First time, any tips?

[scooby]

I didn't think much about this until I have been reading these posts as a first time hunter and camo etc...but I wear glasses, is that something I need to hide/cover up somehow?

[Pegasus]

I didn't think much about this until I have been reading these posts as a first time hunter and camo etc...but I wear glasses, is that something I need to hide/cover up somehow?

Black them out with duct tape.

[Cab]

I Posted this on another turkey beginner thread so I'll just post it again here:

-Face masks are your friend, be covered head to toe in camo and DO NOT MOVE turkeys have incredible eye sight.
-Get there early preferably the day before you want to hunt so you can see whats going on(with people and birds).
-LISTEN at sunset, sometimes the toms will talk a little bit and you can locate them for the next morning!
-Ticks wise I personally have not had too many on me but thats purely because I spray down with permethrin spray(READ THE INSTRUCTIONS some sprays state to NOT spray on clothing that will be against the skin, follow this).
-Slate calls are my personal favorites don't worry about diaphragm calls if your new, focus on hunting location since that is much more important. I called in a tom my first day turkey hunting ever and it was on a cheap box call and I had almost no idea what I was doing.
- On that note DO NOT CALL TO MUCH! number 1 thing new people do that they shouldn't, call once if you get a response wait at least 15-20 mins. That Tom knows where you are and is going to usually come in slow. It can take an hour to get a tom to come in 100 yards. Remember you are trying to get this Tom to go against the normal practice of mating. normally he calls and SHE comes to him so playing hard to get can help. I've had bird stay in the same spot gobbling over and over and only until I learned to make them look for me was I able to kill birds.
-Terrain, generally speaking turkeys if nervous prefer to walk UP hill rather than down.
-Weather effects birds, birds can be moody and day to day change how much they call but generally I have noticed ESPECIALLY when it's foggy or poor visibility they won't talk at all. Don't get frustrated, they're around just not talking.
-Decoys are a must in my eyes, go ahead and get the super cheap foam ones they work just fine and actually are much easier to pack.I run just a lone hen as I've had jacks get super nervous around jake decoys and not come in. Decoys are meant so that the Tom has something to focus on, if you don't have one he will be looking around a lot more meaning he can spot you or you moving a lot easier. Place decoys about 20 yards from you and have the backside facing the direction you want him to come in. Ive heard in the morning that Toms like to come in with the sun at their back because it will show off their tail feathers to a mate. place it in a way so that he has to walk PAST you, I also like to have a tree he will go by and that allows me to pull my gun up.
- If you're going to get another call I would get a crow call as a locator call. They are natural enemies and crows/ravines have done wonders for me while running and gunning. I use a simple roll out blind and a butt pad with my pack which has 1 foam hen rolled up. if you use a locator call or any call be in cover of some sort, bird can pop out of no where.
-Morning time is talking time, around 9-10ish hens go off to lay an egg so some birds will start talking again. I personally if I haven't heard anything like to run and gun to locate birds to set up on plus it's more exciting.
-Finally learn how to identify Morels and bring a bag to pick some, it's one of the best parts of turkey hunting because you don't have to go home empty handed. It's almost as fun as turkey hunting honestly and when the birds can't be found or heard it's a great way to stay positive!
-If you can't find birds or Morels, just shed hunt like I do. Might as well since you're out there.

Hope this helps and if you want any other tips feel free to PM me, I'd be happy to help. Turkey hunting is wonderful, frustrating and incredibly challenging.....welcome to the long beard addiction 

[Pegasus]

I didn't think much about this until I have been reading these posts as a first time hunter and camo etc...but I wear glasses, is that something I need to hide/cover up somehow?

Get a camo face net. Helps with the camo, helps cover glasses from reflecting and keeps the bugs off your head especially those nasty ticks. Don't buy the masks that don't cover your eye area. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Camouflage-Mosquito-Head-Outdoor-Camping/dp/B071J92PJQ/ref=sr_1_49?keywords=camo+face+net&qid=1553551475&s=gateway&sr=8-49

[scooby]

I didn't think much about this until I have been reading these posts as a first time hunter and camo etc...but I wear glasses, is that something I need to hide/cover up somehow?

Get a camo face net. Helps with the camo, helps cover glasses from reflecting and keeps the bugs off your head especially those nasty ticks. Don't buy the masks that don't cover your eye area. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Camouflage-Mosquito-Head-Outdoor-Camping/dp/B071J92PJQ/ref=sr_1_49?keywords=camo+face+net&qid=1553551475&s=gateway&sr=8-49

Sweet, that looks like a great solution. Thanks!

[Call em in]

Threewolves

No worries I was just busting your chops. Lol. I found the stories amusing. Cheers

[ljsommer]

So really dumb question....what do you do with a turkey once you land it? Throw it in a chest full of ice and drive home?

[TheStovePipeKid]

Tear its heart out and eat it to absorb its strength. Or you could breast it out and lop off the thighs and drum sticks. It doesn't take long and you'll end up with the eating meat in the cooler and the rest can be returned to the mother earth. I also like to pull the gizzard and heart. If you aren't a big gizzard guy you don't even have to mess with the guts. Youtube is your friend. I suggest watching a whole bunch of videos on it. Many cover the same process but it will help you get the concepts down. I fully dressed two turkey so we could eat them for Thanksgiving. It's alot of work and you end up cutting the same parts off after you cook it. As always your own preference should be applied. I always tell people to do it all the ways and see which they like. Take a sharp knife with you when you head out hunting, it will make your life a little better.

[ljsommer]

Thank you! Lastly, my hunting buddy just bailed on a weekend trip to a place I'd never even heard of let alone been to, called Fruitland. If anyone wants to share a general area with me (road name is fine I can figure it out from there) I'd be wildly appreciative.
Otherwise I am just gonna drive to Colville and uhh...see if I can figure it out. West-sider here.

[Call em in]

Thank you! Lastly, my hunting buddy just bailed on a weekend trip to a place I'd never even heard of let alone been to, called Fruitland. If anyone wants to share a general area with me (road name is fine I can figure it out from there) I'd be wildly appreciative.
Otherwise I am just gonna drive to Colville and uhh...see if I can figure it out. West-sider here.

“Wildly appreciative”?!  lol

Tons of birds in the area you mentioned. Hwy 25 is a great place to start. Have fun and good luck 

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Tear its heart out and eat it to absorb its strength. Or you could breast it out and lop off the thighs and drum sticks. It doesn't take long and you'll end up with the eating meat in the cooler and the rest can be returned to the mother earth. I also like to pull the gizzard and heart. If you aren't a big gizzard guy you don't even have to mess with the guts. Youtube is your friend. I suggest watching a whole bunch of videos on it. Many cover the same process but it will help you get the concepts down. I fully dressed two turkey so we could eat them for Thanksgiving. It's alot of work and you end up cutting the same parts off after you cook it. As always your own preference should be applied. I always tell people to do it all the ways and see which they like. Take a sharp knife with you when you head out hunting, it will make your life a little better.

The regulations specifically say, "It is illegal to possess in the field or transport game birds unless a feathered head is left attached to each carcass." (page 1 spring regs, section "special regulations") I can't say I haven't field dressed birds and left their carcass behind before... but due to this regulation... I would suggest bringing a black garbage bag with you to transport your feathered head and carcass in. That way you can still keep the meat on ice, not have an oversize cooler, but have the right evidence should you run into a WDFW officer that would like to question you further. Then when you get "home" you can place the bird for mother earth, in the compost, or trash... 

[Pegasus]

Tip #1 Have fun
Tip #2 Do ticks bother you?  , Regardless get some repellent for you and your clothes and always check for them after
Tip #3 When calling sit with your back against something, tree, big stump, big rock etc

I always sit with my back to a tree. The advantages are that it hides your silhouette and protects your back from a hunter lured in by your calling who is quick on the trigger. Turkey hunting has one of the highest rates of hunting accidents. The disadvantage is that you can't cover your backside for turkeys unless they are calling and you can't see predators sneaking up behind you. I have called in coyotes several times looking for a turkey and finding me. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the yotes when they came around the tree. I could have grabbed one them, he was so close. Another time when hunting with two of my sons, they were hunting fairly close to each other when one saw a cougar putting the sneak on my other son who was calling behind a tree who could not see the cat coming in. My son fired a round over the back of the cat and scared the cat away. He said the cat leaped about 40 feet and that it was huge. He could not get over how big the cougar was and how huge the tail was. The next year I saw that cat as I was driving into the same area. She crossed right in front of me and she had to parallel the road next to me until she found an exit point. She was a monster with her teats fully engorged. I know that cat was well over 200 pounds and looked as large as an African lioness. The next year in the same area we found a deer she had killed and covered with leaves and dirt. Keep your eyes open cuz they are out there.

[Russ McDonald]

Tip #1 Have fun
Tip #2 Do ticks bother you?  , Regardless get some repellent for you and your clothes and always check for them after
Tip #3 When calling sit with your back against something, tree, big stump, big rock etc

I always sit with my back to a tree. The advantages are that it hides your silhouette and protects your back from a hunter lured in by your calling who is quick on the trigger. Turkey hunting has one of the highest rates of hunting accidents. The disadvantage is that you can't cover your backside for turkeys unless they are calling and you can't see predators sneaking up behind you. I have called in coyotes several times looking for a turkey and finding me. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the yotes when they came around the tree. I could have grabbed one them, he was so close. Another time when hunting with two of my sons, they were hunting fairly close to each other when one saw a cougar putting the sneak on my other son who was calling behind a tree who could not see the cat coming in. My son fired a round over the back of the cat and scared the cat away. He said the cat leaped about 40 feet and that it was huge. He could not get over how big the cougar was and how huge the tail was. The next year I saw that cat as I was driving into the same area. She crossed right in front of me and she had to parallel the road next to me until she found an exit point. She was a monster with her teats fully engorged. I know that cat was well over 200 pounds and looked as large as an African lioness. The next year in the same area we found a deer she had killed and covered with leaves and dirt. Keep your eyes open cuz they are out there.

I have a story like this that I had posted about 3-4 years ago.  Teanaway forest setup before day break found lots of sign scouting weeks before.  Setup my decoys on the edge of this large field probably 200 yards long 50 yards wide.  As the sun came up hitting the field I spotted movement of the far side of the field coming out of the woods after making a couple calls.  Saw brown and though deer but not big enough.  Oh man yotes and they were just skirting the edge of the field until they saw the decoys and came our way.  As they got closer I thought to my self that I have never seen yotes with that long of legs and big bodies.  Got closer and noticed the collars on both of them.  The lead decided to cut back up behind us on a skidder trail and the follower was a juvenile.  I was trying to talk to my buddy who was sitting next to me but he wasn't answering me.  I had my safety off on the shotgun and the snap on the holster for my .45 off.  The juvenile stopped 30 yards out and started sniffing the air.  That is when I stood up and it still did not see me until and hissed at him.  I scared him and off he went up a hill like it wasn't even there.  This was all in about a 8 minute span of time.  My buddy was on the other side of the big oak tree we setup on trying to film it with his iPhone.  Video got sent to WDFW but never heard anything else about it.  yes you need to have situational awareness out there when your hunting.  I have grown up around wolves in Minnesota so being out in the woods you always keep you head on a swivel.

[Call em in]

Avidnoutdoorsman is right, you can breast out your bird and take the legs and thighs and put them in ice. I also remove the beard so it doesn’t get damaged. Then throw the carcass in a contractor bag, keep your notched tag attached to the carcass until you get home. That way if you get checked you have everything a warden wants to see and your meat is taken care of.

[Cab]

whats everyone favorite way to do legs? I've never been able to do them right but I always try because it's so much meat.