Turkey Tactics and Tips?

[David M. Mathis]

Go out and have fun and don't worry about how your calling sounds. I've been at now going on 30 years and some days they come but most of the time they don't. You can't killed them sitting at home. Mike

[Legolas]

Guru-When I was a kid we tied June bugs to a string and would fly them in a circle. Can you do that with a string tracker and a turkey?   :p  

Paul

[Guru]

Maybe if you used spider wire....

[Longbowwally]

Thanks for the info on what ya'll use for chairs in your blinds....
I'm thinking of taking my golf bag pull cart and using it to carry my blind and other gear. I saw a pic on the stickbow or somewhere on the 'net where a guy was using his pull cart and it looked like it would work real good. Those large blinds, plus dekes, plus pack are a pain to carry for very far....
On big broadheads....I shot my turkey last year with the big snuffer...I hit him quartering away at the top of the thigh. It busted up the top of the thigh but the point just barely went into the rib cage. I'm thinking of using the big 2 blade Simmons Tree Shark(2 inches wide) this year as its worked real good on a couple of deer for me and seems to penetrate better than the snuffer....Anyone have any ideas on broadheads?

[Longbowwally]

Also, a friend of mine hunts a lot like Earl E. ...He says he has killed about 80% of his birds in the late afternoon near dusting and feeding areas...Says the Toms come in just as good late in the afternoon as early in the morning....

By the way, all you guys that posted your turkey pics -  very nice birds!  

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

A little more on what Bishs refers to as window management, and I agree on going to the knees or at least one knee. I like to set my DB at a 45 degree angle to the dekes. (Not square to them as most often seen). I will aim the corner opposite of the door, just to the right of the dekes. I will set my chair/stool right in front of the door. This gives me much more room in front of me to maneuver for the shot. It also gives me 4 windows of my T5 to a generally front position. Doesn't work well when you have a second in the blind, but when you are alone, there is a lot more area to work with.

[Guru]

Earl, That's just how I set up my T-5. Getting a Matrix soon,the extra shooting and visibility will definately be nice.I had a tom opening morning last year so close to the blind I couldn't shoot him,and he walked away just like he walked in,I would have killed him had I had the extra shooting of the Matrix.Still won't be like being out in a natural blind,but it should be better.Looking forward to getting it and trying it out!!!

[Guru]

Top for adkmtken

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Curt, Have you seen the latest "Year on the Ground" video by the boys from DB? They whack a lizard crawling up the wall on the outside of the blind. Can't get much closer than that.. Need a bit of 200 mph tape when your through, but???

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Real simple advice that most all know. Don't give up and sleep in bed because the wind is a howling and you don't think you can hear birds. Or think they may not be able to hear you. Sometimes after being beat up a couple weeks it's easy to let up and stay in bed. Especially if you live in OK because the wind blows here constantly, it seems as it even blows more during turkey season. This is where a good box call pays off as nothing cuts wind like a box. Anyhow enough about calling but the point I was getting to is that a person will NEVER kill one while sleeping at home in bed.  So get up and go have some fun. Mike Smyth

[Guru]

Yeah...I have seen it,pretty funny stuff.I guess when ya own the company you can afford to shoot holes in your blind!!!

Was that on the one that came out last year,cause they have one they just released,it's long2 DVD's) and it's awesome!!! Them boys know how to have fun when hunting.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

It was probably last year's video. I agree on  the owning the company concept, but there have been years and times when repairing the blind would not have been a concern. Darn birds, after having the dumbest creature in the woods make a fool out of you enough times, hand grenades start looking to be viable methods.    :D

[bishs]

I thought I would elaborate a bit more on "window management". I usually set up with 4 windows open. Quite often a gobbler is coming straight to the blind and you have to wait until you know what side he is taking. Then I begin opening the appropriate windows, but not until I close the windows directly across from them. If you leave a back window open or even cracked he will easliy pick up movement.

At this point I am on my knees, I unhook the top of the DB window and lower it straight back slowly. I try to do this while he is walking. Opening them this way pulls the window back into the shadows of the blind.

Not being aggressive enough on opening windows has cost me more than a few gobblers that have strolled past within spitting distance. The outside of my windows are now covered with DB's black window covers. They seem to really be effective. Last year I shot a gobbler, he went down where he stood, a gang of jakes ran in to check him out. I did a little experiment and opened and closed the windows in front of them 1/2 a dozen times. They were under 10 yards away, and never noticed. I wear a dark jersey glove and black sleeves.

I always try to set the blind up so I am in the shadows of the morning sun, and never open a window on the sunny side of the blind; they will see right in. I keep a dark piece of material in the blind and pin it up on the sunny side of the blind.

I have taken a few with shoot through screens. Make sure you are shooting perpendicular to the screens. I am going away from them this year. Arrow flight is often questioned, and  I feel they are not needed.

[JC]

Well, seen sign....seen jakes....seen roost trees but haven't spent any time hunting because still not finished with the house and still have not heard any sounds out of em yet. But Kim called me at work this morning and said she heard em gobblin up a storm in our woods when she went to feed the horses. Great wife, ain't she?!!?

Time to put them turkey tactics you boys posted to good use......

[southernarcher]

Good luck brother!

What part of GA is Ranger in?I moved here from Sylvania,which is in Screven Co. about 12yrs ago.Lots of birds around there,and my buddy has a nice farm there but,I just can't seem to get over there during turkey season.And it's only a 2 1/2hr drive.

[JC]

Michael, Ranger is in the North central part of GA.

[Guru]

Let us know how you make out bud....

[Guru]

Here's a few pix for some guys that are just starting out and may not know.

Gobbler dropping......classic "J" shape

 

Hen dropping.....

 

turkey food.....

 

 
Took those while scouting this morning,hope they can help someone out.

[indianalongbowshooter]

Lets bring this thread back to the top.....

[Tim Fishell]

TTT for another Turkey Season!!    

Lots of good info here!!