How do I get ready for my first turkey hunt?

[aman]

I've done a little bit of waterfowl hunting but I've never done any turkey hunting or big game hunting. I'd like to get ready for the spring turkey hunt but I have no idea where to start or how to educate my self.

What gear do I need? How do I go about selecting places to scout? I'm in Seattle area but willing to go NE.

Thank so you much in advance for the help. 

[vandeman17]

my advice is to find someone with experience and ask politely to tag along. Offer to drive, split gas, food, room etc and then just be observant, follow their lead and have a great time. 

[Russ McDonald]

Marysville Gun Club in Marysville March 15th or Black Diamond Gun Club in Black Diamond Aplril 7th.  Turkey hunting clinics.   If you go to the WDFW website and the hunter education link it will show the classes.  They also have some big game clinics to.   I am doing the 2 clinics for turkey hunting.

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[aman]

Thanks Russ! I signed up for the Maryville clinic! Are you going to be there?

[aman]

When do they release the 2018 spring turkey regulations?

[nwwanderer]

Pattern your shotgun, shoot it from several angles, practice setting still, get permission and take as many as possible.  They are getting to be a problem.

[police women of America]

Hey aman, welcome to Hunting-Washington! I may not know a whole lot about turkey hunting, but I do know a lot about learning how to hunt. First off I'd suggest making an account with Hunters-ed.com, its free and you can skip to the turkey hunting part of the course and look it over to learn the basics. You could also take look at the event schedule for your local Cabelas. Near springtime they give free turkey hunting seminars, and while you're there you could also ask any questions you might have. Lastly (my favorite option), is using the internet and YouTube. Of course, you always want to double check on any info you get from the internet (and make sure it applies here in Washington) but usually the sources are pretty good.
Here's some basic info for you to reasearch to get you started:
*How to gut/clean a turkey
*Places to hunt turkey in Washington state (which will undoubtably be in Eastern Washington, since we have very few here in the wes part of the state). Also see about DNR land.
*if you don't already know/have your weapon, you'll need to do a lot of specific research on that. Including legal calibers, what caliber you will want, learning about chokes, etc.
*learn about turkeys. How well can they see? What do they like to eat? When is mating season? Do you need to use calls? (This is when YouTube videos come in handy).
I can't offer you much on turkey info in itself, but I do know they see VERY well. You'll need a lot of camo and possibly a hunting blind. It's also going to be hard to be properly prepared for turkey hunting this season considering how much you have to learn, but it's always possible! Just keep learning and it will all be worth it. And if you have any questions about researching or you get stuck trying to figure something out, feel free to message me!

[Russ McDonald]

Thanks Russ! I signed up for the Maryville clinic! Are you going to be there?

I am teaching it.  I may also be doing one at Cabelas in Tulalip too.

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[carvermoe]

Don't start turkey hunting is my advice.
if you do remember this.

1. you will end up buying a turkey specific shotgun
2. you will buy a turkey vest, one with a comfy seat
3. you will buy a box call, diaphragm call, and a huge assortment of others
4. of course new camo everything
5. you will buy a set or 2 of decoys
6. you will also have a bunch of new or old [ friends ] wanting you to take them to the honey hole
7. you will be compelled to go to clinics, read articles , watch hunting shows, etc.
8. you will have to suffer the agony of cooking and eating one
9. most important is the fact that when you call up your first tom, and hear him gobble
and watch him strut in. You will be addicted with no hope of treatment
Other then that have a great time.

[huntnfmly]

Don't start turkey hunting is my advice.
if you do remember this.

1. you will end up buying a turkey specific shotgun
2. you will buy a turkey vest, one with a comfy seat
3. you will buy a box call, diaphragm call, and a huge assortment of others
4. of course new camo everything
5. you will buy a set or 2 of decoys
6. you will also have a bunch of new or old [ friends ] wanting you to take them to the honey hole
7. you will be compelled to go to clinics, read articles , watch hunting shows, etc.
8. you will have to suffer the agony of cooking and eating one
9. most important is the fact that when you call up your first tom, and hear him gobble
and watch him strut in. You will be addicted with no hope of treatment
Other then that have a great time.

That some it up pretty well lol

[Russ McDonald]

Don't start turkey hunting is my advice.
if you do remember this.

1. you will end up buying a turkey specific shotgun
2. you will buy a turkey vest, one with a comfy seat
3. you will buy a box call, diaphragm call, and a huge assortment of others
4. of course new camo everything
5. you will buy a set or 2 of decoys
6. you will also have a bunch of new or old [ friends ] wanting you to take them to the honey hole
7. you will be compelled to go to clinics, read articles , watch hunting shows, etc.
8. you will have to suffer the agony of cooking and eating one
9. most important is the fact that when you call up your first tom, and hear him gobble
and watch him strut in. You will be addicted with no hope of treatment
Other then that have a great time.

That some it up pretty well lol

Yup

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[outdooraddict]

dont forget to add these to your extremely accurate list
- after you buy a few of those calls, you will go buy a few more (because maybe those ones might sound better)
- you will reach down for your striker out hunting and realize it fell out of your pocket last trip or last stand.
- you can practically kick them all year because they are so dumb, but you will feel demoralized between april 15 and may30 when you get outsmarted multiple times by the bird whos brain cant be much bigger than a pea.
- and after all that, you will go buy another call and prob another set of decoys

[NRA4LIFE]

No matter what your call configuration is, buy a bunch of mouth calls and learn how to use them.  I would suggest starting out with a single or double reed.  When by yourself, mouth calls can be the difference between success and failure.  And buy a very comfortable device to sit on.  Most of all, be patient but persistent.  My opinion only, but the camo pattern I found the best was a ground/leaf pattern for your pants and a bark pattern for you top. 

[kevinlisa06]

Camo including a head net. They see color and can see movement from a ways away. They can hear extremely well.
You do not need decoys trust me. I have yet to kill an ol Tom using decoys but I have carried one for the last 14 years.
Box calls are the easiest to learn how to use. Pot style calls are great and I carry a very large assortment. I can’t use mouth calls very good so I have no comment on those.
Pattern your gun and don’t skimp on how much $$ the shells cost cause when you need to shoot you have to be confident in your shot. It’s the most  important piece to the puzzle to get a bird in my opinion.


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[kevinlisa06]

I will also add it is very addicting


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