OPENING WEEK FOR SPRING GOBBLER
Posted on April 14, 2013
Opening day was 4/13 and we have received several pics of some nice birds that were taken...
Keep the pics coming!!
NEED SOME VISUAL AID TO GET THE GOBBLER JUICES FLOWIN???
Check out my video gallery….I got some quality preseason footage for you…(footage from last week)
TURKEY TIME…..
Posted on March 7, 2013
“If a TURKEY could smell, you’d never kill one”
But they can’t so let’s get to Talkin Turkey!
On 3/5/13 I attended a great Turkey Seminar- the guest speaker was local turkey guru
”Freddy McGuire”
Here are some of the Tips & Tricks he welcomed me to share with YOU!
BEST DAYS FOR SPRING GOBBLER HUNTING ARE APRIL 21,22 & 23…
5 KEY THINGS TO TURKEY HUNTING…
Scouting, Setup, Patience, Adaptability, Calling
1) Scouting…Prior to the season spend some time on the land in which you intend to hunt. Look for Turkey sign and cover some ground- but try not to be too invasive as to interrupt the turkeys normal patterns. When scouting do not use turkey or locator calls. Make use of your trail cameras on your hunting property as well- place them at field edges etc to try and pattern that Big Tom.
2) Setup… Use the terrain of the property in which you hunt to your advantage. Set up in an area above, or at least on the same level to where you believe the turkeys may travel. As a general note, Turkeys prefer to travel up hill as opposed to down hill when coming to a call. Make sure that you have “back cover” and are not silhouetted.
If you’re hunting a field.…. set up in the shadows just off of the edge of the field. Also set up in an area where the Turkey(s) will not have any obstacles to cross such as creeks, fences or roads before getting to you…
3) Patience… If your calls go unanswered but you believe that there are Turkeys in your area(from your scouting trips) give it some time. TURKEYS HAVE NO CLOCK…
Don’t be concerned with changing calls if the bird is answering but not coming…wait them out if they are gobbling- they may be with hens.
If your calls go unanswered for some time try another call.
4) Adaptability... ”All Turkeys are not created equally.”
Get where the hens are… similar to hunting deer in the rut.
If you feel like you must move(and its safe to do so) adapt to the situation you are presented and use ridges, hills and wood-lines to hide your movement and stalk slowly & cautiously.
5) Calling….Call enough to get acknowledgement both soft and loud.
PUT FEEL INTO IT!!!
Once the GOBBLER is in sight and coming to your call- QUIT CALLING…let him come and be completely still and be ready to shoot…
Types of calls used:
Mouth call, Box call, Slate/Glass/Aluminum calls & Tube calls-are some of the most common calls..
ADDITIONAL TIPS:
* Use real wing feathers to simulate a Turkey flying down from the roost, drag them on limbs etc.. to imitate real Turkey sounds.
* Use your hand to imitate a Turkey scratching in the leaves..the pattern to follow is-once with one hand and twice with the other
* The use of DECOYS can be advantageous-especially when FIELD HUNTING..
* A big advantage is to actually witness where the Turkeys roost the evening before your hunt. This will greatly increase your odds when sitting up in close proximity the next morning..
* Don’t let BAD WEATHER (such as rain) deter you- use a blind..
KEEP SAFETY IN MIND….
* Since we will all be in complete CAMO (in order to fool the Turkey’s greatest asset- it’s Eyesight) refrain from stalking Turkey’s you hear in the distance. This distant sound just might be another hunter. Always assume you are not alone-even on private property.
* Don’t wear Red, White and Blue- (not because you are non-patriotic) because those are the exact colors of a GOBBLER..
* Never shoot at movement….Be Sure of your Target !!
SPRING TURKEY SEASON 2013:
April 6th- Youth Day
April 13th – May 4th-regular spring turkey season
May 6th-18th-All day hunting permitted
Now ENJOY YOUR HUNT….
This is one of the most beautiful times of the year to be in the woods…the Dogwoods and flowers are beginning to bloom and the forest is starting its regrowth and is coming ALIVE!!!
If you have a chance…. take a kid along and let them experience what you know and love…
***Send your SPRING GOBBLER PICTURES/VIDEOS AND STORIES to jeff@starcitywhitetails.com******
**Best pic wins a Star City Whitetails Gift**
Good luck to all…Jeff Phillips
WE HAVE A WINNER…..
Posted on March 7, 2013
Congratulations to Casey Weddle of Roanoke for being the WINNER of yesterday’s contest……
Casey provided some valuable information about what he liked about the site and what he wanted to see on the site…..He will be receiving a Star City Whitetails Truckers Cap along a few other items for having participated…
Folks stay tuned in because over the next few days we will be posting some
Great Turkey Hunting Tips....