Turkeys

On my way to the lake this morning I saw six, maybe seven, fanned out Toms in a field with what looked like maybe 30 hens.

When does the season open. I kind of thought this stuff was a bit early.

Early April is 1st Season. Can’t wait for those Thunder Chickens to come strutting in!!

jimmysiewert wrote:

Can’t wait for those Thunder Chickens to come strutting in!!

The first time I was with turkey hunting was when my son did a mentored hunt. Man, was that a blast. A lot more chaos than I expected. He had to be careful not to double or triple up on Toms within 10 yards of the blind.

The boy and I will be bow hunting turkey together this season. We have so many at the farm and we’ve already put together a great plan i think. Hopefully it pans out for us. Turkey hunting is sure a great time. And I love the challenge after we hung up the shot guns

My oldest son is big into turkey hunting. His first turkey was a double when sitting with his cousin. He guided his girlfriend and her brother last year and they each got a bird. He’s going to guide me now this year also. I have never had much interest in turkey hunting but it will be fun spending time with him.

Hey bearcat, what broadheads do you use for turkeys? Now that my son is 18 he said if he can’t get his bird during his allowed gun season he may use his bow.

The warmer temps I’m sure have the tom’s fired up a little earlier than normal. If we keep going on our current warm weather pace, many Hens may already be sitting on Nest rather early in the season. That will make the hunting a little more challenging than in most years.

Stanley wrote:

Hey bearcat, what broadheads do you use for turkeys?

I was wondering this too or do you use those “bird” claw type things?

Stanley wrote:

Hey bearcat, what broadheads do you use for turkeys? Now that my son is 18 he said if he can’t get his bird during his allowed gun season he may use his bow.

I shoot montec g5s for both deer and turkey. I thought about getting the big blades and going for a decapitation, but I’ve had nothing but luck with the g5s.
I don’t trust expendables on turkeys simply due to the fact they take alot of energy to get a pass through. And the g5 is my all around broad head of choice.

Kind of funny, our neighbor has domesticated turkeys. They have a descent size yard and butts up to a nice stand of oaks that the wild turkeys hang out in. The wild turkeys and domesticated often hang out together in the yard. Just this morning, one of the wild and domesticated were strutting in the yard. I should see if I could borrow a domesticated as a decoy!

jimmysiewert wrote:

Early April is 1st Season.

Season A is April 16. Not “early April.”

Just an FYI

I see they are allowing archery hunters to use a crossbow all season too this spring. Similar to deer season.

Rage x-treme turkey broadheads are bang flop. Of course you have to hit vitals.

Stanley wrote:

Now that my son is 18 he said if he can’t get his bird during his allowed gun season he may use his bow.

So if I dont get my bird in the 7 day gun season I can bow hunt after that?

I think you can do that.

Also, if you fail to fill your tag during a specific shotgun season, they also offer you the opportunity to hunt with that unfilled tag during the last season. Sort of a “second chance” if you will without having to buy another one.

weedis wrote:

Kind of funny, our neighbor has domesticated turkeys. They have a descent size yard and butts up to a nice stand of oaks that the wild turkeys hang out in. The wild turkeys and domesticated often hang out together in the yard. Just this morning, one of the wild and domesticated were strutting in the yard. I should see if I could borrow a domesticated as a decoy!

They often cross breed as well. I’ve ran into a few cross Breed ones while hunting near where there are Domestic one.

Is it true you can now shoot a hen, tom or jake due to Tim Walz not wanting us to assume genders?

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Stanley wrote:</div>
Hey bearcat, what broadheads do you use for turkeys? Now that my son is 18 he said if he can’t get his bird during his allowed gun season he may use his bow.

I shoot montec g5s for both deer and turkey. I thought about getting the big blades and going for a decapitation, but I’ve had nothing but luck with the g5s.
I don’t trust expendables on turkeys simply due to the fact they take alot of energy to get a pass through. And the g5 is my all around broad head of choice.

I won’t shoot expendables for deer but always do with turkeys. I have never had a pass thru but also never had one run off. The guy that sold me on using big expandable broadheads claims on a bad shot it makes it much harder for them to run off or fly off with your arrow still in them.

JEREMY wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Stanley wrote:</div>
Now that my son is 18 he said if he can’t get his bird during his allowed gun season he may use his bow.

So if I dont get my bird in the 7 day gun season I can bow hunt after that?

You have one tag gun or bow. Bow is the entire season all together, gun you need to choose one season. If you do not harvest you can hunt the last season of gun which started maybe 4 years ago which i do not like. Many guys I know lost farms they hunt because the owner or farmer will then go back out to hunt if unsuccessful.

Pretty much all broadheads work for Turkey hunting everyone has their favorite. I’ve been using Rockets since they came out. Now most are not made any longer that I like I will find another brand to use. The montec are great heads, I think I have enough for the next couple seasons as long as I don’t miss too many in NE.:)

Start the season out in NE in a couple weeks. It’s not strange to see the birds out doing there thing. I will call in multiple birds through the fall coming in putting on a show even know they have months before anything will start. Last week looking for sheds I called in 4 birds gobbling their head off and strutting. Going to be a fun spring.

Hoyt4 wrote:

You have one tag gun or bow. Bow is the entire season all together, gun you need to choose one season. If you do not harvest you can hunt the last season of gun which started maybe 4 years ago which i do not like. Many guys I know lost farms they hunt because the owner or farmer will then go back out to hunt if unsuccessful.

Thats what I thought.

jimmysiewert wrote:

Early April is 1st Season. Can’t wait for those Thunder Chickens to come strutting in!!

I thought grouse were thunder chickens and geese were cobra chickens…

BigWerm wrote:

Is it true you can now shoot a hen, tom or jake due to Tim Walz not wanting us to assume genders?

Man, come on! Nothing better than a big ole f2m tranny turkey coming waltzing in

TH wrote:

Rage x-treme turkey broadheads are bang flop. Of course you have to hit vitals.

TH — now there’s a name I haven’t seen on IDO in a long time

First time turkey hunting this year with an experienced friend. Season A. Should be fun.

Hoyt4 wrote:

You have one tag gun or bow. Bow is the entire season all together, gun you need to choose one season. If you do not harvest you can hunt the last season of gun which started maybe 4 years ago which i do not like. Many guys I know lost farms they hunt because the owner or farmer will then go back out to hunt if unsuccessful.

Thanks Hoyt. It wasn’t entirely clear to me when I looked through the regs.

I only shotgun hunt so I select a season, usually B or C. If you want a season all to yourself, select the one that coincides with fishing opener. I did that one once and everyone was on the lake instead of turkey hunting.

When it comes to broadheads it’s definitely personal choice. I like my g5s, last year my kid shot 3 deer with rage hyperdermics. They all died within 50 yards and had gruesome wounds. I still won’t shoot one just because I know what my g5s do. So it’s all really a personal choice. I’ve shot many turkeys dead with g5 and also slick tricks and maybe my wi turkey was with a grim reaper. So it really comes down to personal preference. There are a ton of great broadheads on the market. Just make sure to shoot a practice one in to a target.