First ever turkey hunt

[Dave223]

Mississippi has a youth season that ran from the 8th to the 14th. I decided to bring my son and give it a try. Ive been practicing for 6 months with a slate an a box call, watching dvds,etc. im itching to go!
  We get out in the woods, walking the deer lease, closing up stands and looking for signs. About every hundred yards are so i stop and call. After 2-3 tries I get a response! Call again and another response gave me a general direction! We hunker down against a tree and wait. 1 more call and 5 minutes later out comes mr turkey at 70 yards. Too far for his 20 ga., i give a couple purrs really light and he looks our way an takes a few steps. Right about this time, my son straightens out his leg and we are busted.... Mr turkey is GONE!!
 I called a few times, moved around and called, no luck, back to the camp for lunch
 2:00 we head back out. At this point im learning, but not sure when we should be out?  So anyhow, we park and load up. Get down the trail about 50 yards and walk up on a group of 6. Faster than I can type this they are gone! Now what?, sons ready to get one, Im ready to be a turkey master, THINK DANGIT, what do I do? I call, no answer, we wait. Move, call,no answer. Kept it up till dark with no luck
 Sunday morning i rise before daylight, walk out of the camp and the wind is kicking in the 30 mph range. Cant be any turkeys out like this! Take the wife and son flea market hunting. EVERY pasture we look into while on the road has a turkey or 2 in it!! UGGGHHH, cant win for losing I guess.
 Monday, wake up to a steady down pour, check the radar and its gonna be all day. Cook a nice breakfast, clean and pack, lets go home...

So, based on what I put down. What would you have done in those situations? I know we will use a ground blind to hide movement next time!
  Dave


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[tasaman]

Should get yourself a tent blind and sit on a field during a rainy day. They will go to the fields. You may pick the right one or the wrong one but you can't kill a turkey at the flea market my friend.

[JonnyReb]

 Good for you in getting your son out in the woods ,, I'll agree and say that a pop up tent blind would be perfect for the two of you. Lotsa luck, let us know how the season goes for you.  Jeff

[Oldshooter]

Good for you for trying! I wanna turkey hunt real bad. going to have just go do it I guess. old dogs can learn new tricks. will have to drive a ways but have been farther for less.

[52bagman]

The first thing you do after getting busted is stand your ground, sit back and listen. Then turkeys will go their way and eventually calm down. Usually they will start gobbling again on their own.
Now if you know the ground that's being hunted well, let the turks calm down then do an end around and get well ahead of them, wait a while, change calls and call again lightly. Be ready and be still.

[Dave223]

We will be going back in 2 weeks, a ground blind is ready and waiting. No flea markets this go around for sure. What time would you come out and how early to go back in ? Do you stay all day? 
 And thanks for the advice!


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[Dave223]

Oldshooter, its a 3 hour drive for us each way but we stay at the deer camp.
I have been practicing for months, with noone to sit and ask questions. When i made that first call and got a response, i was hooked!
 I may skip deer season next year and just hunt turkey!  Go give it a shot. Dave


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[Oldshooter]

Its a  7 hour drive for me to where I know I can hunt turkeys. Did see a bunch there this winter . But I will have to check on a spot a little closer. Good thing is that I can get a few axis deer while I am there as well. Love watching those gobblers on film.

[Ranger99]

be sure not to over call.
if you can see one, you
can bet he can see you
because they are very
sharp-eyed. if they get close,
just do a barely audible
cluck or a purr. they can
find exactly where that sound
came from. once you see 'em,
try to resist calling if you can
unless they pass on out of sight.


good luck.
don't forget your orange hat to
change to if you're moving locations
when hunting around others. you can
put your cammo hat back on when
you settle in your new spot.

[vabeachman]

We get most of our spring birds without calling.  We have a farmer spread manure on our back fields.  Really attracts them.  They like the seeds I guess.  Get setup on an edge before daybreak and wait.  Kind of like deer hunting.  And they will be out there on the coldest wettest days.  Just got to be patient.