Talked my girlfriend into hunting...her first time EVER! Need some help though.

[BaseballStud20]

My girlfriend has never even shot a gun in her entire life and does not like the idea of killing wild animals. But I somehow miraculously managed to talk her into going turkey hunting with me! This will be her first time ever hunting so I want it to be a really good experience for her. I used to turkey hunt around Klickitat a lot before I moved to Spokane and have heard good things about the turkey hunting. I also know how crowded some places can get and would really like to stay away from those areas. I'm worried that she will be intimidated and scared if there are lots of other hunters around. I don't really know much about this area and was looking for a little help. I'm definitely not asking you to give away your secret spots or anything, just a little advice. We are willing to travel a few hours too by the way. PM me if you have any suggestions. Thanks a lot.

Brandon

[yelp]

Brandon,

IT doesn't matter where you go...your taking your girlfirend hunting that is the best of both worlds.. ..the Klickitat is probably your best bet...go midweek.  Crowds will be gone...keep it fun and if the gun thing is scary for her make a blind  and just chill and you shoot the turkey.  Once she hears and see that turkey gobble she is going to know why you like turkey hunting too...Good luck and take lots of pictures.

[blacktail luv]

All the turkeys died this winter down here, I'd hunt somewhere else.

[yelp]

No way...blacktail luv...the same thing happened up here too...what to do??   

[BaseballStud20]

Lol, haha very funny. I will only be down around Klickitat for about one week but will be up here for most of the season. I know Klick ok but wanted to know more about this area. Hopefully I can find one of the survivors left.

[yelp]

Sorry...saw you were from Vancouver...Spokane...Any direction...you pick..For a quick hunt try Mica Peak to the SE of Spokane...or Mt. Spokane.  THere are lots of places to try.  If you want to get out of town and stay awya from crowds try North of Reardon...Good luck.

[billythekidrock]

I would be more concerned about about keeping her happy. Get her the best gear (better then your own) and keep her warm and comfortable.

[Head-shot]

I would be more concerned about about keeping her happy. Get her the best gear (better then your own) and keep her warm and comfortable.

Very good advice, If she has a good experience she is going to want to go again. If she was cold and miserable you may be SOL. On the flip side of that if even after the great gear and good time she decides that it's not for her, you got better gear now

[BaseballStud20]

Lol...pretty sure I dont where a size 2 in anything, especially my hunting clothes. She will be well taken care of so thats not a problem.

[ICEMAN]

Baseballstud, great plan. Sounds like you have a winner there on your arm. When I have wanted to get my wife along on any kind of trip, I make sure to bring goodies she likes, take good pictures, and shorten each leg of the trip so as not to burn her out, make it "her" trip. Good luck.

[Diehard0123]

I would be more concerned about about keeping her happy. Get her the best gear (better then your own) and keep her warm and comfortable.

Very good advice, If she has a good experience she is going to want to go again. If she was cold and miserable you may be SOL. On the flip side of that if even after the great gear and good time she decides that it's not for her, you got better gear now

If she is not into shooting a bird, give her some calls and a video camera, this way she can partisipate and get some good footage of you bagging a fat tom

[BaseballStud20]

Im gonna try to get her to shoot one. She needs to shoot my 12 guage first just to see how it feels. If she cant handle it then I might get here something lighter or she can video tape like you said. One of her good friends actually said she would be interested in going too so I think im gonna take them both out. She will be more comfortable if her friend is out there too I hope.

[runamuk]

Im gonna try to get her to shoot one. She needs to shoot my 12 guage first just to see how it feels. If she cant handle it then I might get here something lighter or she can video tape like you said. One of her good friends actually said she would be interested in going too so I think im gonna take them both out. She will be more comfortable if her friend is out there too I hope.

If she hasn't shot before you may want to get her a 20ga. to use.  I don't even like shooting the 20 and the 12 damn near knocked me on my ass  Also take her shooting well in advance if she isn't fond of it.  Even if she decides not to shoot she will be more comfortable knowing just how loud shotguns are 

And remember if she likes the hunting and not the guns there are always bows 

[scudmaster]

A 20 ga with 3" heavishot would do well on a bird.  Even at 200+lbs, I hate patterning 12ga turkey loads. Stick with the 20 for her, just make sure they are within 40 yds.  My    good luck.

As for a location, can't help as I am on the west side and don't know that area at all.

Scud

[CTA]

I'm trying to get my wife to go with me too.  Let us know what works and what doesn't.  She too is not so excited about shooting an animal.  But I know she would be sooo pumped if she ever heard that gobble in the woods.  I have always told my wife if she catches fish or shoots game I'll clean it.  That's a deal breaker for her.

I'll throw in my two cents on the gun issue.  You might think about sticking with 12 ga instead of 20 ga.  Yes, the 20 is lighter to carry and the load is obviously smaller.  But with a smaller, lighter 20ga, the gun will probably kick just as bad as a 12ga or even worse.  My wife shoots trap with a 12 ga all the time, no problem.  Granted trap loads are weaker than turkey loads... Every expert and old timer I've ever talked to at the range says it's almost always a mistake to assume that a lady or youth is better off with 20ga as opposed to 12ga.  Instead, you might think about a semi-auto as opposed to a pump.  Most autoloader actions are gas operated and are slightly heavier than a pump.  This will absorb a portion of the recoil, and take pumping the action out of the equation.  I would say that no one answer is the right answer, but be willing to try different things or use a combination of ideas. 

Food for thought...

[Tom Tamer]

A 20 ga with 3" heavishot would do well on a bird.  Even at 200+lbs, I hate patterning 12ga turkey loads. Stick with the 20 for her, just make sure they are within 40 yds.  My    good luck.

As for a location, can't help as I am on the west side and don't know that area at all.

Scud

Try that, and maybe even get some lighter loads, I had the wife go out with me last year, using a H&R 20ga with plain old #6's She popped hers at 20 feet hardest hit turkey I've seen even the one I got with #5 Hevi shot at the same distance, plus get her as comfortable as possible, if you got a blind and some dove stools/chairs that's perfect those gals have a hard time setting more than an hour on hard ground with a wind blowing. And don't get super focused on the kill , we got a hen to walk in between us at one point and that was all the wife needed to get hooked. Just like us, they dig just seeing and hearing them and when you get a hen or tom within feet of her She'll feel that rush. My wife is so hooke now I may never get to hunt by my self again Although witha pretty lady next to you out in the woods with nothing to do......well there's always something to do

Good luck I think she'll like it once the action starts

[Todd_ID]

A good place to start would be getting her through a hunter education class.  She'll be exposed to many parts of hunting and safety that you won't be telling her about, so she'll have a better idea what she's getting into and can make a more informed decision.  Plus, it's a must-do in order for her to buy a license to shoot one.

[swanny]

I can't help much on where to take her, but I know I still haven't been able to talk my fiance into going out on a trip with me. She will shoot trap or targets, but doesn't want to see anything killed.

As far as shooting stick with the 12. My faince had never shot a gun before and we started her on our single shot 12 and she loved it! 

[Karl Blanchard]

My wife hunts with me and got her first buck last year.  It is important to remember that it is like taking a kid hunting.  Make it fun, don't go all hardcore, a 14 mile day chasing toms and she will hate you.  If she is unsure about the killing thing make darn sure that you get her a close easy shot and don't rush her because a wounded animal will surely scare her off.  Finally, depending on how big she is a youth model 20 gauge will just plain fit her better.  My wife can shoot my 12 gauge just fine but she doesn't like it because it is so long.  I got her a remington 870 youth model 20 and she loves it.  Used it was $125 bucks.  Good luck and be patient!