Turkey Hunting Newbie

[dak0ta]

Hi,

I'm planning to get into hunting wild turkey next season. I have 3 shotguns, all 12 ga. A Mossberg 500, Winchester Model 12 (Full choke), and Ithaca 37 (Full choke).

Which gun would you guys recommend using? Are the full chokes sufficient for turkeys or do I need to get an aftermarket X-Full choke which automatically selects the Mossberg 500 as it takes screw in chokes?

I was leaning towards the Model 12 and I thought the Ithaca 37 might be too light in weight for turkey loads.

The M12 is 1955 and M37 is 1948. Can I shoot modern copper plated lead turkey loads in them? And since they are 2 3/4'' chambers, what type of shotshell oz loads should I use and shot size?

Lastly, regarding camouflage, I have a US surplus woodland parka, will that suffice or do I need to get Mossy Oak or RealTree dedicated camo?

 

[rajb123]

the best gun is the one that will pattern the best (tightest) for turkeys.....

...follow up shots are not rare but it should not be a major consideration.... usually you'll get only one shot...

buy some videos of hunts and study the calls used.... a simple box call is probably the ticket.

 

[porktornado]

i LOVE hunting the elusive thunder chicken! i have never done it with a shotgun though, i only use a bow. if you do your scouting and know where they roost and strut, then you don't even need camo, or a choke. simply invest in a good decoy (avian x makes a darn good one and can sometimes be found on sale at cabelas) and a blind. i had a tom at 10 yards in full strut right next to my hen decoy, i shot him with a rage in the chest and he flew up and landed back down, only to go back into full strut because he thought the hen was real. i then took a magnum striker up the backside and dropped him.

set up where you know turkeys are and do some soft calls. the closer you set the decoy, the closer the birds will be. i had multiple birds at 15 yards or less, some even pecking at the blind. at that distance any of your shotguns would do just fine. i would just invest in some turkey loads and find the one that patterns the best. the blind allows for A LOT more movement and is nice on rainy days. thats the only way i hunt turkeys.

i know hauling a blind around is a pain, but it is easily doable. i carried mine around in the black hills. it definitely makes up for its weight by allowing more movement. we got 5 toms last year, all out of blinds.

you said the model 12 and ithaca were 2-3/4 chambers, then you said they might be too light for 3". if they are 2-3/4 then you cannot put 3" in them.

like i said, if you can get them in close, it doesn't matter which shotgun you are shooting.

 

[303tom]

Any one of the three will work fine, now get your self some Hi-power No-4`s, and some DAMN GOOD camouflage, a Turkey can see you blink from further than you can shoot him with a shotgun..................

 

[dak0ta]

So would you say a face mask and gloves are important? How about using Mossy Oak burlap blind material to cover yourself?

Does Copper-plated lead shot make a huge difference vs regular nitro shot?

 

[porktornado]

facemask and gloves are a must. You could use that blind material to make a blind with sticks and logs and whatnot. maybe bring some small hand sheers.

303tom is right, IMO they have the best eyes in the woods. you should already be in the shooting position long before the bird gets there, and if you have to move, make sure he is facing away.

any number 4s and a full choke and you will be just fine. the more realistic decoy you have, the better it will keep his attention. i only use one single hen. the toms and jakes have never worked for me.

 

[dak0ta]

Also, does a fiber optic front sight help in low light or a simple bead is fine?

And regarding calls, box or slate type are easier to use and learn? And how do you transition from call to gun without the bird seeing you?

 

[porktornado]

never used a fiber optic on a shotgun before, but it helps on my bow. in illinois we can only hunt till 1pm, which is lame.

box is super easy to learn, but you need to keep chalk with you. slate isn't too hard to learn but if it gets wet you are screwed. i had no clue how to use a slate or a mouth call when i bought them, but i kept them in the truck and whenever i had free time i would practice. watch videos on youtube on how to call and whatnot. i could hardly make a sound with my mouth call when i got it, and now my friends who got me into turkey hunting have me call for them. like i said, i only hunt from a blind so i can move around all i want. in most cases, if you see a tom coming to your decoy, no more calling is needed. it will take time but he will come to it. don't over call him.

here is a random tip and has worked very well for me: if you hear turkeys gobble in the morning and they shut up, don't get frustrated. 11-1pm is my favorite time to hunt besides first thing in the morning. those toms that quit gobbling probably found a hen already and are going to breed them, but once they are done they will go on the hunt for another hen. that is when he will remember that "other hen" calling. stick it out, just because they quit gobbling doesn't mean that they won't come to you eventually.

 

[jrdolall]

Where I live the camo is critical because the mosquitos will carry you off without gloves and a mask. I spray liberally with any insect repellent since turkeys don't really use their sense of smell and keep a small bottle in my vest.
Any of the guns mentioned will work with a full choke. If you can use screw-in chokes then there are about 5,000 different kinds. Pattern your gun at 30-40 yards and you need a very tight pattern.

I use an old box call that I have had for many years when the birds are at a distance and then switch to a diaphragm when they get closer to avoid movement. Less calling is generally better because they already know where you are as soon as you call once. I swear they can pinpoint me to the exact tree some days. As soon as he stops gobbling and you have been sitting for 45 minutes waiting it will be time to make a move. When you stand up he will be looking at you from 30 yards and haul butt. That is a guarantee!

Turkeys are either really smart or really stupid, depending on what day you are in the woods. if they are actively searching for hens then they will come running to you. If they are with a hen then you pretty much have to call the hen to you and the gobbler will follow.

Easterns are by far the most difficult to hunt in my experience. Merriams are the easiest. Osceolas are 2nd toughest and Rios are close to Merriams. Those are the 4 species I have hunted.

 

[porktornado]

As soon as he stops gobbling and you have been sitting for 45 minutes waiting it will be time to make a move. When you stand up he will be looking at you from 30 yards and haul butt. That is a guarantee!

hahahaha, you know someone has turkey hunted their fair share when they say stuff like this. couldn't be more true. i can't tell you how many times that has happened to me. when you think they are gone...they are closer. when you think they are closer...they are REALLY close. i love it when a loud gobble rings out from 5 yards away and almost makes you pee a little.

 

[dak0ta]

Wow this sounds exciting. Turkeys the hardest animals to hunt you say?

 

[porktornado]

no, definitely not. they tell you where they are in the morning, and they tell you where they go to bed. i consider it some of the easiest hunting i have done. but definitely a boat load of fun. you should try mountain goats.