Tag: outdoors

Turkey Hunting

By: Cooper Scott

Turkey hunting is one of my favorite hobbies. I enjoy doing it with friends and family and it never gets old. Enjoying God’s creation and getting out in nature will never get old, but the turkey hunting aspect is what has me hooked on it. Out of all of the hunting I do, turkey hunting is definitely the most challenging out of all the hunting I do. I have heard if a turkey could smell that you would never kill a turkey because they are already so smart. They can see so well if you ever get one coming to you, you have to be very still or they will see you. Turkey season is during mating season so a Male turkey (gobbler) is very aggressive during turkey, so I like to use turkey decoys. I have been very fortunate the last 8 years tagging out every season year which is killing three turkeys a season. I have never had the adrenaline rush I have then I do before I am about to shoot a turkey. There are three different species of turkeys in the U.S. An Eastern which is in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia that area. A Merriam which is up north the Dakota’s and around there. An Osceola turkey is in Florida. A Rio Grande turkey is in the west and south west, and they are the biggest turkey. I have never traveled to kill a turkey but I look forward to doing that in the future. One thing that is on my bucket list is to do the grand slam. A grand slam is when you kill all of the types of turkeys in one season. Turkey hunting is slowly getting outlawed year by year. The DNR is making rules after rules every year making turkeys harder to kill because the population is slowly dwindling. This year one of my turkey hunting goals is to shoot a turkey on public land, and this is something I have never done before. I have missed twice on public land, but never shot one. The countdown has begun for April 1st.

Turkey Hunter Tips

By: Jones DesChamps

In the final quarter of the academic year, I have decided to introduce a new series. As the winter concludes and spring approaches, I hope to embark on a new and relevant topic for those interested. As the season starts on March 23rd, many turkey hunters throughout the southeast are impatiently waiting to kill their first long beard. In this quarter’s series, I hope to provide valuable advice and tips to any turkey hunters willing to listen. These bits of information may provide zero help to a more advanced turkey hunter, but these tips serve as the foundation for beginners. Once again, take this with a grain of salt as I am absolutely not a professional hunter or have ever claimed to be one. 

This week’s tip highlights time and place. Obviously, any good hunter wants to beat their prey to its location. So, arriving at your desired destination thirty or forty minutes early is always a good idea. If hunting in the morning, you want to beat the sunrise with plenty of time to spare, such as to walk through the field or woods while it is still dark. If hunting in the afternoon, I really cannot provide much help. Turkeys can show up at any time or place, so beating a gobbler to its spot becomes a little more difficult. 

You must remember that no matter where you are or when you arrive there, you want to limit your movement. Turkeys can detect the slightest movement, so it is necessary to camouflage yourself in either a blind or behind some sort of brush. Trees and logs can be very helpful in providing support for your back, as you may be stuck in a certain spot or position for a long period of time. If you were to need to adjust your position, generally, it is best to shuffle around while you are calling. This can somewhat hide the sounds of your movement, or even further disguise it as a bird. Obviously, if hunting on public land, you need to be aware of your surroundings, so as not to alarm or disturb any other hunters. Remember, when in doubt, use common sense to avoid being heard or seen. Turkeys have a sharp eye and an open ear at all times, so beware of every movement. 

So there it is. This week’s tip is simple. Arrive earlier than you think. Use common sense. Be quiet. Limit movement. Be disguised. Be one with the turkeys.