Turkey Hunting
The Fake Stump
I finally got the fake stump installed at the Honey Hole this afternoon with the help of Moose and the Mooselette. This is the culmination of several years’ worth of planning and fretting. It all goes back to 2016. I had been turkey hunting with my back against the same dead tree for a decade, when the inevitable happened and the old tree fell over. Requiem for the Honey Hole Here is how it looked back in the day: I tried several other trees in the vicinity, but it just was not the same. I finally decided to erect a … More . . .
The Sons of Moto
I got Turkey Camp opened up Saturday. I have learned that it is not wise to show up on a Friday night. You never know what you’ll find. I always wait for Saturday morning to go down. The place was just as we’d left it. My sons came down a few hours later and went out for a late-season squirrel hunt. I ventured out mid-afternoon to check out The Honey Hole. It was pretty much as I’d left it last Yute Opener. I was out getting audio for a podcast when I got a call warning me that NR license … More . . .
Picking your Turkey Load Back in the Day
I know I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating. Back when I started turkey hunting– we’re talking Regan’s first term– A good turkey gun was any gun that could put 2 pellets through a Dixie cup at 40 yards. You put a Dixie cup on a stake and backed up given yardage and shot. 2 or more holes through the cup meant you were good to go. Someone had figured out that was enough to kill a turkey. It had probably been a measure for pheasant or geese and they just adapted it. I went the extra mile … More . . .
Spring Turkey Rules are Out!
It’s funny. I looked over on the left at the “On This Day” box and it said that I had reported the Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide had been posted in 2013. Sure enough, I went to look on the KYDFWR site, and look what I found: I could not find all that much new that interested me. The Hunter’s Ed requirements have changed, due to COVID. The training is online and you submit a video in lieu of attending a Range Day. Also, the first time Hunter exemption is now free. If memory serves, it used to be $5. … More . . .
Stalking vs. Ambushing (Mostly about Ambushing)
I want to clean up a bunch of questions that have been asked of me. Some have been recent; others go back a ways. Mostly, this is about ambushing, but there’s more. You keep talking about ambushing being good and stalking being bad. Why is that? Let me explain some things the way I see it, and maybe you will understand. This question is probably in reference to a piece I wrote a while back where I stated that hens go to gobblers and not the other way around, I meant this in a general sort of way. This is … More . . .
If I was the NewGuy at Turkey Camp Part 4
. . . and having said all that,  let me do a complete about-face. Do you want to know what made me a successful turkey hunter? It came down to exactly one principle: Become your own expert. I have been giving you an introduction to turkey hunting as best as I can. It is the culmination of 40 seasons. I never claim to be an expert turkey hunter– not even a particularly good one. I am an expert in being a beginning turkey hunter. I never really was much of a turkey hunter until I purposely took off the big … More . . .
If I was the NewGuy at Turkey Camp Part 3
I’ve talked about the kit. Now, I am going to put it all together and talk you through what to expect. First off, let me tell you what does not work. If you’re a beginner, you read a lot about master turkey hunter tactics like Run & Gun. Forget it. You are not going to be Runnin’ and Gunnin’ at our turkey camp. The reason is simple: It’s about a 15-minute walk from the house to the back of the property. You run out of room in the first half-hour. A lot of turkey hunters are mobile. We are not. … More . . .
If I was the NewGuy at Turkey Camp Part 2
This is a continuation of the thread I started in the last post. Now that I’ve done a dump on the firearm-related stuff, here is what I think about calls, clothes and the rest of the gear  The CallsIf you’re a new guy to the sport, you’re going to think calls and calling are the keys. They’re are not. You need to be able to call somewhat, but I call fairly conservatively and I do not count myself as a master caller. I get by. I also make my own calls. What you need starting out is at least … 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 . . .
If I Was the New Guy at Turkey Camp Part I
I wrote a piece back in the early fall giving advice to the New Guy at Deer Camp. At least one fellow, Remnar found it to be good stuff, so I figured I’d try and compose one for Turkey Camp.  In this first installment, I’ll deal with the shooting system (gun, load, sight, and choke) The Gun, The Choke, and The Load Let’s get the gun out of the way. I’m going to say upfront that the gun is the least of your worries. I started with Dad’s 12 GA Winchester Model 12 trap gun, and high-brass 2 ¾ #4 … More . . .
Back in Turkey Mode
I don’t know about you guys, but by Mid-May every year, I’ve lost the feeling. In the good years, it’s because I’ve filled all my tags, and I’ve got to start thinking about practical things like mowing the lawn. In the bad years, I reach a point where the season ends, and I have to finally admit that a bird with a pea brain has bested me. Either way, I put the turkeys aside and walk away. Last season was the season that wasn’t. Andy Beshear (may his soul rot in hell) shut down non-resident tag sales the morning I … More . . .
Remnar Gets his Buck
The Buckless Youper, Remnar, got his first deer this morning. I was back at the cabin putting the finishing touches on yesterday’s story when I heard a shot coming from the back of the property. At 0715 ET Remnar radioed in he had a doe down and needed assistance at Midway. I rolled out with the truck and found he’d managed to shoot the largest button buck I’d ever seen come off the property– 92 lbs live weight. The button was 200 yards out when he lit it up with my borrowed Kar 98, the Mauser from Hell. That is … More . . .
Curtain Call
The season is over. I never got a chance to go out. The turkeys, however, were not quite done with me yet. Along about 1700, I heard a gobble. I looked out in the field in front of Faulty Towers and saw a gobbler working over some hens. The show lasted over an hour and a half. One hen had enough and flew off. The gobbler was probably one of the gentlemen I caught on a podcast earlier in April before season. I didn’t have a long enough lens, but I caught things as best as I could. Enjoy. … More . . .
Turkey 2020 Post Mortem
It’s over. Frankly, I was not paying attention last evening as the sun went down. I was home watching NetFlix. KY’s Spring Gobbler Season ended. For me, it ended before it began. It is the first time since 1986 that I have not hunted. I really wish this COVID-19 thing would go away. I have to admit that had a good time for what little time I had. For the month prior to The Opener, I was into turkeys nearly every time I went out. Three times I got gobblers into my setup at the Honey Hole. On two occasions … More . . .
Sneaking Back to the Farm
The Thunderstorms are due back after Noon. I’ll be beating it back to town shortly, having concluded a very productive trip to the farm, and one of the best days I’ve ever had. I’ll give you some highlights. As soon as we heard they were relaxing the quarantine, The Shamanic Dream Team started planning a return to Turkey Camp. We couldn’t hunt them– nonresident tags were quashed– however, we did have plenty of other things to do. For starters, I had to mow grass. In places, it was getting waist-high. I stopped in Falmouth on the way to buy a … More . . .
Missing the Opener
As I write this, I can hear Angus in the shower. He was called into work this morning. He would have missed the Opener anyway. Last night was his birthday. He also celebrated 5 years working in a sheet metal shop. I suppose it was good news that he is having to work overtime in times like these. There could be worse things. I talked to Moose the other day. He’s still waiting on his relief check. Little Mooselette has been reading the Rush Revere book I gave her. This will be the first Turkey Opener I’ve missed since ’86. … More . . .
PODCAST: Yute Hunt 2020
This should have been a triumphant announcement. Mooselette had shot her first gobbler. However, a worldwide pandemic interfered. It was just not to be. Okay, I can live with that. I went out alone this AM with the umbrella mic, ready to record some more stuff– hopefully enough for another podcast. For the second week in a row, a gobbler keyed on the mic and came running up. This time, a gobbler on his way to meet a hen calling off the property, came right by my set-up at the Honey Hole. You can hear him spitting and drumming right … More . . .
My Season is Over
I came in this morning from recording material for a podcast, and I had this surprise waiting for me on the KDFWR website​​: Non-Resident Spring Turkey Permit Sales Suspended Effective immediately, standard nonresident spring turkey permits for 2020 will no longer be sold in order to conform to Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order and current CDC guidelines to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Only non-resident hunters who have already purchased 2020 spring turkey permits, and can comply with the Governor’s Executive Order No. 2020-266 should consider hunting in Kentucky during the spring season. The order requires all non-residents … More . . .
KY Afield Show Q&A on Turkeys
Here’s a link to the 3/28 KY Afield show. It’s a Q&A about the upcoming turkey season. The good news is that nobody is anticipating a closure due to Coronavirus. This post has already been read 1414 times!Views: 2 Related posts: Strong Harvest Expected Know Thy Game, Know Thyself What Happened to the Turkeys? From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt The Role of Personal Ethics in Hunting If I was the NewGuy at Turkey Camp Part 2 Personal Ethics in Turkey Hunting Are long distance shots a good thing?
More . . .PODCAST: The Mistaken Gobbler
We had a hard rain and thunder on Friday night. However, it was still in the low Sixties when I got up. I had to wear a short-sleeved shirt out to the Honey Hole and still managed to work up a decent sweat. I rounded the last curve in the track– had the gate to the field in sight. “Gobble!” There was a gobbler that seemed perhaps 60 yards away, perhaps only 40 yards away from the Honey Hole itself. I was shielded by a large cedar. I decided to set up the umbrella mic in the middle of the … More . . .
T-Minus 4 Weeks and Counting
The Shamanic Dream Team converged on Turkey Camp yesterday as the clock ticked towards one month before the opening of KY Spring Gobbler Season. We had a lot of ground to cover. First off, we had to officially inaugurate the Kip LeBlond Memorial Grill. Kip and I were best hunting buddies back in the 80’s and 90’s. We had a lot of good times together before we went our separate ways. Kip died a while back while duck hunting in Arkansas. His widow donated Kip’s monster Charbroil Commercial Grill to us. Moose and Angus brought it down to the farm. … More . . .
PODCAST: The Kitchen Sink at the Honey Hole
I was not expecting all that much this morning. I just wanted to get out with my recording equipment and make sure everything was ready for the upcoming season. I really enjoy recording the turkeys and if I could walk away with some sound, any sound, it would be fine. I went out to the Honey Hole. I had not been that far out at the farm since the first week in December. I heard a couple of gobbles on the way, but nothing like I was going to hear once I got settled in. Yikes! What you will hear … More . . .
It’s Out! KDFWR Releases Spring 2020 Rules
The new rule book for the Spring Seasons is out. There is no big news for hunters in the Trans-Bluegrass– it’s same old/same old. The only statewide change of note is that the Land Between the Lakes will not have a quota hunt this year. Bluegrass Depot is closed to hunting. I tell everyone that hunts with the Shamanic Dream Team: Read the book cover to cover every year. This post has already been read 762 times!Views: 4 Related posts: The Role of Personal Ethics in Hunting Know Thy Game, Know Thyself From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt … More . . .
Turkey Calls — The Shamanic Brain Dump
What is the best turkey call? I am not going to be pretentious enough to tell a veteran turkey hunter what to take with him out in the field. However, if you’re still at the point where you are not sure what to use to call in a turkey, this may be your huckleberry. I had a suitcase full of calls before I really stopped to think about this question. In about 2002, I found that I was getting myself weighed down by everything I was trying to shove in my vest. I decided to do without the vest and … More . . .
When to start scouting Turkeys
For the better part of the past 20 years, we’ve been coming back to Turkey Camp given the following criteria: 1) It’s after the Super Bowl 2) It’s not pouring down rain. It isn’t snowing, and there is no ice. 3) The predicted HI for Saturday is at minimum 50F I pack a bag and watch the forecast. Some years, that happens in late February. In some years it isn’t until the last weekend of March. The reasons for this are manifold. The biggest of these are safety and comfort. When Cincinnati gets snow, Camp will get ice. When the … More . . .
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