Finally getting back into Turkey hunting

[Lennyjoe]

I’ve been out of the game since 2007 and decided it’s time to get back in. Had to dig out the gear and clean up the Ithaca M-87 so she’s ready to go. Put down quite a few birds with her in the past (1995-2007). Picked it up at a pawn shop for $150 way back when. Love the bottom eject for this lefty shooter.

Season opens this upcoming Saturday in Ohio. Will be nice to get back into the woods. Now to brush up my calling.

 

[courtgreene]

I hope you do better than I’ve done. Took my son on youth week once and a friend after regular opening. Lots of gobbles, couldn’t get them to commit though. Turkey season is about having fun for me, so it doesn’t really matter that much if I get one or not. Good luck.

 

[redneck2]

Opening day tomorrow (Wednesday) here in northern Indiana. Supposed to get 1-2” of snow

Hope you do well.

 

[Howland937]

Always best to brush up on your calling somewhere other people hunt...
I hope you get one within range. There are definitely birds all over that area.

 

[dh1633pm]

Last time I hunted for a turkey was a butterball buried in the bottom of the freezer. There was a bunch in the yard last week. Always wanted to give it a try. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[glockgod]

Ill be on the other side of the state

 

[22250Rem]

I just began getting back into it a couple years ago after not turkey hunting since about 2005. Love being out in the woods on a morning in May watching the day break and the woods "waking up". Picked up a new extra full, extended turkey choke for the Mossberg 500 dedicated turkey gun. Not sure if I need that much choke because from the permanent blind I hunt from 25 yards would be the longest shot available to me. Last couple years I haven't had much luck but they're in the area. Get an occasional trail cam picture of a gobbler walking into the area out in front of the blind. Perhaps this year I'll be lucky enough to be in the blind when one wanders by. LOL.

 

[Ranger99]

Be sure to check patterns if using new
unproven ammunition.
Don't over call. An interested gobbler
will find you after it answers. Stop
calling and keep your eyes peeled
and stay still and alert

Good luck

 

[Lennyjoe]

Same choke, shotgun ammo I used in the past but I checked pattern yesterday and it’s good to go. Neighbors have been looking at me weird lately since I’ve been sitting in my garage practicing my calling. RV all packed up and ready to roll. Just need to finish work this morning, get wife and her dogs loaded up and off we go to camp site. Out later this eve to see if I can put some birds to bed.

 

[Howland937]

At least the neighbors haven't asked if you've seen any yet. Mine used to ask if I was catching any when I'd be out in the yard polishing up on my jig flipping skills.

 

[eastbank]

ours starts next sat and i,m ready, not sure the turkeys will be. i like turkey hunting as much a big game, i went over to the TSS side about 7 years ago and like it. i limit my shots to 40 yards and like them closer, calling in and fooling a large tom is a game of wits i don,t win all the time.

 

[Howland937]

About 7:45 this morning. The cold weather here in OH didn't shut all of them down. Opening day is tomorrow. Ive just about convinced myself to get back out there, but I'm easier to convince than the boss is.

Pics suck, but 2 (1 in each pic) closest to the camera were in full strut.

 

[22250Rem]

One good thing I did was to hang on to all the 12 ga. turkey loads I had even though I wasn't turkey hunting for about 12 years. Between 1999 & 2001 I stocked up on a large quantity of 3 different loads and compared to the price of comparable ammo today it looks like I made a good investment. Now that I'm getting back to turkey hunting again this stuff is almost like gold to me. .. Some still have prices on them.. ...Pattern tested some of it last month and it all does real well now that the turkey gun has an extra full extended turkey choke screwed into it.

 

[Howland937]

I had more fun calling them for other people than I ever did hunting for myself, but I never cared about shooting them anyway. Just the adrenaline rush when they get close...that was the addiction for me.
I gave all my gear to my dad a few years ago. I may have a call or two laying around but that's about it.

 

[glockgod]

Took my "little" nephew this morning. He's in his 30s. We're both rookie turkey hunters. Thought it was going to happen this morning but not to be. Headed out tomorrow again. I think he enjoyed the time we spent hunting today

 

[Lennyjoe]

Seen several hens but no gobblers. No back talk to calls either. Back at it tomorrow

 

[Howland937]

Hoping you get better results today. Should have been a really good morning for it.

 

[Lennyjoe]

No joy. Heard a hen in the distance but no gobblers. Was good to get back in the woods so that was a plus. Appreciate your scouting info. Next 3 weekends are busy so I’m not sure if/when I’d get back out again.

 

[WisBorn]

@Lennyjoe your story is similar to mine. I started hunting turkeys in 1995 very successful for several years. With a couple of moves I haven't hunted turkeys for a few years.
I did promise myself that I would shoot my next bird with my bow before I take another with a shotgun.

Good luck with your hunt! Be safe and have fun!!!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

No choke at all, and she just keeps bringing them down. Chokes is over-rated! The turks around here (Eastern Washington State) started gobbling about a week before season, then they stopped and I hunted quite a few days never hearing or seeing anything. Then I finally had one coming in and at the last minute he hangs a left and goes behind me, and then busted me as I was trying to turn around enough to shoot him.

The next one I saw never gobbled, I had been calling for a while, so I thought I was alone, laid down my musket and decided to have some coffee. Of course, I look up and there's a big old gobbler looking at me, and was gone before I could grab my musket. Had one other gobble, but I think he was closer than I thought, and must have seen me put my decoy out. Wanted to go out this last Friday, but had grand-children duty. So, I may get skunked this season, still have a couple of weeks but they are winding down, around here for sure. But as others have mentioned, just sneaking around the woods with a long-gun is reward enough for me.

 

[22250Rem]

Congrats.... Haven't seen one yet around here. Or heard any gobbling. Season opened May 1st and runs until May 31st. Was out opening day with no results and the next day when I wasn't there the trail cam caught a hen walking past the blind at 7:41 A.M.. It's encouraging to know that they are in the neighborhood even though hens are off limits in spring. That picture is approximately 12 yards from the blind.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Good looking bird. Oh it's amazing how few turks one will see, or hear, when you know the area is crawling with them. They just seem to disappear for a while. The land I hunt is thick with them, but this opening day, and for at least 4-5 days later still no gobbling. When they did start gobbling again, it was nothing like previous seasons where I'd at least hear lots of gobbling, even if I could not get them to come all the way in. Or they would charge in so fast with just the first searching call that I'd hardly have time to shuck my pack and sit down. Of course last year they closed the season down, because being out in the woods alone you might catch the flu, from a deer or coyote, then opened it up the last week or so, when they were completely done gobbling and mating. That turk in my pic was year before last.

Well I still have until the end of the month, but I think they are getting close (the turkeys) to calling it quits. Maybe I'll still get a jake that didn't "get some" earlier in the season. !!!! The one that busted me drinking coffee was a big old Tom, and I suspect he was the same one that went around behind me about a week before.

Game cameras, on one day I took my grandson out with me, and we found a camera. So we clowned around in front of it for a while. I really have to laugh thinking about when the owner reviewed his pictures. I've encountered them a few times up North also, and always put on some kind of show for them. I keep expecting to see myself on youtube one of these days. !!