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Spring 2020 Gobbler Season

First year turkey hunter here following along. I’m hunting public land in NW Georgia. Deer hunted private land mostly so have only set foot on this place Thursday and Friday. I have no idea what typical turkey habitat looks like on ONX, obviously I’m a below amateur caller, but I’m having fun. All the tips, tactics and advice are being soaked up.
 
First year turkey hunter here following along. I’m hunting public land in NW Georgia. Deer hunted private land mostly so have only set foot on this place Thursday and Friday. I have no idea what typical turkey habitat looks like on ONX, obviously I’m a below amateur caller, but I’m having fun. All the tips, tactics and advice are being soaked up.
Glad to see I’m not the only fresh meat. I just had my first turkey hunt this morning. It was unproductive but enjoyable. I’m starting to nail down the yelp, cut, putt, and purrrrrrrrr on the mouth call. Struggling to get consistency on the slate.
 
Glad to see I’m not the only fresh meat. I just had my first turkey hunt this morning. It was unproductive but enjoyable. I’m starting to nail down the yelp, cut, putt, and purrrrrrrrr on the mouth call. Struggling to get consistency on the slate.

Oh there’s no denying it’s fun. I just enjoy being in the woods. Even if I sound like brain dead bird haha. I’ll never learn strong at home


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I was surprised to read of so many new Turkey Hunters on this post and others so I thought I'd share some great book recommendations. If you can get your hands on these or just one of these, you will gain a lot of great knowledge about turkeys and turkey hunting. I have many others but these are my absolute favorite recommendations. The books are all encompassing and do a great job of balancing turkey biology with hunting tips and tactics. I highly recommend any of them. Roger Latham's perspective encompasses mid to late 20th century when a lot of the restoration efforts were going on. He's a PA boy and so you PA boys may really enjoy his stories. I remember in the early to mid 80's, we would walk, drive, bike for miles to locate gobblers. Now, most of us can hear one sound off pretty readily. Latham's stuff is when turkeys were few and far between especially in the Northeast. The illustrations are by Ned Smith, another PA person who did all of the illustrations for the Pennsylvania Game News back in the day. I've never been but I surely someday want to travel to the Ned Smith Nature Center and Museum in Millersburg PA. http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/ Dr. Lovett William's stuff is second to none. Sadly I believe all of these great hunters/biologists/authors have passed on. IMG-39162.jpg
 
I was surprised to read of so many new Turkey Hunters on this post and others so I thought I'd share some great book recommendations. If you can get your hands on these or just one of these, you will gain a lot of great knowledge about turkeys and turkey hunting. I have many others but these are my absolute favorite recommendations. The books are all encompassing and do a great job of balancing turkey biology with hunting tips and tactics. I highly recommend any of them. Roger Latham's perspective encompasses mid to late 20th century when a lot of the restoration efforts were going on. He's a PA boy and so you PA boys may really enjoy his stories. I remember in the early to mid 80's, we would walk, drive, bike for miles to locate gobblers. Now, most of us can hear one sound off pretty readily. Latham's stuff is when turkeys were few and far between especially in the Northeast. The illustrations are by Ned Smith, another PA person who did all of the illustrations for the Pennsylvania Game News back in the day. I've never been but I surely someday want to travel to the Ned Smith Nature Center and Museum in Millersburg PA. http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/ Dr. Lovett William's stuff is second to none. Sadly I believe all of these great hunters/biologists/authors have passed on. View attachment 26560
My mom gave me the art and science wild turkey hunting in college and I had no interest at the time and I think I gave it to good will last year when we moved hahah. Funny how that happens.
 
First year trying to chase turkeys in WI after telling myself this was going to be the year for a few years but never had the time in the Spring. I use most of my get out of jail free passes with my wife in the Fall Bowhunting Whitetails so Turkey hunting just wasnt in the cards until this year.

Added a Carlson Turkey Choke to my old Winchester 20 gauge i shot way back in high school and plan on using the Long Beard XRs as they seem to be patterning pretty well out of the old 20 gauge.

Didnt bother with mouth calls....yet. Planned to see how I do with my box call and I have a Hen and Jake decoy at my disposal but being first year just hoping to get a leg up on figuring em out.

My son and I have been going to a public spot where we see about 40 turkeys in the private cornfield every night so theyre at least in the area. Any tips for getting a Tom to leave that group come April and come across about 800 yards of open corn as they seem to ALWAYS stay as far over on the private as they can get from the intel ive gathered so far?
 
I was surprised to read of so many new Turkey Hunters on this post and others so I thought I'd share some great book recommendations. If you can get your hands on these or just one of these, you will gain a lot of great knowledge about turkeys and turkey hunting. I have many others but these are my absolute favorite recommendations. The books are all encompassing and do a great job of balancing turkey biology with hunting tips and tactics. I highly recommend any of them. Roger Latham's perspective encompasses mid to late 20th century when a lot of the restoration efforts were going on. He's a PA boy and so you PA boys may really enjoy his stories. I remember in the early to mid 80's, we would walk, drive, bike for miles to locate gobblers. Now, most of us can hear one sound off pretty readily. Latham's stuff is when turkeys were few and far between especially in the Northeast. The illustrations are by Ned Smith, another PA person who did all of the illustrations for the Pennsylvania Game News back in the day. I've never been but I surely someday want to travel to the Ned Smith Nature Center and Museum in Millersburg PA. http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/ Dr. Lovett William's stuff is second to none. Sadly I believe all of these great hunters/biologists/authors have passed on. View attachment 26560
Appreciate all the book recommendations.

Been hunting Whitetails 30 years but first year chasing Turkeys this year. Pretty excited as I havent been in the position of really having not much of a clue about how to hunt something in a long long time so looking forward to the challenge.

The idea of calling one in is pretty intriguing as opposed to mostly just waiting for a Buck to come by within shooting range of my location.
 
First year trying to chase turkeys in WI after telling myself this was going to be the year for a few years but never had the time in the Spring. I use most of my get out of jail free passes with my wife in the Fall Bowhunting Whitetails so Turkey hunting just wasnt in the cards until this year.

Added a Carlson Turkey Choke to my old Winchester 20 gauge i shot way back in high school and plan on using the Long Beard XRs as they seem to be patterning pretty well out of the old 20 gauge.

Didnt bother with mouth calls....yet. Planned to see how I do with my box call and I have a Hen and Jake decoy at my disposal but being first year just hoping to get a leg up on figuring em out.

My son and I have been going to a public spot where we see about 40 turkeys in the private cornfield every night so theyre at least in the area. Any tips for getting a Tom to leave that group come April and come across about 800 yards of open corn as they seem to ALWAYS stay as far over on the private as they can get from the intel ive gathered so far?
Who knows where they’ll be roosting by the opener, if you can get hot bird in the right mood they’ll travel...
 
Good luck and please post pic of your kill!!!
Saw birds every sit but I never had one within bow range. This hunt reminded me why I like the saddle so much...I sat fri afternoon and saturday morning in a stool. My back is killing me....like when I used to use a tree stand. Remaining sits I was tethered in at ground level or 6-7ft up and had no discomfort. Yellow flies were out in force and it was 90 degrees so not the most enjoyable hunt but I had fun nonetheless. Saw lots of poults so I'm thinking it's late in the turkey rut or whatever you call the turkeys mating season
 
Saw birds every sit but I never had one within bow range. This hunt reminded me why I like the saddle so much...I sat fri afternoon and saturday morning in a stool. My back is killing me....like when I used to use a tree stand. Remaining sits I was tethered in at ground level or 6-7ft up and had no discomfort. Yellow flies were out in force and it was 90 degrees so not the most enjoyable hunt but I had fun nonetheless. Saw lots of poults so I'm thinking it's late in the turkey rut or whatever you call the turkeys mating season
Good hatch!!! I can't believe the difference, ours aren't even close to laying eggs yet.
 
Saw birds every sit but I never had one within bow range. This hunt reminded me why I like the saddle so much...I sat fri afternoon and saturday morning in a stool. My back is killing me....like when I used to use a tree stand. Remaining sits I was tethered in at ground level or 6-7ft up and had no discomfort. Yellow flies were out in force and it was 90 degrees so not the most enjoyable hunt but I had fun nonetheless. Saw lots of poults so I'm thinking it's late in the turkey rut or whatever you call the turkeys mating season
No, that point in the season is my favorite! Tom's are still very much interested on one thing, all you gotta do is give them that wink!
 
I was surprised to read of so many new Turkey Hunters on this post and others so I thought I'd share some great book recommendations. If you can get your hands on these or just one of these, you will gain a lot of great knowledge about turkeys and turkey hunting. I have many others but these are my absolute favorite recommendations. The books are all encompassing and do a great job of balancing turkey biology with hunting tips and tactics. I highly recommend any of them. Roger Latham's perspective encompasses mid to late 20th century when a lot of the restoration efforts were going on. He's a PA boy and so you PA boys may really enjoy his stories. I remember in the early to mid 80's, we would walk, drive, bike for miles to locate gobblers. Now, most of us can hear one sound off pretty readily. Latham's stuff is when turkeys were few and far between especially in the Northeast. The illustrations are by Ned Smith, another PA person who did all of the illustrations for the Pennsylvania Game News back in the day. I've never been but I surely someday want to travel to the Ned Smith Nature Center and Museum in Millersburg PA. http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/ Dr. Lovett William's stuff is second to none. Sadly I believe all of these great hunters/biologists/authors have passed on. View attachment 26560
Another must read is Tenth Legion by tom Kelly! Absolutely gets read everytime I fly!
 
Strictly recurve for me until I kill one. Run and gun (bow) with no blind, self filming. Using a short Browning Backpacker #55 lbs with 195 grain 3 blade heads and the game tracker string. My plan is to locate, set up a decoy and get between the bird and decoy facing away from the bird.Hoping for the texas heart shot. Slim chance it will work, but I'm not picking up the scatter gun till it does.
I've already set the bow up and tore apart an old vest to make a small side bag for minimal gear. Will wear a leafy suite. Been practicing all sorts of crazy shooting positions with ssslllloooooowwwww movements.
4f036bf98124470b84dbc8ca393c3910.jpg
840f1a398149fc406ceabbdd2bc473b4.jpg
2d7c1e625660fca9da077dd768e34021.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Strictly recurve for me until I kill one. Run and gun (bow) with no blind, self filming. Using a short Browning Backpacker #55 lbs with 195 grain 3 blade heads and the game tracker string. My plan is to locate, set up a decoy and get between the bird and decoy facing away from the bird.Hoping for the texas heart shot. Slim chance it will work, but I'm not picking up the scatter gun till it does.
I've already set the bow up and tore apart an old vest to make a small side bag for minimal gear. Will wear a leafy suite. Been practicing all sorts of crazy shooting positions with ssslllloooooowwwww movements.
4f036bf98124470b84dbc8ca393c3910.jpg
840f1a398149fc406ceabbdd2bc473b4.jpg
2d7c1e625660fca9da077dd768e34021.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
You’re a mad man! Get it done, can’t wait to hear all about it.
 
Strictly recurve for me until I kill one. Run and gun (bow) with no blind, self filming. Using a short Browning Backpacker #55 lbs with 195 grain 3 blade heads and the game tracker string. My plan is to locate, set up a decoy and get between the bird and decoy facing away from the bird.Hoping for the texas heart shot. Slim chance it will work, but I'm not picking up the scatter gun till it does.
I've already set the bow up and tore apart an old vest to make a small side bag for minimal gear. Will wear a leafy suite. Been practicing all sorts of crazy shooting positions with ssslllloooooowwwww movements.
4f036bf98124470b84dbc8ca393c3910.jpg
840f1a398149fc406ceabbdd2bc473b4.jpg
2d7c1e625660fca9da077dd768e34021.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Good luck with the recurve man!

I’m a strict bowhunter but opposite of you with turkey hunting. My first year chasing turkeys this year so i just want to kill one so using the shotgun.

After that i plan to stick to archery gear as i do with hunting deer with the understanding it’s going to be way more challenging.
 
Good luck with the recurve man!

I’m a strict bowhunter but opposite of you with turkey hunting. My first year chasing turkeys this year so i just want to kill one so using the shotgun.

After that i plan to stick to archery gear as i do with hunting deer with the understanding it’s going to be way more challenging.
Good luck! My first year turkey hunting was a loooong time ago, and I took a shot gun! Best way to build confidence while building your turkey skills!
 
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