New to hunting and need advice

[huntingdog16]

I am new to hunting and need advice on getting started, where to hunt, and gear. I was thinking of a Weatherby PA-08 pump action shot gun. Any suggestions?

[youngbull]

buy what you can afford and pattern your shotgun

[wariner87]

I am new to hunting and need advice on getting started, where to hunt, and gear. I was thinking of a Weatherby PA-08 pump action shot gun. Any suggestions?

Welcome to the hunting world my friend.  You have a long road ahead of you should you choose to take it seriously .( not saying you won't  )
 

[WaltAlpine]

Welcome.
Scour the Turkey section of this site for tons of good advice. As good as a shelf full of books!

[Yelper Guy]

I'm an east-sider so I don't really have any areas to direct you to hunt. It sounds like you may like to try bird hunting.
Personally, I think the most important aspect of being an effective hunter is your woodsmanship skills. While I was growing up I couldn't get enough time in the woods hiking and exploring. It's something you can't learn by reading a book or watching a show.
You need to spend time outdoors, it's like a school. What you learn and experience can really help you down the road.
Good luck!

[turkeydancer]

As far as turkey hunting is concerned approx 2/3's of the state harvest happens in the NE corner of the state. Colville is the self-proclaimed turkey capital of the the state with good reason.  There is lots of public land, and many private land owners allow hunting.

I did a 2 hr basic turkey hunting & calling seminar during Cabelas-Tulalip Great Spring Outdoors Days this last March and have been asked if I would do another this next spring ... check with the store on on their website for clinic done during February or March time frame.  As mentioned read past forum posts, or get a CD/tape such as Primos "Mastering the Art", read articles and books, etc.  Learn how to call ... you can listen to their sounds on the NWTF website ... at least how to yelp (with the turkey rythem being more important than the sound) and how to cluck ... if possible learn how to cut and how to purr. 

As far as gear, camo from the head to the foot is the most important (camo hat, face mask, gloves, shirt, pants, boots, rain gear) ... followed by a patterned shotgun (use #4, #5, or #6 shot which ever patterns best) or a bow and arrows.  All calls will work ... box calls are probably the easiest to learn and use (60% of all birds are harvested by them), pot calls with stirkers are realistic sounding and provide versatility at lower cost, and mouth diaphragms leave your hand free/ are versatile/ and add no weight to your vest (most of us carry at least one of each type and some of us carry tube calls, scratch boxes, wing bone yelpers, push-pulls, etc).  Most everything else is optional including a turkey vest, decoys, turkey seat or cushion, ground blinds, ratchet pruners/saw, etc. (yep, I have all that and more).   

Enough for now ... 

[huntingdog16]

Thank you very much for the advice.

[geo]

I attended turkeydancer's Cabelas class and it was awesome! Great for the beginning turkey hunter. Turkeydancer I hope you come back and do another one next year because now that I've been out I have a thousand more questions! 

[turkeydancer]

Not a problem ...  always glad to help fellow "turkey whackers". 

You can also send me a PM anytime and I'll try to give you a useful answer to help you be more sucessful. 

[eastsidemallard74]

I am new to hunting and need advice on getting started, where to hunt, and gear. I was thinking of a Weatherby PA-08 pump action shot gun. Any suggestions?

What and where are you thinking about hunting?

[huntingdog16]

Thank you for all the great advice.