2025 Turkey Season

[Bowtie747]

Hey guys anyone else as pumped as I am? Well now you have a place to talk about it. Thought this could be a place for people to ask questions about Turkey hunting as well. Anyone getting any new guns? Going to new places? Anyone else super excited?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I just hope they gobble more than they did last season. They were very quiet around here (probably for good reason, lol). I'm at that place where I love to turkey hunt, but I don't have to kill one to have a great season. I just want to hear a lot of gobbling and get to chase them and feel like I am in the game.

Turkey season is also my main time to get a lot of scouting done for the upcoming season.

 

[ericabbott]

I'm always pumped for turkey season. Starting to get hens back on my property, they're showing up early on the cams so I think they're roosting nearby. I usually get a couple of Toms and/or Jakes showing up by mid March. I also use turkey season to scout for deer spots, looking forward to getting out there in a couple weeks.

 

[BTaylor]

Always excited for it and hope to have a good season. Our numbers on the private I hunt are rebounding well after the work we have put into improving the habitat and trapping nest predators. Just hope we can get another couple springs of good hatches and get the numbers back up to where they could be.

 

[woodsdog2]

I always love Turkey hunting. I'm concerned with the weather we've had this year. Numbers were rebounding back and I haven't seen any on my cameras for a couple of months!!! Dang Fishers can climb up and get them right off the roost night or day. I'm not saying that is what happened but its hard to understand what they eat at this time of year when there is so much snow. I'm hoping the deer that have opened up snow and duff around the red oaks will have helped the turkeys. Bothersome to say the least.

 

[bigmike23]

I used to love turkey more than buck hunting. My wmu is dead last in the state for turkey numbers. Doesn't matter if you hunt public or private, the woods are extremely quiet anymore.

I'm lucky enough to hunt an 1k acre private for turkeys. 2009-2017 there was 10+ gobblers on this property every single year. More than enough for everybody. 2023 had 1 gobbler on the property. Last year there was 2. Both killed on the youth hunt. I did get one last year on public, but had to scout the first 2 days before this hunt and mustve walked 15 miles to find 1 bird.

I spoke to the head turkey biologist for my area when he checked my bear in in 2023. Behind closed doors, biologists want the complete elimination of hen turkey hunting in the heaviest hit WMUS. Politically they wont allow it because it could mean lost license sales of the traditional fall turkey hunters.

It sucks around here.

 

[goodfelg]

I've seen a couple toms on the side of the road before the snow. Picked up a new trumpet and scratch box that sound sweet. I've got 900ish acres of private out my back door (old lady doesn't allow access, I've tried), usually I can get 3-4 birds to respond once it warms up.
I was thinking about a new gun, been looking at the Stevens single shot in 20, but I'm really interested in the TC 20 that is supposed to drop soon. Nothing wrong with my old H&R 12 or the Winchester pump, but ohh look -shinny is getting to me. Off to the support page I go LOL

 

[Blacksmith]

We had 61 turkeys on our corn feeder for the deer last week. They roost on the farm and sound amazing in the evening during fly up.

 

[woodsdog2]

We had 61 turkeys on our corn feeder for the deer last week. They roost on the farm and sound amazing in the evening during fly up.

We can't feed wildlife in NYS its illegal. Wish we could do something to help them out during these tough times.

 

[bigcat93]

Had a couple spots that were covered with them late season. Hoping to gain permission on a property to bowhunt them next to the public piece I was on

 

[ChudBrockToon]

I've seen a couple toms on the side of the road before the snow. Picked up a new trumpet and scratch box that sound sweet. I've got 900ish acres of private out my back door (old lady doesn't allow access, I've tried), usually I can get 3-4 birds to respond once it warms up.
I was thinking about a new gun, been looking at the Stevens single shot in 20, but I'm really interested in the TC 20 that is supposed to drop soon. Nothing wrong with my old H&R 12 or the Winchester pump, but ohh look -shinny is getting to me. Off to the support page I go LOL

I have the Stevens single shot in 20. I love it

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Work usually keeps me from turkey hunting but this year… the procedure on my right elbow tendon I had on Tuesday will do me in, unless there is some sort of crazy healing going on.
I wish you guys luck and remember if you don’t need those wing feathers, I will gladly take them off your hands… ;-)

 

[goodfelg]

I have the Stevens single shot in 20. I love it

I was almost ready to pick one up, till I saw the TC news, now I'm debating on waiting a year (never buy the first year model LOL). If H&R was still around I wouldn't hesitate to pick up one in 20. I replaced the stock on my 12 with one that collapses with a pistol grip and with 2 3/4 shells it's been used by several of my friend's kids for their first bird. I like it because it's light and points great, can't ask for much more for a 25 yo no frills gun

 

[Dsabhunt]

I was thinking of using a shotgun this year. I've been using a bow since I started turkey hunting 12 years ago. I recently acquired a shotgun that was my grandfather's. He's been gone for 30 years so I asked my uncle about it and he said he's pretty sure grandpa bought it to turkey hunt with. It seems fitting to take it out and see if I can get a bird down with it

 

[bonehed67]

Just got a red dot sight yesterday and trying to figure out what gun I want to get to mount it on. Leaning towards a Mossberg SA 28

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[Lucky13]

I use a Mossberg 935 pistol grip with the FF3 and Indian creek choke. My son has a Rossi .410 turkey with Indian creek choke. We’ve got about 40 days until youth weekend and that hunt has turned into my favorite hunt of the year.

 

[Dsabhunt]

Having never turkey hunted with a shotgun. What do I need for it? Full choke or extra full turkey choke? The shotgun is 2-3/4" and not wanting to spend the money on tss shot, what shells should I try out to find a decent pattern?

 

[Lucky13]

I’d try and find some 2 3/4” longbeard xr. I think they come in #5 shot in that size shell. Hard to say about the choke because of all the variables but most likely the extra full choke will be your best pattern but you may find the full being better at closer range shots.

I buy a lot of ammo from Cabelas because you get free shipping over $50.

 

[Dsabhunt]

I’d try and find some 2 3/4” longbeard xr. I think they come in #5 shot in that size shell. Hard to say about the choke because of all the variables but most likely the extra full choke will be your best pattern but you may find the full being better at closer range shots.

I buy a lot of ammo from Cabelas because you get free shipping over $50.

Thank you for the information. I know all guns pattern differently. I'm just looking for a staring point. Now to get some cardboard sheets for when the weather gets nicer

 

[Lucky13]

What’s everyone’s favorite call?

I’ve finished most my birds with ghost cut mouth calls. Sadler McGraw makes great ones. I’ve had success with Pinhoti yelpers but they are fairly fragile. Hard to get a season out of them. I bought some from Mark Six last month that are easy to run but we’ll see how they perform this season.

My all time favorite pot has been a John Sinclair titanium over slate. Second would be a copper from Mike Yingling or Wendell Rye aluminum.

I’m not a big box call guy but have a Marlin Watkins that’s as good as they get.

I’ve killed and tricked some of my oldest birds with trumpet calls. This is last years bird using a Todd Black horn.