First Turkey Season (Gear Questions)

[LambeauLeap]

Hey guys, I'm new to hunting in general. I just started last fall bow hunting white tails in Southern Ontario and I'm looking to get into Turkey in a few weeks.

I just purchased a Win SXP Turkey Hunter for the season and I'm looking to find out what else I need.

The firearm came with a full choke, but I'm wondering if I really need an Extra Full Choke or will the FC do?

Also, I've been reading that I may want lighter clothing to go hunting with and some rubber boots for swampier forests in the Spring.

I will be hunting with my GFs father so I have decoys and such, but I'm mainly looking for advice on a few good calls and if it's necessary that I buy a Turkey vest as well since I read they are pretty handy.

Any help would be great and any tips/strategies on how to kill Toms would be awesome, thanks !

 

[Brocolt]

for a vest I would look at Primos or that sh!t hole called Cabelas. Yah I'm not a fan of Cabelas can you tell. LOL

as for a call I use a mouth call from Quaker Boy, info on the back will teach you how to use it. Took me a few hours & I'm very good with it.

Do some pattern shooting with the choke & try #4, #5 or #6 shot to see how it works for you.

 

[BAC4]

Get yourself a comfortable seat. The vest is a good idea for carrying things. A box call is fairly easy to master. Perhaps a pair of pruning shears. Best of luck.

 

[The ROC]

The choke you use will depend on the ammo you shoot. Some ammo have a flight control wad system that requires no choke at all. In this situation expect to spend some time at the range or shooting grounds for sighting in and experimenting with different shot patterns from different ammo at different distances... 10, 20,30 and even 40 yards. I'm sighted in for 20 and good out to 30 yards for my set up.

Practice with your mouth call, pot call and a gobbler.

Turkey Lounger is nice but I just use a bum pillow and a tree.... less bulk to care for a Run n Gun.

Don't worry too much on a vest. This is your first time so this is your experimenting stage. The vest you buy this year may turn out to be not the right fit for you and your equipment and you'll end up spending more on a up grade and trying to sell off the other for a low price. I've turkey hunted for 4 years and I don't use a vest... IMHO it's a marketing ploy for hunters to spend more.

Run and Gun... go as light as possible. The usual hunting outfit, rubber boots, light jacket with pockets for your calls and ammo (I carry 6 shot shells but end up carrying 5 back to the truck), small back pack for your snacks and water, first aid and other small misc items.

If you're going ground blind... gear up to your hearts content and the most comfortable chair you can get.

Plan your gear on field dressing at the sight or back at home base. If home base the less is best cause plan on adding another 20lb or more turkey on your back. If at the sight bring zip lock bags and a sharp knife. After field dressing I keep almost everything... breast meat for the BBQ and the rest for turkey broth.

 

[brybenn]

Turkey hunting is marketing's greatest win. A simple quaker boy box call can produce most sounds for $15. Pattern your gun and know your limits. Scouting is the important part. Know where the birds are and when. Beat them there and hide behind natural cover within your range.
I use a variety of shotguns mostly sxs guns choked f/m. I use 7/8 oz #6 shot. I rarely even wear camo anymore unless I take my bow

 

[1duckslayer]

You have to pattern your gun to know what choke/shell you will need. Grab a couple different boxes of turkey ammo and try it out with your full choke, I would recommend winchester long beard and federal flight control as a place to start with a regular full choke. If not happy with the results purchase a x full choke and go from there. No two guns with shoot the same so its up to you to find what works best for your gun. Patterning will give you your effective range, stick within those limits and you will be fine.

I would recommend a box or pot & peg call to start with, move on to the more difficult mouth calls once you realize this is something you like to do. Pick up a few mouth calls and watch youtube for instructions or buy a cd and practice in your car to and from work. Out in the field on the hunt is not the place to practice. Get efficient with the calls be for you try them in hunting situations.

Less is more when it comes to calling, over calling has got to be one of the leading factors to a bird turning an heading the other way. As tempting as it is to call keep it to a minimum. Once you have hunted for a number of years you will be able to judge when the birds want more calling or less. That being said every bird is different and some can give even the most seasoned veteran fits.........that's why turkey hunting is so great!!

Head to toe camo including facemask and gloves. Thermocells work great for bugs later in the season.

Scouting is the biggest key to a successful turkey hunt. Get out before the season starts, get out before dark and listen to them gobbling before they leave the roost, observe there travel routes and other routines from as far away as possible and NEVER call while scouting, leave the calling for the hunt, all it will do is educate the birds before the season starts. The more times you can get out scouting the more you will pattern the birds and better your chances at pulling the hammer on that big gobbler!

Good luck and have fun out there!!


Oh by the way when I seen your avatar I was not going to help you out but decided to not hold your poor taste in football teams against you.....................

 

[Highwind]

AS mentioned it's goo to know where the turkeys are roaming. They have a route and territory. Sometimes it may be as much as a 5 mile area. They tend to move throughout all of their range but they may have favorite locations too. Don"t ignore swampy areas because they do frequent these areas as well. The big toms will cover more area and it's good to sit in a bushy area and do the ambush thing. Camo is good to have and a cushion so one can keep their butt dry. Turkeys have keen eyes and ears but I've never found them to be as "nose" sensitive as a whitetail deer. I like a #5 Turkey heavy load in 3" is plenty for 25 - 30 yard shots. Some will try out to 40 yards or so, but if there isn't a kill then the turkey are more alert when they are travelling around. It might take a few years before you get the hang of it. And it's good to look for them anytime you are wondering country-side roads.

 

[Runningfool]

Unless you are hunting from a blind, the best advice I have for a new wild turkey hunter is to have gear that will facilitate you being motionless for several hours, ie. a comfortable seat cushion, warm clothes, cover for your lower extremities, waterproof gear, bug spray/thermocell, etc.

One of the most difficult things I find when turkey hunting is remaining motionless for hours and I do mean motionless...it's not just the toms that are wary. I've had hens bust me when I made the slightest movement and when they get spooked and leave, in most cases the toms follow.

It is surprising how a comfortable seating position can feel like torture 2 hours later. A comfortable cushion or seat is essential. A skirt to hide your shifting butt and legs can also improve your odds of staying undetected. Remaining motionless makes you feel colder which makes it difficult to sit still; add some rain to the mix and you may find yourself shaking like a leaf which can give away your position and make your aim less reliable.

Movement is your biggest enemy. Take steps to minimize or obscure your movement and you will be rewarded. And most important of all, post the pics and details of your hunt here for us to see!