My dad and I hunted Saturday morning without any luck.  We had seen turkeys, but they just didn’t  come close enough. Patience was the word of the day.

That afternoon was a different story.  We went back to the same area we had gone before. But this time, the turkeys were already in the field.  We decided to set up our hunt where we thought they were to roost.  Patience again.  After watching them for a couple of hours, they finally started moving towards us.

Then they turned.  And went into the woods in a different place than we had hoped.  Still we waited.  An hour went by when I heard something running toward me. My view was blocked by a fallen pine tree.  Still hearing the approach, I looked under the tree and could see the legs of a turkey – but wasn’t sure if it was a hen or a gobbler. Then it finally came into view I could see ’s beard and it wasn’t alone – with it was a few more gobblers and hens.

As luck would have it, my view was also blocked by the stump I had been resting my feet on.  Trying to look around it and not be seen by the turkeys, I could hear one of the putting – about 5 feet in front of me.  The other gobbler was right between the stump and the pine and I could see him perfectly. When the other one started putting I pulled my gun around squeezed the trigger. The Beretta Xtrema 2 with the Remington Nitro Mag shells and the Primos Jelly Head choke put the trophy long beard on the ground.

Needless to say, it was a good day.  And I know exactly what will be on the table this Easter dinner!

What is a choke tube?  It is simply a device that restricts, or tightens, the pattern of the BB’s that come out of a shotgun.

• Full choke -Full chokes are most commonly used for turkey hunting. The reason for this is that a full choke holds a tight pattern with your shotgun.  A turkey’s head is small so a tight pattern means more hits.
• Modified choke- A modified choke is the most common of all choke tubes because it holds a medium pattern  and is used as an all purpose choke for many hunting situations.  I use this for almost all of my hunts, except turkey. Most guns come with this type of choke.
• Cylinder and Improved Cylinder- This choke restricts a pattern very little after it leaves the barrel. This choke is mainly used by beginners that aren’t a very good shot and by trap shooters who don’t want to spend a lot of money on trap chokes.

I found a good video that describes types of choke tubes and the reasons for choosing one over another.  I hope you find it as informational as I did.

Turkey hunting is right around the corner, now is the time to start preparing your gear!!

There are certain truths though that most hunters will agree upon.  Some of them are obvious enough, like, being in camouflage helps hunters stay hidden within gun range.  Or movement is the supreme enemy of the turkey hunters. Much more than this, practicing makes your skills as a turkey hunter better. And the excitement of the turkey hunt will focus the hunter’s awareness.

Like any sport, there are certain rules and regulations one must follow, here are some rules you need to remember:

• You will need a turkey hunting permit and a small game hunting license – it is required when hunting wild turkeys.
• You can only buy one turkey permit each year.
• If you have filled your limit, you may call for another turkey hunter but you can never bring any fire arm or even a bow.
• Using rifles and hand guns are not allowed. You can only hunt using your bow and arrow, shot guns with shot sizes no larger than number two or smaller than number eight. These are the only weapons for catching wild turkeys.
• You must fill out the tag which only comes with your permit and attach it to the turkey you shoot straight away
• Do not disturb hen turkeys or their nests.
• Searching with a dog during spring is not permitted. But you may hunt with it during the fall season.
• You must not use any intensifying device to locate or hunt turkeys during open seasons.

(Be sure to check with your state’s regulations to make sure the rules you are following are correct).

Here are also some tips for a successful and safe turkey hunting season.

• If you will leave your gear and your turkey with another person, make sure to leave the following information for emergency purposes. 1.    your name 2.    your phone number 3.    your address 4.    your license hunting number 5.    your turkey permit number  6.    the 3rd party’s name 7.    the 3rd party’s address 8.    if necessary, your veterinarian’s name too 9.    his or her contact number
• Look for signs of recent wild turkey activities. Locate appropriate calling locations. These signs includes tracks and droppings. Droppings offer positive data that wild turkeys are located in that area. It also indicates the bird’s sex. For gobblers, they have j-shaped, elongated droppings and hair-like feathers known as the beard extended from the breast. The beard is normally three to ten inches long. Most of them have spurs on the lower legs. Beard and spur length tend to increase with age. Some hens also have the beard but only 10 percent of their population contain it. Their head in general are dull gray-blue color, with pink and red coloration. Their breast feathers have a buff or white tip giving the hen it’s attractive and eye catching color.
• Turkeys possess a strong sense of hearing and sharp vision. You should remain unmoving while calling them. A camouflage outfit is also recommended in this kind of hunting hobby. Even hunters wrap their shotguns in camouflage to prevent gun barrel from being detected through their shiny metal.

Have questions about hunting? Just leave them in the comments section!!

Now that the spring turkey-hunting season is nearly upon us, you should find the right shotgun. As turkey hunting has become increasingly popular, more and more manufacturers have developed shotguns that have more features. There are a few things you need to keep in mind as you search for the perfect shotgun.

You need to buy a shotgun that fits you. The only sure way to find a shotgun that properly fits you is to make an appointment with a firearms expert. Pull the gun to your shoulder. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. See if the gun swings into place without extra effort. Pay attention to the weight of the gun – is it comfortable? Next, adjust the placement of your forward hand. Check to see if you are able to hold the shotgun steady for a set amount of time. Also, see if you are able to comfortably carry the shotgun for long distances. If you answer “yes” to each of these questions, you may have found the right shotgun.

Remember that when it comes to turkey hunting, a bigger shotgun is not always better. 20-gauge shotguns are growing in popularity, mainly due to their high-powered turkey loads and available chokes. You are better off buying a shotgun that perfectly fits you than you are choosing one that has the largest gauge or load size.

Give yourself an opportunity to see how your shotgun performs under different circumstances. Shoot it with different loads and shot sizes whenever possible. Most shotguns offer several choke options. A shotgun that shows success in increasing pattern performance is your ideal gun. As with all of your hunting equipment, you want to use only the highest quality gear that performs well when you need it most.

You must take the time necessary to discover the limitations of your firearm. You can do several things to find out how well your gun will work at the moment when you need it to perform. Pattern, experiment with different loads and chokes, and practice real hunting situations on the range. These actions will help you learn when to shoot and when to hold back. Certain shots are risky, and you are better off holding your fire.

If you are using a 20-gauge shotgun, you must be within 25 yards of your target for your ideal shot. Very young hunters, or those hunters who lack experience, should follow the same distance. Knowing your limitations as a hunter is as important as knowing how well your shotgun will perform. This knowledge is the difference between success and disappointment.

Finding the right shotgun for your spring turkey hunting will take a fair amount of experimentation and practice. Your goal will be to determine the best choke constriction, load, shot size, and distance. You want a gun that is comfortable. You want a gun that fits your body size. Do not always go for the largest gun, as a bigger shotgun does not always equal a better shotgun. The best way to discover the shotgun that best fits you is to practice with different ones. There is a perfect shotgun out there with your name on it. Simply take the time to find it. Once you have discovered your ideal shotgun, you will be able to kick off a safe and rewarding turkey season.

Here is a pretty good video I found that talks about selecting a good shotgun for turkey season.