New to Turkey Hunting

[Helpful_Cub]

So I just made the amazing discovery that if I have an Upland stamp that I'm allowed to bag 3 turkeys a season and that California doesn't require tags for them! I hunt quail and chukar a lot but I've never thought about turkey until I saw the season opens this weekend and I'm already legal because I have my stamp.

So what gear (camo, gun, shot, etc) do I need and what do I need to know to have a decent chance of hunting turkey? Anything special I need to think about for finding decent hunting locations?

Thanks!

[lewdogg21]

Turkey requires full camo, camo face mask. Size shot from 4-6.

Shotgun can be any gauge. Just use a full or if you can get one x-full turkey style choke. There are zillions out there and I have no idea if the more expensive ones are better than the $20 ones.

Best thing I can recommend is don't be tentative. If a turkey starts making a "putt putt, putt" noise they are getting nervous and are going to bail. If they are in range shoot them. Aim for the middle of the neck and if you can pattern your gun ahead of time to see which load patterns best.

While out you can also pursue toads and newts.

[SDBlaster]

Are turkeys hard to hunt? I only ask becuase I was mountain biking in Nobel Canyon this weekend and saw two different flocks (is that what a group of turkeys, rafter, gang???) and we darn near ran a few of them over, then they just stopped and looked at us for a while. I was joking with my friend that they looked delicious.

[lewdogg21]

Where they can't legally be hunted or on restricted access private land they can be as smart as a box of rocks. On hard hunted public land it can be 180* from that

[mif_slim]

Their pretty smart. They know where its legal to hunt and not, so when their on legal hunting zones, they switch to Ninja Mode.

[4literranger485]

i'm in the same boat, kind of near to you. I've got all my gear, guns, and ammo situated for turkey season.....but I'm not quite sure where the dang things live.

let's get after those tasty birds! (i also have a deep fryer lol)

[Helpful_Cub]

i'm in the same boat, kind of near to you. I've got all my gear, guns, and ammo situated for turkey season.....but I'm not quite sure where the dang things live.

let's get after those tasty birds! (i also have a deep fryer lol)

It sounds like between my deer camo and duck gun with full choke I may actually have enough gear for this.

I saw a turkey when I was down in Cleveland National Forest at the end of June. But if I recall correctly most of that area is private or at least claim as private property. I need to do some diving into the Angeles Nation Forest or San Bernadino Nation Forest to see if I can find some. I'm still really unsure about what habitat I'm looking for.

I'm sure we can work out some kind of hunting buddy thing once I has know enough to be dangerous to a turkey.

[wjc]

Get yourself a good slate call and a locater call like crow or owl hoot. Use the locater to find them then draw them in with the slate. You don't need to call a lot...just enough to bring them in.

Full camo, face mask, gloves, and no red or white (you could get mistaken for a bird). Rain gear might be nice. Bring water and snacks.

Shooting for Spring turkey ends at 4:00 p.m. Make sure you are unloaded by then.