Rookie Turkey Hunter

[rblau]

Hey All,

This is my first turkey season, and my father-in-law and I are headed out to Klickitat this Saturday to give it our best.  I have found the information in this forum to be very informative and insightful.  I know that you guys have probably had your fair share of newbie questions, but I am hoping you will be willing to share your advice again.  I have watched a turkey hunting DVD and had some conversations with some of the wise souls I know.  I have got all my camo gear and a Primo crow call.

Any advice for a rookie turkey hunter?

Anyone willing to advise where to go in Klickitat?

Anyone in this forum live in SW Washington?

Thank you all in advance for any info. provided.

God Bless,

Ryan

[popeshawnpaul]

I never had much success with a crow call and keep it at home now.  I just bring my box call is all.  I think when I first started I was afraid to call.  Don't be afraid to try.

I got no clue where to go in the Klickitat. 

[MuleySniper]

A crow call works good for us most of the time during the day, but I think a coyote howl works better 
MS

[10Key]

As to where to go, I can't be of much help. What I can tell you is that the birds aren't where they normally are this time of year, due to the crazy weather we've been having. Try hunting the lower elevations first and go from there. The birds I got into near there were only vocal first thing in the am and they shut up for the rest of the day.

[Machias]

Never leave home with out my coyote howler and crow call.  Crow calls work outstanding here, if blown forcefully and acurately.  Slow down, right now they are really henned up.  Don't over call.  Be patient.  Call softer, act like a real hen.  Certain times of the year the cuttin hen works great, but watch the hens, they rarely run around the woods calling as loudly and as excitedly as you see on TV.  When they are calling and gobbling and then stop.....don't MOVE, lots of gobblers will stop and circle in and watch the area for a few minutes, lots of guys get anxious and bust the bird that way.  If you spook a bird, come back the next day from a different angle and with a different call.  Best of all this time of the year, you get an answer after 1000ish you have a very good chance of bringing that bird in, all or most of the hens will have left him and he'll be feeling lonely.  Good luck.

[rblau]

Thanks all for your comments so far.  It looks like there is a mix of advice for the calls, I have a crow call, my father-in-law has a coyote call, and I am going to be looking for a box call to borrow.  I will be as patient as I can out there and will work from the bottom up.

Thanks Guys,

Ryan

[wastickslinger]

I carry all kinds of locators. You just never know what will make them gobble. (coyote howler, crow call, owl hooter, duck call, goose flute, shaker gobbler, heck even the car horn or door slam will make them gobble).

As far as calling them in. I use a slate and diaphrams. My slate usually is killer. I have been using diphrams for the past few years and they are tough to get down but very usefull (hands free for the kill).

We had a few very aggressive hens last week in the woods. My advise it to listen close and take note. If a hen wants to battle, then battle back. That tom will get very curious and turned on at two old hens yaking at eachother. If the hens are talking soft then you better talk soft back. If a tom answers your hen call right away or even cuts you off with a gobble, keep being aggressive and call right back, he is very excited. If he is slow to respond (every 3rd or 4th yelp at him), slow downand be patient. There is a real art to figuring out what they want to hear and when. Time in the woods and many blown set ups will acually really help. I have learned more from listening to birds and just playing along than anything I have picked up from TV.

Last tip, a lesson I have learned the hard way many times. If you know a tom was close but he quit gobbling at you, Dont get up right away. They will come in silent the last 100 yards often. When a bird quits gobbling for me I will try and sit for a half hour and cluck a bit and keep my eyes open.

If all else fails, call a bit, fall asleep under the, and wait for a gobble to wake you up. I had that happen last year. Scared the piss out of me. 

Good luck to ya!!!

[Intruder]

What Machias & wastickslinger said...... both gave great advice. 

Think stealthy and subtle... don't overcall.   

No clue on the area you're hunting.  1 suggestion though.... try to get out on a high vantage point and listen.  Do it right before dark... listen for birds gobbling when they roost and do the same thing in the morning.  Get out there before sun up and just try to pinpoint a gobblin bird. 

[Wacenturion]

When I hunt Klickitat, by far the best locator call during the day is a woodpecker call.  It's as loud as it gets and get resonses from shock gobbles along ways off.  Get one....they are fairly cheap.  Also the birds don't hear them much as most are using other types of locator calls....well at least until now anyway...lol.

[Wacenturion]

Oh....might add.....since you may be walking and scouting the areas while hunting...DON"T use turkey calls.  Use your locator calls to hear one.  Then try and pinpoint his location and slowly work your way to within 40-100 yards, depending on cover and lay of the land.  Then pick a good spot, set against a tree at your back, let everything quiet down for 15 minutes or so in case he heard you....remember that you probably sound like a deer or something.  Then start soft calling and not to frequently.  Be patient...if he answers and is coming ....be patient.  More birds are not taken because someone got to anxious and gave themselves away.  If you move....do it in super slow motion...i.e getting gun up, moving head etc.
Patience is a virtue......you need a good serving of it.
If the bird remains in the same area and does not come...relocate.  Alot of time those gobblers have a comfort zone....get within it and they are dead if you don't screw it up.
Good luck!

[Intruder]

Not to stir the pot here..... there's a long thread of comments in another topic regarding stalking birds.  You can read through it to see the various opinions voiced.

I request however..... Please do not attempt to sneak in on the bird to shoot it.  In the cases where folks are talking about moving into position it is to call the bird in not to try and sneak close and shoot it.  This is a really dangerous tactic as well as being disruptive to other hunters.  Callin em in is where all the fun is anyway....   

[rosscrazyelk]

Listen to the birds. I got into it with a hen last week. She came over to kick my ass and brought some jakes with her. Unfortunately no Big TOM

[Machias]

rosscrazyelk is right on, that is a very good tatic when they are henned up.  Mimicing a hen can get her into a fightin mood and bring one over to you.  It has worked for me several times!

[Wacenturion]

Intruder makes a good point...

When I said...."Alot of time those gobblers have a comfort zone....get within it and they are dead if you don't screw it up."


What I meant was..within the comfort zone sitting and doing as I said above.  They'll come to you...ABSOLUTELY did not mean to suggest stalking the bird and shooting it.

As Machias and others have said....pulling in hens can be alot of fun, and some times they are trolling gobblers in tow.  Just mimic their exact calls, gradually getting louder....really pisses em off sometimes.....and a good opportunity for practicing hen calls and their cadance.

[rblau]

Not to stir the pot here..... there's a long thread of comments in another topic regarding stalking birds.  You can read through it to see the various opinions voiced.

I request however..... Please do not attempt to sneak in on the bird to shoot it.  In the cases where folks are talking about moving into position it is to call the bird in not to try and sneak close and shoot it.  This is a really dangerous tactic as well as being disruptive to other hunters.  Callin em in is where all the fun is anyway....   

Consider the pot not stirred, I have read many of the threads here, but certainly have not seen all of them, I will try to find that one.

As far as sneaking up on a bird, my understanding of ethical and safe turkey hunting involves hiking around listening for birds and once you find one, post up and call it in.  I have read about several accidents in other threads and I don't plan on being involved in one.  Although I am new to hunting, I always strive to see what the right way is to do something, and do that, I will never put myself or another hunter at risk.  Thanks for the warning, I take gun safety extremely seriously.

Ryan