re: Turkey hunting for idiots

I am an avid turkey hunter so I must start with a warning. If you follow up on your plans to go after turkeys prepare to deal with the addiction of turkey hunting. It is a great sport and I think/dream/plan for it year round.

1. Find a mentor to go with you on a few hunts. I tried hunting on my own when I first started and was very frustrated. I was fortunate to make friends with one of the best turkey hunters in Alabama who taught me a lot about turkeys.

2. If you aren't able to find a mentor my beginning strategy would be for a low key approach similar to deer hunting. Place a blind around a green field or any other area where you see turkey sign. Get into the blind well before daylight and be sure to be careful about your flashlight because they will spook if roosted nearby. This is my least favorite way to hunt but it is probably the most effective especially for a beginner. Later you can try running and gunning for them which is what I prefer.

3. I recommend a good quality box call for a beginner. I use Southland calls but there are lots of good ones. Don't get a cheap call from Wal-Mart. Practice yelping and clucking on the call. The biggest mistake beginners make is calling too loud and too often.

4. A good shotgun choke/shell combo is critical to your success. I use an Indian Creek tube and Hevi-Shot #7 3.5 inch 12 gauge. I try to limit my shots to forty yards but on occaision I have misjudged the distance and this combo still killed the turkey. I am not encouraging you to shoot past forty yards because that is the turkey hunting standard. Some will tell you that #7 is too small for turkeys but with Hevi-Shot I can assure yot that it's not. #7 Hevi impacts with the force of a #5 lead and there are hundreds of #7's in the load.

Good luck with your hunt.