Hoosier Turkey Hunting

[tcecil88]

Congrats!

 

[gregr]

Killed with my Grandfathers .410 at 18 yards. The .410 and I were both born in 1959,bird probably 2018.
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Great picture, great story, and wow, what great tradition.

 

[sheepdog697]

Killed with my Grandfathers .410 at 18 yards. The .410 and I were both born in 1959,bird probably 2018.
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That’s badass!

 

[JimH]

Wife tagged out this evening-long day!

 

[gregr]

Wife tagged out this evening-long day!
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OUTSTANDING! Looks like a nice bird!

 

[three50seven]

Went out this morning. I'm new to turkey hunting and haven't invested a lot into it. I had my old Mossberg 500 with Primos ext. turkey choke, and Winchester XX 3" #6 shot. We had one gobbling on the roost as soon as we sat down, but couldn't coax him our way. Definitely going to keep after him, I can see this becoming very addictive!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Ark]

I haven't turkey hunted yet. Is it generally a walk-stop-listen thing like squirrel hunting is for me, or is it more about planting yourself in a stand and waiting like deer?

 

[gregr]

I haven't turkey hunted yet. Is it generally a walk-stop-listen thing like squirrel hunting is for me, or is it more about planting yourself in a stand and waiting like deer?

The answer to that depends...

If you hunt public ground, or, have access to huge parcels of private ground, it can indeed be a "run and gun" approach. Shock call or yelp on a box call to reach out and if you get a response, hustle towards it and set up and try to coax him into range.

For most of us, we hunt much smaller parcels of land, and we scout and know where the birds are-ish. We set up near where we know or think they`re roosting and call. Sets can be at first light at fly down, and then any time if morning after that. But we typically call until we feel we`ve been heard by anything close, and if nothing comes in within a couple hours, we`ll move and set up at another spot.

 

[Ark]

The answer to that depends...

If you hunt public ground, or, have access to huge parcels of private ground, it can indeed be a "run and gun" approach. Shock call or yelp on a box call to reach out and if you get a response, hustle towards it and set up and try to coax him into range.

For most of us, we hunt much smaller parcels of land, and we scout and know where the birds are-ish. We set up near where we know or think they`re roosting and call. Sets can be at first light at fly down, and then any time if morning after that. But we typically call until we feel we`ve been heard by anything close, and if nothing comes in within a couple hours, we`ll move and set up at another spot.

Interesting, thanks for the response. Probably not in a position to try this year, but I'm interested in something a step up from squirrels that doesn't have the infrastructure requirement of deer. Some good looking birds in this thread.

 

[gregr]

Interesting, thanks for the response. Probably not in a position to try this year, but I'm interested in something a step up from squirrels that doesn't have the infrastructure requirement of deer. Some good looking birds in this thread.

I`m hopelessly addicted to deer hunting. But, that being said, turkey hunting has really grown on me. I haven`t kept track of how many turkeys I`ve killed, maybe like 6 or 8? But it`s so great to be in the woods in the spring, gun in hand. I don`t have to worry about being scent-free, which is a stressor during deer season. And what a rush! I had a fantastic hunt last year, last day of season. I didn`t kill a bird, but we had 2 huge tom`s in front of us, and after they left, 6 jakes came in. I didn`t have a shot at any of them, because I`d have gladly taken even one of the jakes. But what a rush! And not to mention, fried wild turkey breast is fantastic!

 

[openwell]

.410 legal now? Did not even get a booklet this year but looks like great fun

 

[Leadeye]

Odd year, haven't seen or heard any birds and none on cameras for the last week.

 

[yetti462]

7:00 this morning the hard gobbling 2yr old was silenced.

 

[gregr]

7:00 this morning the hard gobbling 2yr old was silenced.

Well done and congratulations.

 

[sugarcreekbrass]

I got lucky this afternoon. The tom and hen was already in field a little after 4:00. I parked out of sight and made a stalk through the woods. I used my fan for my decoy to crawl close to the field because it was really open. I sat down, flashed the fan, and made one call. He turned and ran right in. Only 23.5#, but had 34mm spurs and 11" beard. He was a fighter. In spur tip was broke and looked like he had a small wound at the bottom of the breast. I love deer hunting, but I really love turkey season. Since we have a one bird limit, I am quick to volunteer to call for someone else. Between family and friends I usually find someone to go with or take out. Since 2004, I have shot, or called in for someone else, 30 birds. I get just as excited when someone else is pulling the trigger.

 

[phylodog]

Had a long beard sneak in on us this morning about an hour after daybreak. He hung up around 60yds for awhile, gobbled a few times then started to go past the decoys when my hunting partner sent an arrow and made a kill shot at 40yds. He flew a couple hundred yards and crashed in the woods. Took about half an hour to find him. My best friend’s first arrow launched and first kill on his property since buying it last July.

Today is a good day. Tomorrow I’m up to bat.

 

[gregr]

I got lucky this afternoon. The tom and hen was already in field a little after 4:00. I parked out of sight and made a stalk through the woods. I used my fan for my decoy to crawl close to the field because it was really open. I sat down, flashed the fan, and made one call. He turned and ran right in. Only 23.5#, but had 34mm spurs and 11" beard. He was a fighter. In spur tip was broke and looked like he had a small wound at the bottom of the breast. I love deer hunting, but I really love turkey season. Since we have a one bird limit, I am quick to volunteer to call for someone else. Between family and friends I usually find someone to go with or take out. Since 2004, I have shot, or called in for someone else, 30 birds. I get just as excited when someone else is pulling the trigger.

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Awesome! Congratulations!

 

[gregr]

Had a long beard sneak in on us this morning about an hour after daybreak. He hung up around 60yds for awhile, gobbled a few times then started to go past the decoys when my hunting partner sent an arrow and made a kill shot at 40yds. He flew a couple hundred yards and crashed in the woods. Took about half amour to find him. My best friend’s first arrow launched and first kill on his property since buying it last July.

Today is a good day. Tomorrow I’m up to bat.

Outstanding. Good luck buddy!

 

[Leadeye]

I got lucky this afternoon. The tom and hen was already in field a little after 4:00. I parked out of sight and made a stalk through the woods. I used my fan for my decoy to crawl close to the field because it was really open. I sat down, flashed the fan, and made one call. He turned and ran right in. Only 23.5#, but had 34mm spurs and 11" beard. He was a fighter. In spur tip was broke and looked like he had a small wound at the bottom of the breast. I love deer hunting, but I really love turkey season. Since we have a one bird limit, I am quick to volunteer to call for someone else. Between family and friends I usually find someone to go with or take out. Since 2004, I have shot, or called in for someone else, 30 birds. I get just as excited when someone else is pulling the trigger.

View attachment 136949

Nice bird!

 

[Leadeye]

Had a long beard sneak in on us this morning about an hour after daybreak. He hung up around 60yds for awhile, gobbled a few times then started to go past the decoys when my hunting partner sent an arrow and made a kill shot at 40yds. He flew a couple hundred yards and crashed in the woods. Took about half amour to find him. My best friend’s first arrow launched and first kill on his property since buying it last July.

Today is a good day. Tomorrow I’m up to bat.

I was going to ask how you guys were doing, today was the first bird I've heard and worked.