BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

billmaly · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Iowa

I am gearing up for Spring turkey season. I've got the camo and the gun (need to pattern yet), but I know nearly zip about calling. I'm going with a buddy who will be able to show me some stuff, but I'd like to have an idea of how to call before we get in the woods. I'd like to get a mouth call and a slate call (the 4x4 by M.A.D. Calls looks very versatile) and begin practicing. Advice on any calls is appreciated.

Lever-action-lover · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 114

DIDDO....Fist time turkey hunter here too!

saskie · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:46 pm Post subject:

You might have already been on this site, but try http://www.nwtf.org

They have sample recordings of turkeys and advice on calling

[ This Message was edited by: saskie on 2003-02-14 18:48 ]

Lever-action-lover · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 114

WOW good site! Thank you!

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 250 Location: Downeast, ME USA

Hey guys the best thing to do is get in contact with your state DNR and check to see if they are giving any turkey hunting classes.
I know here in the state of Maine the DIFW biologist give a class at different places, and plus some guides offer them also.

I had a MADD aluminator call and have used it for the last 4 years, and have called turkeys with it.

But this year I am going to try some Cannon Country Game Calls.
I have a Dreamcatcher glass+slate combo and it puts out the sweetest sounds. I also have a box call of theirs called the Bushmaster and that has a great sound also.

As for mouth calls I like a double reed call the best. Some guys like a tripple some like a single.
A mouth call you won't learn to use as fast as a box,glass, or a slate. So if you are going to learn to use a mouth call start practicing now and don't take it the first year you hunt. You get to many squeeks that you don't need out in the woods.
Some guys might pick it up fast but I was 2 years getting it down pat.

The other think is when you go and practice your calling. DON'T GO AND DO IT WHERE THE TURKEYS ARE. You will find in the spring that they will come to you before the season if you do. But look out when the season opens you will find it will be harder to call them. They get call shy real fast.

If you go to Sportsman Shows you can see and learn a bit about turkey hunting also.

Cannon Country Game Calls have good selection of calls from turkey to Elk.
Go to my website as I have them on my link section.

http://davesguideservice.maine-web.com

Hope this helps you guys out some. Just remember practice,practice,practice on your calling.

The wife and kids might want to kill you but it will pay off. LOL's

[ This Message was edited by: maineguide on 2003-02-19 06:09 ]

saskie · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 2:58 pm Post subject:

I was just on your website - you have pike there?!?!?! Are there many or just the odd one?

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 250 Location: Downeast, ME USA

saskie, that is the cousin to the northern it's the chain pickerel.
I have a couple of ponds that I fish that hold some fish up to 4 or 5 pounds.

There are a number of ponds thru the state that hold these fish.
Down in the Belgrade area their are ponds that hold the northerns.
From what I read in the weekend paper up in Glazier Lake (sp?) the most top end of the state. They have been catching Muskies there.

They are great fun to catch.

[ This Message was edited by: maineguide on 2003-02-19 06:15 ]

saskie · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 7:13 pm Post subject:

Drats! I thought it was too good to be true. We have pickerel here too, although I never seem to make it out fishing for them. I love pike fishing - it's always the highlight of my annual trip home. Oh well.

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2649 Location: Colorado

I hear you pike fishing is a blast! I haven't fished for pike in years though. You have to catch fairly good sized pike to make a meal; the little guys, while fierce, are just bone.

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 250 Location: Downeast, ME USA

Try them on a fly rod.

saskie · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 9:57 am Post subject:

I heard a neat trick for dealing with pike bones. Run the fillets through a meat grinder and make fish cakes out of them. I usually just eat walleye and release the pike. The lakes I fish back home almost always have both so I catch some walleye for lunch and some pike for fun. When they come from those cold northern lakes you can't tell the difference in taste, and walleye are easier to de-bone. Further south I find the pike can taste muddy after the water warms up.

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2649 Location: Colorado

That is interesting about grinding up the fillets. Might have to try it sometime.

Most of the pike I have had has been pretty good, not muddy at all. Now some of the stocked trout in CO (with their white meat) can be pretty bad eating (taste like licking dirt).

However the cut-throats and "cut-bows" with a pinkish meat are always pretty good around here. They don't rival a good slab 'o salmon though. :wink:

StalkingPrey · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Quote:
On 2003-02-14 10:14, billmaly wrote:
I am gearing up for Spring turkey season. Advice on any calls is appreciated.

Ok getting the post back to Turkey not sure how the Pike got in (pike is down the hall and to the left).

I am new to Turkey as well but so far what I have done is picked up a mouth call, box call and a friction plate. Some came with tapes/cd's and then I bought a video as well to see when and how they were calling. I plan on practicing a lot so I can use to calls at once and sound like more than one bird to hopefully coax in the big Tom. Now all I have to do is figure out where the birds are.

[ This Message was edited by: StalkingPrey on 2003-03-10 15:23 ]

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 250 Location: Downeast, ME USA

StalkingPrey look in open areas, that is where you will find them first thing in the morning.
If it is cold you will find them on the sunny side of a hill or field where they will suck up the sun to get warm.

Any farms around your way you will find turkeys.

Good luck

Littman · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Fairfield, CT

If you are starting from scratch, I would get a box call first. They are easy to learn and give realistic sounds right from the beginning. As you get better then add the slate call and moth call to your hunt.