Hello, i am getting into turkey hunting, the fall was my first go at it but with very little gear, i now have pretty much all i need, i am trying to find a good habitat in and around the Barrie-Oro Area in Ontario (Hour north of toronto) But so far my camera's have picked up nothing and i have yet to find a turkey in an area i may hunt. I have my OFAH membership so i can use the Simcoe County forests. My Main question is what to look for when setting up a camera or your approach to finding a good area to set up when the season opens, i am not sure if i am going to deep into the forest or choosing the wrong area's . Thanks for your tips & advice!
Newish Turkey Hunter
- Thread starter Kondor
- Start date
Forget the cameras... you will waste a ton of time just placing and checking them... you need to scout... drive back roads with a good pair of binoculars... spot birds, look for the logical holder of the property and knock on doors... dress well, but not fancy, be polite and courteous... introduce yourself, tell them where you are from and what you do... tell them that you are a respectful and safe hunter and you will respect their land and appreciate an opportunity to hunt. Yes or no, leave a card with your name and phone number... they often change their minds when they have time to mull it over or may refer you to a neighbor or family member.
Rule number one; no matter how good the property looks, don't waste your time unless you see or hear birds... and the more birds the better... good luck.
Rule number one; no matter how good the property looks, don't waste your time unless you see or hear birds... and the more birds the better... good luck.
^^ sage advice.... I have some "impressive" camera shot of turkey but only because I knew their routes in a property I have tons of experience on.....
Another consideration for you, and what I personally enjoy is "run and gun" hunting..... Get on a property where you know there are toms and start calling.... Listen for a gobble back... Slowly close the gap between you and where you heard the gobbling calling every few minutes.... When you feel you are close enough, find cover and try and make the Tom close the distance.... It's a wicked adrenaline rush.... A Tom gobbling back at you in close quarters yet still out of sight will heighten your senses and make the hair in the back of your neck stand up....
Another consideration for you, and what I personally enjoy is "run and gun" hunting..... Get on a property where you know there are toms and start calling.... Listen for a gobble back... Slowly close the gap between you and where you heard the gobbling calling every few minutes.... When you feel you are close enough, find cover and try and make the Tom close the distance.... It's a wicked adrenaline rush.... A Tom gobbling back at you in close quarters yet still out of sight will heighten your senses and make the hair in the back of your neck stand up....
A good trick while scouting and roosting birds is never to call ( bird remember calls just dont give your away), just used the owl or crow noise, a whistlle with no ball in it will have them double and triple gooble instantaneously because it imitate the hawk high picth noise... J
I am heading out on my first Turkey hunt in southern BC
I think I'm going to head up to Trail BC and walk the power lines
I be using T/C encore Turkey barrel I probably should not go but I keep hearing how much fun it is
I kind of like how we have to do it...... Can't say I would change a thing from a hunting perspective.....
At 50 yards I can shoot a dime ten times out of ten, with way more energy than necessary... I would definitely change the rules to allow other safe and effective methods... until then bows and shotguns are the deal.
Agreed .... But, and there is always a but...... I could harvest one from distance with a .17 hmr..... I won't judge what is legal..... But I will say that those that don't want to get "down and dirty" with a bird ae missing out.....
Turkeys are dumb. Look on google earth and find the thickest brush around (creeks etc) this is where they nest, preferably near where someone was feeding cattle over the winter (especially greenfeed). Go out in the evening and sit quietly, you will hear them calling. If you are quick about it you can find the tree they are in and spot the bird before it gets dark. If you need them to call again to hone in on the tree you can probably make a good imitation of a turkey gobble with your mouth without any practice.
Probably the most enjoyable way is to go horn hunting with a dog that likes to chase things. When the turkeys see you they will run but a dog will be fast enough to put them up in trees, then you can pick the one you want and congratulate yourself on out smarting a bird.
Probably the most enjoyable way is to go horn hunting with a dog that likes to chase things. When the turkeys see you they will run but a dog will be fast enough to put them up in trees, then you can pick the one you want and congratulate yourself on out smarting a bird.
I have shot dozens of gobblers under 20 yards and some at arms length, with both shotguns and bows... a precise shot to the eyeball at 50+ yards is just a different and equally exciting experience... and then, there is nothing stopping you from waiting and taking the shot at 5 yards.
I'd love to hunt turkeys with rimfires. My lil mach 2 would be perfect. Most of the birds I shoot are well within 20 yards. I think it would add to the challenge when using a rimfire. A turkeys head isn't a big target
You guys talking about shooting a turkey in the head are unreal!!!! In areas that ARE allowed to use rimfire's they don't aim for the head!!!!! Hoytcanon, if you have shot sooooooo many birds than it should be obvious to you that shooting a gobbler in the head at 50 yds with a single projectile is next to impossible. Why do you think they recommend shooting at the base of the gobblers neck with a shotgun!!!! Good luck with a 15 yard let alone a 50 yd shot with a single projectile on a bird that is CONSTANTLY moving his head. Rimfire area's recommend shooting for the spine. Just another great reason I'm glad we are limited to shottys in Ont. All I need are clowns trying to head shot my decoys with a rimfire...................
really. I shoot empty 22 cal cases at 50 yards with my 22 mag. And have no problem shooting turkey in the head with it at 50 yards. Lol....and I have shot many Tom's over the years .....
