Excited to introduce my son to turkey hunting. I am new to the process as well. Do we need a tag? Best I can tell, we are good to go with hunting licenses and Upland Game validations. Haven't been able to find a clear definitive answer to that. we are in San Diego County.
Your youth hunter does not need an upland validation, if he or she has junior license...Sense you're just starting out...There's a couple other things you should know.
You can NOT shoot (rifle, shotgun, or bow) within 150 yds of any dwelling, outbuilding, or barn without written permission from the landowner...Make sure the gun has a plug...No more than 3 shells total.
Use your OnX Maps app, if you have it...If not, get a Cleveland NF map...Land has to be fenced , cultivated, or posted (3 to the mile) to be legal for private property...OnX will confirm where you're at...Don't chance it, if you're not sure.
Turkeys to be legal, MUST have a visible beard...Some hens have beards, just like as some toms don't...The hen is legal (although we discourage it when they're laying eggs), the tom is NOT...Do NOT shoot birds out of a roost tree at dark thirty!
Shoot time for turkeys is, 1/2 hour before legal sunrise (6:24 am) and 5:00 pm...
Adults can NOT carry a gun or bow on the youth hunt days...You CAN legally carry a sidearm.
Shotshells MUST be NON-LEAD...No lead, including copper or zinc plated lead or shells like Federal 3rd Degree...Which is a mix of lead, copper, and TSS...Your choices are steel (not a good choice), bismuth, Hevi-Shot, or TSS (tungsten).
If you use decoys on public lands, do NOT use a tom/jake decoy...If you feel inclined to do so...Cut the beard off...Always carry your decoys in a bag (good idea with dead bird too).
Lastly, do NOT wear red, white or blue (same color as a gobblers head)...Do wear full camo including hands & face (careful with white socks)...If someone walks up on you, do NOT wave your arms...Yell or shout...Always, if possible, have a large tree at your back.
Good luck
