Turkey 2024
Contributors to this thread:Massachusetts
From: Arrownoob
12-Apr-24
For the life of me I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t get as excited as I do about turkey hunting. When you think about deer season closing in December and the freeze over for a few months then into the spring green up, strutting in fields, and soon gobbling from the roost…. I remember calling like a darn fool for hours before I shot my first turkey. There were 4 groups of birds all around gobbling at first light then they all shut up. At 8am I unloaded the gun and put it in the case and a big truck drove by and hit a bump that shook the ground. Just then a gobbler exploded with gobbles coming in fast. I dove down and got set up again and he came in screaming. I didn’t weigh that bird but I couldnt carry him and all my stuff back to the car. I made 2 trips and have been hooked ever since. I took my 12 year old and he was way too young but this year he’s itching to go out. He’s 15 now. We usually do 1 hunt where I take him out of school, grades dependent, and we hunt all day and go for lunch. He’s been texting me his grades recently making sure it’s a sure thing. To me turkey hunting is so much fun and effective with 2 people. If you’re not happy just stand up and walk 500 yards and see what happens. I killem with my feet not my seat and would rather walk all day trying to find a bird who’s ready to eat lead rather than sit a food plot knowing that sometime in the next 4 hours they might come by. My knee is almost back 100% after the MCL tear and I am ready to go with a bunch of new spots and some new flocks to chase. I can’t wait to be sitting low and quiet and hearing that gobble and good luck to all this spring.
From: Tekoa
12-Apr-24
A Tom just finished breeding a hen in the backyard. Been seeing more birds this year than the last few in quite a few different spots.
From: Arrownoob
15-Apr-24
For years I’ve patterned the 220T smooth bore for both rifles slugs and LBXR 5 or 6 for turkey. The result is when set up for turkey and then I switch to slugs, I hit the top left corner of my target frame which is maybe 12” up and 12” over. Every year it’s the same and quite an annoyance. This year I tried Remington Nitro- $10 a box- and first shot was spot on. We did bunch of shots with the nitro because I can afford $10 a box and put 1 lbxr in. The shot was way to the right like 12”. Now my problem is solved because I found a load that works well but my brain hurts because I’m trying to imagine how one brand shoots crooked. Anyone ever have a load come out sideways?
From: drslyr
15-Apr-24
I feel ya Noob. After missing last years deer season im itchin to hunt the gobblers. In my more younger years before all my injuries I always hunted and shot turkeys with a bow. Now not being able to carry all the needed gear I hunt with a gun. Still an unbelievable thrill but not quite like the bow. Retired now I have lots of scouting time and have been for 6 weeks now everyday. I'm getting pretty juiced as I have located a few birds. Real tough out here in the west. We just don't have the numbers anymore. I also deal with other hunters in 2 of my best spots. the days are ticking down quickly and im ready to go!
From: drslyr
15-Apr-24
drslyr's Link
From: peterk1234
15-Apr-24
This will be our first year going after them here. We are guessing at best, but have to start somewhere. Three to four day hunt about 5 hours east. Staying in our wall tent. Have plenty of firewood for the stove. Will be fun no matter what.
I use the longbeards, 5 and 6 shot, depends on what is available. I have a choke specifically made for it.
From: Arrownoob
16-Apr-24
I also have the lbxr choke - I just can’t figure out how it throws pellets to the side. If I adjust the red dot I’m totally fine but it’s like 40 clicks or over in 2 directions. That nitro stuff patterns fine and shoots straight out the Trulock lbxr choke. On my 12 I have a carlsons lbxr choke and it’s great.
From: Rut-N-Strut
16-Apr-24
A lot can depend on what shells you are shooting. What is the FPS between the two? How many oz.? What’s the shot size? I shoot different shells with different chokes until I find what works best. Just because you have a choke specifically for the shells you’re using doesn’t always mean it’s the best setup for the gun you’re shooting. I had a Remington 11-87 and Remington 870 with the exact same chokes and shells and they both shot completely different patterns. Just gotta throw some lead down range and see what happens. All part of the joy of turkey hunting
From: S0sso
16-Apr-24
So are you all plucking the entire thing or just breasting? I stopped hunting turkey a few years back because plucking the damn things took almost two hours and destroyed my hands. Anyhow, just asking.
Story Time: The last turkey I got was during the fall when I was in a tree deer hunting. A flock came through, passed under me, and I thought "Ah, why not...." So they would move, stop and graze, move, stop and graze. The Tom that was with them would periodically stretch his neck high and look around. They were about 35yds away, maybe 40 whatevs. I put my pin on his head and waited for him to stretch his neck and look again. I ensured my pins were inline with his neck, everything was level, and I let it fly (NAP Spitfire btw). I nailed him right in the neck. He went down so fast the other birds didn't even react. After waiting for him to get up they all just ultimately left. I spent the next 2 hrs in the tree before I headed out. He became mostly a Goose/Turkey/Venison chili and a meat sauce. Anyhow, best shot on an animal I ever took.
From: Rut-N-Strut
16-Apr-24
My opinion the only good meat on a mature tom is the breast meat. Mix honey corn muffin mix and some Cajun fish fry. Cut the breast into nuggets, dip in egg, dip in the mix and fry away. You get a sweet heat that tastes amazing!!! A young hen or Jake killed in the fall is the only ones I would pluck and cook the entire thing
From: Arrownoob
16-Apr-24
I have dunked a bird in boiling water and it makes plucking much easier. Now I just take the meat out. No plucking.
From: peterk1234
16-Apr-24
Since I'm big on not wasting game I try to utilize all parts of the bird. We use every bit of meat we can pull off of it and make a killer breakfast sausage. By the time I'm done adding ground bacon, diced apples, onions and spices we get quite a bit of sausage patties.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
16-Apr-24
I’m moving to Montana. F*** the grocery store
From: DanaC
17-Apr-24
DanaC's Link
"How to Butcher a Wild Turkey (and Get Every Last Cut of Meat)"
From: Jebediah
17-Apr-24
I once read on here that turkeys are “so stupid that they’re geniuses.” That was interesting food for thought. Turkey starts May 1 up here. One of my kids is pretty enthused about turkeys, so this morning I took a ride up the road to a small field where I sometimes see turkeys. Sat in the truck for a while, and heard nothing. So I got out, walked about 50 yards to the back corner of the field, and gave a loud clap. Nothing. Same thing again 5 minutes later. Went back to the truck, just about to start it up and leave…and there’s a hen in the field about 30 yards from me. So I got to thinking, is she unbelievably stupid, or a genius, or both? I don’t know.
From: Coondog
17-Apr-24
Did a two mile loop on public land Monday evening. No gobbles, but did find these sheds laying next to each other as I was almost back to the truck.
From: peterk1234
17-Apr-24
Spectacular find!
From: Josh22
18-Apr-24
That’s awesome! I haven’t been out turkey scouting since I’m getting knee surgery on opening day. However I know where 2 bull moose were hanging out in December sporting racks like that, it’s tempting to go take a walk now!
From: DanaC
18-Apr-24
They're easy to spot - on private property that's posted tighter than frog arse...
From: Arrownoob
18-Apr-24
There’s gotto be something around where you can call them over or a neighbor who would let you hunt.
From: DanaC
18-Apr-24
Trust me, I've looked!
There was a gobbler on the ridge behind me while I was taking this picture! Also posted tight. Like so much of Massachusetts, posted property is only open to a select few. And I ain't one of them ;-(
From: Arrownoob
19-Apr-24
Dana - the good thing is there’s a lot of good properties within a 45 minute drive.
From: Will
20-Apr-24
Coondog - jealous! That's a super cool find!
Love turkey's Noob... I'm behind the ball on em this year. Life and all. Just got back from a week in FL visiting in my mother in law with the fam. Ill get out a bit when it opens, and it will be fun!
From: Arrownoob
20-Apr-24
The more hours you spend scouting the fewer hours you spend in silence during season. Nothing worse than sitting in a “good spot” for four hours with no birds gobbling.
From: peterk1234
20-Apr-24
We just got back what a great time. These birds were tough. Let's just say birds 8, Pete 0. My wife and I were into them until noon the first day and 10 AM the second. We chased a half dozen of these western birds in the woods but I couldn't close the gap. Day two we had a plan. I had a pretty good idea where bird number one was roosted the day before, so I planned to set up a couple hundred feet away. I was close. Actually too close. We set up almost right under him. Lots of excitement though. Cathy had a ball. It was her first time going after the birds. The kids had fun too. My son in law did not even get a gobble the first day. So day two I told him where to go. I had two birds in this spot the day before. Well, he had four jakes in a group the following morning but at 60 yards and they were too close together.
The camp was ridiculous. This wall tent stuff is plush. Thank God. It got down into the teens at night and in the morning. It was nice to have heat and room to hang out.
Cathy was like, "so what's our next camping trip going to be?"
From: peterk1234
20-Apr-24
From: peterk1234
20-Apr-24
From: Dthfrmabove1
20-Apr-24
Pete. That pic of the tent with the sky in the background !!!! Doesn’t get any better than that
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
20-Apr-24
Amazing Peter!
From: Lunker
21-Apr-24
From: Arrownoob
21-Apr-24
Pete that’s awesome. All my birds roost right near streets so it’s occurred to me that I’ve never actually hunted a true wild bird.
From: Will
23-Apr-24
Noob - in my style of turkey hunting, that situation would never occur. If they are not gobbling, I'm out. On to the next one. And if none play that day, I'm home and working or going on a bike ride or whatever. The fun is the gobble and the interaction - for me. If I get one, great. If not, great. So if they dont want to play, I'm gone and looking for one who is. That's a benefit of being a bit further west with lots of spots within easy drive range...
Pete - great shots and adventure. I agree with the tent shot comments. That could be a professional shot - you should frame it for home - seriously!
From: peterk1234
23-Apr-24
Thanks Will!
From: Ungie01201
24-Apr-24
I agree 100% Will! Run and gun or back home to work....
From: Will
24-Apr-24
Ungie - Its fun!
From: BAT
24-Apr-24
Hunted opening day in CT this am, nice to hear gobbles at dawn, but could not get them to come in, several shots on nearby properties….
From: bigwoodsbucks22
24-Apr-24
If you guys are only eating the breast you are absolutely missing out and also wasting a ton of meat. You can get another whole meal for 2 people off a set of legs. Put them in the crockpot then pull then pull all the meat off them when its done cooking. It not hard and takes barely any time. Its so good too.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
24-Apr-24
One on the lefts a good one…..
From: Will
25-Apr-24
That be a nice paintbrush MAPA. NC or NY?
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
25-Apr-24
NY. Secret honey hole. Lol. Might make the drive up for opening weekend there’s about 3 like him.
From: Will
25-Apr-24
Hey, they could hurt someone. Big spurs... big fan obscuring vision while driving. It's a safety issue, really.
Go get him!
From: Rut-N-Strut
25-Apr-24
Is that a squirrel riding on the back of the one on the right?
From: peterk1234
25-Apr-24
Nick. Get up there and get one! We did a bear and turkey hunt this morning. Really just scouted an area we want to go into for a few days soon. No sign of birds. Plenty sign of bear though. Still have snow issues.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
25-Apr-24
Get that bear!!!!
Garrett we said the same thing!!! Hahaha
From: Arrownoob
25-Apr-24
Monday seems to be shaping up to be a good one. 72f and the warmest day of the week.
From: Will
26-Apr-24
Noob - no joke. That's damn near perfect turkey gobbling weather. Very nice to see!
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
26-Apr-24
Tonight’s a good gobbling night in NY, 7 studs my brothers been watching from the tower blind In the top of corn plot. They’re in the next plot down gobbling their heads off
From: Will
27-Apr-24
Been fun to see (via Facebook) lots of folks out with the youth hunt getting kids birds!
From: GED
27-Apr-24
Youth day done
From: BAT
27-Apr-24
Nice bird, great smile GED, congrats!
From: ARLOW
27-Apr-24
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
27-Apr-24
Nice bird little GED!
From: Rut-N-Strut
27-Apr-24
Way to start things off GED!!! Beautiful bird
From: Arrownoob
28-Apr-24
We got a few birds roosted let’s see!
From: Arrownoob
29-Apr-24
5:25a bird down
From: Rut-N-Strut
29-Apr-24
Awesome job!!! Roostin last night paid off big time it seems. Gotta love it!!
From: Tekoa
29-Apr-24
One for the meat pole. That shotgun is from my Grandfather. A Winchester 1897 manufactured in 1911. It has always been my go-to Turkey gun and it is still getting it done.
From: Ungie01201
29-Apr-24
Awesome GED & Tekoa. I had a pretty good morning myself.
From: drslyr
29-Apr-24
Gobbling first thing this am way off. Nuttin for a couple hrs now
From: Arrownoob
29-Apr-24
My buddy got his early. I got mine 10:30a.
From: Arrownoob
29-Apr-24
We saw probably 12 bearded birds today. 6 were long beards. What a wild day!!! As the sun came up I heard the flick of a lighter and smelled smoke- my healthy buddy gettin a quick smoke in. Then I heard the lighter again. And again. And again. I look up- there is a gobblers spitting directly above us. 2 gobblers. My buddy later said there were 5-6 birds in the tree. One wakes up and starts gobbling at my Jake decoy. He goes into full strut on the limb. As soon as his feet touched down my buddy smoked him. 5:25am I’ve never heard of anything like it.
From: Ungie01201
29-Apr-24
Congrats Noob. I shot mine right after he flew down.. about 5 min after I heard him land he came in silent.
From: Arrownoob
29-Apr-24
We packed up at 5:45a and headed to another spot and it was quiet. We walked 5 miles probably calling and looking. Finally on the way back to the car we struck up 3 jakes, then 3 more. Then I rounded a corner and saw a long beard. We jumped back and tried to call but he was quiet- he busted us. I grabbed the gun and quickly walked over there and he was no where to be seen. I called and nothing. Then, right by my feet the bush exploded and the turkey flew away. That was crazy. Defeated, we went to spot 3. The idea was to rest and plop down for the last 2 hours of the day and just call every 15-20 minutes. I set up the decoys and left the gun near them and walked up the hill to rip my crystal call. On the first call a gobble cut me off. I ran back to the tree and in no time he was on top of the decoy and I shot his beak off. We never expected a bird to be there! They usually roam around and head there to strut.
From: Will
29-Apr-24
Way to go guys!
From: Moons222
29-Apr-24
Turkey season over fast! Myself my girlfriend and a buddy we got 5 Tom’s and a 2 bearded jake today. Dog is pissed, not pheasants
From: Arrownoob
29-Apr-24
Dang moons now our 2 seems less impressive haha
From: Jebediah
29-Apr-24
Moons that’s just amazing. Is that in Mass?
From: Moons222
29-Apr-24
Noob 2 is great we got lucky there is definitely less turkeys around.. yes Jeb mass but will be headed up to your neck of the woods soon.. probably Thursday
From: Blood
30-Apr-24
There’s even less around now Moons. :)
From: Ungie01201
30-Apr-24
Damn Moons! Cleaning house! Nice work. Buddy shot a jake today... thought it was the tom he was working. I've had that happen.
From: Les
30-Apr-24
Got it done today after a series of mishaps. Had a bird in front of me early morning and pulled the trigger, no bang. Light primer strike. Bird flew off. 20 min later another nice bird comes in strutting behind some trees. I watched for 20 min trying to see if it was a longbeard. Finally comes out and I pull the trigger, safety is on. Bird walks off.
1030 I’m feeling pretty defeated, hear a bird a long way off. Might as well try. Half hour later this Tom walks in and I took him at 25y. What a day!
From: Jebediah
30-Apr-24
Oh boy thanks for the heads up Moons. I have to warn the local turkeys.
From: Jebediah
30-Apr-24
NH turkey starts tomorrow. Not really my thing, but I’ll probably go out a little. I have a box call and also a gizmo that sounds like a gobble when you shake it. Why do I have this gobble thing? Will male turkeys come to a gobble for fighting purposes?
From: Les
30-Apr-24
Hey Jebediah,
Yeah that’s the idea of that gobble call. However, beware there’s a chance you’ll call in another hunter if you’re on public ground.
From: BAT
30-Apr-24
Congrats Les, super day to get 3 chances and a bird down!
From: Ungie01201
01-May-24
Nice work Les... persistence paid off! That's a good day as far as action is concerned.
From: Will
01-May-24
Dang - great hunting crew!
From: Arrownoob
01-May-24
We were in 10 gobblers early today but they all were too smart. My strategy is if they don’t want to die go find one who does. We jumped in the car around 7:30a and set up in a new spot. It was boring for 70-80 minutes until I yelped on my pot call and this guy erupted from 20 yards behind us! We were setup 180 degrees away and I told my son just swing around quick and he did. I scratched some leaves and he stepped out from behind a tree. I was facing the wrong way but saw my son close one eye and shift the gun and BOOM!
From: Arrownoob
01-May-24
From: Ungie01201
01-May-24
Awesome Noob!!! Congrats
From: BAT
01-May-24
Nice Noob, love that pic!
From: MA_Bowhunter
01-May-24
Noob - way to go!
From: Bwhnt
02-May-24
Congrats to the young man and thanks for passing it on!
From: Les
02-May-24
Nice work Arrownoob!
From: Ungie01201
02-May-24
had 4 jakes come in this am... the were about 10 yards in front of me gobbling their heads off... no longbeard...
From: Will
02-May-24
Great work noob!
Did a short one between work appointments today. Got a gobble at the first spot, had not seen any cars parked anywhere, so hiked in. Which is rough - a laurel choked valley up to the opposite hill where the bird was. just breaking out of the laurels, about 30yds below the bench he was on - I suspected well up to my left... So I call to locate him. Gobbles close enough I hear drumming - I back up about 10yds and am just planning to back off and loop around to get above him when BOOM! someone shoots. 2 seconds later, BOOM they shoot again. I froze. I hear a bird putting just above me, but the hunter continues to call. Not sure if there was more than one bird or what. I just got out of there. Turned out he was parked up the street and around a bend - I had not driven up that way so I never saw his car. Hopefully he got the bird.
I took a quick 1.5mile walk across a piece, never heard a gobble so I just hiked out and back to the house for lunch and back to work. Fun, but YIKES on the one getting shot just above me.
Good reminder to always assume there are other hunters. I'd NEVER heard the guy call until AFTER he shot!
From: Arrownoob
02-May-24
I did some Jake fighting calls last year while I was reloading the gun and doubled up in Vermont.
From: Arrownoob
02-May-24
I did some Jake fighting calls last year while I was reloading the gun and doubled up in Vermont.
From: Ungie01201
03-May-24
Had a tom sounding off on the roost this AM... he was only about 50 yards from me....he pitched down away from me, and so did 3 of his lady friends.... he shut up and went away from me with them I assume... Another bird was gobbling across the road... he came right in to 15 yards. Big jake. I stayed as long as I could hoping the tom would come back up on the ridge. When I left he was strutting w/ his hens about 200 yards below me in the neighbors yard next to the road. I'm sure he would have made his way back up with the hens as they always do, but, unfortunately, I did not have time to wait him out with work.
From: Les
03-May-24
Tagged out today! I went into a spot close to my house before work. Walked around for 45 min or so listening for gobbles and didn't hear anything so decided to sit and call at a spot I've killed turkeys before. Just as I was about to sit down I heard a far off bird. I sat and called for a few min but he seemed to be working away from me. So I picked up and headed in his direction. Didn't get 50 yds and I heard him gobble closer. So I set up my hen decoy and sat. He finally showed up about 20 min later on top of the ridge where I was looking for him. FOR OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF he strutted back and forth and gobbled 25yds from my decoy and 50yds from me. Always behind brush or a tree. I couldn't move since I was right in his line of site from my decoy. He was strutting and gobbling the entire time. Once I saw him I never made another call since he was focused on my decoy. I was comfy at first but after an hour and a half my wrist was numb from holding my gun, my back was screaming and my leg was fast asleep!!
Finally he walked closer, got to about 35 yds in an open spot and I took the shot. He scooted off and I jumped up and tried to rack another round and head after him but my leg was asleep. I could only move my leg from the knee up, from my knee down was like jelly! If you've ever tried to run when one of your legs is asleep you know it's damned near impossible. I was laughing and cursing at the same time. Finally I made it over to him and was able to pin him down till he expired. Wow what a crazy hunt!!
I'm tagged out now, time for some fly fishing! Good luck fellas!!!
From: Ungie01201
03-May-24
Sounds like a great AM out Les! congrats!
