Turkey Call Basics for Beginners
Turkeys are one of the most vocal animals we hunt, and every year it seems that new calls are developed and added to our arsenal. Making the 
right call at the right time can bring a gobbler running in and help you fill your tag. Making the wrong call at the wrong time though will send that gobbler into the next county quicker than you can blink your eyes.
A turkey’s hearing is second only to his eyesight; he relies heavily on both to keep him alive in the woods. Knowing which sound he wants to hear and when, takes years of trial and error, and even when you think you have it all figured out you will run into a gobbler that forgot to read the rule book. He will want you to cackle when you think you should yelp and purr. Turkeys like this are harvested every year – you just have to figure out what the turkey you are working wants to hear and then give it to him.
Packing the Right Gear for Your Spring Turkey Hunt
When packing for a trip to the springwoods, there are some key pieces of gear youneed to make sure you have with you – in some cases 
multiples of certain items are suggested. First thing you need to pack is your license. Is it current and is it for the area you are hunting? Some states have designated spring turkey zones and are for certain time periods. Next, make sure your Realtree camouflage is ready to go and will blend in to the springwoods. If it won’t, make sure you get some that will.
Is your gun patterned? No matter what gauge of shotgun you are using, you need to pattern it with the Winchester Ammunition you plan on using on that thunder chicken. How wide is your pattern at twenty yards? What about forty yards? What is your effective range with your shotgun? Is your Weaver red dot sight aligned with the center of your pattern? Do you have an extra battery for it? You need to make sure that you are prepared for the worse-case scenario when hunting, and while your battery is highly unlikely do go dead while you’re hunting it is better to be safe than miss out on a turkey because you left your extra battery at home.
How to Buy the Perfect Turkey Vest
Your turkey vest can make the difference between filling your tag and being forced to wait until next year to harvest your first gobbler.
Do you even have a turkey 
vest yet? If you do not have one you should get one, and make sure it is one that will grow with you throughout your turkey-hunting career.
A good vest doesn’t just look good, and fit right, it also is practical. Your vest should have pockets - plenty of pockets in all different sizes to accommodate your different calls and accessories. The pockets should be easy to access whether you are walking or setting up on a turkey. How the pockets close could make a difference in your hunt’s outcome as well. Noisy Velcro could alert a bird if you attempt to open the pocket when a tom is working its way in. Snaps on a pocket could come unsnapped while you are walking from one setup to another. Zippered pockets are great options, they open quieter than Velcro, and tend to remain closed while you walk around.
Learning to Improve Your Shooting Online
Fall is not too far away and it will be here before any of us are truly ready for it. That means for many of you your first chance to 
legally hunt. Are you ready? Most of you will say no and that is why you come to Hunter’sHandbook.com, to get ready and find the resources you need to be successful in the field.
There is another great online resource for learning how to shoot like an expert. It is OSP Shooting School’s website. OSP is actually a school you can attend to learn the best hands-on training there is on shooting a shotgun consistently and accurately. Gil and Vicki Ash created OSP Shooting School to share their love and knowledge of the shooting sports with people just like you and me. Their training classes are short and intense and produce results.
