A few years ago I went spring gobbler hunting by myself in the state of Pennsylvania.

I knew the basics of Turkey hunting.

Sit real still

Use as much camo as possible

Get the best gun with the tightest pattern

Buy the best shells

Use decoys

Find Turkeys and pattern them as much as possible.

Since I was working during the week, I did not have much time to pattern Turkeys and so I figured that the next best thing would be to hunt them every morning I could.

Since the spring turkey season in PA ends at noon. You could not hunt them in the afternoon.

Unless you got there early, someone else might be sitting where you wanted to hunt or might have already shot at and skattered all the turkeys that you figured on shooting.

So every morning that I could I was sitting at the bottom of a old reclaimed strip job - ( slang term for a place where they surface mined for coal ).

I put out my decoys and sat with my back against a pine tree and called about once every 15 minutes.

The turkeys always seem'd to be henned up in the early mornings.

By 8:45 - 9:00 am I would get pretty disgusted and leave to go someplace else.

Then about 11 AM when I retured to go home from hunting else where - the gobblers would be standing not 5 feet from where my decoys were standing not 2 hours before.

So on the last day of hunting season, I slepped in until 8:30 am. I stoped in my moms house to ask my brother if he wanted to go turkey hunting with me. He didn't want to because he was loosing interest due to the fact that we never seem'd to be at the right place at the right time. It was too late in his opinion to go out and get set up on some turkeys.

So I went up to my hunting spot alone and put out my decoys and laid back against the pine tree and called a couple of times.

Well I must have been tired because I fell asleep and when I woke up - there was something wrong with the picture.

I put out two turkey decoys - a jake and a hen.

Now there was 6 turkeys - not 20 yards in front of me.

Since they did not see me moving around when I woke up, they did not know that I was there.

I took careful aim and shot.

All the shotgun did was go whoomph.

I guess the shell was a reload and from all the mornings sitting out in the early morning dew. the powder in the shell got wet and it failed to ignite.

So I pumped the shotgun - my Remington 870 Super Mag and put in a fresh round.

Unbelieveable was the fact that the gobblers were still there.

The second shell fired and I shot a fine 14 lbs long beard.

Moral of the story is to never give up..

Even if you fall asleep - it doesn't mean that your day of hunting is ruined.

I wonder what them turkeys were saying to each other when they walked down the hill and heard all that snoring.

Or why they would even come in - after they heard me making all that noise. I have been told that I snore like a chainsaw.

If you have the time, go out to your hunting spot just before dark. Try to listen for the birds flying up to roost. Then you know just where to hunt in the morning. Works every time. ;) Q

Last year I bagged my first turkey. I never would have believed it, but one of my friends, who has been hunting turkeys for quite a few years suggested that we drive around at dusk, stop every now and then, and make all the racket you can - slam doors, talk, clap - to locate turkeys. It works! When they just start to roost, make all that noise and they gobble up a storm, and you've located your turkeys for the next morning. Then just set up in a likely spot in the early morning before they fly out of the roost, then start calling. Those birds came in on a run! It was a hoot!

Unless your plans were to shoot them off the roost, it is never a good idea to go to the exact tree where they are roosting.

Most turkeys will fly off the roost before it even gets light outside if they hear people walking through the woods.

When turkeys are henned up, they will not leave their hens until after they breed them.

Usually after 9:00 AM where I live.

If you call too much they will not come in either.

Only at the beginning and the end of the season will they come right in off the roost.

Unless your plans were to shoot them off the roost, it is never a good idea to go to the exact tree where they are roosting.

Most turkeys will fly off the roost before it even gets light outside if they hear people walking through the woods.

When turkeys are henned up, they will not leave their hens until after they breed them.

Usually after 9:00 AM where I live.

If you call too much they will not come in either.

Only at the beginning and the end of the season will they come right in off the roost.

Nope, not shooting off the roost (wouldn't think that would be legal, much less sporting)....didn't mean to imply that. Locate the birds at their roost, then set up the next morning some distance away from there, before they fly out of the roost. Decoys and calling then...sure works wonders. :)

Nope, not shooting off the roost (wouldn't think that would be legal, much less sporting)....didn't mean to imply that. Locate the birds at their roost, then set up the next morning some distance away from there, before they fly out of the roost. Decoys and calling then...sure works wonders. :)
I love to eat turkey but I'm not very serious about the way I hunt them.
The last real turkey hunt I was on, me and a friend drove out in the old jeep and eazed up to a good creek bottom right before first light. We quietly got out and started unloading our gear when right above us in a big burr oak tree, about 50 toms started gobbling and raising all sorts of racket. We had parked right under their roust.
Still managed to call in four toms that morning.

Since we use feeders year round,(are you listening PA?)
the deer as well as the turkey and hogs are thriving.
We make sure that we kill 4 toms a year legally, but that is usually by sitting in a stand by a feeder. Either hogs or turkey keep the activity up, and we sure don't want to keep feeding them when the idea is to take care of the deer's diet first.

I remember as a kid hunting forty years ago, there weren't any turkeys, there weren't any hogs either. As much as we cuss them, I would miss them if they were not around.

The toms are already split up and chasing hens down here.
It is a great time hunt, pick up shed horns, sight in rifles, go catch some bass or just sit around camp and drink tea.

Ain't America great!!

Remember seeing a guy make a head shot on a Tom with a .223 at about 150 yds one time down there, TPV. 'Course, he claimed he meant to do it. :p

Sure would like to partake of that turkey/hog/bass/BS on the lease this spring, but looks like work is going to interfere. Dang it! :(

Remember seeing a guy make a head shot on a Tom with a .223 at about 150 yds one time down there, TPV. 'Course, he claimed he meant to do it. :p

Sure would like to partake of that turkey/hog/bass/BS on the lease this spring, but looks like work is going to interfere. Dang it! :(We'll be thinking about you.this week-end. I think we have good rains in the forecast for Saturday so that may change things.
I'm building a covered shooting bench for the camp you'll stayed in. Built a form to pour in 300 lbs of concrete for the table. It ought to be secure.
Saw one of those "pretty" ranchdog pigs the other day. Black,white and brown spotted.
You'll take care-

My 12 year old daughter and I are planning our spring turkey hunt on 3-31-4-1-07 here in Missouri. I bought her a Mossberg silver reserve over and under .410 For the hunt. We will be there before daylight on the first day, slam the truck doors, clap hands loudly and call before we decide where to hunt. This makes the turkeys gobble and gives us a starting point.Q :D

Remember seeing a guy make a head shot on a Tom with a .223 at about 150 yds one time down there, TPV. 'Course, he claimed he meant to do it. :p

Sure would like to partake of that turkey/hog/bass/BS on the lease this spring, but looks like work is going to interfere. Dang it! :(

Those turkeys aren't healthy, either. One of them up and died right on the toolbox of my truck one day....

Yeah, I remember that, Mike -

Think the fool thing was trying to roost and slammed head on into the bed tool box! :p

You westerners sure are funny. Especially you Hog Whisperer. I love you guys, I really do. Hunt!!!!

You westerners sure are funny. Especially you Hog Whisperer. I love you guys, I really do. Hunt!!!!We don't take ourselves too seriously!
Glad you are "on the board" as well.

You westerners sure are funny. Especially you Hog Whisperer. I love you guys, I really do. Hunt!!!!
Thought I had you a great pic but it didn't come out. Two Toms humping(Can I say that?) a hen.
A few drop horns from Saturday ,some dropped last week, and I found a new wooden stock for my Tikka. MAde it look better. I was hog hunting Saturday evening, but just when it was getting good, my wife called on her cell from the trailer and said she was hungry.
Darn phones!

Good looking hunk of wood on the Tikka, Tom.

I wanna find that feller that shed the horn in the front! :D

Think I know which stand you were in for the turkey pic.

Good looking hunk of wood on the Tikka, Tom.

I wanna find that feller that shed the horn in the front! :D

Think I know which stand you were in for the turkey pic.
That Tikka has excellent accuracy. We moved the double wide stand to the first field, in front is a 15 acres field and right behind is a shallow pond and hog wallow. I spread five packs of strawberry jello at the edge, and was waiting for the results when my wife called.
Maybe Tuesday evening I'll work the Jacksboro area and end up in that stand.
Those Toms were where you guessed. That back field is full of turkeys. I guess season opens Saturday.
This stuff keeps me young!

Good Luck to all.

Tom, glad to hear that you are seeing some birds. I took my boys down to Breckenridge for the youth hunt weekend and we did not see or hear any birds. The guy with the farming rights has been bulldozing all the ranch roads and that probably hasn't helped. The stock tanks were as low as I have ever seen them and they need some rain bad. On top of all that, we found out that the elderly lady that owns the land is in bad health and we may need to start looking for another lease as her two dope head nephews will sell the land as soon as she passes. It is hard to find an affordable lease anymore, especially where you can take kids to. It was sure nice at least being outdoors there and we didn't find any rattlesnakes in the cabin this year which was a good thing. Hope you do good over in Jacksboro and keep your ears open if you hear of any lease openings for about 4 guys.

Tom, glad to hear that you are seeing some birds. I took my boys down to Breckenridge for the youth hunt weekend and we did not see or hear any birds. The guy with the farming rights has been bulldozing all the ranch roads and that probably hasn't helped. The stock tanks were as low as I have ever seen them and they need some rain bad. On top of all that, we found out that the elderly lady that owns the land is in bad health and we may need to start looking for another lease as her two dope head nephews will sell the land as soon as she passes. It is hard to find an affordable lease anymore, especially where you can take kids to. It was sure nice at least being outdoors there and we didn't find any rattlesnakes in the cabin this year which was a good thing. Hope you do good over in Jacksboro and keep your ears open if you hear of any lease openings for about 4 guys. Sorry to hear that Pete.
It happens all the time. I hope you'll got rain out of this last storm. We got about 4 1/2" on the ranch which should fill the ponds up with the runoff.
I'll keep my eyes open for a four man lease. This is about the time people start looking anyway. Maybe we'll get lucky.
I was on a lease one year, and the first year, the owner said no bucks would be shot that year but that will make it good the second year. Only problem, he sold it the second year.

This week-end, my wife and I are gong on a week-end trip with the ranch owner and his wife. I stay real close to that guy, but over the years, we've gotten to be good friends anyway.

Good Luck this week-end

If you're going with Cherryhomes, watch your guns, Tom! :p

Been watching TV and it looks like the lease was right in the middle of all the squall lines. Sorta figured you guys got the washes cleaned and the tanks filled back up. Should make the grass and mesquite nice and green, too!

I love to eat turkey but I'm not very serious about the way I hunt them.

I'm not very serious about it either tpv, but I sure caught the bug over the last few years. And it's a great part of the year to get out and stretch the legs again after a long winter. Not sure I'm going to get out after them this year as work has been a bigger anchor than in years past.

Glad to hear you got some good rain, and good luck this year!

I learned something about turkey hunting today. 12 year old girls take cell phones with them everywhere, even turkey hunting. We will try again tomorrow. Also...if you sit down in a field of morel mushrooms turkey hunting is over.Q :( :D

I'm not very serious about it either tpv, but I sure caught the bug over the last few years. And it's a great part of the year to get out and stretch the legs again after a long winter. Not sure I'm going to get out after them this year as work has been a bigger anchor than in years past.

Glad to hear you got some good rain, and good luck this year!I understand.
I like hunting them, but around here in the spring, we have so many hogs moving around, I just bring a rifle with me. So the turkeys get killed but its not the "classic"way to do it.

I love to get out and look for shed horns, and work the turkey call, but again if I'm on a creek, that usually means pigs.
This week-end we went down to the hill country. It rained the whole way and I understand we caught another 3-4" on the ranch up in North Texas. The ponds are full. That's the best news in three years.
I'm going to try to go this week-end, then the next week-end a few of us have a "no wives" coyote, hogs and turkey weekend planned. Maybe some fishing too. I just treated my wife to a great week-end. Nop its my turn!!!
I wonder if that 6.5/284 is enough gun for turkeys???
Heh-

Good Luck
Tom

I learned one of the commandments of turkey hunting last weekend. I am not sure which number it is but it has to be in the top 3. Thou shalt not move on a gobbling turkey after 0930. At 1600 and answering from afar you best get ready, even if you think he is a mile away because he is a com'in.

A very good friend of mine was shot while turkey hunting yesterday 4-18-07. He was lucky and mostly got a glancing blow of shot. The bad part about this was the shooter was his dad, we must be very carefull while hunting. Please know your target. My friend is OK but his dad is probably going to have a hard time with this.Q

Turkey hunting sure is one of the more dangerous, shooting wise of the types of hunting. Being sure of your target is the answer to these shootings. Thanks for the reminder.

Shades of Dick Cheny!!!!! :eek:

I drew out on a turkey tag last year and can honestly say it is one of the "funnest" hunts I have been on for a long time. Taking time to learn the fine art of turkey calling made the whole experience even better. My kids and even my wife (who really never found an interest in my guns or hunting) got excited, in fact she was with me when I shot the bird, a nice merriam with a 10 inch beard. I plan on hunting them when every I can draw, oh yeah, to make it even better, I used an old Husqvarna double from about the turn of the century. Nothing gets the blood pumping better than calling in a nice turkey and having him get closer and closer to you.