2004 Spring Turkey

[Hideandwatch]

This will be my first firearms Spring Turkey hunt. I think I am pretty much all set getting geared up. I have been practicing some calls that I got for my birthday, Knight & Hale slate, push box friction call, diapraghm call and a crow shock call. I purchased the HiViz adjustable fiber sights and a Tru-Glo Gobble Stopper Extreme choke tube along with a box of Federal premium 3" mag #5 shot. There's a guy from work who is going to acompany me on my first hunt. The Turkey in my area havn't been showing themselves as much as they were a couple months ago, but I'm thinking it's not gonna matter where I set up at on the land I hunt, they will be pretty much everywhere since there's a lot of them.
Is the Spring Turkey a hunt that you thrive for and possibly lose some sleep over like the deer opener in the fall? What have you been doing to prepare for this hunt if anything? My heart is thumping!

 

[Chairman]

Originally posted by Hideandwatch@Feb 13 2004, 03:33 AM
Is the Spring Turkey a hunt that you thrive for and possibly lose some sleep over like the deer opener in the fall? What have you been doing to prepare for this hunt if anything? My heart is thumping!

The Spring Turkey Season has raised my blood pressure & heart rate, for the past 5 years(since we moved to a new area). There's a large flock that always shows up in a bordering field just NW of me, in the Spring.

They always seem to disappear, just before the opener, though...

There's a HUGE Tom that I've been after ~ and still am...

The first year here, I introduced my brother to hunting turkey's. I took him to my hot-spot, and he had his first Tom within 45 minutes of legal shooting time. I did the calling, and he did the shooting. He's hooked for life, now.

BUT ~ I've yet to take one, since we moved!

Either the weather doesn't cooperate, or I can't hunt because of health issues. I'm hoping this year is the year...

 

[Hideandwatch]

Chairman~ Hoping this year is the year for ya too!

I've been watching 2 flocks recently, but don't know if they will be working the same fields in the spring. Seems all that I seen in the winter months must have split up and moved to different areas. But the exciting thing is they are there, not in number like they were earlier on but they are there. The other morning, I heard them flydown right across from my house, and that evening I heard them flyup. Not sure if I will hunt that area though, the neighbor has cows, (several of them) in this area.

 

[DOCDAN]

Hide , the turkey flocks splitting up is a good sign that the season is just around the corner. Although you can sometime pattern them at this time , you might want to wait and see what they are doing in late March or early April . I actually am on vacation the last week of March and thats when I will do a little scouting. On my property you may not see any in the winter but come spring they show up . They seem to roost in the same area every spring but in any other season I dont find them roosting there. And yes I do get fired up about the season every year, more so then deer hunting. I truly enjoy the deer camp with all the boys and comaradery that goes with it , but turkey season is special to me because its seems to be more of an individual challenge. To me there is nothing better then being in the woods on opening morning waiting for first light, hearing the whipperwills and owls . I get a chill everytime I hear that first gobble..............Man I'm ready to go now.........Good luck to you and remember hunt safe/be safe....Doc

 

[Hideandwatch]

I really am not familliar with the habits of turkey. I have been going out and watching them in the evening, flyup. All I have been seeing in groups of 4-6 are longbeards. Do they act like deer and hang in a bachelor early on then split up? I didn't see any hens at all. I don't want the hens, but just curious why I am only seeing the toms. And, also how big is the spurs on a mature tom? These all have beards from 7"-9" it seems. I think if I glass them as they stroll through the winterwheat, I can maybe see the size of the spurs. I want to hopefully pick one out the day before the opener and put him to roost and try and get close on him opening morn. Set out my decoys, call him in and shoot him. I hope it is all that simple!

 

[encorepistol]

Already called one in on video. Nice bird probably 11 inch beard and pretty thick looks to be about 21 pounds but hard to tell. He stays here behind the house most of the time so he might meet his maker this season. Less than 4 weeks to go so I'll be out every weekend watching them and learning where they like to hang out during the later parts of the day. Youth season will be a fun one again this year we usually have 4 guys working the birds with one on the camera , got some decent footage last year and the cam screwed up the year befor or we would have had some of the best bird action I've seen. Regardless the boys have fun and we have fun as well just being out there with the tukeys even if we can't shoot for another week.

 

[Hideandwatch]

I walked outside this am around 545 and heard numerous gobbles. A friend ame out around 630 and we went out to have a look. We seen 6 toms and one jake, the jake was almost beardless, just had a stub sticking out, Still havn't seen or heard any hens. Did a few calls, but nothing answered. There was a yote out working the field this am too, even spooked up a big doe who ran our way. looks like 3 more weeks to go.

 

[birdhunter88]

Don't make a mistake and call to those birds if you plan on hunting them. You can educate them that your calling is you and then when you go to hunt them... they will not respond.... scout with bino's and get that gun patterned. Good Luck and Happy Huntin

bird

 

[Chairman]

I saw the local flock, for the first time, on April 1st...

I sure hope seeing them on April Fool's day isn't an omen...

LOL

 

[Hideandwatch]

Chairman~ I hope not also, but Im sure you'll be perfectly fine come the opener. I went out this evening to put them to roost again. They are still roosting in the same general area. But what a sight watching these awesome birds in their procession across the wheat field.
There were at least 9 hens, and there were 3 gobblers all puffed up the whole trek across the wheat field. It seemed as though the hens were not paying any attention to the gobblers being all puffed up. The hens just kept walking slowly and scratching and pecking as they went, I dont quite understand how it all works with the turkeys yet. I still dont know why there were 3 big gobblers all puffed up. I thought that each gobbler would have his own harem. Maybe they just havn't been to that part yet.
Tomorrow I am going to take the camcorder out and get some film of this. I have filmed them just walking along, but never all puffed up.
SIX MORE DAYS!!!!!

 

[Chairman]

Whew! I'm seeing them more often, now...

A week ago, I seen a hen crossing my driveway ~ no more than 75 yards from my front door.

A couple of days ago, I saw the whole flock in a neighbors field ~ 3 Tom's, and about 12 hens.

This morning, I saw THE Tom I've been after for the past couple of years. He was behind 2 hens, following them across a field. The hens paid no attention, but I sure did!

It's pretty evident that the Tom's have split up, too. That big boy must have chased them off. And by seeing the size of him this year, I'm sure it wasn't too difficult...

I'm not gonna be able to go, on opening day. I'll get out there some time this week, though.

 

[Hideandwatch]

Man that is what Im talk'n bout Chairman....I've been putting them to roost in the evenings and what a sight to see. Usually 7-9 hens and either one tom or three. The hens paying no attention to the toms. I know exactly what the toms are think'n

....found a road kill tom just south of my property, had an 8" beard and beautiful fan. I retreived the fan and beard and my dog ate the beard. I still have the fan though. Hope to get out there gooooood and early in the morning. But my dang back has been out for 4 days now and not getting much better.

Been alternating heat and ice and load'n up on the Ibuprofen too.....


Happy Hunting To All this Spring Season

 

[DOCDAN]

Sorry to hear that Hide...Hope it works out with your back (been there,done that) I'm headin down to my place in about a hour for opening am. I'm hoping the weather holds out(wind may be a factor) but I'm still looking forward to the first gooble. Good luck to all ....hunt safe. DOC

 

[Hideandwatch]

doc~

Thanks,
Happy & Safe Hunting!