2022 Turkey Hunting Thread

[Bowtie747]

No. I have one bow kill from a blind on video but I normally move to much for video equipment. Figure if I mount it to my barrel I will always have it versus the video cam that I end up leaving in the truck as it’s too much stuff to carry.

Is a GoPro a waste of time for turkeys?

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That’s why I ask! I just didn’t know how they work like zoom wise. I’ve never had one. I’d like to see some footage you get and I’ll definitely consider buying one

 

[Hall17]

No. I have one bow kill from a blind on video but I normally move to much for video equipment. Figure if I mount it to my barrel I will always have it versus the video cam that I end up leaving in the truck as it’s too much stuff to carry.

Is a GoPro a waste of time for turkeys?

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I had one before I tried it for turkeys. I gave it a go but like you see in other videos you can capture OK footage but when you shoot the kick of the gun just makes the video terrible. A nice kill shot is what I like to see at the end of the video and with a go pro I have yet to see a decent video of that. You can see a lot of what I explained from The Hunting Public videos.

 

[PEEJAY]

I had one before I tried it for turkeys. I gave it a go but like you see in other videos you can capture OK footage but when you shoot the kick of the gun just makes the video terrible. A nice kill shot is what I like to see at the end of the video and with a go pro I have yet to see a decent video of that. You can see a lot of what I explained from The Hunting Public videos.

Yea self filfming turkey is tough. You really need a second person filming.

 

[PEEJAY]

lots of fresh sign and tons of pics. Walked 4.5 miles so far and no sheds tho. The turkeys love it here. Deer get crushed by poachers unfortunately. Im not around the property enough.

 

[gcr0003]

Finally mounted my Turkey fan that I cleaned and salted 2 years ago. it’s my first Turkey ever so I wanted to mount everything with it. I bought the barn wood mount from Etsy because I’m too lazy to make my own. I think it looks great and it gets me pumped for the season!! Threw it together quick this morning and placed it between my dads two deer that I’m baby sitting until he comes and picks them up.

 

[Bowtie747]

Finally mounted my Turkey fan that I cleaned and salted 2 years ago. it’s my first Turkey ever so I wanted to mount everything with it. I bought the barn wood mount from Etsy because I’m too lazy to make my own. I think it looks great and it gets me pumped for the season!! Threw it together quick this morning and placed it between my dads two deer that I’m baby sitting until he comes and picks them up.
View attachment 63473View attachment 63474

The wood on that makes it extra awesome!

 

[Bowtie747]

Anyone hear take their kids Turkey hunting? If so at what age? I have a nephew I’d love to take but he’s only 5. I feel like he’s not to the point to do the actual shooting. So I’d put ear pro on him, just sit him in my lap and I’d shoot. I’d like to hear what you guys have done! Maybe use a blind?

He asks me all the time to go hunting. For Christmas he wanted a “real” bow So he could hunt deer with it haha

 

[Bdwilliams]

Anyone hear take their kids Turkey hunting? If so at what age? I have a nephew I’d love to take but he’s only 5. I feel like he’s not to the point to do the actual shooting. So I’d put ear pro on him, just sit him in my lap and I’d shoot. I’d like to hear what you guys have done! Maybe use a blind?

He asks me all the time to go hunting. For Christmas he wanted a “real” bow So he could hunt deer with it haha

My buddy starting taking his boy when he was 3. I think he probably shot his first turkey at 6 or 7. It was tough and they had a lot of frustrating hunts. He's a kid.

I'm planning to take my 6 year old this year, but won't bring a gun. We'll just hang out in the woods and hope to hear some gobbles.

 

[Hall17]

Anyone hear take their kids Turkey hunting? If so at what age? I have a nephew I’d love to take but he’s only 5. I feel like he’s not to the point to do the actual shooting. So I’d put ear pro on him, just sit him in my lap and I’d shoot. I’d like to hear what you guys have done! Maybe use a blind?

He asks me all the time to go hunting. For Christmas he wanted a “real” bow So he could hunt deer with it haha

I have a nephew who is 8 and shows interest but I am not sure I have the patience lol. My son is 2 and I know I’ll have more patience with him since he’ll grow up shooting etc at a very early age. But the movement of a young guy makes me nervous but I just need to get in my mind killing one prob won’t happen and that’s ok. Also how I turkey hunt it’s all in. I don’t have a field with a blind set up for an easy hunt where he could move around etc. I feel like my nephew after about 45 min would want to go home after running and gunning but maybe I’m wrong

 

[boyne bowhunter]

It really depends on the kid.

I've always been a strictly run and gun turkey hunter. I started my daughter at 12 for her first legal season here in Michigan (she's in her mid 20's now) and she did great and has always kept up without complaint. In fact turkey hunting is definitely her favorite hunting.

On the other hand I took my nephew once when he was 14. At the end of our second stop he was lagging behind, holding the shotgun by the end of the barrel and dragging the stock through the mud and brush. He only lasted until about 9:30 and didn't want to get out of the truck anymore. He never asked to go again.

 

[Loopwing]

I am taking my 8yo daughter this year. Definitely a pop up blind. Asking a kid to sit still for more than 5 seconds is unreasonable. Bring a blanket so they can lay down in the pop up. Running and gunning with a kid is also a lot to ask. You forget how long your legs are compared to them. Also, walking in the woods at o'dark thirty is scary for them. I suggest doing a mid-morning /afternoon hunt with them. Also, if they say they are done. PACK IT UP AND LEAVE. Staying 10 extra minutes is an eternity to a kid and will make them say "no"next time.

 

[Bowtie747]

Thanks for the heads up guys! I’m a run and gun wild man when I hunt but for him I thought I’d use a blind for him. Good idea on the blanket and when they are done let them go in. I have a spot that’s right behind by brothers house that just might work too. Thanks again!

 

[Crcusmonky]

I’m going to try this year with my 5 yo. I have never used a pop up but for him I’m going to so he can move a little bit more. It’s all about enjoying the time out there and being together. Less about success at least for me. We’re going to start scouting this week together and practice calling.


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[Loopwing]

Yep, just hearing a gobble would far exceed my expectations!!!

 

[PEEJAY]

My son will be 4 months old april 22. Perfect age. he cant move much and if hes on mommas nip he wont make a peep either. He does fart like a grown man though...hmmm
Only thing im worried about is the shotgun blast. He hates wearing earpro. I got him some for music festivals this summer and hes not havin it yet. I guess we'll be in the way back

Obviously im joking about bringin him turkey hunting, unless my wife says its ok . My friends laugh when we say the only time we need a babysitter is when we're out killin stuff. Shes itchin to knock somethin down now. Wouldnt climb a tree with that big belly for the whole deer season. I said "have you seen how big some of these hunters are?" Shimmy on up there!

 

[woodsdog2]

Abouit 10-12 Years ago NY opened up a special spring youth turkey season at the end of April. My oldest (12 at the time) shot her first ever gobbler that year. We used a pop up blind and comfortable chairs and decoys at about 8yards from the tree. The weekend before we went up to the game club I belong to and shot some low brass shells out of a heavy bold action mossberg 20gauge. I put some turkey targets up, told her where to aim and she really enjoyed that. I only put them out 20yards max. She enjoyed seeing how the pattern hit the head and neck. I explained to aim for the base of the head neck at the curuncles. She said what? I said you see those things at the base at the neck that look like red cherries? She said yes, I said, aim for those. She never forgets that. Anyway, the afternoon before I went up and set up the ground blind. Put my decoys in the blind and the next morning we were back up in the blind before first light. She wasn't happy at first but hearing all the gobbles just over the ridge about 75 yards away overlooking a field they were strutting in every day got her perked up. Gobbling on the roost was heavy but then it shut down. We would call intermittently and occaissionaly hear a gobble but nothing came in right away. About 7:45 it started to rain and the wind picked up. I scratched out some louder yelps on the longbox and we heard a gobble. Several minutes later he was closer. Another 10 minutes later we thought he may have lost interest. I couldn't see anything and no gobbles since the last. I cluck and purred with the mouth call.... GGGGGGGOOOOOOOBBBBBLEEE!!!!! right in back of our blind....... seconds later he closed the distance and started thumping the jake decoy. I started to explain "just take a deep breath and aim for the" BOOOOM!!! She didn't even let me finish. There he flopped 8 yards from us. Beautiful mature tom. I said id you feel the recoil? she said "What are your talking about?" I said "At the shot, did you feel it kick?" she said "Not a bit." The lesson was I had never put high brass turkey loads in the gun when she was practicing so she could gain confidence in the gun. she was incredibly worried about recoil and with the low brass, heavier gun and a specific aiming point, she was very confident on turkeys. The day of the hunt I loaded high brass #4's in that gun and she never even knew the difference. "I aimed for the cherries Dad!" I was so excited. The next year she got another beautiful Tom we called back to us. The following year she had a school Chorus committment and the following year she aged out. Sadly, she hasn't gone since but those were some great years. My middle daughter wants to bowhunt turkeys but she hasn't expressed a lot of interest. My youngest will probably be a bleeding heart you know what and gets upset if I kill a fly almost. She's not that bad but anyway. Not sure I'll be able to enjoy that with the rest of my kids but I still have hope. This is long winded run on sentences but there are some good lessons for new hunters and old hunters taking new hunters. Its probaby the best feeling in the world when everything connects!!! Enjoy!!!

 

[bfriendly]

So much good stuff in here….I’ll just stress the snack pile for taking the young ones!! Im super stoked about Turkey season too! It’s my favorite hunting, no doubt. Have yet to get my first bird, but I have had my share of chances and some incredibly epic fails. Our season here in ga is starting a week later, 2 birds vs 3 and on public land, only 1 bird per WMA…..have to get the 2nd bird on a different one.

 

[Hall17]

Any chance we could do a Turkey Hunting Competition? Get a few people on each team once we have a head count and do a point per inch of beard and an additional 1-2 points if the spurs measure over 1". Must have pictures with a tape showing measurements.

 

[Hall17]

1 bird per entry. If you are lucky enough to shoot multiple birds you can keep your best

 

[Gator]

I liked it until the one bird rule We are allowed three but I normally burn out and quit after 1 or 2.