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1st time turkey in NC
3/15/2010 7:16:40 PM
My 10 yr old daughter has decided she wants to go turkey hunting this year.
I've deer hunted since before I was her age but have never turkey hunted.
The last 2 years I've hunted a 110 acre plot with one other guy.
I've killed several deer and have a load of deer and turkey pictures from the property.
I've watched turkeys come out of roost a few times but it was 2 yrs ago.
Now I have photos with time/date on them that have them passing my stand in the afternoons
during deer season.
The plan : I've set up the trail camera to check activity and have planned to put up a pop up blind for the 2 of us on the route they use.
I have a slate call ,an owl and a crow call we've been messing with. Still working on it. She does pretty good around the house with the slate. I still suck mostly.
At this point I'll listen to most any advise, I just want to help her bag a turkey this spring. She won't deer hunt(doesn't want to shoot them since they are cute, but loves to eat them?) and her 17 yr old brother is busy hunting a whole different type of tail. I guess I'm selfish, since I want a hunting buddy to help like Dad did for me.
Let me know if anyone has any ideas that can stack the odds in her favor.
Thanks for the help guys
I've deer hunted since before I was her age but have never turkey hunted.
The last 2 years I've hunted a 110 acre plot with one other guy.
I've killed several deer and have a load of deer and turkey pictures from the property.
I've watched turkeys come out of roost a few times but it was 2 yrs ago.
Now I have photos with time/date on them that have them passing my stand in the afternoons
during deer season.
The plan : I've set up the trail camera to check activity and have planned to put up a pop up blind for the 2 of us on the route they use.
I have a slate call ,an owl and a crow call we've been messing with. Still working on it. She does pretty good around the house with the slate. I still suck mostly.
At this point I'll listen to most any advise, I just want to help her bag a turkey this spring. She won't deer hunt(doesn't want to shoot them since they are cute, but loves to eat them?) and her 17 yr old brother is busy hunting a whole different type of tail. I guess I'm selfish, since I want a hunting buddy to help like Dad did for me.
Let me know if anyone has any ideas that can stack the odds in her favor.
Thanks for the help guys
3/21/2010 8:56:01 PM
The came camera will help you know what area they are in, but I would be surprised if they stick to that pattern once they start gobbling. You will what to use an owl call or something similar in the morning to locate them. Then move as close as you can and start calling. If you are knew to turkey calls get the primos CD. They goe step by step in using mought calls as well as the others. I refer to it every year as I start practicing. Remember that you have to convince that gobbler that you a better than the other hens in the woods.
I'm taking my daughter (6 1/2) for the first time in a few weeks also.
good luck
I'm taking my daughter (6 1/2) for the first time in a few weeks also.
good luck
3/22/2010 9:07:07 PM
Thanks for the advise.
I was begining to wonder if anyone was going to offer anything.
Thanks again.
I was begining to wonder if anyone was going to offer anything.
Thanks again.
3/22/2010 10:07:53 PM
Shoot me a PM.
4/7/2010 9:39:43 PM
For younger hunters, I think hunting out of blinds is more forgiving. It can help hide some fidgeting and with a little luck, you can call them in closer so they can use a 20 gauge or even a 28 gauge if you have one. Helps with the recoil issue. I guess you could try a .410 but I would hesitate to use one unless you are good with it and the birds are real close.
Mostly if she has fun, she'll go again with her Daddy.
Mostly if she has fun, she'll go again with her Daddy.
4/10/2010 10:45:26 PM
Well we went this morning.
It was a bit cool but she did great. We set up the blind, put out the decoys and sat in waiting for daylight.
At first light I hit the owl call. We heard some gobbling, tried to call it in but could tell it was getting farther away.
We went after it for a bit, but lost it. As we were heading back to the blind, we had another gobbler hit us back from an owl call.
Never did figure out where he was but I think she's hooked. She was so excited, she couldn't wait to tell Mom.
She's already asked if we can go next week.
To top it off, on the way home she saw a hen in a field abt a mile away from the hunting land.
Thanks for the advice.
I'm going back Monday while she's in school, but I'm going to try to put them to bed Sunday evening.
It was a bit cool but she did great. We set up the blind, put out the decoys and sat in waiting for daylight.
At first light I hit the owl call. We heard some gobbling, tried to call it in but could tell it was getting farther away.
We went after it for a bit, but lost it. As we were heading back to the blind, we had another gobbler hit us back from an owl call.
Never did figure out where he was but I think she's hooked. She was so excited, she couldn't wait to tell Mom.
She's already asked if we can go next week.
To top it off, on the way home she saw a hen in a field abt a mile away from the hunting land.
Thanks for the advice.
I'm going back Monday while she's in school, but I'm going to try to put them to bed Sunday evening.
4/24/2010 11:35:33 AM
Good deal!
I had a great NC opener on the 10th, just didn't kill a bird. Had 2 drumming and gobbling all around us. They never put themselves in a position for a shot.
Killed #1 yesterday at ~7am down in Onslow Co. Just a 2 year old (3/4" spurs, 10" beard) but he did everything you'd want a turkey to do. He gobbled good to the call, strutted into gun range and even started to lean into the strutter for a fight. Had another one gobbling when I left so hopefully he'll cooperate next weekend.
I didn't hunt there today to try and give the area a little rest. Going to take my bow next weekend and try to stick him.
I had a great NC opener on the 10th, just didn't kill a bird. Had 2 drumming and gobbling all around us. They never put themselves in a position for a shot.
Killed #1 yesterday at ~7am down in Onslow Co. Just a 2 year old (3/4" spurs, 10" beard) but he did everything you'd want a turkey to do. He gobbled good to the call, strutted into gun range and even started to lean into the strutter for a fight. Had another one gobbling when I left so hopefully he'll cooperate next weekend.
I didn't hunt there today to try and give the area a little rest. Going to take my bow next weekend and try to stick him.
4/28/2010 11:32:08 AM
I wish I had started at that age. I started hunting last fall. Had a license for years but never put together the time or the know how to go. Last fall I got hooked on bow hunting deer, although I didn't get one. Just killed my first turkey this morning on my second day out of my first turkey season. I'm excited and I'm 50 years old. Your little girl must be eating it up.
Wish I had someone to show me what to do. I'm figuring this out all by myself. teach her well dad.
Wish I had someone to show me what to do. I'm figuring this out all by myself. teach her well dad.
4/29/2010 8:16:08 PM
I've got a few game cameras out and she's eating up the pics. She's trying to figure out where we need to be and what time we need to be there.
We're going again this Sat. We went to a local hunting/outdoor store today. They've been running a turkey contest. Some guy was there checking in his kill for the contest. She was all over it.
She also got bent out of shape when I was out last week checking the cameras and ran up on a jake. Didn't have the shotgun since she didn't go,she made me promise not to take it with out her. Her mom never had me this wrapped around her finger.
Thanks for the support guys.
I hope to post a pic of her and a bird soon.
We're going again this Sat. We went to a local hunting/outdoor store today. They've been running a turkey contest. Some guy was there checking in his kill for the contest. She was all over it.
She also got bent out of shape when I was out last week checking the cameras and ran up on a jake. Didn't have the shotgun since she didn't go,she made me promise not to take it with out her. Her mom never had me this wrapped around her finger.
Thanks for the support guys.
I hope to post a pic of her and a bird soon.
