Tips for a rookie....

[JP]

Never been much of a turkey hunter, but I'm thinking of getting started. Practiced alot last fall with a mouth call and I think at least I have the basics down. (I'm now the idiot with his window down yelping at other cars!! :) ) At the Strader Show I saw an electronic call. Normally, I hate these---at least for deer---but to me, the turkey rookie, they didn't sound too bad. Does anyone have one, like it.......whats your opinion?

[RutNBuck]

they are illegal to use
i suggest you order treetop turkeys cd real turkey sounds even the pros are buying this cd

[JP]

I love it....illegal calls sold at a Louisville show...THAT should be illegal---thanks

[skin_dog1]

They are only illegal to hunt with them. Not illegal to buy or sell. It doesn't take much to call turkeys. If you can yelp with a diaghram, and work a box and slate half decent you can call turkeys. Stay away from the electronics. Good luck!

[joekat46]

I'll bet they may be legal in some states. They are also being sold in the mail order catalogs. If you get one and decide to use it please let me know. I could use the $500.00 NWTF reward money. Not that I'd turn you in of course.

If Mr. and Mrs. plowboy don't head back north and take their Kentucky rain with them I'm going to have to start building an ark.

[JP]

They are expensive little devils....I do know that. Thanks for the tips....and Joekat---you keep the rain and we'll take back the plowboy. That should be an even trade :p

[turk2di]

The great thing about turkeys is that they aren't picky about your callin. It all boils down to the luck of the draw. The bird u get set up on either wants to die, or he doesn't! It he does, u can scratch a nail across a rusty bucket and here he comes. If he doesn't, u can be the world champ caller and it will be of little use! So don't fret much about how u sound, just learn all u can bout the bird on this site, by talkin to other turkey hunters and by hunting them. If u have any amount of time to hunt at all, u have a great chance of baggin one, or at least freakin a few out!

[Justin Adams]

Turkeys have great eyes JP, you cant by with what lil movement you can in deer hunting, Ive heard they can see you blink at 200yrds, an they have something like 280 degree viewing range aswell.

[COJOMAY]

Primos has a DVD out entitled "Mastering The Art - A guide to calling turkeys." I've seen the CD and it's a must for beginning turkey hunters. All the basics are covered in a great way and you can play it on your computer or on your DVD player.
Mossy Oak also has out a series of DVD's called "Turkey School." I have Volumn 5 entitled, "The First 30 Minutes." with an hour of good sound video for the beginner and advanced turkey hunter. I got it at Wal-Mart cheap.
You may want to check in to these.

[turk2di]

Turkeys have great eyes JP, you cant by with what lil movement you can in deer hunting, Ive heard they can see you blink at 200yrds, an they have something like 280 degree viewing range aswell.
They can hear u think and see u change your mind:eek:

[RutNBuck]

Jp
#1 if you have never turkey hunted its addicting if you watch those videos 90% of the calling they do is for show trying to impress those watchn to buy their calls so dont feel you need to be an excellant caller to kill a turkey..
#2 one of those push/pull calls do very good sound great ,easy to use,make just about any call you need also you can tone them way down

then later on when you get the hang of a mouth call you can use them
together


i have hunted with a Grand National calling champ for several years
(he placed 12th this year) and even his calling didnt fool every turkey in the woods he often asked me to call for him..
i suggest try calling in your first turkey yourself the reward will be greater

just remember they can see like a hawk if you feel one is on his way postion yourself for a shot before you see him if possible..

[JP]

Jp
#1 if you have never turkey hunted its addicting if you watch those videos 90% of the calling they do is for show trying to impress those watchn to buy their calls so dont feel you need to be an excellant caller to kill a turkey..
#2 one of those push/pull calls do very good sound great ,easy to use,make just about any call you need also you can tone them way down

then later on when you get the hang of a mouth call you can use them
together


i have hunted with a Grand National calling champ for several years
(he placed 12th this year) and even his calling didnt fool every turkey in the woods he often asked me to call for him..
i suggest try calling in your first turkey yourself the reward will be greater

just remember they can see like a hawk if you feel one is on his way postion yourself for a shot before you see him if possible..

Excellent advice...thanks...I know the only time I actually "hunted" turkeys was last year---once---and so far it seems everyone is right....I'm sure I sounded like a hen with bronchitis who had smoked for 25 years, but nonetheless I called in a jake. That is when I learned to use a mouth call....like you say "position yourself".....(busted).....kills me, cuz the dam things are all over me in deer season and never seem to care I'm there. Like they say....hunt for squirrels, see deer...hunt for deer see turkeys. :) Thanks again

[SixPack07]

Be patient and keep trying. You might sit for 4 days in a row, and never have a turkey come close enough to shoot with a rifle, and then that 5th morning, 5 minutes into the hunt, that fool will step to within 10 yards and give you the rush of a lifetime.