Who coined the silly term "hung up" ?
From Turkey and Turkey Hunting: ORIGINAL: TurkeyComander Who coined the silly term “hung up” ? I really don’t think it’s silly, but I do think it is oftentimes a solvable state. At least it is something that was in your control at some point. It certainly is not a disease. If nothing else it is a ready excuse for the uninitiated (“I dunno, the gobbler just got hung up!”) Let’s look at the basic idea of a hung-up gobbler. A gobbler is on his way to you and at some point he just stops coming. He’ll honor calls, but he … More . . .
Winter Tonic
For the first time in several years, I braved a mid-winter trip to turkey camp over the weekend. Some years we have been blocked for three months getting there. Last year it was a snow and ice storm that kept us bottled up from VD until the second weekend in March. I have to tell you that there is just no better feeling than opening up camp, and finding it for the most part untouched and unchanged. The big treat Sunday night was listening to lots of wing beats as the flock that inhabits the woods behind the house came … More . . .
In the shamanic Reloading Cave
The shaman was busy at his reloading bench when he heard little Scooter come into his cave. “Mister Shaman?” “In here, Scooter.” said the shaman. “Jeepers, Mister Shaman.” said the boy. “What are you up to?” “I’ve been reading too many deer threads,” said the shaman, and I thought I would come here to chill out and get some reloading done. “It’s all so complicated.” said Scooter. “I wouldn’t know where to start. All these bullets. All this data. It makes my head spin.” “It doesn’t make my head spin.” said the shaman. “It was going to, and then I … More . . .
Getting Permission to Hunt
I’ve been on both sides of this permission to hunt thing now. I’ve been sitting here with this topic trying to organize my thoughts. If I look back on the efforts I made over the years to get permission, I can see one pattern arising. I got very few permissions from cold calls. I spent a lot of time early on driving around in the country asking, and got very few people to agree to letting me hunt. I was in sales during part of that time, and I doubt it was my style. I think it was more the … More . . .
On the use of Turkey Decoys and Going Old School
From Turkey and Turkey Hunting — Not as Sporting…Are You Serious??? The Turkey Hunter at the Vegetorium Some of y’all remind me of the stories a buddy of mine used to tell. He was a cook at a vegetarian restaurant/store up near the University of Cincinnati. He used to listen to the various veggie-heads all day and had some pretty funny tales. He said that there was a macho-ethic going on with the grazers, and it would always seem to escalate into a one-upping sort thing: “I’m an ovo-lacto.” (If I remember, that meant just eggs and milk) “I’m just … More . . .
Why Do They Slit the Thoats of Dead Deer?
The thoat slitting thing is a fascinating topic to me. I never did it, but I sure heard about it. Throat slitting only works to bleed an animal if the animal is still alive and its heart is pumping. Everyone not closely connected with deer hunting wants to know “Did you slit their thoats?” I even had one lady standing by my freezer waiting to get a gift of venison ask me this and then turn around and leave when I said I did not. I’m not Meshack Browing; the last thing you’ll catch me at is jumping on the … More . . .
Honey Holes and Structure Hunting
I’ve got a few spots on my 200 acre farm which are good spots for hunting turkeys. You can be fairly sure that if you’re there and you wait long enough, eventually a flock will come through. A lot of what you learn from bass fishing and deer hunting applies to turkeys: Find the roost. Find the food. Hunt the likely path between the two. I have had expert turkey hunters, men I respect, tell me that there is no such thing as a “Honey Hole” for turkeys. I have to disagree. There are only going to be a few … More . . .
Cell phones in the Turkey Woods
It was only a couple of years ago that my phone was anything but useless out at camp. The Verizon map still says that we should not get a signal, and down in the hollers, I would agree. However, up on top of the ridges, we get a fair number of bars. In fact, I can now take the laptop out with me if I want to. The air card works just fine. I doubt I will. This is a cautionary tale. Normally, I do not leave the cell phone on, but I take it with me. I am fifty. … More . . .
Taking the Venison for a Walk in the Snow
Every year about this time I wait for the temperatures to dip below zero. You have to plan ahead around here. We’re far enough South that it does not happen every year, and it has to be on a day I’m going to be off work. When it happens, I let all the venison out of the freezer and let them go and play on the back deck. Last year it did not happen at all. The frost was getting pretty thick. This morning, however, the temperature dipped down to minus 5F, which is colder than the inside of the … More . . .
Old School I am Not
Lately I have been exposed to a set of attitudes that really sort set me back on my heels. I guess these attitudes have been out there for quite a while. I just had not seen them. I don’t get off my ridge that much. For want of a better term I will call these “Old School” turkey hunting attitudes. The general gist of this is that only certain turkey hunting practices are okay, and that these practices are a subset of what is legal in most states. I really did not know what I was being called last year … More . . .
Traditional Turkey Hunting Season
I want to start a petition around. It is going to be in favor of a resolution to the state legislature to incorporate a Traditional Methods Turkey Season into the Schedule. Black Powder Shotguns of up to #4 Gauge will be allowed Breech loading rifles will be allowed with straight-necked cases up to 50 cal. Muzzleloading rifles of any caliber will be allowed. Shot of any size, gravel, and roofing nails will also be allowed as ammunition in the muzzleloading weapons. No camo will be allowed. Hunters must hunt in an old suit with the elbows mended. Mouth calls cannot … More . . .
Getting Down From Your Stand
From Nubs on Deer and Deer Hunting Here is my question: The day has come to a close and it is time to get down from your stand but wait, there is just one problem. There are a few deer feeding out in the field that you have been watching all night. You know that if get down you might get busted, tipping off the deer to your presence and blowing your stand location. What do you do in this situation? I have tried using my easy weeze to sound like an alarmed deer to clear the field before I … More . . .
How to not get frustrated
From Deer & Deer Hunting Forum auman New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 9/28/2008 It seems the more I hunt, the less I see. Being in ‘bama the rut is still a couple of weeks away. It should be heating up shortly. I just have it in the back of my mind: ” Here we go, another wasted season.” Don’t give me all that got to be positive crap. I’ve tried it before and it doesn’t work. Gonna have to try some off the wall tactics I guess. What have you done when all else seems to have failed? Don’t worry … More . . .