Let's talk turkey!

Absolutely.. the thought of warm weather and chasing game is alluring this time of year...

I also pick wild garlic that time of year... so chase gobblers in the morning, pick garlic early afternoon then roost a gobbler for the next morning... Great time of year!...
 
Fall hunting in many areas... In fall you can take a hen...

Fall hunting usually involves spooking the flock then calling them back to assembly rather than relying on the mating instinct... Same equipment but different technique...
 
Superbrad...a couple years ago I lost a large tom due to a coyote on our property. The same area bow hunting I lost a buck to what looked like the same yote. I decided at that moment, there was too many coyotes! lol
 
I have not read this whole thread so excuse me if this has been said before but in my opinion the most critical factor in harvesting a turkey is keeping still. Two years ago I was hunting deer wearing full blaze orange and 50 to 60 turkeys walk out of the bush just in front of me. They walked towards and around me, some close enough I could have reached out and grabbed it by the throat. I have hunted turkeys for some years now and will still use camo but I believe movement is what they hone in on no matter what you wear.
 
ff33 said:
I have not read this whole thread so excuse me if this has been said before but in my opinion the most critical factor in harvesting a turkey is keeping still. Two years ago I was hunting deer wearing full blaze orange and 50 to 60 turkeys walk out of the bush just in front of me. They walked towards and around me, some close enough I could have reached out and grabbed it by the throat. I have hunted turkeys for some years now and will still use camo but I believe movement is what they hone in on no matter what you wear.
Click to expand...

It has been mentioned... But you put emphasis... An orange blob that doesn't move is an inanimate objext to them... Staying still is big and a big factor in me wanting to learn mouth calls...
 
Winchester-1897 said:
Great thread Superbrad and you are right on the pruners. It must be the Spring type weather we have had that has got us all talking turkey :)
Click to expand...

I saw a tom strutting for half a dozen hens the other day, that got me goin a little bit. Hopefully it doesn't mean they are starting the breeding season early and they'll be done by the time turkey season opens.
 
Pruners are an essential for sure. I like to move around a lot if I don't get much response after fly down and if you don't have pruners on you, you are quite limited to where you can set up.

I agree they don't give you instructions on how to purr. An old time turkey hunter showed me the technique. By far the hardest call on the mouth call imop.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls? I find those the most comfortable.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls
 
A technique that hasn't been mentioned here is one I prefer.

I like to locate areas that are travel corridors and set up on them, the birds have to move from the roost to feeding areas and strutting areas. I hunt from pop-up blinds and set up my decoys in the travel corridors, every turkey in the area comes to look at my decoys.

I kill my turkeys very close the farthest turkey killed was 14 yards,closest was 7. Running and gunning is fun but when there are lots of people in the woods letting the birdies come to you is very effective.Plus when the spring woods are full of mosquitoes it's nice to sit in a dry blind and glass the birds and you can hunt in your street clothes so you can squeeze more hunting time out of your day.
 
roadhunter.338 said:
I'm going turkey hunting for the first time this spring. I will be hunting in southern BC, a 4 hour drive away. All the above info is very helpful.

I have a few questions:
1. Where do i start looking for tukeys, Osoyos, Rock Creek, Vernon.Kelowna?
2. What is the best habitat for Turkeys?
3. Do they spook like moose/deer?
4. If they spook, will they be back tommorow?

I dont want to drive around on my quad right past turkey areas for 3 years not knowing they are just off the trail watching me ride by.:shotgun:
Click to expand...

I suggest going farther east - Cranbrook area? That's the first place in BC with a general season. Okanagan valley was LEH but maybe that's changed now. A good knowledge of Crown vs private land is essential down there. Most of the turkeys like farm land (private) but sometimes they're way out in the hinterland. Hunting is better early in the season. Birds are more plentiful and less educated. You can drive around and look from truck, but like others have said, get out before dawn and listen for the gobblers. Gobble will carry for a couple km on a calm morning. No harm asking permission on private land - many farmers don't like the turkeys - they eat up all the stock food. They can spook easily, but if not badly scared they'll be back in the same area. They are creatures of habit, and will often roost in the same area and travel the same route to the same feeding area if not disturbed too much.
A fun & tasty bird to hunt - but hunting in the spring with flowers and singing birds felt odd to me.
 
doublelung said:
Pruners are an essential for sure. I like to move around a lot if I don't get much response after fly down and if you don't have pruners on you, you are quite limited to where you can set up.

I agree they don't give you instructions on how to purr. An old time turkey hunter showed me the technique. By far the hardest call on the mouth call imop.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls? I find those the most comfortable.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls
Click to expand...

Haven't tried the foam ones yet... Will do... I think my problem is that I have a small palate... When I was younger I had to have teeth removed because of it..

So far I can do a half decent yelp butt that's about it... Will try the foam though
 
badgreenbird said:
I suggest going farther east - Cranbrook area? That's the first place in BC with a general season. Okanagan valley was LEH but maybe that's changed now. A good knowledge of Crown vs private land is essential down there. Most of the turkeys like farm land (private) but sometimes they're way out in the hinterland. Hunting is better early in the season. Birds are more plentiful and less educated. You can drive around and look from truck, but like others have said, get out before dawn and listen for the gobblers. Gobble will carry for a couple km on a calm morning. No harm asking permission on private land - many farmers don't like the turkeys - they eat up all the stock food. They can spook easily, but if not badly scared they'll be back in the same area. They are creatures of habit, and will often roost in the same area and travel the same route to the same feeding area if not disturbed too much.
A fun & tasty bird to hunt - but hunting in the spring with flowers and singing birds felt odd to me.
Click to expand...

I do this also... Typically I roost a gobbler night before then ttry for him... If no success after an hour or so I run and gun for a bit... After that I set the dekes up in a hardwood area where I know they like to scratch for grubs and pop up a blind...
 
doublelung said:
Pruners are an essential for sure. I like to move around a lot if I don't get much response after fly down and if you don't have pruners on you, you are quite limited to where you can set up.

I agree they don't give you instructions on how to purr. An old time turkey hunter showed me the technique. By far the hardest call on the mouth call imop.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls? I find those the most comfortable.

Brad have you tried the foam mouth calls
Click to expand...




Apparently when I've had too many whiskey's on a Saturday night and I start typing, I turn into the repeater !! WTF
 
Just a heads up on a really good deal on a top notch Turkey vest.... I tried to buy it myself at this price but I am just a few pounds too heavy to squeeze into it.... anyone under 6 foot tall and 200 pounds would easily fit in this vest... ignore the m - sm sizing..... These are THE BEST turkey vests out there bar none IMOP..... try for a package, the vest, box call and 3 dekes... For $170 or less you would have a top notch starter package that you could add extra calls to as you go....


http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=698675
 
I do a most of my hunting at the edge of fields that are primarily used for corn and some fields used for potato. I like an area that is dry at the edge of the field later in the day sometimes when it is hot. The turkeys seem to like to come out and do some dirt bathing in these very sandy dry areas as you often see the sign.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom