Advice on turkey hunting, calls.

Okotokian · #1 10-08-2015, 10:57 AM

I've been drawn for Merriam's turkey this spring (well, I got "drawn" last year too, but we remember that fiasco). I've never hunted turkey before, and given the amount of priority required, I imagine I'll never hunt them again after this.

One questions is about calls. I figure I should buy one and get practicing soon. What sort of call is relatively easy to learn and effective on Merriams' around here?

Any other tips or suggestions? I've got camo gear, face covering, camo semi-auto 12 gauge. I can' see buying a decoy to hunt one turkey, once. Any general suggestions? Thanks in advance.

cvmilo · #2 10-08-2015, 11:52 AM

I was a rookie to turkey hunting last spring and had a Turkey come in from 400 yds to a mouth call. (The one I got) Also had another one come in with this call but got hung up at a set of trees then took off.(I was over calling) It was the old raspy hen with a v cut (if my memory is correct) from primos. During my hunt last spring I was 50 yds from a large group and that gave me a good chance to hear what he hens really sound like and I'd say the primos freak pot call is spot on. Drove past one gobbler scouting and he responded instantly to the freak pot. Couldn't take a shot on him due to not having a licence and service bc didn't open till Monday to get my licence. Get your hands on a gobble call to help locate them in the eve of morning. I'm looking grabbing the primos double gobble call for next spring in bc

rednuck · #3 10-08-2015, 12:16 PM

The push pull type calls are dead easy, next up is the box and/or the slate calls.

I really like mouth calls and used a cow elk diaphragm to call in my turkey.

You might need to know multiple call types depending on the weather, the friction ones kind of suck if its damp.

I also had a boat load of locator calls with me, and the truck door slamming worked the best.

Okotokian · #4 10-08-2015, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednuck

and the truck door slamming worked the best.

I'm really good at that one! LOL

CNP · #5 10-08-2015, 02:55 PM

the irony....

Sold my turkey hunting paraphernalia of this forum many years ago when I moved from ON to AB 17 years ago...........because there were no turkey's anywhere, remotely to where I lived (Edmonton area). 17 years later I am living in CNP. I see turkeys almost everyday........without looking for them. If I looked for them I could find them everyday. I have priority 1

I used most stuff including box calls and diaphragm calls, locator calls (crow/owl) and decoys. Box call is easy......the con on that call is you need both hands to use it. Diaphragm call is not difficult but does take more practice and the pro about the call is obvious.......no hands. Decoys aren't expensive..............I would buy one (or two) for one hunt even.................I'm thinking turkey hunting in BC in the years I cant draw an AB tag.

LCCFisherman · #6 10-08-2015, 03:32 PM

In the years? it takes like 15 years to get drawn.. so two turkeys in 30 years LMAO.. I really think we need to put out more than 125 turkey tags a year

Okotokian · #7 10-08-2015, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCCFisherman

In the years? it takes like 15 years to get drawn.. so two turkeys in 30 years LMAO.. I really think we need to put out more than 125 turkey tags a year

I think they are spreading. I was elk hunting an area January of last year and had to stop the truck until all the ^#%# turkeys got off the road. I saw a ton of them. Unfortunately the WMU I saw them in (312) doesn't have a turkey season yet.

slickwilly · #8 10-08-2015, 03:53 PM

I went down to Montana in the spring and managed to get 2 to come in. I bought a pretty cheap HS Strut starter pack, and I ended up mostly using the friction call. Spent a few hours on youtube and found it was pretty easy to be passable.

Not sure what the Ab birds would be like, but I think Merriam's in general have a reputation for coming in easily. Both the birds we got on came right in without any fancy calling required. Just a little clucking and purring to keep his attention, and they came in a couple hundred yards. Watching a nice bird come in fanned right out was one of the better hunting experiences I've ever had.

32-40win · #9 10-09-2015, 01:27 AM

Crow call works for locating most of the time. Owl call will get responses occasionally. I like a slate pot and a glass pot, both over wood, with a few different kinds of sticks, and a mouth reed, a couple of different brands and styles. I like the reeds for quiet clucks to keep the bird coming in. The box calls work, but they are bulky to carry, and are somewhat fragile. You don't see a lot for the better pot & stick calls around here, I ordered mine out of the US, there are some cool specialty shops down there. I found the Knight & Hale to be good DVD's to watch to listen to calling, Primos are pretty decent.