First Time Turkey Hunter Reports

[TheStovePipeKid]

Hey, we had a few first time and/or inexperienced hunters this year that were very active asking great questions and getting some great advice from the seasoned hunters here. It would be great to have them check in with a little bit of hunting report and maybe share the tip or tips they found most useful. I'm excited to hear about their experiences.

[Birdgetter]

Great idea! I'd also like to see how their hunts went.

[gaddy]

Yes ! Lets hear about it 

[Bogie85]

Ok, I will start it off . This is only my second season hunting ever, my first season Turkey hunting ever. I have always wanted to go Turkey hunting ever since I was a kid. So I will start off by saying, the first time I went out just hearing them gobble got me more excited than I can even explain. This type of hunting is so incredibly interactive, and has a ton of variables.

I think the thing that I learned most was that if they are gobbling but not coming into the decoys, sometimes you have to close the gap. But as a new time Turkey hunter, and hearing they have eagle eyes I was hesitant to even move. Purely out of fear of spooking them. However I was able to identify where roosts are now, and will be more aggressive in terms of getting closer to their feeding areas for Fall.

Overall, there are a ton of variables and not knowing what's the right thing to do or what type of call to use and when or how often has been the biggest challenge. Having this be my second season hunting now, and still having yet to bag anything. I can see why it's difficult for people to get into it, the barrier for entry is much higher than fishing. And fishing in general can be done in a lot of spots, and done lots of weekends, instead of just one weekend. Driving 6 hours to hunt for 4 days and not get anything could absolutely discourage some people. But hearing those gobbles, even if you don't get them or see them (which I haven't yet) it is intoxicating.

[Iveexcaped3]

I think the hardest part for me as a first year hunter is where and what to look for E-scouting. After talking to a few guys they basically gave me some pointers on what to look for and areas they’ve seen birds at one time or another. About 2-4 weeks before the season started I got boots on the ground snow tracking birds and 2 weeks before the opener I found the bird in picture 1 that was fired up about something. That was exciting after many miles and hours scouting I found one Tom with a a bearded jake next to him. I decided I was going to hunt this area opening day. Sunday before opening day I want to do a last scout trip to make sure birds were still there. Tom gone bearded jake gone only found jake photo #2 with no beard. Ran into some other hunters asked how it was going for them, report was the unit got hit hard by youth season more than normal this year. Explains where Tom and jake went, but good for them they got some good birds. After hiking 18 miles scouting and not seeing anything fresh I left feeling discouraged.

The morning of opening day I load the truck up and head out to a new location the opposite direction. 5:15am start heading into the woods 5:30 hit the crow call a bird fires off what I think is off to my right. I head into the sticks for some cover and some shooting lanes. 6:10 I hit with my pot call, a bird fires off again maybe 20yds in the tree looking right at me. I was busted before I even sat down (station 1). He turns around flys away from me into a drainage and starts walking downhill towards the truck. I grab my call shoulder my gun and high tail it hoping I can cut him off. I get about maybe 1/2 mile down (station 2) hit my pot call and threw in my mouth call bird fires back parallel with me but is still moving down hill. Time to start getting downhill and actually get out in front of him; head down about 1/4 mile and set up knowing I was in front of him (station 3). I quietly wait about 10 minutes listening if he’s coming and hit my mouth call. Bird fires off back at station 2 and moving away. S*&+ !. Start running back to station 2 hitting my mouth call so I don’t come in to loud or bump him. Bird fires off behind tall bushes at 15yds I basically just dropped where I was and shouldered my gun. Bird comes out behind the bush and then surprise! Here comes bird 2 and bird 3. 3 jakes running together, I flip the safety and blam I take the bigger of the three. Picture #3.

[gaddy]

Nice! I love turkey hunting. One time we were heading down to the truck after a long morning, as we got close to the road a car drove by. The noise of that car fired up gobbles from 2 different toms between us and the road. We immediately sat down, with what ever cover was available and waited. Here they come, Hens with a Jake. Wheres the toms. We waited, and waited, No toms. We busted our arses around and up the mnt to get ahead of them hoping the toms would follow. Twice we done that. Get them in our sights and wait for the toms. Ended up being a looong day and all the way to the top with no bird taken. Think the toms busted us at the onset and went a different direction. Got our work out for the day for sure. Took 3 days before my legs quit hurting, but what a blast it was.

[slowhand]

Reserving My spot. I want to add to this when I get a free moment.

[scooby]

Reserving my spot as well, I have a few stories to share when I have a few more minutes to type it out.

[SpurInSpokane]

So, got my first turkey this season; wanted to hunt last season, but ended up not really getting out into the field. Did a day or two of fall turkey in '18, but this season was the first I really put some days in.
I wasn't really active asking questions on forums here, but I was definitely reading everything that got posted. Quite helpful. Another big help was having a friend practically beg me to come out and hunt their property. They were always texting reports even when I wasn't hunting about when/where they were seeing birds. Even went so far as to get permission for me to hunt neighbor's place. I watched a lot of youtube about turkey calling. I listed to MeatEater and other podcasts about turkey hunting. In short, I assimilated a lot of information.
As far as how the hunt went, I went out a few mornings when I was definitely hearing gobbles, but couldn't tell how far/if they were even on the property I was hunting (only 10 acres). I also couldn't tell if my calling was doing anything. I learned mouth calls (had been using a slate), and seemed to get better responses after that, but still didn't lay eyes on any turkeys for a few days. I eventually broke down and bought a couple decoys.
The morning I got my bird, I finally set up on the neighbors' place, and got my decoys set out according to a video I had seen. Then I second-guessed the setup, and moved my hen, but left my jake behind as an afterthought. I was calling a bird that was out in front of me, when all of a sudden, to my left, I hear a "put", and I slowly look over to see 4 turkeys around my forgotten jake! I quickly scanned for beards, and two had them. They were kinda leaving, but one took his time more than the others, which gave me time to bring my shotgun around and hold on him. After the shot, he flopped around in place for a while, but never moved far. It was sub-20 yards I think.
The one tip I actually remembered in the heat of the moment came from Rinella "Hold on the waddles." He says a lot of guys aim for the top of the head and sail their shots. I held right at the base of the neck, and got it done.
Anyway, thanks to all those who answer these questions, and who have offered to mentor new hunters, and encouragement for keeping at it!

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

The one tip I actually remembered in the heat of the moment came from Rinella "Hold on the waddles." He says a lot of guys aim for the top of the head and sail their shots. I held right at the base of the neck, and got it done.

Second this... my Cousin In-Law was working on his first bird this year, by the time he could get out I was in the hospital having twins with my wife and couldn't be there with him so was coaching him along the way on the phone. Gave him a map, calling tips, roosting, decoys, etc. When I got to shot placement I told him "put it on the bubbles". I learned this from watching Shane Simpson hunting with his daughter. I just had twin girls so I show videos like this to my wife . In one video I watched he tells her "put it on the bubbles". Best advise I could give a new hunter for shot placement. You may get a few more in the breast but you will significantly reduce the chance of missing and will almost always end up with plenty in the vitals of the neck. As you get better and have your gun pattern, etc you can focus on bringing shot placement up.

Cousin was with two friends, all where chasing their first turkey, they hunted Memorial Weekend, and got two birds between the three of them. They are hooked!