another newbie

[oneezreiter]

Hi all, This is my first year for turkey hunting and I am stoked!!  I do have some questions though.  I have a Remington 870 12 ga.  What is your opinion on the best choke to use.  How do you "pattern" a gun.  what is the best type of call that a guy with three little kids can afford. And lastly is there any special gear that I probably don't have?  Thanks and I look forward to hearing about all your hunts.

[Machias]

Full Choke
Try different loads and see which one puts the most shot into the outline of a gobblers head on paper at various yardage.
Cheapest is the mouth call, $3.50-$6.00
Easiest to use for newbies, box call or push button
Best sounding, IMHO slate
Camo, call, good fitting waterproof boots and a tight patterning gun is all you need...oh and a unnotched tag.

Somethings that help:
crow call (or other various shock calls)
Maybe a decoy, but not necessary and sometimes detremintal
Turkey Vest is helpful to carry all the calls you eventually collect.

[Wacenturion]

 

and get yourself a lightweight turkey chair.  Being comfortable sitting against a tree for long periods is important for longevity of the hunt.  If you can find a Chapman Turkey Chair somewhere on a web site back east, grab it.  Otherwise something similar to it.....lightweight aluminum with webbing.

Turkey vest is also important for convenient packing of your gear.


Good luck!

[Wacenturion]

May have a hard time finding a Chapman chair.....probably not made anymore.  Here's a link to something similar.  This one is adjustable so you can make the legs longer away from the tree on the slope, and shorter against the tree, thereby making your sitting position level.
These type of chairs you carry over the back with a strap...very portable and an absolute for turkey hunting.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Buckwing-Turkey-Deer-Seat-Hunters-Hunting-Ground-Chair_W0QQitemZ280173831545QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

[Birdguy]

I have found that a cheap little ground blind can make a world of difference. I look on eBay for them. I think the last one I bought was about 24 inches tall and 6 feet long with a stake every 18 inches or so. Picked it up for around $10. There is also a great chapter of the NWTF in the port orchard/gig harbor area that you may want to look into. PM me if you are interested.

[NWTFhunter]

On the subject of calls,  get yourself a good recording of what a call should sound like and learn how to call correctly.
You can find recorded calls on the national web page.

Far too often I hear new guys trying to call and do it poorly thus not even seeing a bird.
Its just like a guy playing any sport, if you dont do it well unless you practice.

[boneaddict]

another good training is to go out right now and listen.  Listen to them when  they come out of the tree.  Listen to them gather up after coming out of a tree.  Listen to them when they get nervous.  Listen to them when one gets away from the flcok.  Just stand there and listen.  Most of the toms are flocked up and hens are in their own flocks.  Listen to the hens and jakes.  Those are the birds you want to be in my opinion

[bow4elk]

another good training is to go out right now and listen.  Listen to them when  they come out of the tree.  Listen to them gather up after coming out of a tree.  Listen to them when they get nervous.  Listen to them when one gets away from the flcok.  Just stand there and listen.  Most of the toms are flocked up and hens are in their own flocks.  Listen to the hens and jakes.  Those are the birds you want to be in my opinion

Great advise.  It's always best to sound like the turkeys and not the champion caller on TV.  And if you can get someone to tell you WHERE you can do this, well my friend, you're over a BIG hump!

[Wacenturion]

Calling rhythm is actually more important than sound.  Don't be afraid to call because you think you sound terrible.  Some of the worst calls I've heard over the years were actually hens.......and yes, some were pretty bad sounding turkey hunters.

As was said above listen to turkey sounds and duplicate them....practice, practice, practice.

[NWTFhunter]

Bow4elk, you know where !

In da woodz brutha

[Machias]

If you can go to some place where hunting is not allowed, say a place like Turnbull Wildlife Refuge you can practice at the end of March and the beginning of April and videotape the whole thing.  Biggest mistake of beginners and veterans alike is practicing in your hunting areas.  Kills me every year yahoos out calling before the season.  These birds wise up fast when called in and busted.  Practice in areas no one hunts.

[Wacenturion]

Well said......usually those folks practice everywhere they can from the road.  If they do it in their own area they are just lowering the odds on themselves getting a bird.  By the time the season opens that gobbler hears those familiar calls and thinks to himself....oh, that the guy in the blue ford truck....oh and that the red dodge guy....lol
You want to locate birds prior to hunting.....USE LOCATOR CALLS ONLY.......

[bow4elk]

I love the amount of owls that suddenly appear out of the darkness on opening day   

[oneezreiter]

Thank you all very much, that is a lot of great info to start with.  thanks all.

[NWTFhunter]

Anyone know of any chapter or guy that is putting on any calling seminar close to Oneezreiter ?  This might be a good thing to attend..

I used to hold a couple siminars in Cali every year for the dingbats down there.