Come autumn, many turkey hunters traditionally frequent woodlots and fields in their search for birds. However, Chris Kirby, president of Quaker Boy Calls, believes other places rate a look as well.
Hunting Gould’s and Ocellated gobblers is half the battle. Getting a south-of-the-border bird back home requires some assistance. Here are a few tips and tricks to ease the process.
Entering the 2019 turkey season with the added weight of my grandfather’s legacy in the form of his hand-me-down hunting knife, I had high hopes of punching a tag.
Whether you are trying to complete a World Slam or simply wanting a unique adventure, know you’ll also be smack in the middle of the Yucatan Peninsula, have the opportunity to see Mayan ruins, enjoy incredible local cuisine and possibly check out other local tourist attractions.
If you’re going to chase the Grand Slam, don’t rush it and don’t pressure yourself. Give yourself plenty of time to research each bird and familiarize yourself with the areas you are going to hunt.
Many Southeastern gobblers act in frustrating fashion and seem downright ornery. But experienced hunters know you can kill turkeys south of the Mason-Dixon line. Here’s how.
A rise in tick-borne illnesses is the result of a convergence of factors that one insect group calls the “perfect storm,” leading to more ticks in more places.
At the 43rd annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, calling champion and Avian-X spokesperson Matt Morrett gave his favorite tips and tricks for calling turkeys and using turkey decoys in the spring during the “Turkey Decoy and Calling Tactics” seminar.
Whether you’re looking for a new subspecies of wild turkey to hunt or you’re researching a new state to test your turkey hunting acumen, the 2019 Spring Hunt Guide is here to help.
The hunt was the realization of a dream for me, and a memory that neither Douglas nor I will ever forget. I hope someday I’m around to watch Douglas take his son hunting and continue the legacy that my dad introduced to me.
As the late, great gun writer Aaron Fraser Pass once wrote of wind drift, “Like the weather, shooters must learn to live with the wind, and “wind doping” in the field is a learned and arcane art form, rather than a science.” This is a case where “practice makes perfect” really applies.
For turkey hunters, hearing that first gobble is likely the start to a lifelong obsession, at least it seems to have for our NWTF headquarter staff. Below are the responses from several staff on what interests them most about turkey hunting.
More people are beginning to see the joy in hunting them, which leads to even more people assisting with the conservation efforts surrounding these incredible animals.
Turkey nuggets taste good in the fall, too. Get all the fall turkey tips, season dates, public land recommendations, gear and guide info you’ll need in the 2018 Fall Hunt Guide. Remember to check your state’s regulations for full details on hunting seasons.
“By mentoring friends, not only do they get the Learn to Hunt experience, but they also may have a future hunting partner for years to come,” she said of the program’s young mentors.
Our volunteers work to pull together partners, other volunteers and private landowners for these one-of-a-kind events in the hopes those experiences will spark a life-long passion for the outdoors and our hunting heritage.
You want your kids or even your grandkids to embrace the outdoors, right? Unfortunately, countless distractions seize their attention. If you want to compete and forward the goals above consider implementing these 10 activities to hook kids on the outdoors.
Our staff is like every other hunter across the country. Some grew up in a hunting family, learning hunting skills from their family elders. Others came to the sport as adults.
Although hunting territory certainly influences what hunters bring to the field, personal preferences play a significant role in what we pack for a hunt.
About 30 of us gathered in the social area at Dismal River Club near Mullen, Nebraska. The conversation was deep, but flowing, as we discussed a solemn topic: the loss of hunters across the country.
My initial thought was nothing more than “hmm that’s interesting,” but not long afterwards several hens with a gobbler in tow calmly walked into range.
If you make the commitment to self-film your hunts or the hunts of friends and family, you're going to need a few key pieces of equipment to get the job done right
The 2018 Spring Hunt Guide provides you with all the useful information needed for turkey hunting in your state, plus public land recommendations from NWTF regional biologists. Each recommendation includes specifics on conservation-related work with wild turkeys, and other game animals, in mind.
The Slam King doesn’t get much sleep during spring, but that’s by design. Here’s how he formulates a sleep and wake-up schedule that puts him in great position every morning.
Whether you just want to protect your home’s security while you’re at work or need a watchful eye on a hunting cabin or camper, you don’t need to be armed to the teeth — although that never hurts
Navigating life in a wheelchair, with a walking cane or without sight can make everyday activities a challenge. Add in the desire to hunt, and those challenges rise.
As the 2017 fall turkey hunting season nears, the NWTF offers up the annual Fall Hunt Guide as an overview of each state's up-coming wild turkey hunting season.
Whether you’re looking for that second-chance tom or simply trying your hand at a flock of first-year birds, the tips that follow will help you have a great autumn experience.
In Texas, everything’s bigger, so when hunting the Lone Star State’s numerous large ranches, getting from camp to roost takes more than just a few minutes’ hike through the scrub.
When thinking of destinations for hunting Rio Grande wild turkeys, the states that often come to my mind are Kansas, Texas or even Nebraska, but never Oklahoma.
Earlier this turkey season, while filming an Osceola Hunt in Florida, we got a chance to sit down with country music artist Easton Corbin to learn more about his love for the outdoors.
Acorns and other tree mast attract turkeys and other wildlife year-round, especially in early fall as animals build their fat reserves leading up to winter.
Cutting often indicates aggression from a hen. A bird that responds to your calling by cutting might be looking for a fight. Copy her vocalizations to bring her — and hopefully a gobbler — into range.
As you age, your mission in the turkey woods changes and evolves. Nothing gives a senior hunter more pleasure than guiding youngsters to their first turkeys.
When standard calling doesn’t get the job done, employing nonverbal sounds and vocalizations not normally used may be just the thing to tip the scales in your favor.
If the author’s fly-down hunt blows up, he typically stays put until about 9:30 a.m. Then, he’ll start slowly covering ground to locate a lonely gobbler. Almost 80 percent of the birds he’s killed the past few years have come after the first two hours of daylight, and more than half of those were taken from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
This Kansas longbeard never gobbled during his approach, but drumming from behind the hunter gave him away. Paying attention to nonverbal clues can spell the difference between a successful day and a blown opportunity.
Today it is easier than ever to keep a journal. Smartphone technology teamed with specialized apps gives you a publishing company in the palm of your hands. Sure, you can keep a journal the Lewis and Clark way with handwritten notes, but smartphone portability gives you the freedom to take your journal right into the field.
Like you, turkeys follow a daily schedule. Decipher this schedule and you could be one step closer to turkey success this spring. Begin your clockwork strategy with a dawn assault.
This event is all about the kids and their families and is meant to be an escape from their normal routine — a chance to do something they may never get to do otherwise.
As the 2017 spring turkey hunting season nears, the NWTF offers up the annual Spring Hunt Guide as an overview of each state's up-coming wild turkey hunting season.
Calling legend Preston Pittman believes when you mentally become a turkey during the spring, you better understand what drives the birds and increase your chances of success.
Becoming one with your surroundings, understanding and reacting to turkey behavior and habits: these are just a taste of the skills needed to match the abilities of this turkey hunter.
I walked in darkness through a 20-year-old pine plantation. On the other side was a 3-acre pond and beyond it, my destination. The large steel building looming in the predawn light was where my friend Gary Ganas and his wife, Sandy, called home. No lights were visible.
Follow this four step plan to locate a roosted bird and set yourself up for success the next morning. Putting in the time after dark may just help you tag out at first light.
