2009 Spring turkey hunt with Western Kentucky Outdoors

Hunting is a favorite pastime of many and it is a sport that many people are becoming interested in daily. However, many hunters like to hunt for specific wildlife which have particular hunting seasons. If you are unsure about the hunting season for your particular hunt, then this article should help you to identify specific hunting season dates and locations so that you can plan your next hunting trip around these dates.

These are a few of the general hunting dates for some of your favorite hunts. Deer is a huge hunting season. The deer season lasts from November 1st until December 7th. However, hunting deer with a muzzleloader is from November 1st until November 7th while hunting deer with firearms is open from November 8th until December 7th. If you can get away for a weekend, there is a youth deer hunt from October 25th to October 26th , the last weekend in October. This is a fun pre hunting season challenge.

There is also a youth turkey hunting weekend which kicks off the turkey hunting season. From May 3rd until May 31st, the wild turkey hunting season commences. Later on in the fall, the fall turkey season begins with archery from September 15th to December 15th. If you use a shotgun to hunt turkey with, then the fall season for hunting with shotguns is from October 13th until October 17th. In this case, hunting is only allowed from Monday to Friday and is only available in certain areas of the country. Please check with your hunting range previous to making hunting arrangements.

Black bear hunting starts on September 1st. The closing date to this hunting season is still undetermined because of the method and particular location’s regulation. However, the season usually ends sometime in November, making October the perfect month for black bear hunting.

If you are interested in waterfowl hunting the seasons begins in September and ends sometime in January of the following year. Once again the opening and closing dates for waterfowl hunting differ depending on the zone and the particular waterfowl species. From September 27th until September 28th, there is a youth waterfowl hunting weekend.

Moose hunting season runs from October 18th until October 26th. However, be aware that moose hunting almost always requires a moose hunting permit. For any small game hunting, the season is open from September until March of the following year. As you can see, hunting is available year round. If you have a specific prey then you can find your prey’s particular season. If you are an overall hunter, then you can hunt year round.

Some wise tips for the different hunting seasons include calling ahead to your hunting lodge to make sure that your prey is in season and for how long the season will last from. Then make sure that there is space available at that particular lodge to make a reservation so that you don’t miss out on your prey’s hunting season. You should also verify if a hunting permit is required for the particular hunt you will be going on. This will make your vacation and hunting trip go problem free so that you can relax, enjoy and concentrate on your hunt.





By: Albie Berk

Every time she suggests doing something that myself and the kids reject as ‘our’ idea of fun, she gets pissed and won’t stop hounding us. For example, last year, for Spring Break, she suggested we go to a mountain town with our kids, stay in a hotel, and do a couple of cool things. So, we did…not that I really wanted to, or could really afford to. This year she wants to do the same thing, but in a different town. My son and I want to go turkey hunting, instead, and GOD knows what my daughter wants to do (usually anything that doesn’t involve her family), so my wife starts huffing and puffing about not accepting her idea. Why can’t she just give in and do what we want to do, for a change? Heck, we could go back to our home state, her and our daughter could visit with her family, while my son and I go turkey hunting. That way, everyone is happy! By the way, there is a lot more to this topic, I don’t really want to bore folks with too many details.

You can hunt turkeys in the spring and in the fall. You always need a permit if you are going to hunt turkeys. The spring and fall permits, however, are different. The spring permit allows you to hunt in a specific area during one of the 5-day turkey hunting periods. In the fall, your permit will enable you to hunt any day during the season, as long as it is within the zone listed on the permit. Once you have obtained your turkey hunting permit, there are a number of things you can do to have a successful outing.  Be prepared to practice patience. Turkey hunting takes a lot of patience. Spring turkey hunting involves less patience, as you make hen turkey sounds to try to get a gobbler to come to you. Turkeys do not mate in the fall, though, so you will have to patiently engage in stand hunting. Stand hunting involves finding a spot and then waiting for the turkey to come to you.  Since you will at some point be hunting turkeys in the spring, you must become familiar with the several devices used to make a turkey sound. There are two main types. One is called a friction call, which is produced by rubbing two surfaces together. The other is a mouth call.

This occurs when air is either inhaled or exhaled. A third type of caller, a shaker, creates a “gobble” noise when you shake it in a rapid motion.  Regardless of which type of call you will be using, you must practice the call diligently. You will also learn a lot by listening to the turkeys themselves. They are the best examples to follow. Listen to live turkeys or a calling recording. You can also get help by contacting an experienced turkey hunter. Turkeys are capable of making more than two dozen different calls. Most hunters, however, can only notice about 10. Their sounds include the yelp, the cluck, the purr, the cackle, and the most familiar sound of them all, the gobble. Make yourself familiar with each of these turkey calls.   The most important thing you will do to ensure a pleasurable turkey hunting experience is to practice safety. Turkey hunting, as with all forms of hunting, poses a threat to those who do not use caution and wisdom in the field. Use gobble calls only when you are locating a tom. Do not use it to attract one. This will cause another hunter to think that you are a turkey. You run the risk of being shot if this happens. Keep your hands and head camouflaged when you make turkey calls.  

There are other things you can do to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Never stalk a turkey. Do not get closer than 100 yards to a gobbler. Choose a calling site that allows you to see at least 40 yards in all directions. Do not move an uncovered decoy. Wear an orange cap or gloves while walking, as your camouflaged clothing can be mistaken for a turkey by other hunters. Most shooting accidents happen because one hunter mistakes another hunter as game.

Finally, remember the three basic rules of hunting:  

1. Treat each and every gun as if it is loaded.

2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, away from others.

3. Be 100% sure of your target.  Following these rules and guidelines will allow you to have a successful turkey-hunting season, be it spring or fall. As with all forms of hunting, safety is always your highest priority. Keep this in mind, and you are ready for the upcoming season. Have as much fun as you can while practicing as much safety as you can.





By: Jaden Skiver

Outside of the spring breeding season, eastern wild turkeys have little to say to potential mates or calling hunters. This dialogue with nature, though absent during the fall season, is part of the popularity of the sport. But Rick Sumpter is one sportsman who is not likely to come home empty handed. On this episode, we follow the Madison County resident into the woods as he tells us what hunters and turkeys want to hear.

Explain to me why you believe that. Isn’t fishing just hunting for fish?

When you hunt with a rifle, you plan to immediately kill an animal for food. When you fish, you hook an animal in the mouth and drag it some distance. You then do your best to keep the wounded animal alive until you clean it (gut and fillet it).

Alternatively, there are people who believe in catch and release. Personally, I think this is immoral. You are hooking an animal in the mouth, dragging it some distance, and then letting it go again. I’ve heard of people catching the same fish 2 and 3 times doing this. To me, that’s just wrong.

BTW – I like hunting because I like to eat venison, wild turkey, and rabbits. I don’t like fishing because I don’t like to eat most kinds of fish.

See The Decoy Sled in action! Witness a live hunt and see what The Decoy Sled can do for you. No wild turkey hunter should be without The Decoy Sled. Bring your decoys to life!

You can hound turkeys in the spiral and in the accident. You always must a document if you are untaken to track turkeys. The jump and tumble permit, however, are different. The skip licensed allows you to quest in an explicit vicinity during one of the 5-day washout hunting periods. In the decrease, your tolerate will allow you to hound any day during the time, while it is within the zone expected the permit. Once you have obtained your bomb hunting permit, there are several equipment you can do to have a successful outing. Be prime to exercise patience. Turkey hunting takes a lot of patience. Spring fiasco hunting involves excluding patience, as you make hen failure sounds to try to get a gobbler to come to you. Turkeys do not mate in the plunge, although, so you will have patiently to engage in stomach hunting. Stand hunting involves sentence a smidgen and then waiting at the failure to come to you. Since you will at some spit be hunting turkeys in the give, you must become everyday with the the strategy worn to make a bomb sound. There are two supreme types. One is called a friction call, which is bent by abrasion two surfaces together. The other is a mouth call.

This occurs when air is either inhaled or exhaled. A third manner of caller, a shaker, creates a “bolt” clatter when you shake it in a brisk activity. Regardless of which nature of call you will be with, you must rehearse the call diligently. You will also learn a lot by listening to the turkeys themselves. They are the best examples to pursue. Listen to live turkeys or a vocation tape. You can also get help by contacting an experienced fiasco seeker. Turkeys are skilled of making more than two dozen different calls. Most hunters, however, can only detect about 10. Their sounds involve the bark, the cluck, the drone, the crow, and the most regular sound of them all, the gulp. Make yourself intimate with each of these bomb calls. The most important thing you will do to guarantee a pleasurable failure hunting experience is to perform security. Turkey hunting, as with all forms of hunting, poses a peril to those who do not use caution and wisdom in the tackle. Use gulp calls only when you are locating a tom. Do not use it to magnetize one. This will reason another seeker to think that you are a failure. You run the stake of being shot if this happens. Keep your hands and start camouflaged when you make washout calls.

There are other things you can do to ensure your wellbeing and the security of others. Never stalk a failure. Do not get closer than 100 yards to a gobbler. Choose a vocation site that allows you to see at slightest 40 yards in all directions. Do not move a revealed ensnare. Wear a ginger cap or gloves while walking, as your camouflaged clothing can be misguided for a turkey by other hunters. Most shooting accidents ensue because one hunter mistakes another hunter as game.

Finally, remember the three essential system of hunting:

1. Treat every gun as if it is loaded.

2.  Always show the suppress in a secure target, away from others.

3.  Be 100% solid of your target. Following the system and guidelines will allow you to have a successful turkey-hunting spell, be it pounce or plunge. As with all forms of hunting, shelter is always your highest priority. Keep this in intellect, and you are ready for the impending spice. Have as much fun as you can while practicing as much safety as you can.





By: Jake Saab

A qualified professional hunting guide may be the choice option for the urban hunter with little time to scout and investigate hunting prospects. When attempting to hunt unfamiliar territory, a guide can make the difference between a good and a bad hunt. Unless you have thorough knowledge of the land you wish to hunt, you might spend unfruitful days in the bush without the help of a guide. Another name for a guide might be a “scout.”

A guide can keep you out of trouble. He can limit frustrations and save you time. A guide can help with retrieving, gutting, and caping trophies. The guide can accurately predict the packing and preparation needs of the hunter, thereby eliminating the need to purchase or pack certain items. He will tell you what you should bring and what will be furnished, what is available locally and what is not.

Most hunters balk at the thought of “pay hunting” and feel no need for someone else to help them with a hunt. These hunters generally think that such setups are for “tin horns” or the corporate executive class. The price of a guide service may appear large at first, but after examining the whole spectrum of things you may find that a guide will even save you money in the long run. It is often the case that a hunter would have come out better if he had hired a guide.

Personal recommendations from other hunters who have used the guide or guide service are the most often used leads.

It is a good idea to do a thorough job of investigating a game ranch or guide service located through a magazine ad before making the leap of employing them. Ask for references, preferably from your area. Get several of them and check each one. The time spent here is worthwhile. In writing to request references, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and be courteous. If telephoning for a reference, then do so at an appropriate time of day. References should be current. They should be references to hunts the year before and not several years ago. The clients which you locate might pass on pertinent information to you concerning your guide such as that you should pack a can opener because the excellent guide always forgets his.

Any guide worth his oats will guarantee a shot. Other guide services and game ranches charge a set fee to hunt and extra for a kill.

A few phone calls or e-mails prior to the hunting scheduled with a guide could get you in with a hunting partner, not just a guide. It helps to break the ice and form a friendship before the hunt.

If contracting the services of a professional guide service or game ranch is not in the cards for you yet you need the help such an outfit would provide, then you have other options.

Ask a successful hunter of your acquaintance for his assistance in guiding you. Most hunters will enthusiastically help you get your first deer. They remember their first deer and really want to enjoy the experience again through you. Offer to pay for the hunt if they are willing to take you along, and at the very least, split the cost of the gasoline.

Some backwoods types would consider it the opportunity of a lifetime to receive a hundred dollars for leading you to a deer they are familiar with. Paying someone to help locate a nice deer for you does not mean that they will bring it to you on a leash. There will still be plenty of sport involved matching wits with the wily whitetail.

PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

Deer hunting is a sport open to the young, the old, and the handicapped. There is a way for almost every person who desires to hunt deer to do so. Deer hunting is one of the most widely accessible sports.

The blind can participate to a remarkable degree by going with a companion to a hunt and experiencing all but the actual shooting. Many blind people become adept shooters by learning to compensate for their sight loss by increasing their hearing perception. Their marksmanship is usually limited to gun ranges where little bells are attached to targets and pulled by strings. Some blind hunters, with the aid of an assistant with eyesight for obvious safety reasons, may actually take deer.

The wheelchair-bound hunter has an advantage over most hunters in that he will not be able to yield to the itch to get up and walk around when his patience runs thin. Although wheelchairs are not practical for the roughest terrains, the majority of hunting areas are to some degree accessible to them. One of my acquaintances who is without the use of his legs manages to take his deer each season from an adapted ATV.

Determined individuals often overcome physical limitations through improvisation. Their hunting techniques may be creative and grandly satisfying responses to their handicaps. Such hunters are granted special privileges by law-enforcement agencies to allow for their differences and encourage their participation in the sport. Physical limitations might suggest that a person should hunt close to a roadway and not attempt to track or retrieve a deer without assistance. Taking part in drives and risking becoming lost by walking deep into the woods should be avoided.

Hunting with an able-bodied companion may be a must. The companion should be aware of specific physical limitations and of any first aid he might be required to administer.

It is important to consider physical limitations in planning the hunt. Access to the hunting area, the type of stand, the selection of a companion, weapon type, and other matters should be scrutinized in advance.

There are far too many instances of heart attacks in the deer woods.

If you are under medical supervision and using a prescription medicine, be sure not to forget it in the excitement. Not only could forgetting it cause medical problems, but having to go home to get it could foil your hunt.

Where there is a will there is a way for the handicapped who wish to hunt whitetail deer. Disadvantaged hunters derive greater satisfaction from their efforts.





By: Albie Berk

marksman000’s shared video file.