huntingdiva needing help again LOL

[solo90]

it will be my first time hunting for turkey this spring with a shotgun. i got my permit yesterday in the mail and i need ALL the good advice i can get.

[beeell]

Take it from a guy who tried the solo hunt with no experience...bring a mentor. Someone who knows what to do and how to do it will make your hunt more enjoyable and you'll have a much better chance at success. Obviously a new hunter can do it on thier own, but the learning curve can get frustrating.
That being said, you have to try to find the roosting birds. Then the next morning wait for them to come down and call them into range. Learn to use your calls. Everyone says the diaphram is the hard one to learn but I had it down inside a couple of minutes. once you learn to use it then you have to learn to talk turkey with it...thats the hard part. go see some calling seminars, and get a good video.

[Mark]

Yes, by all means get a buddy. My first year I had a friend come and do the calling. We knew about where the birds were, and set up about 100 yards from the area. My buddy set up 50 yards from me. We stayed away from the roost because the birds spook easily. In nature the hen calls, and the tom comes in within 80 yards of the hen and gobbles. The hen then comes into the tom. What we turkey hunters are trying to do is bring the tom all the way in. Depending on the toms mood, he may come all the way in, but if he's ever been shot at, he will usually hang up about 80 yards away.
What happened to me was the tom hung up at 80 yards, but he was within 30 yards of me. We harvested that tom. He was really something to see, all spread out and strutting. The day was even better because my friend was there to share in the fun.
Mark

[Brent]

Yeah I agree bring a friend, or go with a friend. Also read the other post of beginners and turkey hunting.

[sharp shooter]

Have hunted turkeys in Ill. for sometime finding it harder to call them in. They fly down with the hens and away they go.
If you have trouble early might try sitting tight and calling once in awhile might bring in a stray jake or later on a tom who is looking for hens after the hens he started out with left him.
I would agree you need to get with someone who has some experience if at all possible.
If you can get in between the gobbler and the hens with out spooking them it would be the best.
Good luck!!

[solo90]

Thanks for all the infro. I thought the hard part was finding ground I could hunt on. but now that I have found a place and have my permit, I need a hunting buddy with experince, So do any of you happen to live in Macoupin county? I so much want to be successful this spring. But, don't we all.

[sharp shooter]

I live in marion county Ill.
I did not get a permit for this year have not been able to get off work long enough to hunt been working 6 days a week.
Hope you can find someone to help you if there is a national wild turkey federation club in your county they might be able to help you out.
You might check into some turky hunting CD's or tapes they would help some but you need to get with some one has done some hunting and maybe get them to help you out.
Good luck!!

[solo90]

thanks for the advice. if you find someone around my area, send them my way. lol in the mean time i'll be checking out some videos. i know someone in my area, but he has been very sick with colon cancer. if he pulls through this with a speedy recovery i know he will be a world of information.

[smallgamehunter]

Thanks for all the infro. I thought the hard part was finding ground I could hunt on. but now that I have found a place and have my permit, I need a hunting buddy with experince, So do any of you happen to live in Macoupin county? I so much want to be successful this spring. But, don't we all.
im in madison county i dont have much experience but i got a couple of good calls and i would be happy to talk turkey for you. my email is smallgamehunter@charter.net just drop me a line and we work out the details

[solo90]

i need to make sure that i will still be able to hunt on the ground, it's land locked and there might be a problem. thanks

[smallgamehunter]

ok just let me know.

[Yooper]

Other than going with someone, I'd also suggest patterning your shotgun repeatedly so you know what your shot does at different ranges. Don't worry about all the gimmicks out there yet either. Just keep it simple.

I'd suggest HeviShot #5's but there is a new load from Winchester that is lethal... and impressive.