Turkey hunting is a lot of fun and you don't have to spend a fortune to be successful. You should definitely get a turkey choke for your shotgun. There are a ton of aftermarket chokes out there or you can get one from your gun's manufacturer. With my shotgun, I had to experiment to find the best choke for it.

With turkey loads you should experiment to find which shoot best in your gun. It's kind of like sighting in a rifle. Some loads will shoot great while others are pretty bad. I don't know what kind of gun you have and if you really want to get into turkey, but I would recommend installing fiber-optic sights such as Hi-Viz or Tru-Glo. You can adjust them like a rifle sight and really dial your load in.

I don't know what kind of woods you'll be hunting in and what kind of camo you have, but I always use the same camo as I do for deer season. I have never found the kind of camo you wear to really have any effect on turkeys. The key thing is to avoid movement as much as possible. I have hunted turkey in everything from expensive camo to cheap military style Walmart camo and I have been successful with both. I prefer Mossy Oak Break-up but it really doesn't matter as long as you blend in pretty well with your environment.

Since you don't know how to call, the easiest call for you to use would be a push-button call. They are fool-proof but they don't have the versatility of other calls. I would recommend getting a box call. They are relatively easy to use and can create all the sounds you really need for turkey hunting. They have good control and are capable of high volume, which is good for windy days. Other common calls are slate and diaphragm calls. Slates take a little practice but they are also versitile. I would not recommend starting with a diaphragm call as they take a lot of practice to become proficient.

Learning to call is really easy. The backs of call boxes can teach you just about all you need to know and some calls include instructional CDs or DVDs. You can buy instructional CDs which isn't a bad idea. They will expose you to natural turkey sounds so you know what you should sound like. Primos or Knight & Hale make some good ones.

If your buddy knows how to hunt turkeys he can teach you the basics but I'll relate a few things I have learned. I live in PA and our spring and fall season have to be approached totally different, but since you will be spring turkey hunting I will tell you my approach.

There's not really a right or wrong way to hunt turkey, but your odds of getting a turkey are better if you concentrate on fields. Turkeys tend to hang out around fields in the spring, using them for strutting zones and feeding. Try to do some scouting and locate a flock of turkey and if possible find out where they roost. This can be done by monitoring fields for turkey activity or going out in the woods before sunset and listening for a flock flying to roost. Listening for gobblers in the early morning is another good way to find out the location of turkeys.

If you know where a flock is or know a good area, you should get in the woods before daylight and preferably be set up by daylight. You can get pretty close to roosted turkeys if you are early but be careful to not bump them from the roost. You can set up in a blind, behind a tree, in a rosebush, wherever you can get good cover from a turkey's prying eyes. You want to have clear shooting lanes where you think any turkeys will come although they can come from anywhere. I prefer sitting with my back to a tree or behind a tree, preferably with some light cover in front. I have used blinds but I have been more successful without and I enjoy the experience of trying to hide myself in the woods. Turkeys are wary and know when something doesn't look right, but it hinges more on your setup and movement than camo. You can use decoys if you want, I have had better success with them but they have also scared some turkeys off. They are good for distracting a turkey's attention from where the calls are coming from and reduce the chance of you being busted.

Another thing with the camo. You should have a facemask and gloves because exposed skin is not good. A cushion is worth the extra weight if you plan on sitting for extended periods of time.

Once you're set up, you want to listen for gobblers gobbling as they come off the roost. If you don't here any in the first hour of daylight, it's not a good sign but doesn't necessarily mean you should give up. You can call a little right around daylight, but stick to calls like tree yelps (learn from instructions). No set pattern of calling works for every turkey, so don't be afraid to mix it up a little as you learn. After all, that's half the fun. Instructional CDs are great here because you can learn some common patterns and techniques that are generally applicable. I won't get into specific turkey calls because that's a whole book in of itself.

If you have a gobbler answering you just keep up what you're doing and hopefully he'll come in to check out the "hen". Of course, it can be a lot more complex than this but this is basic. Magazines or videos are good for learning new techniques. When a gobbler gets close don't move too much and raise your gun when his head is obscured (if possible). You don't want to shoot more than 50 yards with a twelve-gauge, I personally try to keep in within 30 yards because I like to guarantee a clean kill (provided I don't miss). Aim for the middle of the neck.

This is a rough and objective compilation of personal experience and skills I have learned from articles, videos, and instructional material. I have achieved success with many of these basic techniques and hopefully this is of some help to you.

Best of luck.

Hunter Ben definately has it covered. Watch out - it is addicting. My favorite Turkey expert is Ray Eye. Mr. Eye is a legend in the Turkey world and his book Practical Turkey Hunting Strategies is a great one (if you get the turkey bug). Good luck.

I would hasve to say that Hunter Ben has got the basics covered. The only thing he didn't say about turkeys is the only thing predictable about them is that they are unpredictable(Heh, heh), but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've only been turkey hunting for about 4 years and I have to say I'm very fortunate that my best friend and all around hunting buddy is an experienced turkey hunter. The first year when we would hunt together I stayed pretty close to him to learn as much as I could. He would call for me which helped alot and he would try to explain things to me while we were hunting. I wouldn't always shoot when we were hunting and he was calling so that he would have a chance to kill one, usually we would alternate. I even called one in for him that first year, using my own slate. Head to toe camo, good turkey gun and choke, if your going to get some calls and a vest get one with a padded seat attached to it, and like he said box caals and slate are the easiest to master. GOOD LUCK on your first turkey hunt. My first was an experience that I will never forget and I've been hooked every since

hunterben said it all

I am new to this turkey hunting thing. I am trying for the first time Sat morning. I am going to do what Hunter Ben has went over. One quick question though. My brother is swearing we should use a crow call to get them close then the box call. To me this sounds completely and utterly absurd. Its called a crow call for a reason right??

If youre trying to get him to gobble on the roost i would go for an owl call instead. There are tons of crows out there and they probably dont hear owls nearly as much. Im not saying a crow call wont work a owl call might be better though. And another thing even if you dont get a bird or nothing happens make the most of your hunt and dont get discouraged too easily! Turkeys are probably one of the most difficult animals in North America to hunt and i believe if you can out smart some turkeys you can hunt anything. Thats just my opinion though =)

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