Spring Turkey Hunt 2018

[tallsteve]

I've bought my 2018 turkey hunting license. I'm not sure what shells to buy. Does anyone have any favorites to recommend or what to look for?

[BruteForce]

I've bought my 2018 turkey hunting license. I'm not sure what shells to buy. Does anyone have any favorites to recommend or what to look for?

You can get specific loads just for Turkey. I got early season tags, so my turkey hunt starts mid next month!

https://www.federalpremium.com/news/news_releases.aspx?id=903&brand=5&year=2018

[tallsteve]

You can get specific loads just for Turkey. I got early season tags, so my turkey hunt starts mid next month!

https://www.federalpremium.com/news/news_releases.aspx?id=903&brand=5&year=2018

Yeah, I've seen the turkey specific loads but, even within the turkey loads you can choose from 4, 5, or 6 shot. Looks like there's even 7-9 shot available. I guess that's where i'm confused.

[BruteForce]

Yeah, I've seen the turkey specific loads but, even within the turkey loads you can choose from 4, 5, or 6 shot. Looks like there's even 7-9 shot available. I guess that's where i'm confused.

More pellets = a good thing. Turkey are FAST and the more shot you can send flying = better chance of dropping one of those elusive birds!

[oldno7]

I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than 4 shot.

With weight comes penetration.

Most call turkeys in and look for head shots.

[tallsteve]

I think I'll give the 3rd Degree shells a try. Seems like best of both worlds and the reviews are stellar.
BTW, if anyone wants to tag along this spring with me, I'll be going up AF Canyon several times to try my luck just as soon as the SR92 Alpine Loop road is clear of snow. I have a key to the gate, plus the trails will be under the springtime wet trails closure (foot traffic only), so, we'll have the whole place to ourselves. I can drive to where no one hikes in because of distance (at least to hunt). I usually know where the turkeys hang out. I just have to go under the guise of doing trailwork and I only go up weekday evenings. Let me know if interested.

[middlefork]

Best to pattern your gun and see what size shot gives the most dense pattern at 40 yards. Head shots are where it's at. #6 is plenty good for turkey if you shoot em in the lips.

[BruteForce]

I have two locations to hunt Turkey this year: Fillmore to Marysvale areas and the Mouth of Weber Canyon in Oakley (where I dropped 2x Elk in January of this year <private property> ). As for the American Fork location, did you get tags there or ??

[tallsteve]

I have two locations to hunt Turkey this year: Fillmore to Marysvale areas and the Mouth of Weber Canyon in Oakley (where I dropped 2x Elk in January of this year <private property> ). As for the American Fork location, did you get tags there or ??

AF Canyon is open to the Spring General Season hunt. I put in for Limited Entry but, I don't have any points.

[double moo]

I think I'll give the 3rd Degree shells a try. Seems like best of both worlds and the reviews are stellar.
BTW, if anyone wants to tag along this spring with me, I'll be going up AF Canyon several times to try my luck just as soon as the SR92 Alpine Loop road is clear of snow. I have a key to the gate, plus the trails will be under the springtime wet trails closure (foot traffic only), so, we'll have the whole place to ourselves. I can drive to where no one hikes in because of distance (at least to hunt). I usually know where the turkeys hang out. I just have to go under the guise of doing trailwork and I only go up weekday evenings. Let me know if interested.

yes... I would like to go with you this year! let's talk when you get a moment

[tallsteve]

Cool. I'd love the company. The hunt doesn't start until April 30th so, we have awhile.

[BruteForce]

Remind me.. If I have Limited Entry tags, can I then also hunt general season? I think likely NOT, just don't recall offhand.

[tallsteve]

Remind me.. If I have Limited Entry tags, can I then also hunt general season? I think likely NOT, just don't recall offhand.

Good question for which I don't know the answer.

[BruteForce]

Found the answer in the Turkey Hunt Proclamation. The answer is NO. If we get a Limted Entry draw, we can't then again hunt general season. BUMMER!


Spring 2018 general seasonhuntThe spring 2018 general-season hunt willbe held statewide from April 30–May 31, 2018.Spring general-season permits will beavailable beginning at 8 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2018at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agentsand Division offices.You may obtain a spring general-seasonturkey permit if you meet the basic huntingrequirements (see page 8), and you didn’tobtain a limited-entry turkey permit for thespring 2018 season.Young hunters who obtain general-seasonturkey permits will have the opportunity toparticipate in the youth hunt. For details, seethe information box on page 15

[double moo]

Cool. I'd love the company. The hunt doesn't start until April 30th so, we have awhile.

Looking forward to it!

[tallsteve]

Sheesh! Talk about pricey shells! Federal's 3rd Degree turkey loads: $18 for a box of only 5 rounds on MIdwayUSA. I like the theory behind these shells but, I found a few user low-budget youtube video's comparing that one to the Winchester Long Beard XR's and the Long Beard held a much tighter pattern at longer range. $16 for a box of 20 so, I bought two boxes of those.

[Sandstone Addiction]

What shotgun are you using?

[REDFOX]

All of my turkeys have been shot using federal premium 3-1/2" 2-1/4 Oz #6 shot. I also use a breily extra full choke. I spent a lot of money on shells and time patterning the gun.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[tallsteve]

I just picked up an inexpensive Remington 870. I bought a Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke Tube (model # 70120) designed specifically for the Winchester Long Beard XR turkey shells I have on order. From the reading I've been doing on that combo, it's supposed to hold a good pattern out to 60 yards. We'll see if that holds true. I'm not going to have a lot of time to dink around with it but, I plan on going out to the west desert in the next couple of weeks and shoot it some. If nothing else, this choke looks really cool, haha! http://www.choketube.com/choke-tube-product-details-R.php?Remington-Choke-Tubes&mf=16

[double moo]

I think I bought that same choke for my 870 also! Ready to go...

[tallsteve]

I have some pieces of camo clothing but needed a hat, facemask and gloves. I recently found out that the Kings Camo headquarters is less than a mile from my office in AF and they have an outlet store. I went over today at lunch and checked the place out. I ended up buying this rain/wind jacket for $30 (half from what it's listed on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Camo-Climatex-Rainwear-Mountain/dp/B01MCRL9O6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1522782785&sr=8-8&keywords=kings%2Bcamo%2Brain%2Bjacket&th=1 but a lot of their stuff I can buy cheaper on Amazon. Anyway, if you're down this way, it might be worth checking out.

[REDFOX]

I have some pieces of camo clothing but needed a hat, facemask and gloves. I recently found out that the Kings Camo headquarters is less than a mile from my office in AF and they have an outlet store. I went over today at lunch and checked the place out. I ended up buying this rain/wind jacket for $30 (half from what it's listed on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Camo-Climatex-Rainwear-Mountain/dp/B01MCRL9O6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1522782785&sr=8-8&keywords=kings%2Bcamo%2Brain%2Bjacket&th=1 but a lot of their stuff I can buy cheaper on Amazon. Anyway, if you're down this way, it might be worth checking out.I have used the kings desert camo in Utah and Texas for all of my turkey hunts. I think that it is the best. What size shells will you be using 3" or 3-1/2 ?

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[tallsteve]

I have used the kings desert camo in Utah and Texas for all of my turkey hunts. I think that it is the best. What size shells will you be using 3" or 3-1/2 ?

3".
Yeah, I like their desert camo pattern. For where I hunt I think it most closely matches up.

[oldno7]

I sit out on my front porch and call to turkeys every evening.

About 20 in yard this morning, toms are quite vocal.

[double moo]

Ready to roll....

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[tallsteve]

Ready to roll....

89284

What, no chainsaw mounted on the front fork? Lame. :naughty:

[double moo]

C-4 in the panniers for downed trees...

[BruteForce]

I'm all packed for next weekend's Limited Entry hunt. I'm going to try HWY89 area around Marysvale, then work my way North as necessary toward Fillmore.

[tallsteve]

I'm all packed for next weekend's Limited Entry hunt. I'm going to try HWY89 area around Marysvale, then work my way North as necessary toward Fillmore.

Good luck! I look forward to a trip report!

[tallsteve]

Just got back from testing out the new shotgun and turkey load shells. Wow! The Winchester Long Beard XR shells kick like a motha'! I could only shoot 4 of them before my shoulder was done! I definitely need to look at a different recoil pad! Anyway, I set the target out to 55 yards and shot 1 time (1st photo). I wasn't impressed. Some hits but, not many. I shot once more. Same result. Then realized I didn't have the Carlson's turkey choke in! Silly me! 2nd photo is with the turkey choke (made just for the Long Beard XR round). Impressive! I haven't counted the hits but, there's a lot. Again, that's at 55 yards. I have no doubt this combo will be deadly at 60 yards plus.

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[tallsteve]

Got cleared by the Forest Service to drive past the closed gate at Pine Hollow so, this afternoon I'll be checking things out and doing trailwork at the same time. I have noticed a lot of predator signs up there this year. Lots and lots of bobcat and coyote tracks and scat and I actually saw a bobcat about a month ago in the Timpooneke area. Hopefully they haven't killed all the turkeys off.

[BruteForce]

Just an update on my 2 weekends of LE Turkey Hunt. Between my boy and I, we each bagged a big Tom up Bullion Canyon and the PST77 trail just outside of Marysvale. Thick as fleas just after a massive snow storm Thursday night.

[tallsteve]

I've been up doing trailwork the last 2 evenings and have been able to call turkeys both days. Tuesday, I had hiked back down to my Jeep, loaded back up my trail tools and decided to try calling. I was shocked to have my call answered within seconds! Plus, it sounded like it was maybe 100 yards away, over the road embankment. It answered me several times but, I never saw it and it didn't come in. I'm guessing it popped it's head over the embankment, saw me and fled. I wasn't wearing any camo and was right by my Jeep. Same thing happened last night but, in another area. I had actually heard it gobble first as soon as I parked and got out of my Jeep. I grabbed my slate call and walked a hundred yards away from my Jeep and called. It answered right back and came to within a 100 yards. I could see it through the trees. It just never came any closer. Again, I wasn't wearing any camo. I'm excited for next week. I ordered a couple of decoys and am hoping that will help bring them in closer.

[REDFOX]

You probably educated the turkeys, I would not call unless I was hunting at the same time.
I've been up doing trailwork the last 2 evenings and have been able to call turkeys both days. Tuesday, I had hiked back down to my Jeep, loaded back up my trail tools and decided to try calling. I was shocked to have my call answered within seconds! Plus, it sounded like it was maybe 100 yards away, over the road embankment. It answered me several times but, I never saw it and it didn't come in. I'm guessing it popped it's head over the embankment, saw me and fled. I wasn't wearing any camo and was right by my Jeep. Same thing happened last night but, in another area. I had actually heard it gobble first as soon as I parked and got out of my Jeep. I grabbed my slate call and walked a hundred yards away from my Jeep and called. It answered right back and came to within a 100 yards. I could see it through the trees. It just never came any closer. Again, I wasn't wearing any camo. I'm excited for next week. I ordered a couple of decoys and am hoping that will help bring them in closer.

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[double moo]

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Everything but the birds...

[BruteForce]

Well? Anyone else bag a turkey?

[tallsteve]

Well, we saw some on the first day we went out (funny story, actually). Double moo got a shot off but, the tom was booking it over an embankment and wasn't hit. The second day we went out, didn't see or hear a thing. Not sure where they went. It was the day after the big storm on Wednesday. Maybe they migrated down lower, not sure.

[tallsteve]

Funny story from yesterday afternoon. The Forest Service asked me to drive up and look at the current trails conditions to see if the trails are ready to open yet or too muddy still from last weeks storms. I headed up around 4:00 and, at the last minute, threw my shotgun in the back seat of my Jeep, just in case. Sure enough, about a half-mile down the Cascade Springs road from the summit of the Alpine Loop, a hen and a tom ran across the road in front of me and into a small primitive camping spot. I slammed on the brakes, jumped out, grabbed the shotgun out of the case and threw in a couple of shells. By this time the turkeys had reached the far side of the camp and headed down slope into the thick trees. When I got over there I could see their heads barely bobbing to my right about 15 yards away. What luck. They we walking parallel to me from my right to left. Right in front of me was an 8' or so break in the trees and brush where I could get off a shot. When the turkeys came within that small shot window, I started to take aim when something really big started moving right behind them. It was a big bull elk about 20 yards beyond the turkeys! Oh, crap! If I would have shot, I'm sure I would have killed the turkey but, some scatter would have also hit the elk! Crap! Never saw them after that.

[rockgremlin]

What gauge do you use to take down turkeys?

[tallsteve]

What gauge do you use to take down turkeys?

12

[tallsteve]

Double Moo, do you want to try getting out again this year? With the amount of snow still up there, we may not be able to drive up AF Canyon to where we did last year. Here's to hoping, though.

[double moo]

Yes... definitely interested!

[tallsteve]

Sweet! I'm going online and buy my permit today.

[tallsteve]

I bought my licenses. I'm not sure we'll be able to go where we did last year, though. There's still 5' of snow at the summit. I've never seen that much snow left this late in the year. We'll see.