How tough to get started?

[dovehunter]

Jack has given you some really good advice. About the only thing I would ad is, when you buy your ammo, make sure you get dedicated turkey loads (which usually come with premium, buffered shot). They will pattern a lot tighter than regular loads. They will cost more but, believe me, they are worth it. Personally, I would advise against scoping your shotgun. I have never seen the need for anything but the sights that come on the gun. Around here you'll never get a shot over about 30 yds. anyway and for that the factory sights are usually sufficient. Patterning you gun will tell you if it's centering the pattern at your point of aim.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

What you described doing is basically how I went about doing it.....I didn't know anyone who turkey hunted, so I got some books, video tapes, and calling tapes and read & listened. Box calls, as noted, are the easiest to learn on, and you only need to learn a couple of calls to get started. Also, I would suggest patterning your gun with your full & modified chokes prior to buying a turkey choke....I found that my full choke in my 870 express was plenty tight enough for turkey hunting.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is scouting.....get out in the woods pre season and look for birds & signs of birds BEFORE the season starts; that way you will know where they are when the season opens. Look for tracks, feathers, dusting sites, dropppings, ect. The books & tapes should give you more info, but that is the basic gist of it.
As for patterning, I would suggest trying 3 or 4 different turkey loads......I like #5 shot, but anything from #4s to #6s work well for most folks. Look for buffered loads with nickle or copper plated shot....both will help to tighten patterns. Finally, I like to use where the neck joins the body as an aiming point....if you are a little off, the load will still be lethal, and if recoil is severe or you are off balance, you will still put enough pellets in the head and neck to be lethal.
Good luck..................

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

...One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is scouting.....get out in the woods pre season and look for birds & signs of birds BEFORE the season starts; that way you will know where they are when the season opens. Look for tracks, feathers, dusting sites, dropppings, ect...

Really good advice here - probably the best that has been given yet. Let me expand on that by saying get out to the areas you want to hunt before daybreak and listen for gobbles as the birds come down from the roost. Move to different spots while doing this. If you don't here anything you might try using a bard owl or crow call to make one shock gobble. Good luck!

[MtnMike2]

Thank you all for your replies. Excellent info here. I'll let you know how it goes.... especially if I'm lucky enough to bag one!

Mike