First time, any tips?

[MLHSN]

A lot of people mention camo. All my garb are solid colors. Does camo v solid prints make any difference with turkeys?

[ljsommer]

Yeah very curious about camo: how important is the pattern? RealTree vs what I've got, which is lots of Kuiu Vias?

[TheStovePipeKid]

Turkey focus primarily on movement. The idea of camo for turkey is to blend you more readily into your environment. It is believed that turkey can see color and fluorescence, such as whitening components in laundry detergent. Nice earthy tones will do the job just fine, even solid colors. Covering all the skin prevents your hand or face from sharply contrasting with the natural backdrop when you move. The pattern of camo does more to catch the hunter in the shopping isle than the game animal in the field. Some people shoot turkey in flannel shirts and blue jeans. That being said, I'm a Realtree AP kinda guy.

[CaNINE]

This will be my 17th year hunting the NE corner for Mountain Merriams. My formula is sleep in. Enjoy some coffee and a nice breakfast in camp.  Head out around 8AM and start prospecting.  I’ve killed 90% of my birds between 10 and 12. My game really turned the corner when I got good with a mouth call.  I locate with a box and get them to commit with the sweet talk on mouth call.  Playing chess with a gobbler is one of huntings finest challenges.

[TriggerMike]

Like others have said, camo doesn't really matter for hunting big game but I wouldn't wear anything less than full camo head to toe for turkeys. Pattern probably doesn't matter much but I like to wear a pattern in the Spring that has more green than anything else since everything else is green. Smell doesn't really matter but their eyesight is phenomenal and they can hear pretty good too. Setup with something at your back to help break up your outline and try to call them in at an angle with your decoys so they're not walking straight at you. Get your hands on them as soon as you flop one because they can bounce back up out of nowhere and take off never to be seen again, just be careful of their spurs. Hunt all day, I've killed a bunch in the early afternoon for seemingly no reason other then they finally decided to come into my calls. Also, learn how to use a mouth reed, you want minimal movement when they come in and you'll need your hands on your gun already pointed at the bird by the time he gets into range. Hand calls cause too much movement when you're trying to coax one in IMO. Not saying it's not possible obviously, just not my preferred type of call.

[Threewolves]

Most important thing: be out there hunting.

 

[Call em in]

Most important thing: be out there hunting.

 

What happened to all of your “white truck” stories? 😂

You are right though...there are a million ways to kill a turkey and I haven’t found a way yet that isn’t fun. You just gotta be out there! 

[lewy]

Calling is fun but I’ve killed plenty of big ol toms while in coyote mode

[CAMPMEAT]

I don't own a lick of camo, don't believe in it. Everything I've shot has been in Levis and hickory shirts. BT Deer, WT Deer, Mule Deer, Bear, Coyotes, ELK, Badgers ( not in Washington ) Turkey, Bobcat. Right place, right time is everything.....

[Gobble Doc]

Don’t move around. They see well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sneaky]

buy a quality turkey call and master it. Loud, realistic, I prefer pot calls.

[Big game archer]

Don't leave the woods at 10:00 AM......   The turkeys didn't.

They are callable all day.

This is by far the biggest mistake people make imo.. At least 90% of the toms I've called in have been between 10am-2pm.

[Threewolves]

Call em in

Sorry abut deleting the "White Truck Stories". I thought I got them off before anyone could read them. I ended up PM-ing them to ljsommer. I guess after I thought about it I just wanted to respond to lisommer as I felt it was kind of like bragging. It is nice when luck swings your way and I am always grateful. I guess I should have left them up so new hunters could realize hunting turkeys is not (Always) as daunting as folks make it seem. 

I got another one for you: We were back at camp in the camper around one in the afternoon BSing with two other hunters when one says he needs to pee (PC) and steps out of the camper. About two minutes later we hear a "BOOM". We run out and the hunter that excused himself was standing there with the biggest smile on his face, his shotgun in one hand and a big gobbler in the other hand. He said he stepped out of the camper, heard a gobble, grabbed his shotgun, went to the edge of the camping area, yelped three times, the bird came in and he shot it. Then he took a pee (PC).

Hey, ljsommer the "White Truck" stores were for you, but it you want to share them it is OK, you should be able to copy from your messages. Take Care Paul

[Birdgetter]

I don't know what these white truck stories are. But they definitely sound like a good laugh, I'd like to read them!   

[konradcountry]

A lot of people mention camo. All my garb are solid colors. Does camo v solid prints make any difference with turkeys?

I've had a turkey come in within a few feet because it didn't see me. Figured out I wasn't another turkey and had a O-S--- moment and flew off. So yea camo can fool them.

You can get camo pretty cheap on clearance so I just buy it off season. The brush can be pretty thick in the NE so I wouldn't take anything expensive in case you tear it.

Make sure you pattern to 60. Pretty easy to do with 3 or 3.5 shells. I can hit 60 with a $15 choke.

I like 3.5 shells but the turkey loads are hot and can really kick if you are shooting a pump. Don't use 3.5 if you aren't comfortable taking fast shots with them.

Take a folding stool and spray the legs with repellent. Also bring a backup shotgun if you can. You don't want to lose an entire day because a part broke.