Hunting Forum

After 3 years I finally have drawn a tag for the spring turkey hunt in Utah.  I shoot an old Winchester model 12 12 gauge and would appreciate any advice you all may have for a novice.  There is a flock of about 30 just down the road from where I work and they are huntable once the season opens.  Right now it is winter but any thoughts on what may happen to them come spring?  Should I expect them to hang around in the same location or will they disperse?

Anyway, any advice on ammunition, decoys, or calls would be appreciated.  I've thought about using my Bowtech but wondering if for a first time if sticking to the shotgun would be better.  Thanks in advance.

BH

BH,

A Model 12 will work fine but you want a tight choke for turkey hunting so if it isn't full choke you might want to consider an alternative. As to ammunition shot size is a matter of preference,I shoot #5 but there is certianly nothing magical about #5 it is just what I have, # 4 or 6 will work.You want to shoot the head of the turkey so you want a tight pattern with good penetration. You should pattern your gun with various shot sizes and see which size your gun likes Since it sounds like you are new to turkey hunting in my opinion the box call is the easiest to learn, next would be the various pot calls, probably the hardest, at least for me is the mouth call. Lastly, you might want to spent some time before the season patterning those birds and then it is justing go hunting.

I suggest that you keep watching them. Before the season starts watch (without disturbing) and see what time of day they are where. They tend to take nearly the same route every day. Once I have them patterned, then I show up in the area (well ahead of time) that they tend to be in and try to call them in. I typically use a box call to get their attention (call every 15 to 20 minutes or so). Once they are within a couple hundred yards I use a slate to purr at them. Turkeys are funny creatures, sometimes it is like they are on a string and practically walk down the barrel of your gun. Other times, they hang up and you cannot figure out why. Sometimes they will yell at you from what seems like a mile away and other times all of a sudden they are in front of you without making a sound.

My advice is to watch them and keep notes on where and what time you see them for a few weeks before the season. Most likely a pattern will develop. As long as they do not get pressured or upset, they will pretty much stick to the pattern. Figure out where you want to sit such that they have free access to your spot (no fences to cross or creeks, gullies what have you, sit still, call (sparingly), park your behind, and sit still until they come by and have fun. I usually take a book to read to kill time until my watch says they should be in the area. If you can figure out where they are roosting and what field they like to fly down to, it is fun to set up in front of that spot. Nothing like having a flock of turkeys come down out of the trees over your head and into a field in front of you. As far as decoys, I usually set out a hen and a jake. My friend has a boss turkey something or other. I have had good luck with the hen and jake, so I stick with them, easier to carry too.

Bwest of luck.

jack

For your first hunt I wouldn't recommend the use of a bow because when that gobbler steps into view your heart is beating so fast it's sometime even hard to hold a shotgun steady let alone a bow.

For ammo I would use #5 shot. Although there are tons of different varieties of turkey loads any of them would work fine.

The flock will split before turkl season.....you will most likely have to use a call to kill a gobbler.