Hunting turkey in the fall of the year can be one of the most rewarding times to hunt. With cooler temperatures to make walking comfortable, and a beautiful pallet of browns, golds, and yellows, fall is often a hunter’s favorite time of year to spend some time outside. Many hunters like to try to bring home a fresh gobbler for the holiday season, but for the sake of safety, the best judgment needs to be maintained. There are some special safety tips specific to hunting turkey in the fall that every hunter should follow. A hunter must be sure that what is heard and seen is also identified. Many hunters have mastered the turkey call, so a hunter needs to be positive that what he’s seeing is really gobbler. Some other tips to keep in mind:

• Dress the Part. Fall turkey hunting requires a slightly different pallet of camouflage colors than what spring season requires. Mimic your surroundings; look for camouflage in browns, yellows and golds. Be sure to avoid white, red, and blue though, as those are the colors associated with turkey. Being safe in the woods also includes protecting yourself from other careless hunters.

• Camouflage Everything. Many hunters often forget that everything they have on their person needs to be camouflaged. Not just clothing, but weapons too. Also try to think outside the box; even a bright flash of sock or undergarment can be bad news when an watchful bird sees it.

• Scatter with Caution. If you’re lucky enough to get close enough to a flock of turkeys, be sure to take great care when scattering them. Never run with a loaded gun.

• Identify Yourself. While it’s difficult to give up a great hunting location, if another hunter comes into your site, you need to let him know you’re there. Don’t under any circumstances wave your arms or make inaudible noises, a loud and distinct call is necessary.

• Watch the Decoys. Decoys can be a hunter’s best aid when turkey hunting, but take care in their placement. Ensure that there are no other hunters in the line of fire and be sure you’re not lined up with his decoys.

Fall turkey hunting can certainly be one of the best times to spend time in the woods, and the desire to bring home a gobbler for dinner is strong, but be sure to follow proper hunting safety to ensure a satisfying hunt.





By: Abhishek Agarwal

Whitetail season is now officially over in Illinois. The stands are packed away and the layers of late season gear are back in their scent free totes, and its time to transition to the next season. Throw away the scent free shampoo and hang up the rattling antlers. In only a couple months it will be time to fill the pre-dawn woods with the hoot of the barred owl in pursuit of turkeys!

In preparation for the season, I’ve stripped my bow down and am beginning to start the tuning process all over again. I’ve turned the poundage as low as my bow can handle and have switched to a full containment rest due to the possibility of having to put a stalk on a strutting tom. The lower poundage allows the hunter to stay stable at full draw for a longer period of time which is vital to bow hunting turkeys. They seem to never stand still for more than a split second and when they do their often at an awkward angle.

Along with the decrease in poundage, a different broadhead can be utilized. Archery turkey hunters usually turn to large diameter mechanicals. These heads leave room for error when shooting at on the go turkey. They will also loose energy quickly when hitting your target. A hunter is better off shooting a bird and the bird running off with the arrow in the bird than blowing right through. With the arrow still in, the blades are still cutting if the bird runs off. Chasing birds with archery equipment is best suited for hunting out of a ground blind. To prepare, the hunter should always practice shooting out of the blind from a seated position. As funny as it sounds, sitting in a chair in a small enclosed blind is a challenge especially with another hunter and camera in the blind. Chasing spring turkeys is a blast and a heck of challenge for a bow, but with some practice and preparation you can not only have fun hunting these beautiful birds, but also be successful.

 





By: Archery Country

Turkey hunting is a time-honored tradition between men. The tactics and strategies have been passed down through the ages. While you may be able to find many tactics online and in print today, the best are secrets shared only between father and son. These bonding rituals begin while many boys are still in diapers. In many families, a boy will know how to use a turkey call long before he can say his ABC’s. You can ask many men about their fathers and the best stories they tell all happened in the woods hunting turkey.

There is just something about preparing for a hunting trip that brings men together. You see a turkey hunt begins years before the boys first hunting season. It takes years to teach him the proper use of a gun. A father must also find the perfect hunting dog and train it. This process can be a learning experience for both father and son. The dog must start training at a young age, just like the boy. As they grow, each will bring new techniques and ideas or skills to the table. While most advice will be passed down, the father may just learn some things he had never thought of as well.

This time honored tradition eventually ends up in the first season. A father and son will spend hours in silence waiting for just the perfect shot. It can be amazing how during these times of silence, a bond between father and son can grow even stronger. Turkey hunting is more than just a sport to bring the family dinner home. As a father passes down the secrets to a good call or how to shoot at just the right time, he is passing on a legacy from generations past.

Many families have special techniques or tools that have been passed down through the generations. These sounds are special and can not be put into words and described; they must be taught to each new generation. There are also many turkey hunting families that pass guns down from generation to generation. These guns are valued much higher than any trust fund or family dowry. While many guns may no longer be worth the bullets you put into them, they will be found displayed prominently in the home. Each item passed down will not simply be an inanimate object. Each has a story to go along with it. The story of Grandpa’s first turkey hunting kill may grow more animated through the generations.

A son will store away all the tips and tricks learned from his father and save them for his own son or daughter. These techniques are never written down or indexed. They are simple lessons learned in the field. Many grown men will tell you the most exciting thing they ever did was spend three days with their dad in the freezing cold of the turkey woods. This tradition is a rite of passage. Each generation will carry on the tradition as a link to a past that has gone before.





By: Albie Berk

www.lostrivergamecalls.com Turkey hunting in Kentucky with the Lost River Game Calls staff. Kemble Johnson kills a big longbeard turkey with the help of Lost River Game Calls. Big mature gobbler in your face. Hot turkey hunting action. Join the guys as they hunt whitetail deer and wild turkey all over the country.

I don’t hunt game, but I am a plinking addict, and I pay a little attention to gun laws. After reading two tragic stories this weekend, I rethought my stance on gun ownership, and started thinking a little outside the box.

The news…
Father mistakes son for turkey: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=43899cat=14
Father kills son while hunting: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24485286/

I started thinking about ways to stop these kinds of horrible accidents from occurring, and I started thinking about the pros/cons of gun restrictions. Here’s what I thought of… what if we restricted gun usage based on I.Q.? People would still be allowed personal firearms to protect their homes, but only those meeting or exceeding I.Q. standards could carry guns outside of their homes to hunt with. This could also extend to other things that can impair judgment, such as prior drug use or history of alcoholism. Also, what do you think the minimum I.Q. should be (I’m thinking 100).
jsied96 – There is no reason to start ad hominem attacks, I was merely thinking out loud and looking for feedback. If people think it’s a good idea it may be worth writing to Congress about. If not… well… no harm, no foul.

WS – True, the tests vary quite a bit, but maybe a hybrid standardized test could be created to cover basic mental capacity as well as firearm knowledge. Thank you for answering intelligently.

Side note: I suggested an I.Q. of 100 as that is the base average. However smart of stupid humanity becomes over the years, the average is always reset to an arbitrary 100 to keep the scores relevant.
Maggie – A very good point. Might be a good topic for a question in the Parenting section.

Tim B – My point is that the 4 basics aren’t enough. They are great guidelines, but anyone can pass basic safety classes and then go crazy in the woods. I guess what I’m trying to say is that classes are temporary… stupid is forever.
Chad – Great answer, and an even better quote.
Digger – I think mental disorders will a trump an I.Q. of any size… maybe something else to test for… maybe not. Good post.
Larry – That’s seems a little too paranoid for me. I think our current president is proof enough that this country is not as left as you think.

Frosty – I will admit that the thought did cross my mind that many of these things are not accidents at all… but children… that’s just too horrible to imagine. I hope to God they were accidents and not premeditated crimes.
I’m logging off for the day. You’ve all had good responses so far, and I appreciate your input. I’ll give my thoughts/replies to any new posts in the morning.

For many people, hunting rabbits is cruel and unusual punishment. For others, however, hunting rabbits is an age old sport that requires patience and skill. This article will speak to the latter while paying no mind to the former, realizing that the rabbit hunt is as old a tradition in America as hunting other animals and acknowledging that, while hunting may not be necessary in any modern context, it is a heck of a lot of fun.

Most people choose to hunt rabbits with a dog. This is because using a dog can help bring the rabbit out into the open or can help draw the hunter towards the area in which the rabbits are more prolific. A dog can also serve as a great companion to hunting, enabling the hunter to actually have someone to talk to instead of the cold steel of the Remington rifle. Still, some people choose to hunt without a furry friend, making for a different hunting experience.

When people hunt for rabbits without a dog, it is important to learn the traits and factors involved with rabbits. The hunter must virtually become the rabbit; learning the rabbits pathways and food stops are vitally important to a successful rabbit hunt, so thinking like a rabbit is integral to the success of the hunt. Of course, thinking like a rabbit may tell you that killing these furry little friends for sport isn’t such a great idea. If that happens, ignore those facts and focus in on your goal of bagging a fluffy bunny.

An ideal time to hunt bunnies is in the first warm days of spring. Here, bunnies will likely be soaking up the sun and having a great time in open fields. This is a great time to break out your rifle and start bagging some rabbits. The time is ideal because, in relation to the winter, the rabbits you seek will be more out in the open and more prone to be visible to the naked eye. In winter, rabbits tend to smartly utilize brush cover and brambles to cover their tracks from nosy bloodhounds.

It is important to realize that rabbits tend to run from side to side. This, of course, does not mean that you should not actively watch the rabbit while firing madly into the open field. What it does mean is that a hunter can actively track the path of the rabbit by watching for repeated steps in terms of the tracking. A rabbit will only run in a short line for a short time, changing pace and darting back and forth in jagged hops until it reaches its safe cover. Knowing this, follow the rabbit with your tracking skills and nail it before it hops down the rabbit hole and back to Wonderland.

Many hunters make the mistake of moving too quickly and making too much noise when hunting rabbits. Just ask Elmer Fudd about the best options for hunting rabbits and he will tell you that the best technique for hunting “wabbits” is to slowly stalk the prey before firing off shot after shot from your alarmingly huge elephant gun. The honest truth about hunting bunnies is that the technique must fall somewhere in the middle. Charging into the middle of a known rabbit field with your guns blazing will likely not catch you any rabbits, but you do need to be somewhat assertive to bag a bunny.

The overall best technique for hunting rabbits is what is known as the “stop and go” technique. This technique is exactly what it sounds like; the essence of the stop and go technique is in utilizing tip-toe style movements and stalking the rabbit through watching it, moving towards it and moving further towards it. As you can pattern the rabbits’ movements, you can eventually squeeze off a shot and throw poor Cottontail in the trunk to impress all of your friends. If you miss, however, be careful. Some rabbits actually bite.





By: Jaden Skiver

The great outdoors offers a huge number of opportunities for getting out there and reclaiming your one-on-one enjoyment with nature though activities such as hunting fishing and hiking or camping.

If it’s been a while since you’ve indulged in any sort of strenuous outdoor activity, then consider getting a full physical first and tell your doctor that you’re wanting to pursue activities such as hunting fishing or hiking. This will ensure that you are physically able to enjoy these activities as well as catching any potential health problems that could be aggravated by a sudden increase in physical activity. If you get the green light from your doctor, get your fishing hunting gear together and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors.

Along with getting your physical health checked, you need to make sure to remember the safety basics for hunting fishing outdoor recreational activities. First of all, if you’re going to indulge in any of these pastimes, tell at least one other person where you are going and leave a map of the route you plan to take to your favorite fishing hole, place to hunt whitetail deer or hiking trail. It’s important because if you encounter a difficult situation and you are unable to call for help, then others will know the routes to take to find you.

For your hunting expedition, make sure that you are well-versed in the basics of gun safety. As well, it’s imperative to wear an orange reflective vest during deer hunting season so that you will not be mistaken for big game. Using a turkey call is a good way to let other hunters know you’re in the area too. Because the deer herd actually considers the call of a turkey to be calming, this won’t give away your location or cause the deer to run. Just remember that when engaging in hunting, being visible to other hunters will avoid a tragic accident.

Reconnecting with your family is a great aspect of enjoying outdoor recreational activities. Whether it’s hunting fishing or taking the family for a hike through a “not often traveled” trail, it’s great to get away from the stresses of life and enjoy the simple pleasures that don’t involve cell phones, laptop computers or text messages, at least for a weekend.





By: Mark Gittelman

Review of Turkey Hunt by AppVee.com – The definitive source for iPhone app reviews.

Zach shoots a Oklahoma Rio Grand Turkey that had goten his legs tangled up in a rope..

Quail hunting is one of the top sports for those on the upper crust of society. It is considered the top game or hunt of the aristocracy and is practiced by vice presidents and world leaders to this day. Quail hunting is typically considered this way because it demands a lot less of the hunter in comparison to other hunts. It does not take place in the morning, for example, or in the shivering cold. Instead, quail hunting can be done in relative comfort and can actually be quite stylish. For this reason, many people in the upper class of society try quail hunting.

Quail hunting typically involves two hunters and a pair of dogs, typically called bird dogs. These dogs chase down the quail and retrieve the bird after the kill has been made. Often times, quail hunts are attended by spectators and watchers. There can be large crowds at quail hunts, gathering to watch the majesty of the sport unfold before their very eyes. There is something surreal and beautiful about quail hunting and watching the bird dogs do their work, making it one of the most interesting human experiences to be had.

Proper gear is recommended when quail hunting. This includes having the proper boots for the fields and the marshlands. The right pants are also required, preferably pants that are called “brush pants” because they are of a color that matches the color of the brush. These pants also work to prevent thorns and briars from penetrating the pants, which is a common downfall to hunting quail in the brushes of North America. It is also recommended that the hunter wears a proper vest or a coat so that ammunition and other immediate supplies can be stored in it. The best option is something of a bright color so that the hunters will be obvious in the field and not confused with the quail.

There is a certain formation and strategy to quail hunting that is very important. First, the dogs are sent to flush out the birds. As this is happening, the hunters are preparing their guns to be mounted on their shoulders. The safety of the gun should be kept on at all times until the gun is ready to be fired and mounted on the shoulder of the hunter. The gun barrels should be pointed to the sky, towards the prey, and away from any other hunter or from the ground. The two hunters should then follow the line of the dogs and maintain a straight line themselves, one hunter after the other. This formation is very important because of safety issues. The reasoning behind the straight line formation is to keep the hunters away from firing unpredictably upon one another’s personal space.

Each hunter should have a mental note of where the other hunter is. The dogs should also be noted. This is to identify locations as to where the hunter should not point or swing his or her firearm. This should be also a way to divide the field up into sides. One side belongs to one hunter and so on. Once the sides are determined, the dogs will flush the quail into the air and the shooting begins. Hunters should stick to firing on their side of the range, so as to avoid danger and poor form.

It should also be noted that low flying quail should be avoided at all costs. This is not only dangerous, but it has led to the unfortunate demise of many bird dogs because of the low shots. Keeping the guns high during a quail hunt is of vital importance so as to protect all of those involved in the hunt.

With these safety precautions and gun etiquette tips in mind, quail hunting should be a remarkable and fun sporting event to take in. Bring some friends and get set for a lovely day in a field with the dogs. Quail hunting can be a peaceful time as well, leading to plenty of reflection and quiet in the middle of America’s most beautiful marshlands.





By: Jaden Skiver