Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

2021 Spring Turkey Hunt


gimruis

Recommended Posts

Good luck Moose!

 

Range with a crossbow? 40, 50 even 60 yards depending on the model and user's proficiency. I would keep most bow/crossbow related attempts within yrds ideally. I've killed about 10 turkeys with the bow now. most were 10 yrds or less. I'm sited out to 30 with the head cutter broad heads and have taken 1 out to that range. My father uses a modern crossbow accurate to 100 yrds. Would i take that shot, nope. Could somebody kill a turkey at that range, yup. As for getting turkeys within 50 yards. Well as any experienced turkey hunter will tell you, and i know you are one, sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn't. You can do everything perfect and darn coyote attacks your decoy when the birds are 80 yrds away, NOT the other 59 hrs you spent in the blind, just that specific 5 minute time frame. It's simply amazing to me how easy and how frustrating turkey hunting can be. One day the Tom sprints in gobbling like crazy, the next you can't do anything right. That's why it's addictive. Much like a slot machine, the response is random. Sometimes immediate, other times hours/days of pounding away with no success. But when it works right......oh my. it's hard to top that. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

The last three have been 3-5 yards. I will not shoot at a turkey more than 10 yards away. I know I can hit a baseball at 50 yards but turkeys move to much. I like em close. Last year I could have grabbed the jake out of the blind at one point. I will take a 30 yard shot on a deer kill zone is much larger. I practice with my crossbow a lot but I hate losing game. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Saw plenty of birds in wi. Had a pack of 4 Jake’s and another pack of 5 Jake’s. Both of those are 1 less now. They kept the toms out of the fields. Finally Sunday waited to hear a gobble then started climbing the hill to get to the gobble. Was set up within 50 yds, even could see the hens on the roost after a while. They flew down and went up the hills instead of down where I was. Found out there was a farmers field on top of that hill that I’m sure they went to for the day. The morning before the Tom I was listening too went up the hill after leaving the roost.  Learned a lot and am excited for next year. I also learned within the first hr to never sneak without your gun. Was within 20 yds of a big Tom, but not for long. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

First day home in a couple weeks.  Put the dock in, took a ride in the toon and came back to a Tom pecking at the bumper of my truck.  My brother saw him first and let me know so I had the opportunity to sneak up on him.  
 

He’s at the front of the truck and I was able to come in from the back side on my hands and knees.  When a saw the spurs I wished I had my phone to get a pic.  True limb hangers!  Long and curved and I could see his beard hanging down ta boot.

 

He’s on the front drivers side corner purring and pecking as I crawled up the front passenger corner and purred back.  I didn’t know if I’d be in for a fight or flight response when I came out of hiding at eye to eye level with him; thankfully it was flight - or at least a run for cover stopping to look back a couple times at “what the h*ll was that?!”

 

Kinda cool to get that close, eye level, with a big old tom.  Wish I had pics to share!

  • Thumbs Up 2
  • l Love It 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
On 3/15/2021 at 7:23 AM, gimruis said:

Who's ready to turkey hunt?  Season A starts in less than a month.

 

I think I'm going to go during season B this year to avoid the initial wave of hunting pressure.  I went during season A last year and there was noticeably more hunting pressure in the area.  I think it was because of the pandemic and people were kinda cooped up, plus it was the first year they lifted the lottery.

Turkey populations in Oklahoma have experienced declines in recent years, especially in the western region. However, surveys indicate that the decline has leveled off for the time being, and turkey numbers are holding steady compared to the previous year.
 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
6 hours ago, amrtngm said:

Turkey populations in Oklahoma have experienced declines in recent years, especially in the western region. However, surveys indicate that the decline has leveled off for the time being, and turkey numbers are holding steady compared to the previous year.
 

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the report.

Got any good stories like sneeking up to a big Tom on your hands and knees, without your cell phone, camera?  🤭

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/10/2023 at 1:06 AM, amrtngm said:

Turkey populations in Oklahoma have experienced declines in recent years, especially in the western region. However, surveys indicate that the decline has leveled off for the time being, and turkey numbers are holding steady compared to the previous year.
 

This is an old thread from 2021.

 

I have read that turkey populations have plummeted in some states like Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, etc.  Drought has played a significant role I'm sure.  Hopefully these states respond to the decline and reduce seasons and/or bag limits.  And there is absolutely no reason to be shooting a hen either.  Hens are what keep the population naturally reproducing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.