Turkey Hunting
Turkey 2021: The End
As usual, I was home in my recliner to observe the end of Turkey Season. It was Mother’s Day. However, that was just an excuse. I was pretty well played out. The weather was cold and rainy all day Sunday. I was glad I came home. One of the stand-out aspects of this recently passed season was the number of gobbler encounters we all experienced. We only filled three tags– one each. But the Shamanic Dream Team had more than ample opportunities to fill more. I remember few mornings where I did not have at least one gobbler on the … More . . .
Turkey 2021: Third Weekend
Weekend #3 came and went with no gobblers to show for it. Mooselette, Moose and Angus came out.  Action was remarkably heavy, at least on the west side of the farm. Moose was over at the Westwood blind and managed to call up two gobblers out of Right Leg Creek. Then these were joined by another pair who appeared from Blackberry, having crossed the pasture from the east side of the farm. The two pairs fought each other just out of gun range. Moose eventually made it back to camp. My guess is that he had his box call … More . . .
Turkey 2021: A Progress Report
Our last bird was taken on 4/20. Since then, things have been fairly quiet. The next morning, we got 2 inches of snow dumped on camp. My hunt consisted of brewing a cup of coffee and standing at the open bedroom window and listening. I did not hear a gobble. The snow lasted until Noon. I went home and worked a couple of days. The Shamanic Dream Team reassembled on Friday night and hunted all weekend. The birds were tepid. However, we did have a visit from the Galloping Gobbler. He hopped down from his roost over on the north … More . . .
Moose Nails a Whopper
Moose and Remnar went out to the new blind at Dead Skunk this morning. I went out to the Honey Hole. This was Remnar’s first turkey hunt. He had expressed interest in hunting the birds over the winter, but work intervened. I was sitting in my blind at 0738, having a very mediocre morning. All of a sudden a blast came from behind me, followed by a lot of whooping and cheering. What had happened is that Moose had bagged a big one at 25 yards in rather spectacular style. The way it was told to me, they were working … More . . .
The End of the Garbage Pit Bandit
I do not usually miss a turkey. Missing two the first week is unheard of in my long career. However, this morning was saw my second since the Opener. The first was due to taking a shot without being properly situated. The one this morning has me scratching my head. The gobblers were already sounding off a good half-hour before legal hunting this morning. It was warmer than it had been, about 48F when I sat down. That probably had a lot to do with it. I had gobs sounding off all up and down on both sides of me. … More . . .
PODCAST: Another Galloping Gobbler
I’ve got a theory about gobblers. It is all about gobblers’ personalities. You see, I’ve been watching many generations of turkeys live and die on the property. Some traits, like the motor-mouthed trait that I first saw in Mister Moto, seem to be genetic. However, there are some traits that seem to go with the land. If a gobbler starts inhabiting a given section of property, they seem to inherit the traits of gobblers that have come before him. That is how I seem to have many Mister Naturals that all seem to select that same strut zone out behind … More . . .
Yute Season 2021
The Mooselette got a chance to get out and deal with the turkeys on Saturday. It wasn’t quite the show we had hoped for. The cold snap had made it a rather subdued affair, and every gobbler seemed to be henned up. However, honorable Number One Granddaughter was able to get a gobbler to honor her calls. You could see she no longer sees turkey hunting as something happening to her; she is now making it happening. The gobbler in question was roosted with hens somewhere over in Virginia, a long finger ridge running parallel to the one we were … More . . .
ODNR Announces Proposed 2022 Turkey Season Changes
From OldGobbler.COM Ohio is proposing a change to the bag limit. The new proposal taking effect 2022, if passed, would limit you to harvesting one bearded bird from public land. You can still kill two, but only one can be from public land. Oddly, they site poor reproductive years, but they leave the fall season intact. Of course, the fall kill is a very small fraction of the spring harvest. Annual fall harvest is around 1200-1500 birds and about half and half on sexes. While spring harvest averages around 18,000 -20,000 bearded birds, almost all gobblers. Also: It splits the … More . . .
PODCAST: A Little Bit of Everything
I finally got enough audio for a podcast. The turkeys have not been cooperating this year. This AM, I managed to catch them at the Honey Hole. It’s a long one, and it has a bunch of gobblers, hens and crows sounding off. This is one you’ll want to just lay back and listen to. Just click on this link: Podcast –At the Honey Hole, 2021 This post has already been read 1799 times! Related posts: PODCAST: Closing the Deal PODCAST: Return to the Honey Hole 2018 PODCAST: Another Galloping Gobbler PODCAST: Gobblers at the Honey Hole PODCAST: … More . . .
On the Subject of Camo
https://www.kentuckyhunting.net/threads/camoflauge.178148/ I feel blessed that I live in a time where there is now an abundance of birds. Going out and finding a gobbler is not such a big deal anymore. I remember a time when just hearing a gobble was a victory. I can also attest to going the first twenty years thinking that a better camo or a better call would somehow provide the winning edge. I am here to tell you that there is no winning edge in turkey hunting except what is between your ears. Maddog Mattis once called it the most important 6 inches in … More . . .
How Still is Still for a Turkey Hunter?
I started to put this into my missive on what the NewGuy needed to know, and it became something bigger than I expected, so I am going to put it in its own post. If you are starting out turkey hunting, learn to be still. How still is still? For a turkey, it is as still as you can get. Turkeys’ eyesight is phenomenal. It has limitations, but they are really great at seeing movement. I’ve had turkeys pick me up at over 400 yards walking. I have had them pick me up turning my head at 50 yards or … More . . .
Turkey Season Transitions
I have seen a bunch of articles written over the years about the various stages of the wild turkey’s spring breeding. I have been watching this firsthand at the farm for twenty seasons now. I am going to give my thoughts on it. Remember that I am about 10 miles south of the Ohio River in the Northeast of Kentucky. What is going on in the southern part of the state is considerably different. Ohio’s season starts a week later than mine, so everything I say here is predicated on my location and my experience. To begin, let me review … More . . .
Indiana DNR Rule Changes
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has changed the rules a wee bit. Turkey hunters can now use .410 shotguns, and can use smaller shot. Deer hunters can now use breechloading muzzleloaders (there’s an oxymoron) like the Traditions Nitro system. See: Administrative Rule (Regulation) Changes Full text here: The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) gave preliminary adoption to the changes listed below governing muzzleloaders for deer hunting, beaver trapping, and wild turkey hunting equipment at their meeting on Nov. 17, 2020. The public comment period has ended, and the NRC will vote on the proposed changes at their meeting … More . . .
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