Feedman
05-12-2007, 07:00 PM
Some good points to think about:
New ideas to fool an old bird
Nine ideas that challenge conventional turkey hunting wisdom, but are guaranteed to increase your odds
By Don Mulligan
Special to ESPNOutdoors — May 10, 2007
http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/ii/p1-turkeyhunters003.jpg
Even seasoned turkey hunters could use some new ideas on how to fool an old tom.
You've heard it all before. Hunting shows and articles offering recycled turkey hunting tips that most guys pick-up the first time they enter the woods. It's especially frustrating for seasoned turkey hunters, who would like to learn more about the sport, but are tired of seeing the same old stuff.
So instead of another list of tired tips, here are a couple offbeat ideas and some challenges to widely accepted turkey hunting strategies. Keep the following items in mind this year, especially when the obvious isn't working.
1. Lose the extra full turkey choke
Inside 20 yards, the widely marketed extra full turkey chokes create a pattern not a whole lot wider than a bullet. Probably 90 percent of all the turkeys I have killed were within 15 yards, and several were inside 10 yards. All were taken with a regular full choke.
I like the larger shot pattern created by regular full chokes, especially when I'm required to shoot a bird on the move. At the same time, I have also killed gobblers out to 55 yards with a regular full choke. Patterning a gun and knowing its limitations are the answers to a more potent weapon, not tighter shot patterns.
2. Hunt them like deer if there is a lot of pressure
Function VBGetSwfVer(i) on error resume next Dim swControl, swVersion swVersion = 0 set swControl = CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." + CStr(i)) if (IsObject(swControl)) then swVersion = 0 swVersion = swControl.GetVariable("$version") end if VBGetSwfVer = swVersion End Function var SOB=new flashObj();var enc_goto = escape(("" == "") ? "http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685" : "");SOB.ID = "ad_creative";SOB.flashFile = "http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/PURE_FISHING/Mar_2007/pure-300x250-0002.swf?clickTag=http://log.go.com/log?srvc%3dsz%26guid%3dEF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8%26drop%3d0%26addata%3d1331:53726:2859 58:52219%26a%3d1%26goto%3d"+enc_goto;SOB.DenyIEdl = "TRUE";SOB.wmode = "opaque";SOB.width = "300";SOB.height = "250";SOB.FlashVer = 7;SOB.cabVersion = "7,0,0,0";SOB.altTxt = "<a href=""\"http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=EF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8&drop=0&addata=1331:53726:285958:52219&a=1&goto=http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685\" target=\"_new\">http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/";SOB.render(true);http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/PURE_FISHING/Mar_2007/pure-300x250-0002.jpg (http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=EF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8&drop=0&addata=1331:53726:285958:52219&a=1&goto=http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685)
I have hunted public ground in several states where there is practically a hunter on every hill during the opening week of season.
Hunters who enjoy the highest success rates under those circumstances are sitting on their hill before daylight, and stay put until the end of legal hunting hours. They simply let all the impatient hunters push the turkeys around until, hopefully, one struts or runs by in terror.
Calling in these situations is not only pointless, it is usually counterproductive and downright dangerous.
3. Movement spooks turkeys, not bad camouflage
Don't get caught up in this year's trendy camouflage pattern. I have seen hunters in jeans allow turkeys to walk five yards in front of them undetected.
Though camouflage is an important part of a good set-up, it's not nearly as vital as the ability to sit motionless. That means no seat adjustment, head movement or even excessive blinking if a bird is close.
Scan the scenery with your eyes and not your whole head, and become proficient with a diaphragm call to avoid hand movement. Always assume a sneaky tom has his eyes on you, and sit still.
4. Don't get to close to a roost tree
Once a roosted gobbler is located, resist edging just one more tree closer. If you can hear them, they can hear you.
More importantly, even when you can't see them, they might still be able to see you. Turkeys sleep in trees to avoid dangers on the ground, but also to gain the best vantage point in the woods.
A bird scared off of the roost is done being fooled for the day. Trust your calling skills and set-up, and let the bird come to you.
5. Accept that some birds will never come in
If every gobbler could be called-in there would be none left, and old mother nature is not that stupid. Some birds will always hang up outside of gun range or even head the opposite direction when called.
Those birds might have already been shot-at several times that season and decided no hen was worth it. Perhaps the set-up was wrong, or he already had more hens than he could handle. Whatever the reason, recognize when the turkey won and find another bird.
6. Use modern electronics
Like a good deer stand, a successful turkey ambush spot is good year after year. Marking the location with a good global positioning system allows a hunter to navigate his way in the dark directly back to a favorite spot with minimal disturbance.
Wandering around in the dark or waiting until daylight to find one particular tree is counterproductive and increases the chance of spooking birds off the roost. There are also handheld units that read local barometric pressure and 12 hour trends-a real aide in predicting weather and perhaps bird behavior.
7. Stop calling so much
If a gobbler is coming, stop calling. All you are doing is helping him pinpoint your position instead of the decoy's.
8. Ignore TV hunter endorsed products
There must be 100 dedicated hunting shows on television these days, and at least 1,000 self proclaimed experts hosting them. Though I enjoy watching some of them, and at times they offer give good advice, they need to be taken with a grain of salt. Understand the way the outdoor media works, especially the television side of it, and you'll understand why.
Many of the "me and my buddy go hunting" shows operate at a loss, with the only income often being a free hunt or equipment from vendors. Some of the start-up cable stations even charge them for air time. The result is usually an insincere endorsement of whatever products will pay their bills.
Choose your gear on recommendations from your friends and your own field testing.
9. Carry a rock in your pocket
A couple years ago while hunting in the Black Hills, a hen stole gobblers from me three days in a row. Every morning the hen was the first to respond to my calls, consistently making it to my decoy well before the gobblers were even off the roost. Once on the ground, the males always started in my direction, but were intercepted by the live hen and dragged away from my hen decoy.
When the same situation occurred on the fourth day, I was ready. I took a small rock from my pocket and quietly beaned the girl at only 10 yards. She left without making a sound, and the gobbler finally made it to within gun range.
Challenge conventional wisdom, and learn to question everything you know about turkey hunting. The ability to re-think what used to work and take a chance on a new strategy is often the best way to teach an old bird a new trick.
Back to Top (http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=2866138#top)
New ideas to fool an old bird
Nine ideas that challenge conventional turkey hunting wisdom, but are guaranteed to increase your odds
By Don Mulligan
Special to ESPNOutdoors — May 10, 2007
http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/ii/p1-turkeyhunters003.jpg
Even seasoned turkey hunters could use some new ideas on how to fool an old tom.
You've heard it all before. Hunting shows and articles offering recycled turkey hunting tips that most guys pick-up the first time they enter the woods. It's especially frustrating for seasoned turkey hunters, who would like to learn more about the sport, but are tired of seeing the same old stuff.
So instead of another list of tired tips, here are a couple offbeat ideas and some challenges to widely accepted turkey hunting strategies. Keep the following items in mind this year, especially when the obvious isn't working.
1. Lose the extra full turkey choke
Inside 20 yards, the widely marketed extra full turkey chokes create a pattern not a whole lot wider than a bullet. Probably 90 percent of all the turkeys I have killed were within 15 yards, and several were inside 10 yards. All were taken with a regular full choke.
I like the larger shot pattern created by regular full chokes, especially when I'm required to shoot a bird on the move. At the same time, I have also killed gobblers out to 55 yards with a regular full choke. Patterning a gun and knowing its limitations are the answers to a more potent weapon, not tighter shot patterns.
2. Hunt them like deer if there is a lot of pressure
Function VBGetSwfVer(i) on error resume next Dim swControl, swVersion swVersion = 0 set swControl = CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." + CStr(i)) if (IsObject(swControl)) then swVersion = 0 swVersion = swControl.GetVariable("$version") end if VBGetSwfVer = swVersion End Function var SOB=new flashObj();var enc_goto = escape(("" == "") ? "http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685" : "");SOB.ID = "ad_creative";SOB.flashFile = "http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/PURE_FISHING/Mar_2007/pure-300x250-0002.swf?clickTag=http://log.go.com/log?srvc%3dsz%26guid%3dEF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8%26drop%3d0%26addata%3d1331:53726:2859 58:52219%26a%3d1%26goto%3d"+enc_goto;SOB.DenyIEdl = "TRUE";SOB.wmode = "opaque";SOB.width = "300";SOB.height = "250";SOB.FlashVer = 7;SOB.cabVersion = "7,0,0,0";SOB.altTxt = "<a href=""\"http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=EF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8&drop=0&addata=1331:53726:285958:52219&a=1&goto=http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685\" target=\"_new\">http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/";SOB.render(true);http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/PURE_FISHING/Mar_2007/pure-300x250-0002.jpg (http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=EF93EC13-809D-4C13-B677-C008EB75BAA8&drop=0&addata=1331:53726:285958:52219&a=1&goto=http://www.stren.com/cat.php?k=50686&sk=50685)
I have hunted public ground in several states where there is practically a hunter on every hill during the opening week of season.
Hunters who enjoy the highest success rates under those circumstances are sitting on their hill before daylight, and stay put until the end of legal hunting hours. They simply let all the impatient hunters push the turkeys around until, hopefully, one struts or runs by in terror.
Calling in these situations is not only pointless, it is usually counterproductive and downright dangerous.
3. Movement spooks turkeys, not bad camouflage
Don't get caught up in this year's trendy camouflage pattern. I have seen hunters in jeans allow turkeys to walk five yards in front of them undetected.
Though camouflage is an important part of a good set-up, it's not nearly as vital as the ability to sit motionless. That means no seat adjustment, head movement or even excessive blinking if a bird is close.
Scan the scenery with your eyes and not your whole head, and become proficient with a diaphragm call to avoid hand movement. Always assume a sneaky tom has his eyes on you, and sit still.
4. Don't get to close to a roost tree
Once a roosted gobbler is located, resist edging just one more tree closer. If you can hear them, they can hear you.
More importantly, even when you can't see them, they might still be able to see you. Turkeys sleep in trees to avoid dangers on the ground, but also to gain the best vantage point in the woods.
A bird scared off of the roost is done being fooled for the day. Trust your calling skills and set-up, and let the bird come to you.
5. Accept that some birds will never come in
If every gobbler could be called-in there would be none left, and old mother nature is not that stupid. Some birds will always hang up outside of gun range or even head the opposite direction when called.
Those birds might have already been shot-at several times that season and decided no hen was worth it. Perhaps the set-up was wrong, or he already had more hens than he could handle. Whatever the reason, recognize when the turkey won and find another bird.
6. Use modern electronics
Like a good deer stand, a successful turkey ambush spot is good year after year. Marking the location with a good global positioning system allows a hunter to navigate his way in the dark directly back to a favorite spot with minimal disturbance.
Wandering around in the dark or waiting until daylight to find one particular tree is counterproductive and increases the chance of spooking birds off the roost. There are also handheld units that read local barometric pressure and 12 hour trends-a real aide in predicting weather and perhaps bird behavior.
7. Stop calling so much
If a gobbler is coming, stop calling. All you are doing is helping him pinpoint your position instead of the decoy's.
8. Ignore TV hunter endorsed products
There must be 100 dedicated hunting shows on television these days, and at least 1,000 self proclaimed experts hosting them. Though I enjoy watching some of them, and at times they offer give good advice, they need to be taken with a grain of salt. Understand the way the outdoor media works, especially the television side of it, and you'll understand why.
Many of the "me and my buddy go hunting" shows operate at a loss, with the only income often being a free hunt or equipment from vendors. Some of the start-up cable stations even charge them for air time. The result is usually an insincere endorsement of whatever products will pay their bills.
Choose your gear on recommendations from your friends and your own field testing.
9. Carry a rock in your pocket
A couple years ago while hunting in the Black Hills, a hen stole gobblers from me three days in a row. Every morning the hen was the first to respond to my calls, consistently making it to my decoy well before the gobblers were even off the roost. Once on the ground, the males always started in my direction, but were intercepted by the live hen and dragged away from my hen decoy.
When the same situation occurred on the fourth day, I was ready. I took a small rock from my pocket and quietly beaned the girl at only 10 yards. She left without making a sound, and the gobbler finally made it to within gun range.
Challenge conventional wisdom, and learn to question everything you know about turkey hunting. The ability to re-think what used to work and take a chance on a new strategy is often the best way to teach an old bird a new trick.
Back to Top (http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=2866138#top)