School me on turkeys........please :)

[MT_Fin]

I've never given turkey hunting a shot other than a few half hearted attempts to spot and stalk in the fall resulting in zero spotting-zero stalking and zero turkeys.

So my goal is to give turkey hunting in the spring a whirl. Much of what I've read is Midwest and eastern turkey stuff, so I'm not sure how directly it translates.

So my question is, what calls would you consider mandatory (diaphragms, box calls, friction calls.......a combination of the above?) any specific styles, make/model, style of cut for diaphram, etc?

Also, any resources you've found helpful that might help?

How helpful have you found decoys to be?

Thanks in advance

Fin

 

[406LIFE]

So you want to know everything about hunting turkeys in 100 words or less...
The nice thing about MT is they finally revised turkey regs so you can shoot 9 birds in a year. In the Bitterroot and around Missoula we have approximately a billion turkeys. They need some attention.
Im the only guy i know who seriously pursues turkey in the spring. I gwt pretty jacked hearing the fiest gobbles if the yeat.

As for starting up i guess I would tell you the following things:
1. Start with a box call and use plwnty of chalk. These are the easiest to learn. If you want to try a diaphram, they are the best option since there is no movement and can make every sound.
2. Movement is to Turkey hunting what scent is to sour them white tail hunting. Learn how not to move for hours on end.
3. Learn your shotgun. I shoot an 1187 with thumb hole stock and a red dot and load it with headshots turkey loads. It's good out to 60 yards if I need it. Whatever you go with know how it patterns and what your effective distance is.
4. Join NWTF and get the mag. Lots of good info there.

Was that less than 100 words?
PM sent.

 

[MT_Fin]

So you want to know everything about hunting turkeys in 100 words or less...
The nice thing about MT is they finally revised turkey regs so you can shoot 9 birds in a year. In the Bitterroot and around Missoula we have approximately a billion turkeys. They need some attention.
Im the only guy i know who seriously pursues turkey in the spring. I gwt pretty jacked hearing the fiest gobbles if the yeat.

As for starting up i guess I would tell you the following things:
1. Start with a box call and use plwnty of chalk. These are the easiest to learn. If you want to try a diaphram, they are the best option since there is no movement and can make every sound.
2. Movement is to Turkey hunting what scent is to sour them white tail hunting. Learn how not to move for hours on end.
3. Learn your shotgun. I shoot an 1187 with thumb hole stock and a red dot and load it with headshots turkey loads. It's good out to 60 yards if I need it. Whatever you go with know how it patterns and what your effective distance is.
4. Join NWTF and get the mag. Lots of good info there.

Was that less than 100 words?
PM sent.

Thanks! Not necessarily everything, and 100 words or more is also acceptable.....

Same here, those I know who turkey hunt don't call or hunt turkeys in the traditional sense, they mostly just shoot turkeys the run into. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with that, I just want to call and interact.....the whole shebang.