Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    Mark,
    
    I'm not the official turkey hunter, this year will be my first, but I
    have several friends that use both the winchester and fed premium. 
    They tell me that they are the best, of course patterning with you
    shotgun is the only way to tell.
    
    I don't know about you but I am chomping at the bit to get out there.
    I have been practicing with diaphrams on the way home now for several
    months and can't wait for the turkeys to make me look stupid.  You
    never know though, I may get lucky.  Can turkeys be retarded?
    
    Good luck and safe hunting,
    Wess

    Went out Sundy scouting and got one to Gobble!  Can't wait
    
    Jeff

    
    The plated shot is designed not to flatten out the way lead does,
    so shooting through brush (if necessary and positive I.D. is made)
    the shot will penatrate. Also there are shells on the market with
    different size shot in one hull. I know Remington produces these
    but unsure about the others.
    
                                                       Guy
    

    I use the Remington loads. I like them for two reasons, 1) got my best
    pattern with them and 2) they are cammo'ed. Thats right, the shell color
    is olive green with the brass blackened somehow.  I use the 3" buffered
    4x6. I've also tried several other loads but as I said the best pattern
    was with the Rem's. 
    
    Don

    Don,
    
    What choke were you using?  
    
    I took a couple of the Remington 4X6's out last night with my Remington
    870 Express and popped them off.  I was using a Modified tube(I know I
    should have an extra full).  The patterns I got made me nervous.  The
    shot seemed to clump together in certain areas with it non-existent in
    others.  I shot at 20yards and 30yards.  Of course I was shooting with
    the modified choke.
    
    Wess

    RE: -.1
    
    I have the extended extra full turkey choke (hows that for adjectives).
    I do not move through the woods with it in, but as soon as I set up I
    change it. At 40 yds it patterns fine for me. 
    
    We are planning on doing some patterning this sunday, if you are in
    central mass we could hook up and you could try my choke to see if its
    something you want to purchase.
    
    Don

Last weekend I took my Mossberg 835 to pattern some 3 1/2" Federal Premium
#6 copper coated buffered shot.  I had some of those turkey head targets
and taped them to a couple of ed-services shipping boxes with about 15
pounds of rocks in each one to hold it still, it was real windy.  At 30
yards there wasn't a spot larger than a dime that wasn't hit and it blew
the rock loaded box back about 5 feet.  At 40 yards it blew the box over,
but the pattern wasn't as tight.  I was testing two different chokes, full
and extra full.  Shots 4 though 7 were killing me.  Man that thing kicks.
I held the gun for all I was worth but that stock would kick me upside the
cheekbone everytime.  I can now guess what being kick in the head by a 
horse would feel like.

Went out yesterday morning hunting.  Had one come in quietly and took off
when we moved to go to a different location.  Like Arnold sez, "I'll be back".

    Don,
    
    It would be great to test your choke out, but I live in Kentucky.  I
    think it is a little far to drive.
    
    I am going to quit whining and go buy an extra full choke this weekend.
    With my luck, I have probably waited to close to season.  
    
    Re .8
    A friend of mine has the same gun, I haven't shot it yet, but he says
    you wouldn't want to shoot trap with it.
    
    Wessz

    I picked up a "full" choke and it performed much better.  I feel
    confident to about 35 yards.  Now for the hard part, getting one in
    that close.
    
    Wess

     I've used the Winchester Super XX Magnum #4 buffered shot since I
    started turkey hunting some six or seven years ago.  They perform quite
    well in my Winchester 1300 Turkey Gun (12 guage) with the extra full
    choke.  The last turkey I shot was in an open field at close to 40 yds.
    Thats about the furthest I will take a shot with my present set up.
    
     Good luck to all and please post the results.
    
    	Bruce

    Wess, glad to hear your set up is working. What loads are you going to
    hunt with?
    
    I went out with a buddy who is going turkey hunting for the first time
    this year. He shot 12 rounds of 3" mags, by the 8th round he started
    miss the target a bit anticipating the shot. Today his sholder is
    pretty sore  :^). I told him not to worry, in the woods you wont
    feel a thing when you shoot, and you wont be shooting 12 times!!!
    
    Are we there yet!?!?
    Don

    Don,
    
    I picked up a box of the fed prem 3" 2oz #6's.  They patterned extremely
    well in my gun to 35yards+.  
    
    I am really fired up!  I picked up a "Strut" triple reed yesterday to
    add to my collection, my wife was not thrilled.  I told her I would get
    her one though, so we could at least spend some "quality" time together
    in the next couple of weeks.
    
    When does your season start?  Ky. season starts tomorrow and Ohio on
    monday.  I am just hunting in Ohio though, due to a better spot and not 
    enough time.
    
    Good luck,
    Wess

    I am soothed somewhat by your stories of sore shoulders, not that I am
    happy about your pain, quite the contrary as I share in it with you.  I
    thought I was getting soft in my old age, or worse still loosing my
    mind as I could not remember my gun kicking so much.  My brother said
    the same thing as one of the other replies, you will be excited and
    won't feel the kick in the woods.  I hope he is right or I'll be
    spending my free time in the "Crocheting " notes file.
    
    Awaiting my Mass. Permit,
    
    Paul  

     Glad I'm not the only one who thinks these loads kick like heck.  I
    think my turkey gun is more uncomfortable to shoot them my .338.  My
    buddy shoots a 10ga.  He swears tht it is worse then any of the guns 
    he used in Africa (including some Weatherby mags).  Can't wait, leaving
    for PA on 4/30.  Gonna try to hunt NY also.  Then MA.
    
    Jeff

    Well I just dont know what to do...  While playing basketball at luch
    last tuesday I poped my knee out! It is not terribly bad but I am not
    sure I can make the trek into the woods at this point. I'm really upset
    about this as I have been working out since January and am in the best
    shape I have been in for years. Lost 10 lbs, can crank on the
    stairmaster at the gym. All I can hope for is the pain a swelling to be
    down to a level that will allow me to do some short hunts.
    
    Wess, our turkey season (Mass) starts May 3, I was planning on going
    into the woods on May 1, set up camp and hunt from the camp, deep in
    the woods. Tring to be as far away from others as possible.
    
    RE: the last few
    
    Yup, they sure do kick! And it is true, you will not feel a thing when
    shooting at your turkey. While helping my buddy pattern just last
    weekend, I shot 4 rounds and I DID feel it. He shot 12 and I could tell
    he was feeling it! :^)   
    
    I use a slate to get the soft tree yelps first thing in the morning
    then switch to the diaphrams. I buy the Quaker Boy Raspy pack and get
    good sounds out of them all. The one thing you must do is practice!
    These are instruments and rehearsal is required. In time you will hit
    the sounds you want by accident, then, they will become natural to you.
    Once you get there, you'll be golden. When I frist started 4 years ago
    I was embarressed cause I couldn't make the sounds so I pretty much
    used friction calls. In the off season I just kept working at the
    diaphrams and whala, I got it!
    
    I got my permit last weekend. I dont like the little sickers we have to
    put on but I guess if it will help the slobs be safer its worth it. I
    have my own opinions about saftey but thats for another topic.
    
    Listen you guys if I cant make it this spring, make an offering to the 
    turkey gods while you're out there for me!  Be safe and good luck to
    you all.
    
    Don

    Don,
    
    Sorry to hear about the knee.  I hope you are able to get out there
    after them.  Heck, take a cane to lean on if need be.
    
    3 days to go
    Wess

    I too shoot a 12 ga and a .338 cal rifle, both have a pretty good 
    kick, especially while benching it - in the field drawing on some 
    game can't feel a thing anyways :) . 
    
    Do find it important to wear the right clothing when shooting the 
    big loads. 
    
    A tee-shirt and jean jacket don't cut it at all. I use my old field 
    jacket liner (older era cotton) and the bruisin goes away. The kick 
    doesn't, but does take the pain out of it.  Could get one at any 
    surplus store and probably cheaper than buying a Past magnum pad.
    
    Good luck,
    Craig

    Well, I haven't had to worry about the choke as of yet, because I 
    haven't gotten a shot.  
    
    I took off monday and tuesday and here's how it went.
    
    I arrived at the farm on Sunday to do some scouting.  After walking
    around with the land owner and fellow hunter we picked out our places.
    I was situated about 50 yards from the property line of the adjoining
    farm, which had 5 hunters on 88 acres.  We had 5 hunters on our farm as
    well.  I talked to the tenant farmer who said that the majority of the
    gobblers had lockjaw this year.  He had only heard a couple which got
    everone depressed.  
    
    As daylight was starting to twinkle a gobbler let rip and got me
    fired up.  The only problem was that he was on the other farm, up the
    hill and across the creek.  He gobbled about 15 times in as many
    minutes while I yelped.  About an hour had gone by when "Bam" he got
    pegged by a guy on the other farm.  Since none of the other birds were
    saying anything, I sat tight and called softly about every 20 minutes.
    About 11:00 I jumped out of my pants when a guy from the other farm
    popped another bird about 70 yards from me, right across the creek.  I
    would like to think he was coming to my call, but the guy told me later
    that day that he had 3 hens with him.  Every guy on the farm was now on
    the fenceline, so the next day I decided to move.
    
    I positioned myself on the edge of a river bluff with a bench about 20
    yards below and a field above me.  I let out a couple of yelps every 20
    minutes and had a hen come in to within 40 yards for about 1/2 hour.  I
    sat there for about an hour when a guy between me and the creek let fly
    with 2 shots.  He was about 120 yards away.  I stayed there and kept 
    calling mainly just clucking every 10 or 15 minutes.  I sat there for
    about 2 more hours when a hunter moved in below me about 75 yards and 
    started calling.  I'm no expert, but this guy sounded like a groundhog
    in a dogfight.  I got mad and walked up the hill.  I met up with the
    landowner and we decided to spend the last hour of shooting time about
    200 yards down the ridge from where I was.  I setup and started
    calling. About 40 minutes had gone by when I saw the landowner coming
    around the edge of the woods.  I stood up to leave and I saw him
    motioning me to come over.  He said a "Huge" gobbler was snaking
    through the grass coming to my calling!  He said the bird saw him at
    the same time and hit the bushes.  Oh well, hopefully I will get to go
    a couple more times before it is over.  
    
    What is the best thing to do when they have lockjaw, call or keep
    quiet?
    
    Wess
    

    I went back out this morning and snuck into the woods before daylight.
    I hadn't even sat down when a gobbler sounded off no more than 75 yards
    from me.  It got my heart pumping!  He gobbled about 10 times after it
    got daylight and flew down.  I gave him a couple of yelps and he
    gobbled.  About that time a hen went over the hill and took him the
    other way!  
    
    Hopefully I will get to hunt at least one more time before it ends.
    
    Are you guys hunting out there?
    
    Wess

    Anybody out there chomping at the bit to go Turkey hunting?  Our season
    in Ky opens April 20, hopefully it will hurry up!  I didn't hunt Ky
    last year but am planning on it this year.
    
    I went out the other day in Ohio scounting the farm where I hunted last 
    year and couldn't even find any scratchings.  I guess they'll move back
    in a little later.
    
    I have about 150 hours practice on my diaphrams since last year, so I
    feel a lot more confident with them.  I am picking up a slate call
    though, to give them something differnt to listen to.
    
    What are some good video's you've seen.
    
    purr, cluck.....purr, cluck...cluck
    yelp, yelp, yelp, yelp....
    
    Wess
    

    How about the alltime classic, "Beth does LaGrange."
    
    Bob
    or my personal favorite, "Diana does deer camp!"
    

    Harris, 
    
    I was wanting a reply from a different type of TURKEY than yourself.
    
    Go get a cup of coffee and settle down.
    
    
    Wess