Turkey Hunting
Push-Pin to the Rescue
For a lot of turkey hunters, a push-pin type call is the first call they master. Once they get on something else, they leave the push-pin behind. Yeah, I get it. A push-pin is kind of limited, but it does work. I especially like it for the terminal phase– for those last few calls before the gobbler sticks his head out. I’m passable with a mouth call. However, I always place a push-pin next to my right hip. I can’t count the times I: a) had the mouth call out of my mouthb) had a turkey hang up just out … More . . .
Scouting or Just Trusting Your Spot
From OldGobbler.com Here is my response: I have been hunting the same 200 acre farm in SW Bracken County, KY for 23 seasons. What I’ve found is that the turkeys are still roosting in the same spots and hitting the same pastures every year. We have a few honey holes that will produce gobbler sightings every season. I’m still out for the month before season scouting, but I try and avoid direct contact. What I do is go out with an umbrella mic and record the birds on the roost and what they are doing at flydown. Are there changes … More . . .
A New Gunsmith
The thought hit me in early December that the Mooselette could stand a full-sized grown-up turkey gun. I had not finished my first cup of coffee before I found a swinging deal on a Mossberg 535 that was receiving no bids. Bang! I had it. It was on the way to the FFL. I’d scored! The fact that this is titled “A New Gunsmith” should tell you this wasn’t as hot a deal as it seemed. Cosmetically, it was just fine. However, when I attempted to remove the included choke tube, it was a no-go. No problem. I knew what … More . . .
ENSO-NADA, The Turkey Dead Zone
I do a yearly shamanic weather prediction for another forum– what’s it going to be like on the Turkey Opener? I don’t claim to be a major expert. All I’m doing is going on https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ and reading the tea leaves. I do it, more than anything to piss off the guys who tell me they don’t care. Some get angry and say I’m telling them to stay home. No. I’m all for going out, no matter what the weather. It’s just handy to know whether to pack shorts or a parka for turkey camp. I noticed something this AM that … More . . .
The Turkey’s Back
The big ol’ Gobbler that I took last spring is back from the taxidermist and I’m very impressed. I picked him up Sunday on the way home from muzzleloader hunting. The taxi is named David Noem of Noem’s Wildlife Artistry. If you look on his right leg you can see the green leg band the state put on him. I won a $45 gift certificate from BassPro for turning it in. Here is more detail from the hunt: This post has already been read 1300 times!Views: 60 Related posts: Congrats shaman…you now carry a camo purse. Went scouting and never … More . . .
Update on the Banded Bird
On 4/14, I bagged a bird with a green leg band. I reported it on the website and got a response in the form of an emailed PDF certificate. However, the YouTube on the site talked about a reward for green bands. I kept writing and asking, and all I got back were automated emails with the same pdf file. I finally got through to a human, the program coordinator, Zak Danks. Here is his response This post has already been read 4162 times!Views: 13 Related posts: Last Tag Filled Amid Mortal Combat How Individual is the Individual? Is turkey … More . . .
Turkey Season Post Mortem, 2025
It’s over. The Shamanic Dream Team did not make it out for the last weekend. Moose had to stay home with Junior. Angus was dealing with a seasonal allergy. I was nursing a bad back. This all belies the real reason: nobody really wanted to be out in that much rain. The Score? Three gobs. One was a bird of a lifetime, the other two were nice fat 2 year olds. I wish Angus had been able to score. The same goes for Foxtrot Charlie. However, in the latter case, he is a lot further down the path to success … More . . .
Moose Nails a Good’n at Honey Hole
The Shamanic Dream Team has tagged a gobbler on the Second Saturday of KY Spring Gobbler Season. Moose and MooseWoman went to the Honey Hole this morning. MooseWoman does not hunt, at least not yet. She just went to enjoy the morning with her squeeze. It was a near-perfect morning. Friday had been hot and windy–up to 40 MPH gusts. It had stayed close to 70F overnight. This is the warmest we’ve ever hunted. The gobblers were already sounding off a good 10 minutes before legal hunting. Moose called a bit– thought he attracted some attention, but flydown came and … More . . .
PODCAST: A Banded Bird at Dead Skunk
I’m now tagged out in 2025. This morning, I went out to Dead Skunk Hollow and set up in some cedars overlooking pasture at the head of the draw. Yesterday, Foxtrot Charlie had gone there in the afternoon, and worked a bird for a couple of hours before coming back to camp. While he was in the cabin, stowing his gear, I went out to the Thoughtful Spot. The bird that had given him fits had finaly showed up and was parading out in front of the blind and gobbling his head off. When Foxtrot Charlie came out we got … More . . .
PODCAST: Gobbler Attack on the Opener
Yesterday, was the 2025 KY Spring Turkey Opener. I was out at the Honey Hole expecting a moderate sort of day at the Honey Hole. I’d call at some birds. I might get an answer. I’d get bored, take a nap and go in. It did not happen. It started off quiet enough. I only heard a few gobbles far off. In fact, I turned off the recorder with hopes of maybe hearing something later. A few minutes before sunrise, I heard a gobbler way the heck off. He sounded like he was in bottom of Left Leg Creeek, a … More . . .
Yute Season Washout
Here’s what the radar looks like right now. We’d be heading out the door in this if Mooselette was going Yute hunting. She’s not. She’s probably sleeping in right now. It’s bad luck for the Yutes, for sure. The good news is all this will be out of here by Sunday PM, and no rain is predicted through the first week of Gobbler Season. This post has already been read 4399 times!Views: 6 Related posts: So You’re Looking for a new Yute Rifle, Huh? Muzzleloader 2014 Turkey Camp, 2002 Report from Deer Camp, 2011 Angus’ Last Yute Hunt Return to … More . . .
PODCAST: Jakes Galore
This is my first time out with the umbrella mic this spring. I’ve been holed up in town since the Super Bowl taking care of KYHillChick. She slipped in the garage and busted her kneecap. I’ve been taking care of her while the leg mended. Last Monday, the Ortho guys cut her loose. I went out to the Honey Hole as usual. The evening before, I saw a rather large herd of gobblers and hens out in the field. Things were looking good. Shortly after I got set up, I was surrounded by turkeys. The action was brisk and I … More . . .
Spring Rules are Out
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources has released the rules for the Spring Hunting Seasons. There are no big changes. This summarizes what few there are: The full list of rules including spring gobbler and spring squirrel are here: This post has already been read 3439 times!Views: 8 Related posts: KDFWR Turkey Study Underway From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt KY Turkey Poacher Fined $44,000 KY Non-Resident Fees Hiked The Role of Personal Ethics in Hunting KY: Record Harvest for Modern Gun Deer Season Down to the Farm Spring Rules are Out
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Eight Weeks to Go
There is still dip in the bowl from the Superbowl Party, but it is time to start thinking about Turkey in Kentucky. It is coming up on eight weeks to go before the start of Kentucky’s Spring Gobbler Season. It is about this time when I start looking for a day with a high temp of 50F or higher and no rain. That is solely for my comfort. The turkeys could care less. That is when I return to camp and go out scouting for the first time. I’ve already missed a couple such days that happened in January, but … More . . .
Gobblers Go Quiet After Flydown
From:Old Gobbler Forum My answer: Years ago, I discovered a disused logging road on the back of the property that had recent tire marks. I decided to hide out near it and see what was going on. The next day, nothing responded to my calls at the roost and I went over to the road and set up. I wasn’t there very long before a sandwich truck came down the track and parked at a little turnout. A little Korean guy got out and started opening up the sides of the truck. It wasn’t long before several flocks of turkeys … More . . .
Run & Gun– Does it Work?
Run and Gun has some bad connotations for me, but it has to do with where I am and how I’m set up. I don’t mean to throw shade on the R&Gers. I’ve got 200 acres in SW Bracken County, KY. A number of years ago, I had a couple of “big time” turkey hunters come out to the farm for an afternoon hunt. Where they came from, afternoon hunting was banned, so this was like some sort of guilty pleasure. They left after lunch and were back before 5, all tuckered out. They’d set up on the edge of … More . . .
KY Turkey Poacher Fined $44,000
From KDFWR News Muhlenberg County man ordered to pay $44,000 in restitution to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for turkey hunting violations Hunting Law-Enforcement Wildlife Licenses-and-Permits ​​​​​​​FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2024) — A Muhlenberg County District Court judge has ordered a local hunting guide to pay $44,000 in restitution to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources following the guide’s conviction on multiple hunting violations. ​​​This past spring, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division Game Wardens discovered that local outfitter, Timothy Smithwick, 59, of Drakesboro, Kentucky, was operating an illegal guide service on his property in Muhlenberg County. ​​​Second … More . . .
Over and Over Again
It come down to a pile of gear in the dining room, a couple of gun cases, a bag of laundry, and in this case a large unwieldy carcass to get stuffed in the freezer. Spring Gobbler Season is over. Five hunters with only one gobbler between us for 21 days of hunting– that is about as wretched as it gets. Looking back on it, I think we were done in by good weather. That sounds like a lame excuse, but let me explain. If you rewind the tape, I was able to get back down to camp really early … More . . .
Humiliated by Turkeys
I have spent a good bit of the last 25 years teaching folks how to be humiliated by turkeys. That was based on a good 20 years experience before that being humiliated myself. Not everyone I have taught to hunt turkeys gets it. I am not sure I even get it. I just introduced another fellow to the sport, and I am not sure he gets it. You have to understand, Foxtrot Charlie is not just an accomplished big game hunter, but he comes from a long line of big game hunters. He has a grandfather pictured with Elmer Keith … More . . .
Report from The Turkey Opener
Scratch one Gobbler. Today was the Kentucky Spring Gobbler Opener. The morning hunt was a bit of a scratch. Moose and Mooselette saw nothing out at Dead Skunk Hollow. Angus had a herd of hens at Blackberry. A gobbler came in but didn’t get close. Angus chanced a shot and the gobbler fled; it was too far. I went to the Honey Hole. I had one hen working out of Left Leg Creek that kept coming to my calls, but kept running away. After Moose and Mooselette came in, there were some gobbler over in Hundred Acre Wood. Moose tried … More . . .
PODCAST: Encounter at Dead Skunk Hollow
Last Sunday, I was able to get out one last time and record material for a podcast before season starts. Actually, it was KY’s Yute Season, but my Yute was with her mother and was unavailable for hunting with her grandpa. It was a shame. I seldom see turkeys this active on the weekend before the start of Spring Gobbler Season. I witnessed two things I have never seen before. First off, just before sunrise, I noticed my glasses were getting dirty. When I got them off, they were wet. After I put them back on, I realized I was … More . . .
Strong Harvest Expected
Kentucky Today is reporting that a strong harvest is expected for Wild Turkey hunting season.That is extremely good news. Here’s the article: Strong Harvest is Expected for Wild Turkey Hunting Season Here’s the text: This post has already been read 2196 times!Views: 6 Related posts: Know Thy Game, Know Thyself KY: Record Harvest for Modern Gun Deer Season From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt KDFWR Turkey Study Underway But then again. . . Indiana DNR Rule Changes Which is harder: Deer or Turkey? If I Was the New Guy at Turkey Camp Part I
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Spring Rules are Out
Part of my ritual of spring is getting a hold of the spring rules and reading it cover to cover. Mooselette? Foxtrot Charlie? You better get cracking. This post has already been read 2344 times!Views: 5 Related posts: The Role of Personal Ethics in Hunting Report from Deer Camp: Opener 2024 Spring Turkey Rules are Out! Turkey Season Post Mortem, 2025 Mooselette Bags Her 1st Deer KY Spring Rules are Posted Report from The Turkey Opener The Turkey Trigger Tripped
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PODCAST: Foxtrot Charlie @ The Honey Hole
Foxtrot Charlie is a buddy of mine. He’s been a big game hunter for decades, and only recently got interested in domestic offerings. I invited him to Deer Camp last fall. He had a ball. I invited him out for Spring Gobbler. He came out with me to the Honey Hole to get his first introduction to the hardest game on the North American Continent. Here is my 90+ minute visit with him while we listened to the turkeys doing their thing. Podcast — Foxtrot Charlie @ The Honey Hole This post has already been read 4528 times!Views: 8 Related … More . . .
PODCAST: Peyton Place At the Honey Hole
This was my first time out to the Honey Hole this year. The turkeys have been very active due to a warm end to the winter. I had hens and gobblers sounding off over a 10 acre patch with me in the middle. It was a wild morning. I even had a hen pitch down off the roost and walk right up my back side. So here is the Podcast. I hope you enjoy it. Podcast — Peyton Place @ The Honey Hole This post has already been read 4700 times!Views: 15 Related posts: Turkey Season Transitions Know Thy Game, … More . . .
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