Fall Turkey Season in NH, need advice

[atek3]

Two weeks from today, Fall turkey season starts here in NH. It's a week long. I've got a shotgun, that's it. I've got a turkey choke in bound.

Anyone got suggestions for my check list?

1)pattern shotgun, find good load.
2)buy turkey call, learn to use it.
3)scout potential hunting grounds
4)buy some camo

What other "must-do's" am I missing?

I'm totally new to this stuff.

atek3

 

[wanderinwalker]

Must do #5:

Call Concord or visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm and get special Fall Shotgun Turkey permit (if you have not done so already).

Mostly, find the birds and have a bead on them when the season starts. I've been told that the birds don't really respond as much to calling in the fall. Most of the fall turkey hunters I know are archery deer hunters with a spare tag in their pocket. (If you didn't know, archery turkey started Sept. 15.)

I'll be up north of you this weekend trying to kick some grouse out of the backwoods. Good luck and have fun!

 

[atek3]

I already got the special fall shotgun turkey. So how do I find one of these so called "turkeys"?

atek3

 

[wanderinwalker]

My experience is that this time of year, your best places to find turkey are the fringes of fields where they turn into more open woods. The best times of day seem to be right after daylight and right before dusk. Can't be much more specific than that, but that's when I see them the most.

Reminds me of a couple of years ago, hunting up by my camp. Hiking out a logging road, I came across a couple heading up to their stand up in the woods. "We're turkey huntin'." I wondered where they thought those birds were. A few minutes later, I found their truck and a flock of 20 or so turkeys surrounding it!

So yeah, watch the edges. Don't go too far into the woods. And don't move if you're waiting for them.