what are your preparations for spring turkey?

[Machias]

Along with decoys, What are some good, easy to use calls to have?  Whats your go to locator? I never could get birds to come in last year to my crappy calling lol. It’s my mission to get the kids on some birds out actually hunting instead shooting them from the deck   
I got my .410 tss in the mail yesterday and need to get the battery changed out in the red dot.
Do you guys like using a turkey vest?

I like a vest so that I can carry a few different calls, and to carry the bird out after I've taken one.  I like a box call, couple of slate calls and three or four different sounding mouth calls.  If you are ever down towards Worley, I would be happy to meet up with you and listen to your calling and give you some pointers that may help.  Been killing turkeys since the late 70s.  Normally love to take out someone with their kids and call some birds in for them and their kids, but two horrible knees are preventing that this year.

Machias, I think you and I have communicated before. My mom was from over there, DeSmet & Tensed to be exact. I have extended family in Worley, I think. I was thinking of trying to hunt toms near McCrosky state park.

You should have good luck in that area!!

[salish]

Along with decoys, What are some good, easy to use calls to have?  Whats your go to locator? I never could get birds to come in last year to my crappy calling lol. It’s my mission to get the kids on some birds out actually hunting instead shooting them from the deck   
I got my .410 tss in the mail yesterday and need to get the battery changed out in the red dot.
Do you guys like using a turkey vest?

I like a vest so that I can carry a few different calls, and to carry the bird out after I've taken one.  I like a box call, couple of slate calls and three or four different sounding mouth calls.  If you are ever down towards Worley, I would be happy to meet up with you and listen to your calling and give you some pointers that may help.  Been killing turkeys since the late 70s.  Normally love to take out someone with their kids and call some birds in for them and their kids, but two horrible knees are preventing that this year.

Machias, I think you and I have communicated before. My mom was from over there, DeSmet & Tensed to be exact. I have extended family in Worley, I think. I was thinking of trying to hunt toms near McCrosky state park.

You should have good luck in that area!!

I think so, too.

[carlyoungs]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

[Machias]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

Every once in a while a tom will see a decoy and come right in, but in my experience they spook more turkeys than they pull in.  I like to set up so they see the decoy as soon as they are in range.  Lots of times anymore though I do not even pull my decoy out of my vest.  Try some different calls.  I can't tell you how many times I've tried 4 or 5 different calls and then suddenly one particular call just triggers the excitement and they come in.  Also keep in mind the time of the day, late middle of the day I get very few responses.  Best time in my opinion is between 0900 and 1030. Most toms are done breeding and look round and they are alone.  They hear a hen or two or three and they are more likely to go against Mother Nature.  Wild hens NORMALLY go to the tom, so in the morning, unless you get him right off the roost, he will be with several hens and may answer you, but not really likely to come into your call.  Sometimes in those situations if you mimic the hen(s), one of them will get ticked off and come over to confront you, pulling the tom in with her.

[syoungs]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

were just a handful of weeks away now, ill make sure to put on a clinic for you this year.

[carlyoungs]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

were just a handful of weeks away now, ill make sure to put on a clinic for you this year.

At least we can focus more on hunting this year than babysitting.

[carlyoungs]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

Every once in a while a tom will see a decoy and come right in, but in my experience they spook more turkeys than they pull in.  I like to set up so they see the decoy as soon as they are in range.  Lots of times anymore though I do not even pull my decoy out of my vest.  Try some different calls.  I can't tell you how many times I've tried 4 or 5 different calls and then suddenly one particular call just triggers the excitement and they come in.  Also keep in mind the time of the day, late middle of the day I get very few responses.  Best time in my opinion is between 0900 and 1030. Most toms are done breeding and look round and they are alone.  They hear a hen or two or three and they are more likely to go against Mother Nature.  Wild hens NORMALLY go to the tom, so in the morning, unless you get him right off the roost, he will be with several hens and may answer you, but not really likely to come into your call.  Sometimes in those situations if you mimic the hen(s), one of them will get ticked off and come over to confront you, pulling the tom in with her.

I can get them to gobble back most of the time. They just don't come walking my way. Usually they go over towards my cousins blind and ignore me

[Machias]

I never use a blind, lots of times you have to go to them.  Run and gun is the only way to go!   

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Definitely like to run and gun at times. Found if running them they fly into a tree and then it gets real.

[jasnt]

Been hearing gobbling for few weeks now.  Even a few mid day.  Been ready since January.  I typically start roosting birds end of March- April 1st.  Seeing a bunch of good toms this year.
Run and gun is my favorite.  Rarely use decoy.   Pretty much use box call exclusively. Running hand loads again this year

[syoungs]

I have only gotten turkeys to come in on the call one time during opening weekend. All the other times the will just walk around and be a turkey. They hear the calls but don't come to them. Have decoys set up and they ignore them. I've had more coyotes come in to calls then turkeys.

Every once in a while a tom will see a decoy and come right in, but in my experience they spook more turkeys than they pull in.  I like to set up so they see the decoy as soon as they are in range.  Lots of times anymore though I do not even pull my decoy out of my vest.  Try some different calls.  I can't tell you how many times I've tried 4 or 5 different calls and then suddenly one particular call just triggers the excitement and they come in.  Also keep in mind the time of the day, late middle of the day I get very few responses.  Best time in my opinion is between 0900 and 1030. Most toms are done breeding and look round and they are alone.  They hear a hen or two or three and they are more likely to go against Mother Nature.  Wild hens NORMALLY go to the tom, so in the morning, unless you get him right off the roost, he will be with several hens and may answer you, but not really likely to come into your call.  Sometimes in those situations if you mimic the hen(s), one of them will get ticked off and come over to confront you, pulling the tom in with her.

I can get them to gobble back most of the time. They just don't come walking my way. Usually they go over towards my cousins blind and ignore me

I felt bad, thats why I sent an arrow over its back instead of through it. It had nothing to do with mis judging yardage...