What I've learned about turkey hunting

[Smart]

Do not leave your good decoys out when you go to retrieve your Tom or you may come back to this.... Turkeys are mean summidges when there is a woman in play..

re-uploaded HD version...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOwg5EWthKY"]Texas Tom beats up Dakota jake decoy - YouTube[/ame]

[Quackerbox]

I learned that often when I'm totally camo'd out and feeling like my fancy calls are working awesome, I can't get the Toms in closer than about 50 yards. However, when I'm bank fishing with my noisy kids and wearing brightly colored clothing I can call one within 20 yards making absolutely terrible yelps with my mouth.

I am no means a turkey hunter much less turkey caller. But I have "called" a bird closer while banging on a box blind with a hammer whilest standing on a ladder during work day than Ive ever called with an actual call.

[Old Mathews]

All said is true and funny in hindsight, not so much when chasing said dumb birds. May have to go get a dose of it tomorrow morning

[Smart]

With a bow....I've learned through the years

"Shoot em high....Watch em die....
Shoot em low...watch em go..."

"Shoot and miss, makes one ******"

[grizzman]

Rule #10: Just because you wake up and hear them gobbling practically right outside of camp does not mean you will be able to walk out and call one in. Maybe I need to get a new call.

Two years ago at Hagerman I heard one gobbling up a storm right after I got out of the truck. It was still dark so I moved down to close the distance as it started getting light. I set up and he couldn't have been more than 50 yards away in the woods. Never could close the deal.

[grizzman]

Another rule- just because you can call them in when you are scouting doesn't mean you can call them in when you are hunting. I learned the hard way to not educate the gobblers before you hunt.

[grizzman]

Also, just because a gobbler quits gobbling, don't leave. I had one gobbling up a storm a few years back and coming in on my calling. I didn't hear anything for an hour and decided he had a better offer. I got up and started down the ridge and got about 100 yards and heard gobbling from where I just came from. Tried to double back but moving on a gobbler and expecting him to stay there isn't a very good plan.

[czechgrubworm]

Oh the wisdom of this thread... Thanks...

[czechgrubworm]

I have group of gals going to Oklahoma hunting next week. Both are new to the sport... as long as this stays nice and clean, I can't wait to copy and share this with them. They will laugh, love it, and probably feel discouraged....

[Hunter Todd]

With a bow....I've learned through the years

"Shoot em high....Watch em die....
Shoot em low...watch em go..."

"Shoot and miss, makes one ******"

This has been my experience as well.

[Hunter Todd]

I have group of gals going to Oklahoma hunting next week. Both are new to the sport... as long as this stays nice and clean, I can't wait to copy and share this with them. They will laugh, love it, and probably feel discouraged....

[Gary Roberson]

If you are a serious turkey hunter or daytime predator caller, I highly recommend that you get one of the "turkey loungers". Looks like a camo hunting vest with seat and back support. If you have one of these, you will not need to sit again a tree or any other object for back support. Since I live and hunt where ticks are way too plentiful, I prefer to stay away from live oaks where ticks seem to thrive. I will set up against agarita or other brush to break up my outline and avoid the ticks.
When cutting and running be careful not to sit on or next to, a rattlesnake. My Bride won't let me forget the day when we were going to a bird and I heard the tom gobble closer than I thought that he was so I pointed to a tree and told her to sit down. She attempted to obey but found a big rattler had beaten her to the spot.
Adios,
Gary