Still Going — Another one bites the dust

You never know when the stars will align and a bird walks right on into a load of Hevi-Shot No. 6s. That's why I go hunting every chance I get. I may be tired, discouraged and looking forward to a rest, but I still get up and go because you never know when everything will go right.

After the Saturday we had just had, it was hard to get up on Sunday. The habitat was awesome with a great mix of hardwoods, open fields, thinned pine and cutovers in a multiple year burn rotation. There should be birds everywhere on this place, and I couldn't figure out what was happening. However, I still got up on Sunday morning and headed out into the dark of the morning alone.

As the woods woke up with the sounds of whippoorwills and owls, a gobbler sounded off in the distance. It sounded as if he was across the river, but his gobbling got another one going that sounded like he just might be on my side of the water.

Since I had no other prospects, I headed toward the birds and set up between them hoping that at least one of them would be alone and interested.

The first bird gobbled great on the roost answering everything I sent to him, but I thought I could hear quiet clucks and yelps of hens so when he flew down and went the other way, I wasn't surprised.

I never heard the second bird fly down, nor had he gobbled for a little while, so when he fired off at 200 yards, my heart jumped into my throat.

He was circling me, so my set up wasn't the best for him, but the lay of the land allowed me to move 50 yards closer before sending him a few cutts breaking into yelps from my Primo's AlumiSlate. When he gobbled again closer, I switched to a high-pitched mouth call that I can cutt, yelp and kee kee on, which can often make the difference when they lock up out of range.

The bird came across a field into the woods before turning to come straight in behind a small thicket on my right where he started spitting and drumming just out of sight. He couldn't be more than 35 to 40 yards away, but I couldn't see him.

This is one of the parts about turkey hunting I dislike. The bird's right there, out of range or out of sight, but I don't have a shot. I start questioning myself. Do I have the patience and the skill to bring the bird the rest of the way?

As I aimed a few light calls toward my left to get him out from behind the brush, I noticed a sapling shake about 30 yards angled away on my right. Then, I saw him standing head up looking for the hen. He had made his way through the brush rather than around it, which brought him out in range, but without a shot since now I couldn't move. When he walked behind a tree, I shifted my 870 as far right as I could, then when he walked out in the open I stretched right, found his head and squeezed the trigger. I don't think I've ever had a bird flop so little.

Even though I ended up being the shooter, the kids were thrilled with the results of the hunt. None had ever been that close to a wild turkey before. This gave them an up close look at their patriotic head, sleek, black feathers, eight and a half-inch beard and sharp one-inch hooks.

After the hunt thoughts:

• Taking kids hunting is a great experience. Everything you point out to them - tracks, dusting holes, scat - is new. It's like seeing the woods for the first time again.
• Don't force the kids to go with you. Hunting is supposed to be fun. If they want to stay in bed, let them.
• Persistence pays off. It's hard to fill a tag, if you're not in the woods.
• Turkeys can be unpredictable. Next year, I think I'm going to practice shooting left handed.

Take `em with you

I love hunting with kids — they have a ton of energy and an appetite for learning that is unparalleled — so when Natalia Daniels, NWTF associate editor for Women In The Outdoors magazine, asked me to go hunting with her family in Williamsburg County, of course I said, "Yes."

We were hunting in two groups on a farm that is managed for a variety of species, especially white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, bordered by the Black River in Lowcountry South Carolina.

Natalia's family and myself would be hunting with the landowner's son and grandsons, who just so happen to be her brother-in-law and nephews.

The land was gorgeous with open fields planted in corn, a backwater, hardwood swamp, and an excellent mix of open and thick woods providing habitat for a variety of wildlife. They even conduct yearly prescribed burns in a rotation to encourage young plant growth. In the words of a friend of mine, "This place just looks like birds."

Friday afternoon was spent learning the borders of the property while scouting for turkey sign. It was everywhere. In fact, less than 50 yards from the door of the cabin were tracks and strut marks in an open field. Even though we didn't roost a bird, I'm thinking we'll have a bird on the ground and be back drinking coffee by 8 in the morning, before heading out to get another.

The morning was clear and crisp as I headed out with Wayne, Kyle and Ethan Tisdale. Everything woke up in unison, just like it was supposed to until it came time for turkeys to gobble. I figured to let the owls start up on their own allowing me to listen for gobbling. When that didn't happen, I hit my Palmer's Hoot Tube thinking the owls just hadn't gotten rowdy enough to set off the gobblers. I was wrong. The early morning was silent, but this wasn't a problem — the area was too well managed to not have some birds. Since the landowner sees birds daily in his fields, we decided to set up with some decoys and try blind calling to get on going or hope for one to come in silently. An hour later, the kids are getting restless, my rear is hurting and I'm wishing my Thermacell wasn't in the cabin.

All day our luck continued. Everywhere we went, turkey sign was abundant, but nothing answered my calls except a couple of hens that seemed to take offense to this new hen that was making so much noise.

By the end of the day, everyone was tired, sore and discouraged, but at least I knew my Thermacell worked. This area is sick with mosquitoes and I'm not sure how long I could have hunted without it.

Tips for taking youngsters hunting:

• Young people have a hard time sitting still for long, so change locations at least every hour so they can get up and work out the kinks.
• Be sure to take snacks and water. If they're hungry and thirsty, they're not going to be having fun.
• Make sure they dress comfortably in light layers. Morning start cold in the spring, but can warm up quickly.
• Bugs and mosquitoes can ruin a hunt as quickly as they can ruin a picnic. Be sure to bring bug spray or a Thermacell, which can be worth its weight in gold in swampy areas.
• If they want to head back to the house because their tired or bored, then take them. After a rest, they might want to head out again.

April 8, 2008 — Silent Spring

Every year, I hear and say the same things - they're henned up, they're not responding, I can't find birds, but this year, it really seems to be true.

I hunt a lot of public land, so I'm used to hard hunting, but I haven't heard a gobble since opening day, which fooled me into thinking we were going to have a great year.

After that came the rain and cool weather, along with many office discussions about what was going on with the birds this year.

I wasn't the only hunter who noticed a serious decrease of gobbling activity, and there were reports of birds gathering together in winter flocks.

Whether this was our imagination or real didn't matter. Our perception was that the birds weren't responding. All I know is that I have hunted six days without hearing a single gobble, which made me change strategies.

Rather than chasing the birds in a run and gun style, I slowed myself down, setting up with decoys in likely areas before first light.

I like to use multiple hens with a single jake in the middle facing me, while I'm nestled comfortably on my HS Strut Seat 25 yards away against a big tree. There are three tricks to this type of hunting.

1. Get comfortable, you're going to be there for a while. You might want to invest in a stool or blind.
2. Move slowly at all times, birds often come in silent and will spot you scratching that itch.
3. Make absolutely sure you read and follow the NWTF's Decoy Safety Rules every time you pull your decoys from your vest.

April 4 — Rain Relationship

Considering last year's drought, I probably shouldn't complain about the rain we're getting. Now don't get me wrong, I know last year was tough on Atlanta, Thurmond Lake, deer and turkeys across the South, along with my yard and garden. However, did it have to come opening week?

I don't think I'm asking for too much by wanting the weather to be nice when I head to the woods three or four times a week. Right? I just want the birds to gobble.

I worked really hard during March to find turkeys, and three days before season, birds were sounding off everywhere I went. On March 31, I knew where 10 mature gobblers were hanging out on Sumter National Forest, and on opening day, we worked some hot birds. It was just through a string of bad luck that we didn't tag a bird opening day.

Since then, it's turned cloudy and rainy, and I haven't heard a single gobble on the forest, but at least I know my rain gear works.

If you're going to hunt no matter what, or you only have a few days to hunt and have to deal with whatever weather Mother Nature throws at you, be sure to invest in some good rain gear designed for the season you're hunting. It's uncomfortable to chase spring gobblers in rain gear made for late season duck hunting.

All-weather camouflage clothing can be found in both stores and online, but with turkey season running full tilt outdoor specially stores such as Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's will be sure to have what you need.

March 24, 2008 — Magnolia State Blues

Early Monday found me standing on the edge of a pasture waiting for the woods to wake up with just a touch of anticipation, though still full of confidence. After all, I still know this place.

The bird gobbled on cue — a deep, resounding call of defiance to the world. He was roosted right off a logging road making it easy to get close and tree call to let him know I was there. He answered every call from the roost and flew down right as the sun was starting to peak over the horizon.

Within minutes the bird was gobbling at 100 yards coming up the road. I was waiting for the bird to round a corner in the road, placing him 35 yards from my barrel.

I sent a series of cutts ending in yelps at him and he had screamed right back when I heard boots pounding down the road behind me with dread. Instantly, I broke off calling, turned my head and spoke to the two guys walking in on my bird, giving myself some small satisfaction from watching them jump in their boots when my voice broke the morning's silence.

Both were apologetic about ruining my hunt. I wasn't happy about it, but I did the right thing by speaking loudly to let them know I was there, even though it sent the bird into the Neverland, and I went back to the house to continue planning my wedding, to head back to South Carolina the next day.

Turkey hunting is safe, but hunters have to be aware of their surroundings. Other hunters can hear birds gobbling from a distance and come into your area. Don't get so involved in the hunt that you forget to pay attention to everything going on around you. Those calls you hear near you might be another hunter rather than a hen. If another hunter moves into your set up, never continue the hunt. The bird is probably spooked anyway and safety should be your first concern.

Before heading out this spring, be sure to review the NWTF's Defensive Turkey Hunting Tactics, or you can order a copy of the Turkey Hunting Success & Safety curriculum and learn everything you need to know to hunt America's largest game bird safely and successfully.

March 22, 2008 — First Chance

Die hard turkey hunters head afield whenever they can, so I took advantage of an Easter trip to Mississippi to make wedding plans. Luckily, my fiancée accepts my passion and allowed me to chase turkeys in my native state after I heard from a friend that the birds were gobbling hard back home.

The first morning found me listening for birds feeling a confidence born of knowing the land I was standing on since I had spent my youth running all over it and knew it quite well. It didn't matter that I hadn't been back there in a couple of years — I knew this place.

When the birds gobbled, I headed their way to set up in an open hardwood bottom where I had shot many a squirrel over the years. It looked a little different in the dark, but it didn't matter, I knew this place.

The birds flew down and headed my way. At 80 yards I spotted them through the trees strutting my way. At 70 yards, they locked up. For almost an hour, I watched two jakes and a tom strut and gobble unwilling to walk through a small thick patch that I didn't remember from years ago.

I quit calling to them and eventually they walked over the hill allowing me to move forward to call again. Within minutes the birds were gobbling and I was staring at a superjake at 25 yards. Too bad Mississippi requires adults to harvest mature gobblers or gobblers with a six-inch bird or longer, and I had to head in to help plan a wedding. Sure wish I could have scouted before heading out with my 870.

March 15, 2008 — Preseason

The time of the year when we get up early, drive in the dark to get all excited when we hear birds sounding off in the morning haze, even though the season doesn't start for another couple of weeks. This time of year, it's all about scouting.

My first early morning found me sitting on the Sumter National Forest looking at a wary sky that was dark from more than just the morning gloom. It's spring and a front was pushing in making me wonder if the birds would gobble.

I spend most mornings during preseason heading to back areas listening for birds before work, and walking looking for tracks, droppings, feathers and strut zones on the weekends.

This morning the birds were quiet, but I did see signs of birds in the area, including a hen that I spooked out of a hard wood bottom near an open field. I will be coming back to this area later to confirm my suspicions when the weather is better.