I didn't know there were turkeys in Florida. Here in WI I'm pretty fortunate to have a father-law-law who scouts scouts scouts. He gets out, drives around and knows where there hanging and at what time of day well before we head out. Other than that, get out there in the dark before sunrise and get set up. Good camo, good cover, a good call and lots of patience.
Tips for turkey hunting
Was wondering if anyone had tips for a first timer going turkey hunting this spring. I have hunted for turkey once with a buddy. Didn't see a damn thing. I'm in south florida so the local hunting spots are few and far between and always crowded with hunters. It seems the guys who know the area real well always come back with a bird.
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I hunt public land here in ohio and I.always call at least 4 or 5 Turkeys in every year that gets killed all I do is run and gun hunting I cover lots of back roads....the biggest tip I can give you is be patient and don't over call. Set up to where as soon as you can see the Turkey he is in range and also know your terrain. It's really hard to get a turkey to come downhill always try to set up above the Turkey or at least on the same level. But like I said don't over call that's where a lot of people screw up they call and call and then the Turkey hangs up and expects the hen to come to him....once you know he is committed to coming in call very softly and only every couple of minutes even if he isn't gobbling just give him a little bit of time.
Great tips. Thank you guys
I've never heard that before, but dang. It's true. Thanks.It's really hard to get a turkey to come downhill always try to set up above the Turkey or at least on the same level
Scout, scout, scout,scout, scout! And get a good butt pad, there's nothin harder than tryin to sit still with a root/rock/stick/anything diggin into yer backside. Be still, be patient & listen. Have yer gun up @ the ready (safety on, of course) it's damn near impossible to draw down on a turkey. Lastly but not leastly, enjoy your time in the woods!!!!!!!!!!
Yea because if the Turkey is above you he can see down the hill a lot farther and is less likely to come in if he doesn't see another Turkey.....if you are above him he can't see as far so he will have to come up the hill to see what's up there calling to himI've never heard that before, but dang. It's true. Thanks.
As was stated, do not over call! If you can get raspy with your call and get a Tom tore up to where he is almost cutting your calls off, stop calling! He will come looking for you!
It also helps to know a turkeys daily routine too! What does he do when he flies down? What do birds do mid day? When are the hens setting on nests?
I recommend researching and scouting! Change up your calls, slate, box, mouth call, wingbone! One of my best tools of the trade was a spit 'n drum call! I lost it, and cant find any to replace it!
Good luck!!
It also helps to know a turkeys daily routine too! What does he do when he flies down? What do birds do mid day? When are the hens setting on nests?
I recommend researching and scouting! Change up your calls, slate, box, mouth call, wingbone! One of my best tools of the trade was a spit 'n drum call! I lost it, and cant find any to replace it!
Good luck!!
This is invaluable advice (as is the rest posted above, but this stands out for me).Scout, scout, scout,scout, scout! And get a good butt pad, there's nothin harder than tryin to sit still with a root/rock/stick/anything diggin into yer backside. Be still, be patient & listen. Have yer gun up @ the ready (safety on, of course) it's damn near impossible to draw down on a turkey. Lastly but not leastly, enjoy your time in the woods!!!!!!!!!!
I spent months looking for birds before ever setting foot in a field or the woods. Running off into the woods and sitting down won't typically find you anything. I did a lot of walking before my firsthunt, and knew where not to even waste my time due to no bird sign in the area, or constant cars/trucks of other hunters in the area.
You don't have to spend a fortune on gear, but a good butt pad is indeed great. I bought a Primos vest with a flip-down pad. Love it. I actually fell asleep for a bit waiting for a bird that I spooked to come back an hour later!
I was able to get my gun up and aimed at the bird I took from my lap to shoulder, but I moved sloooooow. I use a slate call, and needed both hands. Once I got him just outside range, I dropped the call and slowly crept to a shooting position. Probably just luck, but a quick movement spooks them every time. I spooked two toms just by pulling my knee up too fast for a better brace.
Also, as a first timer, don't get too hung up on gadgets and gear. Every salesperson I talked to tried to sell me a 400+ dollar crazy camo turkey gun that I couldn't afford. I bought a Mossberg 500 field model with wood stocks, a good choke, and some camo field wraps. I wrapped the butt of the gun, but not the barrel (wasn't sure if it'd melt to the barrel after a shot, it won't). Practice like crazy on whatever call you plan to use.
Our all depends on what kind of hunting you do. I mainly drive through all of the old dirt back roads and stop every little bit and call them do some run and gunning....hunting like this I do some scouting but not as much as everyone says you have to and I still call at least 4 or 5 (and that's a bad year) in off of pubic land that gets killed every year. But we can only hunt till noon here in Ohio so I do put a lot into trying to roost a bird for the next morning. Now if you are going to do a lot of just sitting somewhere where yoi know the birds are going to come through then yea you have to scout and know exactly where the birds are. But like I said it's all in the style of hunting that you do.....and yes whatever call you use make sure you practice A LOTThis is invaluable advice (as is the rest posted above, but this stands out for me).
I spent months looking for birds before ever setting foot in a field or the woods. Running off into the woods and sitting down won't typically find you anything. I did a lot of walking before my firsthunt, and knew where not to even waste my time due to no bird sign in the area, or constant cars/trucks of other hunters in the area.
You don't have to spend a fortune on gear, but a good butt pad is indeed great. I bought a Primos vest with a flip-down pad. Love it. I actually fell asleep for a bit waiting for a bird that I spooked to come back an hour later!
I was able to get my gun up and aimed at the bird I took from my lap to shoulder, but I moved sloooooow. I use a slate call, and needed both hands. Once I got him just outside range, I dropped the call and slowly crept to a shooting position. Probably just luck, but a quick movement spooks them every time. I spooked two toms just by pulling my knee up too fast for a better brace.
Also, as a first timer, don't get too hung up on gadgets and gear. Every salesperson I talked to tried to sell me a 400+ dollar crazy camo turkey gun that I couldn't afford. I bought a Mossberg 500 field model with wood stocks, a good choke, and some camo field wraps. I wrapped the butt of the gun, but not the barrel (wasn't sure if it'd melt to the barrel after a shot, it won't). Practice like crazy on whatever call you plan to use.
A lot of people do that here in Ky too...... Its called poaching! Unless you know for sure what is public land and whats not!akers06 said:I mainly drive through all of the old dirt back roads and stop every little bit and call them do some run and gunning....
........ Again, called poaching. Limit is two toms per year......akers06 said:...... I still call at least 4 or 5 (and that's a bad year) in off of pubic land that gets killed every year.
I dont recommend breaking the law to harvest your bird. NWTF worked hard to bring the wild turkey population up to where it is today.
I know what is public land and what's not I hunt the Wayne national forest in Lawrence county Ohio....and I said I call that many in that get killed...I call a lot for other people....so before you call me a poacher get some infoA lot of people do that here in Ky too...... Its called poaching! Unless you know for sure what is public land and whats not!
........ Again, called poaching. Limit is two toms per year......
I dont recommend breaking the law to harvest your bird. NWTF worked hard to bring the wild turkey population up to where it is today.
Only place to get an Osceola turkey is the southern 2/3 of Florida.I didn't know there were turkeys in Florida. Here in WI I'm pretty fortunate to have a father-law-law who scouts scouts scouts. He gets out, drives around and knows where there hanging and at what time of day well before we head out. Other than that, get out there in the dark before sunrise and get set up. Good camo, good cover, a good call and lots of patience.
OP check out any of the following WMA's:
Green Swamp
Lake Panasofkee
Half Moon
Jumper Creek
Richloam
Thanks guys. I'm going to do some scouting. I have some ideas on where a nice canal backs up to a heavy tree line to start. Also need to practice calling. For now I've been using a box call. Seems to be the easiest to learn lol
Yea box calls are the easiest to start out with....there are a lot of good videos out there to help you out with callingThanks guys. I'm going to do some scouting. I have some ideas on where a nice canal backs up to a heavy tree line to start. Also need to practice calling. For now I've been using a box call. Seems to be the easiest to learn lol
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