doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Spring gobbler hunters?

I agree- hen decoys are "static"-and although turkeys, nor waterfowl have the power of scent, I just don't think they are that effective. I only hunt Toms on private farm lands here in Damn Yankee land, and learned many years ago the truth in this dictum: "Turkeys think every stump in the woods is a hunter, and every hunter is NOT a stump." RWTF

I stopped experimenting about 10 years ago and now use nothing except the SxS 20 gauge Yildiz with #9 TSS handloads. The gun weighs 5-6 so that is light enough and I have no desire for a single shot or smaller gauge. Calling the turkey is what it's all about to me, and I just want the shot to be anticlimactic.

I killed my first gobbler in 1966 with a 20 gauge Winchester 37 and still have the gun. I have thought that I would like to kill my last one with it too. I don't plan to get it out this year, but the time is getting closer.

This is how I heard it: "Deer sees a man sitting in the woods and thinks it's a stump. Turkey sees a stump in the woods and thinks it's a man."
If a person has mobility issues due to health or age, more power to them using decoys or blinds. They haven't given up. Gil
Gil

I hunt the gobble. KIlled a lot of birds that didn't gobble, but the one's that gobbled non-stop are the ones I remember the most. My least favorite time is about 1 minute after I pull the trigger and its over. Always a bit bittersweet, but I do love wild turkey fajitas with a passion.

I'd like to hear more about that first turkey with the 20ga Win model 37. I'm trying to wring as much out of the experiences I'm having because I started late. I have heard the drumsticks are often not used just the breast and I admit that they are on the tough side. I saw a youtube video by a group that calls themselves The Hunting Public, and they slow cook the legs for 24 hours and claim it was very good. This will be part of this year's experience if I'm lucky.

Liverwort, this link to Hank Shaw's site discusses use of wild turkey legs. If you stew them long enough, the meat separates from the bones and tendons and is very good. I have made the Southwest Turkey Leg stew several times and recommend it. If you make it, I would just use one leg and thigh rather than the two he recommends, unless you are feeding quite a few people. One leg and thigh yields about a double handful of surprisingly tender meat. Also I would reduce some of the peppers, chile powder, etc unless your taste runs to really spicy food. Frozen corn can be substituted for the chicos which are pretty hard to come by.
The secret to eating turkey legs is long cooking with moist heat.
Hank Shaw's turkey stew recipe

I am still fiddling with my load, but at the moment I am testing 2 1/4 oz #6 with various powder combos out of my 36" 8ga single with 3 1/4" brass and a small pistol primer. I have tried Swiss FFg but have not been able to achieve an acceptable pattern. If anyone has a good Blud Dot Turkey (or Pheasant) load along these lines, please PM me!

The legs are the best part. But don't tell your buddies. Tell them that your dog loves them and you would be happy to take the legs from their birds.

Turkey drumsticks, thighs, and wing meat are the most precious part of the bird.

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I've got a new Ithaca 10 I hope to christen on a turkey. Got some hand loads and also getting factory no. 4's. I also have a LC Smith Long Range I just had restored and would not mind getting one with it too. Will probably use some factory 5's or 6's for it

I'm collecting my components and planning on making some black powder 12 gauge loads for my Fox Sterlingworth. The plan is 3&1/4 drams of 3F and 1&1/4 ounces of #6 shot. I have to pattern them and decide where to fit the Fox in but it's all about the fun.