Between early September and late December, I'm on the road, most often in my pickup truck, hunting multiple states for fall turkey flocks. And ducks. And geese. And all those smaller upland birds. We get out plenty here at home as well. My English setter Luna, like my canine hunting...
As hunters we sometimes encounter wildlife with notable physical characteristics or behaviors that beg for a nickname. Wild turkeys are no exception. Lover Boy , Squints, Selleck and Curly were some of my favorite photography subjects who earned a special moniker that set them apart. Turkeys I’ve hunted that shame...
Spring breeding season for wild turkeys is a stressful time, especially for dominant gobblers. Most of a gobbler’s energy is focused on displaying, gathering hens, breeding and battling rivals. As the season wears on, hens enter the egg-laying period. Gobblers are left to spend a portion of the midday hours...
Missing turkeys is part of the game. All veteran turkey hunters have been there, and if you haven't yet, brace yourself. It hurts. Memories of that strutter stepping up into range – and the 10 inches of swinging beard running off after you pull your shotgun's trigger – will haunt...
It’s the gobble that pulls us out there, but it’s the adrenaline rush that keeps us there. And it’s the sight of that magnificent bird, just before we set him to flopping, that makes the whole thing worthwhile. But after it’s all over with, we have things left over. What...
By the late 1800s, Charles L. Jordan (1841-1909) began publishing how-to articles on turkey hunting, and making calls from wingbone and cane. Sources indicate he may have crafted them for decades before. After Jordan’s murder by a poacher, his writing on wild turkey hunting was compiled by Edward A. McIlhenny...
Wild turkeys communicate three ways — vocalization, body language and behavior. Beyond mastering turkey calls and their messages, an understanding of turkey body language and behaviors can be a strategic tool when hunting. Turkey “talk” in all forms communicates mood, status and/or intent. Some signals are subtle. Some not so...
Not just for deer, a good food plot will draw in turkeys and hold them in your area, vastly increasing your odds at tagging a longbeard this spring. While food plots are most often associated with fall deer hunting, a green spring plot can be absolutely deadly on spring gobblers...
Few game animals are tougher than a wild turkey that’s been pressured . They can give even the most seasoned longbeard killers fits. It’s just how things are. But one thing is for sure: Pressured turkeys are still killable turkeys. You just have to adapt your tactical approach to fit...
Eventually, most hardcore wild turkey hunters venture out West in pursuit of the Merriam's subspecies. Check out these turkey blog tips on how to make the trip successful.
People chase turkeys in May. Therefore, turkey hunting in hot weather is common this time of year. And this isn’t just restricted to those who hunt in May. Florida in March can be flat-out brutal. Georgia in April can produce a sizzler, too. Regardless of when and where you’re hunting,...
As do most hunters, I dream of hunting foreign lands and horizons unknown. Going places I’ve never been and hunting groups of birds I’ve never hunted is something I dream of on those cool spring nights. Not only that, but sharing hunting camp with old friends and new is what...
Southern turkey hunters get an early start on the rest of the country, often beginning their spring season in March. Up north, chances are snow still covers the ground. Gobbler chasing often doesn't begin until late April or early May. In other parts of the country, it starts early enough,...
Turkey gobbler dominance battles vary from simply a menacing look, threatening body posture and chase, to full-blown, down-and-dirty combat. Wing flogs and spur jabs are the more common behaviors in gobbler fights. Beak stabs, facial and wattle pinches, beak-gagging throwdowns and shoving matches are the hallmarks of a serious and...
Public land. Most of us have a love-hate relationship with it. We love it because of the access to hunting it provides us. We hate it because the game we chase on it is generally much smarter than their private-land counterparts. Try these seven unique setups on your next public...
I like change. I realize many people don’t. But being that I do, I like trying different methods of hunting. Over the years, enjoyment for trying different tactics has opened up doors to new ways of killing turkeys . And some of them might sound weird . All of that...
We love wild turkey. The tender breast meat on a big gobbler has way more flavor than you find in his barnyard cousins. Unfortunately, the breast meat is often all that gets saved from wild turkey. Believe it or not, there is a lot more to a turkey than fried...
These four-legged demolition teams are literally taking over, damaging nesting and brooding habitat and competing for food sources. Feral hogs are not welcome on the Randle Farm. Since 2010, our Alabama county’s been a hotspot in their range expansion. We’re in an all-out war with pigs to salvage the habitat...
I killed my first turkey with an old Savage double-barrel 20-gauge shooting a 2¾ inch, No. 6 high brass pheasant load. Following a 70-yard standoff where the tom strutted, gobbled, and finally began inching closer after what seemed like an eternity, I pulled the trigger and killed him dead as...
