camofluaging

[dragthewaters]

well I have never hunted turkey but I think I may try it, I have heard that your camofluage has to be very very good, and your calling must be good also, camo i dont think will be a problem because I am working on a guille suit, but I have to have orange on too though right? how will I camo well with blaze orange?

[Robert]

The willie gillie suit will be fine, but it is really not as hard as some people say.  You really want to be quiet and move very slowly if at all.  Have your gun pointed the way the bird is coming in so you dont have to jerk it up suddenly, and follow him with the muzzle as he moves toward you.
Calling really isnt that hard, I still dont totally trust my moth call, I use a small box call and it has killed many turkeys, they seem to make the most realistic sound for me.  I usually call very quietly and just do about 5 little clucks, then be quiet for a few minutes. Lohman makes a
call that works great when they get close in.  It attaches to your barrel with velcro and you pull a loop in a string but just wiggling your finger of your forward hand.

[Ka6otm]

Everything I have learned and observed about camouflage was best summed up by something I read some time ago.

"If you don't move while the game is watching you, the type of camouflage you have doesn't matter.  If you do move while the game is watching you, the type of camouflage you have doesn't matter either."

Ka6otm

[Jack Crevalle]

well I have never hunted turkey but I think I may try it, I have heard that your camofluage has to be very very good, and your calling must be good also, camo i dont think will be a problem because I am working on a guille suit, but I have to have orange on too though right? how will I camo well with blaze orange?

Turkeys can see considerably better than humans so camo is important. I think more important but along the same line is color selection since turkeys can see in color.

If you're hunting in Illinois it would seem that according to this:

http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/03/03swthuntinfo.pdf

you aren't required to wear blaze orange. We are not required to in my state either but I make it a practice to carry a solid blaze orange hat and my vest has a blaze orange flag that I can pull out of the back of it to display. I wear the hat and display the flag, both, whenever I'm up walking around. I hide them inside my clothing when I sitting and calling. I suggest that you do the same.

The best advice I can give you on calling, that I've learned is: don't call too much. Listen to the woods and if everything is quiet, you be quiet too. I didn't believe this at first but I've sat down called once, not gotten an answer, waited 45 minutes, and heard birds walking right to me.

You don't have to sound like an expert. I've heard real turkeys make sounds that my hunting buddy swore was me making bad calls and I thought was another hunter who didn't know how to call. Then the calling started changing directions on the fly and I knew it was real turkeys who I called to right in front of me.

Get a tape and try to imitate the just the yelp at first. A push button call is probably the easiest to use. Quaker Boy makes a good one.

[savageT]

Hey Drag..........
I am quite concerned about hunter safety during turkey seasons. Here's what the NYS instuctor told us....Carry in a roll of Orange Tape in your bag, along with something like a hunters orange cap to wear, or vest, while walking in.  When you get there, find a big tree to sit behind to cover your backside, tie a big section of Orange Tape around the tree so other hunters know you are there, then sit down, hide the orange vest or cap and blend in.  I don't believe a ghillie suit is required, do you?  After all, I don't want to look like the turkey, and that goes double for walking back out to your car!  Wear the Orange and play safe.

Jim

[jerrl]

I have an uncle in Arkansas that has probably killed more turkeys over the last 50 years than anybody would ever believe.  They would number in the hundreds.  He hunts wearing Tuf Nut blue denim overalls and a khaki shirt and a felt hat.  His call is an old push button type yelper that he found in the woods.  Before that (in his words) "I just  ambushed em."

His shotgun is an old 870 12 ga 23/4" in which he puts #6 non magnum loads.  These are the same shells he hunts rabbits and squirrels with.

The real key to his success is not only knowing where the birds are at all times but where they are coming from and going to.  He also just has an uncanny instinct when it comes to things like wind and weather.  I guess this just prooves once again that it is knowledge that is key to any successful endeavor.

[m14dan]

That orange tape is a good idea especialy if you are hunting public land. I almost got shot once by calling in another hunter. He stuck the shotgun through the bush I was sitting in and scared the crap out of me. I only go on private land now.

I just use all my old cammie uniforms. I got the desert ones for winter and the woodland ones work pretty good here in the summer. As long as i can find some brush to get in. West Texas is pretty dry. I painted the stock on my rifle OD green too so it blends in with my uniform pretty well. I also got one that is white. desert cammo and black for night hunting. Here is a pic we took yesterday of a rio grande turkey I got. The light is pretty bad. I wasn't even thinking about where the sun was. I think this cammo works pretty well. He didn't even see me when he walked past.

http://www.m14dan.mrswizard.com/danturkey1.jpg


Here is my rifle. I don't think it needs to be realy camoflaged as lond as you can hold still. also with a rifle you have to hit them head on so the bullet passes lengthwise or you will lose a lot of meat. This bird was 200 yards out when I finaly fired but I got him good and didn't ruin any meat at all.

http://www.m14dan.mrswizard.com/P1010009.JPG