked at another location on the WMA. As soon as I shut the Car door I heard a gobble in the distant. My daughter hit her crow call and he gobbled again. We then sprinted around the next bend in the road to get closer. She hit the crow call again and he gobbled back, had to be within 100 yards. So we walked into the woods to get a better view of the bottom. We didn't walk 20 yards into the woods and we spooked the Gobbler. He looked so beautiful as he flew away. I am not sure if they will come back to an area where they have been spooked but I can tell you I am more confident now than ever. I can't wait til monday. The only problem now is that was my daughters 1st time in the woods and now she is pumped up and wants to hunt. This is so much better than deer hunting IMHO.
I shoot a remington SP 12 gauge with Winchester Supreme High Velocity Turkey Loads, 3 inch #5's. Like a few others have stated, try different loads, everyone shoots a little different. I use the "Turkey Full" choke that came with my shotgun. Practice at different distances, results very. As for as calls go, I love my Lynch Fool Proof box call. I also tote a slate friction call with me.
The !st time You here a Gobbler gobble in the woods You will be hooked! I love it, just wish it didn't go by so fast! Good Luck to all, Scott
 
I've shot a few with the gun and bow. 3.5" in the 835, duplex #4#6 in a normal full choke. The ones with the bow have been with regular broadheads i would use for deer. That 3.5" really kills them well out to 50 or so yards. Check your local laws, lead free is getting popular.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Now just have to decide if I want to try with a bow or just stick with a gun for the first attempt.

Garth
 
i just used 3in mag hevishot and dropped a bird at a lazed 58yds granted i am using a super tight choke that is a special edition from the NWTF

anywho with 3in #4/5/6 shot and a full choke you should be droppin birds out to 30+ yds but i would try to stay within 30

my advice is to use what i guess you already have (full choke?) and if it is a 3 1/2" go for it but 3in can defiantly put them down and so can 2 3/4"


i would say buy a bunch of whatever the max length your shotgun can shoot and go and pattern them and see what patterns the tightest and most consistent brand by brand magnum vs nonmagnum every shotgun is different so go out and shoot 5ft by 5ft pieces of cardboard at say 10 20 30 40 yds and see which shoots the best in your gun

me i like remington partially cause the hulls are green but also cause my remington 870 wingmaster loves their #6 2 3/4"
 
Garth Reckner said:
Thanks for all the info guys. Now just have to decide if I want to try with a bow or just stick with a gun for the first attempt.

Garth
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if your going bow you better be able to cold sight distance and be able to hit a credit card at 30+ yds minimum me i wont go into the woods until i can do my full workout run outside pick a random spot in my yard between 25-40 yds and hit in a one inch circle and if i get ballsy i try to call my shot " six o'clock" "nine thirty-five" etc

your gonna be shaking like a leaf i would say stick with a shotgun

also no red whit or blue because those are the colors a turkeys head will change and we dont need to give less ethical hunters an excuse to shoot at us

same for deer season no white and as little brown as possible

i would recommend a face mask and or an anti mosquito device

and if its public land no calls

scout alot and try not to spook them the night before find a roost and set up off of that the next morning and get there WAY before sunrise
 
It has been about 20 years since I went turkey hunting, long story short. I was close to being shot, twice, two different occasions. Anyways, I enjoyed being in the woods at dawn watching and listening to nature waking up.

I used my Browning A-5, 30 in barrel with a "turkey full" Invector choke. Ammo was 3" 2x4. I used diaphragm calls. They have a great sound, and can be manipulated easily with my mouth and toungue. Also the diaphram callers are hands-free.
 
Get a Good turkey choke although full is good ,,as for rounds i use Winchester Supremes 5 shot,,but then again I shoot with a 10 gauge Browning and limited to ammo not everybody produces 10 gauge ammo as much.,,Good luck to all this year got a month away and with the way the weather is their out mateing now,,
 
I shot my first one last year.

Boy were the people at the Kroger meat department startled...:eek:
 
60# LAX Black Widow longbow and a really good ground blind - don't over call! I got a 2 for 1 last year with my Benelli M2. Biggest Tom of my life. Called him in too with a Lynch's box call.
 
Killed my first at age of 16 solo:)

I took my daughter this morning on youth hunt and we had a single hen all over us for an hour:cool:
 
Garth, I will tell you once you get a Tom to gobble back at your call you will be hooked, our season doesn't start until the end of the month.

Jeff
 
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