First Time Turkey Hunt.

[The Bullhead]

A friend of mine and myself, have applied for turkey tags, and are planning a trip to the south central portion of South Dakota in pursuit of the wild turkey this coming October. We would like to take the shotguns out this time around, and maybe try archery in the spring.

I'm looking for any tips on tactics, choke tubes, loads, and effective kill ranges. Anything a beginner might not know! I'm pretty green in the world of turkeys! I've done some on-line research, however havent found to many answers to these basic questions. Probably going to be a trial and error trip. ;)

I'll be taking a 3-1/2" Benelli Nova. Thanks for any insight!

[Gobbler Guy]

Hey Bullhead;

I shoot a 3-1/2" mossberg, modified choke, w/ 3"turkey load. I've taken em out to about 50 yds no prob. Just remember, you really dont need all of that fancy equipment so many think they have to have. Keep it basic, and you'll do fine.

Good area to hunt btw! I live in Neb. and usually get up there every other year or so. Gotta love them gobblers!

P.S. You might consider taking a boat up there with you. Walleye bite can be pretty good in the fall around FT. Randal, ect.

Good Luck Buddy!

Sean.

[The Bullhead]

Gobbler Guy:

Thanks for the info.

As a matter of fact, we were just talking about pulling the boat out there. LOL. (Great minds think a like!) I've made a few tripps out to the Platte area this summer, which is very near where we will be hunting.....may work out very well. Thanks for the suggestion. I have yet to put in at the FT. Randall.

Did you get a turkey tag this fall?

Greg County here.

[Joel]

Get a slate call and a box call. Both are very easy to learn and easy to use. I like the HS Strut calls personally. Also, I have found a blind you can use for deer hunting, turkey etc.

[Koldfront Kraig]

Years ago a friend and I hunted turkeys in the South Dakota prairies.

What worked for us was finding the turkeys and watching them for the first day and a half. Being used to hunting in Minnesota, we didn't realize how fast the sun rise is in the prairie and got caught out in the open one morning so we sat back about 500 yards and watched them.

They would roost in the trees in the gullies and fly down and walk up to a cow pasture to feed. Since they were flocked together they wouldn't come to our calls so we patterned their movements and ambushed them. Because of all the ravines and gullies, it was easy to move around without being detected.



A good pair of binoculars is a must. A decoy wouldn't hurt either.


Have fun and good luck