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2023 Turkey Hunting Thread

peteherbst said:
Those just magnets on top to hold the latex?
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Yep! Now listen this isn’t precision call making here ya get what ya pay for. But I can guarantee you they sound as good as store bought and I have gobblers to prove it

I love Woodhaven stuff but $15 a call is insane!
 
April 17 here in Missouri. I love Turkey season. Due to some oral injury's and surgery I can't use a mouth call. I can make noise with them but nothing a turkey wants to hear. Box and slate until they get close the switch to a push button yelper or a small slate. I carry decoys, but hardly deploy them, probably leave them home this year. I have an early morning commitment so like deer season, I can't get to the woods until gray light. It used to bug me until I learned to use it to my advantage. I can see where others are and move to a open area, but most areas I hunt I never see anyone in the woods, guess they don't want to travel up and down ridges.
 
Glad I'm not the only getting excited for turkey season! Hoping to get my first Tom, and first critter with a new bow! Public! I've got a couple spots from last year, although I couldn't get it done then. New year, new hope! Good Luck everyone!
 
Matki15 said:
Learn how to run one effectively, one of the best calls to use in my opinion. If you can’t find wingbones, river cane works great as well. I’ll cut a bunch walking around looking for turkeys and knock out 5-6 in between calling sessions
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I’ll try and find something that grows around here with similar properties as river cane. My intention is to save a few wing bones this spring.
 
goodfelg said:
April 17 here in Missouri. I love Turkey season. Due to some oral injury's and surgery I can't use a mouth call. I can make noise with them but nothing a turkey wants to hear. Box and slate until they get close the switch to a push button yelper or a small slate. I carry decoys, but hardly deploy them, probably leave them home this year. I have an early morning commitment so like deer season, I can't get to the woods until gray light. It used to bug me until I learned to use it to my advantage. I can see where others are and move to a open area, but most areas I hunt I never see anyone in the woods, guess they don't want to travel up and down ridges.
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Same here. I get out around 8am. By 9 most guys are leaving And then at 10-12 it’s game time. Last yr it was 2 min till legal when I got him. I always needed to be out to hear them on the limb but realized I had more success mid/late morning

It’s exciting at first light but I wasn’t as productive. Now, if I can get out I am still going to wake up early and go no doubt
 
April 19 for me. I’ll be up in your neck of the woods @peteherbst.

Decided to grab a cheap turkey vest instead of a backpack this year. Other than that, I’m rocking a few Woodhaven ninja hammers, 4 shotgun shells, a pot call from Weathered Oaks Game Calls (Wisconsin based), and a Jake and hen decoy.

I do use decoys most of the time if I’m on ag ground. If I’m in the timber, I ditch em.
 
Tjraley2 said:
April 19 for me. I’ll be up in your neck of the woods @peteherbst.

Decided to grab a cheap turkey vest instead of a backpack this year. Other than that, I’m rocking a few Woodhaven ninja hammers, 4 shotgun shells, a pot call from Weathered Oaks Game Calls (Wisconsin based), and a Jake and hen decoy.

I do use decoys most of the time if I’m on ag ground. If I’m in the timber, I ditch em.
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Hope the weather is good for you in first season. But in reality, holding all my hope for the best weather season two… :sunglasses:
 
I started hunted turkeys casually in college some, but more intensely the last 4-5 years. The more I hunt them, the more I learn and the more I like it. It can be addicting but man they can be frustrating as heck though. I've only killed two gobblers so far but probably worked a dozen now. It was a steep learning curve at first. I'd get picked off or call too much or just lose patience and go to move only to bump a bird still coming in. I've hardly ever missed any deer but somehow I've blown a few shots on birds one way or another. I quit using decoys at least in the woods because the toms seemed to hang up once they saw them. Last year I ditched a full vest for a Cabela's speed seat, and worked on my calling. I might add a chest rig this year and have never tried TSS, so might see what all the hype is about. Otherwise I just need to get out and drive to find birds because my county has very few.
 
NimbleTimbo said:
I started hunted turkeys casually in college some, but more intensely the last 4-5 years. The more I hunt them, the more I learn and the more I like it. It can be addicting but man they can be frustrating as heck though. I've only killed two gobblers so far but probably worked a dozen now. It was a steep learning curve at first. I'd get picked off or call too much or just lose patience and go to move only to bump a bird still coming in. I've hardly ever missed any deer but somehow I've blown a few shots on birds one way or another. I quit using decoys at least in the woods because the toms seemed to hang up once they saw them. Last year I ditched a full vest for a Cabela's speed seat, and worked on my calling. I might add a chest rig this year and have never tried TSS, so might see what all the hype is about. Otherwise I just need to get out and drive to find birds because my county has very few.
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I’ve gone back and forth on switching to TSS but can’t justify the cost. Think I’m going to try Winchester long beard XRs this year. Supposed to be the longest “non-tss” shell out there.
 
peteherbst said:
I’ve gone back and forth on switching to TSS but can’t justify the cost. Think I’m going to try Winchester long beard XRs this year. Supposed to be the longest “non-tss” shell out there.
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I used Winchester longbeard 6's starting out and they are great if you find the right choke that your shotgun works with. I demolished a coyote at 60 paces with mine when I was using longbeard.

TSS is expensive at about $14.00 per shell (longbeard were $6.00 each if memory serves) but I only shoot one TSS shell a year on average. In the grand scheme of things, I can handle that. To me, the biggest difference in TSS and lead is that TSS drops them right there, not much flapping, etc. I'm still shooting them at regular ranges.
 
Not trying to sway anyone, but it is not a high cost to get into TSS loading if you're only loading for turkeys. $50/lb for shot, $35ish for a lb of powder, $20/100 new primed hulls, a $10 digital grain scale, and $20-$75 on a roll crimp tool depending on what you want to pay for. Most already have a drill or drill press. I used to make my own over shot cards from cereal box and sealed with nail polish. BPI has free load data though they are not the heaviest loads like from other smaller TSS suppliers. Tommy Dulbia on facebook/gobbler nation forum has several VERY consistent 20 gauge loads and also carries the wads you'll need for that data. Speaking of which, I need to order some shot and get his 28 gauge load data.


What I see TSS as is an insurance policy because we've all misjudged distance on a bird before. If you are shooting max distance 40 yards and you misjudge a bird by 5-10 yards that TSS will still smoke em instead of a possible wounded bird running around. The amount of copper plated lead pellets I've pulled out of breast meat over the years would fill up a pop can.
 
Hall17 said:
Same here. I get out around 8am. By 9 most guys are leaving And then at 10-12 it’s game time. Last yr it was 2 min till legal when I got him. I always needed to be out to hear them on the limb but realized I had more success mid/late morning

It’s exciting at first light but I wasn’t as productive. Now, if I can get out I am still going to wake up early and go no doubt
Click to expand...

I've killed more birds between 9-2 than off the roost. That is THE time to catch them alone and in the right mood to play the game.
 
Micneador said:
Not trying to sway anyone, but it is not a high cost to get into TSS loading if you're only loading for turkeys. $50/lb for shot, $35ish for a lb of powder, $20/100 new primed hulls, a $10 digital grain scale, and $20-$75 on a roll crimp tool depending on what you want to pay for. Most already have a drill or drill press. I used to make my own over shot cards from cereal box and sealed with nail polish. BPI has free load data though they are not the heaviest loads like from other smaller TSS suppliers. Tommy Dulbia on facebook/gobbler nation forum has several VERY consistent 20 gauge loads and also carries the wads you'll need for that data. Speaking of which, I need to order some shot and get his 28 gauge load data.


What I see TSS as is an insurance policy because we've all misjudged distance on a bird before. If you are shooting max distance 40 yards and you misjudge a bird by 5-10 yards that TSS will still smoke em instead of a possible wounded bird running around. The amount of copper plated lead pellets I've pulled out of breast meat over the years would fill up a pop can.
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I’ve debated doing this but need to buy the drill press. What would you say you’re spending per load doing it yourself?
 
For the 20 gauge 1 5/8 oz load I have, around $4.75 a round. That is just calculating component cost, not tools. You can roll crimp with a cordless or electric hand held drill. I prefer it as I can feel better.
 
My big thing about reloading is I can load whatever I want. I'll be working up a 7/8 or 1 oz 28 gauge load of #10 TSS for my daughter. Keep shots within 40 yards and a factory Improved mod or modified should produce a very forgiving pattern.

I load TSS/Steel Duplex for waterfowl in the 28 gauge. 1/2 oz steel over 1/2 oz TSS #8.5 or #9. Have taken ducks and geese with that load for two seasons. I load that for cheaper than you can buy Hevi X-II.
 
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