Minimum equipment to get started?

[lakota]

I have never been turkey hunting before so I know next to nothing. Spring season is opening in about a month and I want to give it a try this year. Also my wife has expressed an interest and I would like to nurture it and maybe it will lead to her going deer hunting with me also.

I already have a H&R single shot 12 ga full choke.

If you could buy only one call starting out what kind would it be?

What about decoys? How many should I have? What type?

The vast array of turkey hunting gear is bewildering and I have no idea on where to start.

Any good info sites on turkey hunting out on the net?


Thanks.
Scott

[dukkillr]

Decoys you need?  Oh, I'd say you can probably get by with just one hen.  Later on you'll probably want to start carrying a couple of hens and a jake or subordinate tom.  When it gets late in the season I go with just the single hen anyway.

Just one call?  Depending on the situation I sometimes walk away from the truck with nothing but a shotgun and a diaphragm call.  That being said, in a normal morning I'll carry several calls and only use my favorite slate.  Mouth calls are cheap, maybe try one of them first and if you can't master it you can try something else.

Other gear?  I've got a vest but if you don't carry a bunch of stuff you wouldn't need it.  My vest has a seat built into it which is a big deal when it's rainy.  Get a headnet and gloves.

The thing I'd remember that's different about turkeys from other types of hunting is that woodsmanship is more important than any other skill.  Your gear will need to be able to survive a long crawls through the mud.  A lightweight pair of decent binos is important so you don't spend an hour trying to get somewhere only to find out you're setting up on a jake...

If you have control of the ground you're going to hunt, build a blind.  I carry a small saw and a ratchet pruner thingy so I can build a blind if I find myself somewhere that doesn't have one. 

Also, scouting is the absolute most important thing you can do to help your chances of scoring.  Turkeys are very patternable.  You'll find all these guys talking about patterns and how they tested 2,721 different loads and chokes... Generally these are the kind of people who just like messing with things... It doesn't add much to your chances for killing a tom...  If you have 10 hours to prepare for turkey season, spend 9 hours and 45 minutes scouting.  Spend 15 minutes building a blind in the best looking spot.  Note that scouting doesn't help until the turkeys start to break up.  I don't know where you live, but in the midwest that's going to start around the first of April.

[Graybeard]

Absolute minimum is one shotgun, one shell and one call. Other than the fact I always carried some extra shells that's all I've ever carried. Learning to use the call you have is the secret, well that and scouting and figuring out where they are.

[kitchawan kid]

Graybeard is right,years ago I carryed so much stuff I was worn out after 4 hrs. now the shotgun,I do carry more than one shell,a good box call,2 strickers and some trail mix.

[JonD.]

The best advice I can give you, and the greatest help for you is to hunt with someone who has hunted turkeys for many years, if you can.

This is only my 2nd year turkey hunting(and why I didn't go 20 years ago I'll never know)so I won't be much help, but I found that a slate call, or box call, is the easiest to learn how to use. The best sounding slate call I've ever heard is one I bought this year, an HS Strut Ring Zone(Wal-Mart). It sounds absolutely great. There are three styles of the Ring Zone, a slate, a glass, and a ceramic. I can speak for the slate, and they are supposed to be "scientifically proven" to resonate at the same sound range as a live wild turkey. I have a Quaker boy box call which sounds really good. Mouth calls were very hard for me to learn to use, and I found that the HS Struts were the easiest. I'm sure many will have differing opinions on their favorites, but as a beginner these were what I came to like after much trial and error. Another tip is wait until after season is over when Wal-mart marks all the turkey stuff down half-price and then stock up and figure out what you like.

You can get an easy to carry hen decoy at Wally world also for about $10.

The National Wild Turkey Federation has a website and you can listen to just about all the turkey sounds to practice calling by. http://www.nwtf.org/for_hunters/

Also, most definitely, get you a good recoil pad for your H&R. You'll see what I mean after the first 3" magnum turkey load. The full choke should be fine out to 30 or 35 yards which is plenty good enough.

[lakota]

Thanks for the guidance. I am definatley going to give it a go this year. I am in Ohio and my season starts on April 20 I believe. Tommorow I am going to pick a call up and start practicing.

Also, most definitely, get you a good recoil pad for your H&R. You'll see what I mean after the first 3" magnum turkey load. The full choke should be fine out to 30 or 35 yards which is plenty good enough.

[/quote]

I know what you mean. I have had this little H&R for years and soft recoiling she aint. I have shot trap with this gun, and while touching off a Winchester A-A  shell or two aint too bad the recoil definatley "accumulates" after three or four rounds of trap

[cgoff]

The only thing I would add is a comfortable seat. Turkeys can see very well, so the less you move around while sitting the better.   Make sure you get out and pattern your shotgun before the season also.

[AlbanyCO]

Hello! I am a novice turkey hunter myself! I went for the first time last spring and ended up to my utter dismay at actually bagging a turkey! Being in the same position you were just in I would just like to touch on a few things.

1. Calls: I started off using a push-pull type of call. It's bonehead simple to use you just push the pin a few times to create a yelping sound. They are a little pricey but for someone just starting out it may be worth your while. I succesfully called in a bird with this call http://www.amazon.com/MAD-MD-340-Button-Yelper-Turkey/dp/B000NCL5R2. It's called a MAD egg. You can't get any simplier.

2. Get a locator call! I use a crow call and have had GREAT results with it. When you use it, use it when it is just barely getting light out enough to see. If there are turkeys in the area they should answer it. (They have for me anyway.)

3. Bring a flashlight for the early morning walk in.

4. Bring a snack and some water.

5. Camo. You don't have to spend a ton of money, but make sure you cover up. Bring a camo seat to sit on as well.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head. I bought a few other calls to try this year including a slate call. I think the slate sounds better than the push pull, but the push pull is what brought the turkey in!

Good luck!

[Leatherstocking]

You got some good advice among the posts here. But, a word of caution........... spring turkey hunting is extremely addictive  Once you start, you can not stop. I love spring turkeys more than any other type of hunting!

And on a serious note, remember safety - don't wear any red, white or blue, and sit and call - don't stalk. Of all types of hunting turkey hunting probably poses the greatest potential for accidents. If as many guys hunted turkeys as deer, there woul be a lot more accidents.

Good luck!