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turkey hunting?

turkey season starts may 1 and i need some tips and info. Is it ok to wear bug spray while turkey hunting? do i need special camoflague or will military camo (woodland pattern) work fine? how do i wse a mouth call? is face paint ok or should i get a net to cover my face?
as for the box call how do i use it properly? can anyone give me instructions or a link to a movie showing me how?

Public Comments

1. I'm not real sure about a turkey's sense of smell, but I know they can see pretty good. I like to use a hunting blind. it's like a little tent with windows to shoot out of .
I usually set it up a couple days before i go out and place it on a woodline. then I usually cut some small branches to put around and leaning against the blind to kinda blend in a little better.
I've never been too good at mouth calls, I prefer box calls or slate. When you're in the blind you can move around a lot more than sitting, and you dont have to spend a fortune getting all the best and newest camo.

2. Bug spray is fine-turkeys can't smell. If they could nobody would ever kill one. I have used a Therma Cell device this spring and it works great. Just fire it up, and mosquitos stay away. http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/

As long as the woods are green where you are, that camo should work ok. You don't need a $60 shirt and $60 pants in the latest pattern to kill turkeys, no matter what the "pro-staff" guys tell you. It's their job to pimp that stuff. We used WWII-era camo in the 70's and it worked fine. That's all you could buy and it worked fine. Just sit very still. A head net is good-quicker and easier to use, and it keeps the bugs off you.
All I can say about a mouth call is practice, practice, practice. Put it in the roof of your mouth, on top of your tongue, and say "chock", moving the call around until you get a sound, then keep working at it.

Here is a Youtube video of a guy in MO showing how to use different calls. He's not the best caller in the world but he knows what he's talking about: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NXdkiZzdBVo

3. Im not sure on the Bug Spray but I never use it while I am hunting any game as i don't to take chances of not bagging my quarry the military camo should work ok as long as you find good cover to set up in personally I would use some MOSSY OAK or REALTREE CAMO the mouth call should have some instructions on it what i would do is buy 2 or 3 mouth calls and use one to practice with before the hunt so that you will have an idea of how to call when you get there as for face paint I would not use it because the Turkey's have great eye sight and with paint the Turkeys might be able to still make out your facial features and may spook a camo net is the way to go and a blind is not a bad idea either and I would definitely get a couple of decoys to put out on my set-up and as far as finding a set-up spot I would go out before the season and scout and the night before i would go out around dusk and do some calling and roost the turkeys so that you know right where to go come opening morning also on your way in give a few blows on a crow or owl call that way you will be able to tell if the birds you roosted are still there because they will answer a predator call with a GOBBLE. and remember the 2 biggest things that Turkeys have going for them.

1- Eyesight
2- Hearing

Stay out of sight and keep still and quiet and you should come away with a Bird.

GOOD LUCK I HOPE YOU GET A TROPHY TURKEY.

4. When it all comes down to it turkeys are stupid. Up against something as smart as an old whitetail a deer is as good as dead. As for the camo you could wear a flourescent yellow bannana suit and they wouldnt care. The movement is what gets to them. I don't think a face cover would be necessary and paint your face all you want. A mouth call is something that cant be taught by text i would suggest using a box call before you get to diaphram calls or go to a local turkey calling seminar. Hope this helps.

5. well, im not sure about spray, i dont think it would make to big of a deal. you dont need any kind of special camo, my first turky i got i was wearing a green hoodie and a pair of fall camo pants, it is movement they seee, but you will definetly want to wear some kind of camo. i hate mouth calls, they are the way to go, but i cant figure them out. i perfer a net, but face paint works as well