Turkey hunting
- Thread starter mommabear
- Start date
Hey Mommabear, don't believe for a minute that it is that hard... just be patient and you will get your bird.
This spring wil be the best turkey hunt in Ontario since we first released birds in the early eightys.
Record numbers of birds are reported all across most of the province, a mild winter and modest snow depths this year have kept the numbers stable and the birds healthy.
I can't wait until I hear the gobbles from the roost....
Where are you guys gonna be hunting, are you going with someone with a few birds under his belt?
This spring wil be the best turkey hunt in Ontario since we first released birds in the early eightys.
Record numbers of birds are reported all across most of the province, a mild winter and modest snow depths this year have kept the numbers stable and the birds healthy.
I can't wait until I hear the gobbles from the roost....
Where are you guys gonna be hunting, are you going with someone with a few birds under his belt?
This spring will be my 8th season .
I've bagged 12 gobblers in the 7 seasons past...
My 1st year was a total bust ...except ...for the experience I gained and I've filled my " allowed " tags since.
Which pattern of camo doesn't really matter ( even a fig leaf ) , it's how you use it to your advantage.
I've been busted sitting perfectly still and another time I had a hen stand on my knapsack just a foot away from me...so ya never know.
I don't like making eye contact with a turkey...I swear they can see me blink.
I seen turkey run away when they seen me at long distances ..yet , the biggest gobbler I've harvested tried to hide in tall grass . I walked right out to him and with one cluck he peeked over the grass ...I nailed him about 20ft away...I had to aim a little high for that one..lol
I've also taken 2 Tom's by "run n' gunnin' " , where I seen what the flock was up to ( which wasn't anything to do with my decoys) and I ran , out of sight in the bushline ( safety on! ) to head them off ...worked like a charm.
The NWTF web site has the different calls hens make. Listen and practice.
I like the good ol' slate call , easy to learn and use , very effective.
Mouth calls are fantastic when Ol' Tom is close , they do take some "learning" tho. Each to her/his own for what call is best...be prepared to have a drawer full of calls.
Practice and pattern your shotgun from the postion your likely to be in when hunting.( I usually sit in a lawn chair ) I like to set up my decoys at 20 - 25 steps out and each year I'll practice using "elcheapo" ammo which is definatley cheaper and still keep me " in the zone " . Even still, a miss will happen ."If " you immediatley reload and can stay as still as possible a second chance could be there . Many times , after the shot , Ive seen other turkey still hanging about and well within range , until I make a move .
Never say never and never say always.
Even a gobbler doesn't know what he's gonna do next.
2005 season , seconds after I shot my 2nd Tom , another tom ( even bigger , of course) ran right up and began jumping and clawing at it .
"If " a 1st year hunter doesnt make a kill , they shouldn't let it get to them .
Springtime is a fantastic time of the year to enjoy the woods..so much is going on!
I've bagged 12 gobblers in the 7 seasons past...
My 1st year was a total bust ...except ...for the experience I gained and I've filled my " allowed " tags since.
Which pattern of camo doesn't really matter ( even a fig leaf ) , it's how you use it to your advantage.
I've been busted sitting perfectly still and another time I had a hen stand on my knapsack just a foot away from me...so ya never know.
I don't like making eye contact with a turkey...I swear they can see me blink.
I seen turkey run away when they seen me at long distances ..yet , the biggest gobbler I've harvested tried to hide in tall grass . I walked right out to him and with one cluck he peeked over the grass ...I nailed him about 20ft away...I had to aim a little high for that one..lol
I've also taken 2 Tom's by "run n' gunnin' " , where I seen what the flock was up to ( which wasn't anything to do with my decoys) and I ran , out of sight in the bushline ( safety on! ) to head them off ...worked like a charm.
The NWTF web site has the different calls hens make. Listen and practice.
I like the good ol' slate call , easy to learn and use , very effective.
Mouth calls are fantastic when Ol' Tom is close , they do take some "learning" tho. Each to her/his own for what call is best...be prepared to have a drawer full of calls.
Practice and pattern your shotgun from the postion your likely to be in when hunting.( I usually sit in a lawn chair ) I like to set up my decoys at 20 - 25 steps out and each year I'll practice using "elcheapo" ammo which is definatley cheaper and still keep me " in the zone " . Even still, a miss will happen ."If " you immediatley reload and can stay as still as possible a second chance could be there . Many times , after the shot , Ive seen other turkey still hanging about and well within range , until I make a move .
Never say never and never say always.
Even a gobbler doesn't know what he's gonna do next.
2005 season , seconds after I shot my 2nd Tom , another tom ( even bigger , of course) ran right up and began jumping and clawing at it .
"If " a 1st year hunter doesnt make a kill , they shouldn't let it get to them .
Springtime is a fantastic time of the year to enjoy the woods..so much is going on!
Bobcageon, I believe it's 6ABIGREDD said:Hey Mommabear, don't believe for a minute that it is that hard... just be patient and you will get your bird.
This spring wil be the best turkey hunt in Ontario since we first released birds in the early eightys.
Record numbers of birds are reported all across most of the province, a mild winter and modest snow depths this year have kept the numbers stable and the birds healthy.
I can't wait until I hear the gobbles from the roost....
Where are you guys gonna be hunting, are you going with someone with a few birds under his belt?
Doug said:
Thanks for the info Doug, by the sounds of this thread Turkeys are well established in Ontario. I don't think we've had them over here in BC all that long. But, by all accounts thier range is expanding in leaps and bounds, we now enjoy two short seasons a year for them. Good hunting
.I have hunted turkey a few years in the US with my Uncle he has taught me a thing or two.
When trying to raise your shotgun wait until the bird passes between you and a tree, then raise the gun into position.
Bring a cushion. if your not comfortable you will figet, and well as already mentioned turkeys have good eye site. The cushion don't have to be anything fancy. I have used an old computer mouse pad.
-clothing for your first time you don't need to buy a camo jacket I went into ####'s with a jacket i wanted to wear and tried on several ###L shirts until i found one that fit. cost was minimual next to buying a jacket.
-Pants.. Overalls are better (for me) then regular pants they fit looser and protect more, no bugs when your sitting on the ground.
- i wear a vail and baseball cap and also paint my face i find the vail doesn't give full coverage (around the eyes).
- gloves yes camo either mesh or cotton.
- shotgun if the gun is not camo'd make sure the silver bolt is facing your body when in the resting position.
- if you have a box call bring an elastic to stop the handle from rubbing against the box.
Best of luck they can be a fun and frustrating bird.
When trying to raise your shotgun wait until the bird passes between you and a tree, then raise the gun into position.
Bring a cushion. if your not comfortable you will figet, and well as already mentioned turkeys have good eye site. The cushion don't have to be anything fancy. I have used an old computer mouse pad.
-clothing for your first time you don't need to buy a camo jacket I went into ####'s with a jacket i wanted to wear and tried on several ###L shirts until i found one that fit. cost was minimual next to buying a jacket.
-Pants.. Overalls are better (for me) then regular pants they fit looser and protect more, no bugs when your sitting on the ground.
- i wear a vail and baseball cap and also paint my face i find the vail doesn't give full coverage (around the eyes).
- gloves yes camo either mesh or cotton.
- shotgun if the gun is not camo'd make sure the silver bolt is facing your body when in the resting position.
- if you have a box call bring an elastic to stop the handle from rubbing against the box.
Best of luck they can be a fun and frustrating bird.
Many of the original birds that were transplated were Pennsylvania Birds that had a lot of domestic DNA.
These birds showed a lot of white in their coloration and the flock sizes are huge in the late winter.
If you are lucky enough to be hunting one of the areas where these original bloodlines are prevalent... Turkey hunting isn't all that hard... many of the birds are just plain stupid. I wish it was true in my area.....
Hey... I just pounded a nice coyote on the bait while I was typing this post.... I'll go and get some pics... looks like a nice one from here.
These birds showed a lot of white in their coloration and the flock sizes are huge in the late winter.
If you are lucky enough to be hunting one of the areas where these original bloodlines are prevalent... Turkey hunting isn't all that hard... many of the birds are just plain stupid. I wish it was true in my area.....
Hey... I just pounded a nice coyote on the bait while I was typing this post.... I'll go and get some pics... looks like a nice one from here.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
3:00 and not at work ... workin' the weekend shifts then ???
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