Turkey hunting 2024

[NomDeBoom]

Every once in a while I see (non liquid) Wild Turkeys. A few Oklahoma birds have been known to stand out along highways, & seemingly, enjoy watching vehicles pass by. Down along the Rio Grande N M), I saw huge toms! They looked like 2 bushel baskets taped together, with ceiling fans on their butts.
But I've always been curious (I COULD just look it up, I s'pose)...how do you 'hunt. these big ol' birds? I'm guessing the whole idea is to grab a tight patterning shot gun, get as close as you can, & try to blow their wrinkled red heads off to avoid getting shot in the 'good parts'? That's probably why I never bothered to research the technique....because that otta do it.
But here's another question: If any of you have a big Tom Turkey, & don't want the big feathers (wing & a few tail), please let me know, as I have great use for them. Can I have 'em? Happy Hunting, N de B

 

[Dorkus]

We were leaving a hunt yesterday and had two Jakes and two Toms standing in the road outside our property. Haha.

 

[retrieverman]

I’ve still got to get a plaque, but the fan is finished. Utube is a wonderful resource.

 

[retrieverman]

I’ve had a couple fans in my freezer for about 10 years, because I didn’t know what to do with them. I took one out yesterday and prepped it, and I got it ready to mount this morning.

 

[retrieverman]

I think I got an answer to what was wrong with the bird I didn’t shoot because his beard was mostly gone, and it wasn’t beard rot.
https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/melanin-shortage

 

[meatGrinder]

I've been hunting hard. More days in the woods and more time listening for gobbles than many past seasons combined. Still have yet to put one on the ground. I ain't giving up though.

I'm curious, what kinds of turkey calls do you guys prefer and use most?

 

[Okie4570]

I've been hunting hard. More days in the woods and more time listening for gobbles than many past seasons combined. Still have yet to put one on the ground. I ain't giving up though.

I'm curious, what kinds of turkey calls do you guys prefer and use most?

Ceramic or aluminum "slates" due to the volume and pitch, cuts the wind well, and I'm pretty much always dealing with the wind. Have used a diaphragm call in 20y probably.

 

[AER244]

i use a diaphragm most often, but im usually not calling at distant birds. if i need loud, i use a slate call. i gave my son a quaker boy push button yelper so he could call too. i forgot how good those things sound.

 

[retrieverman]

I use a Lohman box call, and I really don’t know if they like the way it sounds or if they just come to see what the heck is squawking.

 

[Dorkus]

I have a custom slate a friend bought me in Wisconsin and an old Ben Lee box call. I use the box when it is windy and the slate when it is not.