Wild Turkey Literature Roundup

You can count on both hands the number of books dedicated to turkey hunting written by ladies (excluding cookbooks, kids’ books, management, or state publications and the many excellent magazine articles and digital content by female outdoor writers).

The good news is that our hunting heritage is taking root with women. In 2006, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey indicated that 6% of turkey hunters were female, which aligns with the historical base. The 2022 Fish and Wildlife survey showed 22% of all hunters are now female; in my house, that jumps to 50%, as my wife and daughter have proven themselves every bit as capable as my son and me. Even if only 6% of turkey hunters today were female, 150,000 members of the Tenth Legion are still women.

Two ladies have just stepped up and delivered books I highly recommend for today’s turkey hunter. Sarah Clark and Mindy Oldham are no strangers to the wild turkey community and can be found yearly at the NWTF convention in Nashville. These two were inspired to put pen to paper there. Sarah disclosed similar sentiments to those in Mindy’s book acknowledgments, “To Brent Rogers and the Mossy Oak Bottomland Book Club seminar at the NWTF convention in 2023 and 2024. Thank you for your inspiration. It was attending that fine seminar in 2023 that ignited my deep inspiration to write this book.”

Clark-It True Turkey Tales by Sarah Clark is the culmination of decades of passionately pursuing the wild turkey. It would be fair to say that Sarah lives turkey hunting all year long, as she and her husband, Don, are recognized for their friendliness and storytelling prowess, and they are also actively keeping other turkey-hunting traditions alive. Don is a skilled maker of box calls, and Sarah’s artwork brings many of Don’s calls to life; she is a talented wood burner and painter. She credits the award-winning call maker and artist Dave Constantine with helping inspire and teach her wood burning.

In Sarah’s book you will ride along with her as she gets lost, gets found, gets eaten by bugs, gets turkey to eat, and passes on her passion to others. The chapter names themselves immediately give you a sense of the enjoyment waiting on you: Nature Calls, The Hard Rock Gobbler, and “Bearly” A Guide are great examples. The book is a pleasant read in part because these stories are presented just as if you are sitting around the fire at turkey camp. If you meet Sarah, you will see her smile, hear her laugh, and know her conviction every time you pick up this book. You can obtain a signed copy by emailing her at sarahclark7352@gmail.com.

The newest turkey hunting book and another page-turner is The Chase by Mindy Oldham.

The lavish cover design and beautiful illustrations are evidence of another turkey-hunting power couple. Mindy’s husband, Tim Oldham, Jr., is an award-winning turkey call maker and artist, and the artistic contributions to the book are his. Mindy could put on a book writing clinic, as she deeply researched the writing and publishing process and has charged out of the gate with an instant classic.

The poem Mindy wrote after the book’s title is the best introduction to the content. In full, that reads, “As a pursuit shall go, the chase ensues. A victor will rise, either man or bird lose. A lesson will be taught in the gameplay. To be earned and brought out a future day.

The passion is felt in the memoir told. A story so close to my heart I hold. As my years rise, one more bird I must score. So grateful for the chance to chase once more.” Mindy has bound together the content with an opening cliffhanger that is fulfilled with her closing. The even better news … there may be more to look forward to from this budding author in the future! Signed copies of Mindy’s book are available by emailing her at msoldhamgardens@gmail.com

For full reviews of these and other books, visit Mossy Oak Bottomland Book Club online.