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That’s a heck of a deal, Mike. I know I can spend more than that much on a single SPOOL of flurocarbon line these days.
What do you think, two weeks to walkable ice?
Don’t cringe too much, but I suspect there will be some guys on the ice in areas like the backwaters in about a week…. Of course, I’ll probably be one of them! 
Welcome avid turkey hunters. I’m a new member to idohunting.com so go easy on me! I shot my first turkey in the spring of 2006 2 hours into the hunt and have been hooked ever since. 23 lb 10″ beard and 1″ spurs. Needless to say I am finding out that everyone has a favorite call or decoy setup. With that in mind I was wondering if hunting the first or second season is all that important. I hunt on private land so there is no hunting pressure. Part two – what size load do you use for a 12ga? I went with a 4 but when do you substitute distance for volume? I hear alot of hunters like a smaller shot load for more pellets in the kill zone but your distance is not as far. Your thoughts and good luck this season!!
Well to me i personally prefer going for the later seasons. Yes the turkeys are smarter from getting called in or shot at but you also have the advantage of not as many hens being in season so the toms and jakes are constantly running around and i think easier to call and decoy. Now for the shot size i use 5. They are a little smaller but not to small and you get more per shot shell. I use the Federal Premium with flitecontrol wad 3 1/2 in 5 shot through my Benelli SBE 2 using a carlsons extended turkey choke and it seems to work great. But if you are concerned about not having enough shot Remington does offer a shell that is called the 4×6 it consists of 4 shot and 6 shot. I hope all that i have said will help you on your second year of turkey hunting. 
First off, Welcome to the site! You will get alot of information on here. And a fun place to hear ideas from alot of people who share your intrest.As far as wich season,I belive that it depends on the area that you hunt but typicaly i like the later seasons. When hunting them with a gun (instead of bow) I use 2and 3/4 6 shot with a modified choke.I know this is not the normal turkey set up, but it has alaways worked just fine for me.
Welcome FG. Great to see someone else from our county posting. We can’t rely on trooper448 to make any posts so we will have to pick up his slack.
James
Thanks for the advise! I hunted the second to the last week last year (spring 2007) with my 13 year old son and we could not get a tom to answer. Tried putting them to bed, and of course we were out there before sun up but did not hear a tom gobble. I threw every call I could at em with no response. I thought that that the “rut” was over and they just did not care if a hen was around or not. I am surprised that some people prefer the later weeks of the hunt. I did however call a hen in so close that my son could count her eyelids! It’s safe to say that I have turkey hunting partner for life now. Even though we were not successful last year our hopes are high again for this year. Take care! 
When I look in my photo album, I have lots of pictures of birds killed in the first week of May. I’ve found that there is less competition from real hens. Most are nesting by then and my calling seems to sound better to them at that time
I’ve been a big fan of slate or glass calls for many years. You can get many different sounds from just one call by changing strikers.
As far as shot size, you need to match the load to the gun. My shotgun shoots Winchester 2 oz. #6. I can’t get #4 or #5 to pattern the way I like, so I’ll stick with #6. Your gun may shoot them just fine. Take some time and some money to buy several different loads and see what your gun likes. You will want to shoot the same brand all the time when you find a load that your gun likes. Winchesters shoot differently than Remingtons or Federals.
I hope you know you’ve picked a very frustrating and addictive sport. Turkeys can drive you crazy one day and run all over you the next! The only way to find out what today will hold is to be out there to find out.
Welcome to the site FG911! 
I too have had better luck hunting later in the season. There are pros and cons and you have to weigh out all of the factors such as hunting pressure, weather and nesting conditions.
In regard to decoys, I have used them in the early seasons but stay away from them later on. I like to play cat and mouse with the tom enticing him to look for that hen (me). In the past, I’ve had a few toms get hung up out of shooting range once they saw my decoy. They may be a little wiser due to hunting pressure or sometimes I think they want to draw that hen (decoy) to them so they strut and spin… strut and spin just out of range. Then they get bored and walk off looking for a more receptive hen.
In regard to loads – I agree with PowerFred. Pattern your gun to see what load works best for you. I have a 12 ga. browning gold hunter and shoot #5’s – heavy weight. I also use a turkey choke.
Calls? I too use a slate call. To me it’s all about matching the volume to the distance of the tom. I’m able to accomplish this more effectively with a slate call. However, I think it also has to do with confidence. Work with what you think is best for you.
It won’t be long… 
I prefer to hunt the earlier season’s, but this is based on many reason’s. One is that our land is more of a wintering grounds for them, and by the time the later season’s are on, they have really disbanded through out the area. My second reason is hunting pressure. Our land is very visible from a local highway, and everyone and there brother wants to hunt there because of the visibility of the birds, and the neighboring land owners do not say no to anyone. As for calls, I like to use a slate and box call at first to get there interest, and as they get closer, try bringing them the final distance with a diaphram call. But again, it all is dependent on the scenario. The diaphram call is tough, but has a distinct advantage of being hands free, and limiting your motion.
Welcome to the site. This will consume the dead times of the year w/ the void of not being outside doing what you love.
i’ve never hunted in the early season. i was able to get out early last year w/ a couple friends on there hunts and it seemed harder to predict the birds. my advice for late season hunting is to hunt them like deer. Sit and wait. they will eventually come to a good set up. There’s nothing worse then getting in a chess match w/ a “Wiley Old Tom”.
And like PowerFred said; “You don’t know what today will bring unless you’re out there.” Good luck this season and keep chasing, they will come.
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