What time is it ?

[Bonescreek]

Spring Gobbler Season is soon to start.
Keep your eyes and ears pealed like potatoes my friends for the
tatters have eyes, corn has ears and turkeys aint color blind.

Soon, with the start of spring upon the apron strings of April will
bring the howling of the wolf and the gobbles of toms from afar.

Soon, very soon my friends turkey season will be upon us.


Good luck and God Speed to yall this spring.
Go out and slay that wild bird if you can, for he is a strong willed one
will match your wit for sure and is a prize worthy of any man's worth.

Have fun and do your best, good luck.
Nothin' starts a tire fire like a turkey gobblin' at predawn.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I'll be out hunting turkey's for my first time this year, heading to the east of Toronto....Peterborough and Lindsay area.

Not much of a turkey caller (total rookie) but going to give it a go, I can make many noises with mouth reed. Can do the purr, clucks and some other turkey noises..also bringing the bow for the added fun....what's the goto sound(s) to get the Toms all fired up an coming in?

LC

[Bonescreek]

Hey Lefy, how's it goin?

Best of luck this spring on the turkey hunting.

I gotta be frank about it, it's not easy and there is no goto or sure thing.
That's what make's it so much fun, you can't make it happen.

When it does and everything comes together..
It's a feeling like when you dropped your first Buck no matter what age,
no matter how you did it gun or bow or whatever, simply your first time.
You did it.

Yea, I could give you advice, first hand exp., my thoughts but all that
I have learned and done came from trial and error and my best advise
would be for anyone else to do the same.

What worked for me may not work for you and vise versa.
Like I said there is no majic bullet with turkeys.

The same could be said about deer, bears, elk, hogs etc. provided they are
not hand fed, bated, fenced, controlled, managed, color blind, driven
AND can leave the ground (can fly away when trouble comes around).

The exceptions above that birds (turkeys, grouse, huns, quail, woodcock,
ducks etc.)can do, like fly away when things get tough, is what I think helps keep them truly wild.

Thank God for that.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I have heard it's like calling elk with no noses and binoculars for eyes

I for sure know there are no "sure things" when it comes to calling animals to hunt....really looking forward to it.

My Dad turns 60 on April Fools and an old time buddy of his invited us out East for some turkey hunting and fishing (walleye, lakers, and musky on the fly I hope!). So really looking forward to a Father Son trip and to do something neither of is have tried before.

LC

[Bonescreek]

Noseless Elk with 20x20 times 10 vision, yup that's a fair summary.
Means you can pee or smoke in the blind but cannot twitch your eye
or draw your bow back when they're lookin.

When they don't gobble back but instead come in silent 17 minutes later
from behind you, do not be surprised and do not jump out of your chair
and drop your bow at your feet in shock, at the thundering gobble from 10
yards behind that shakes the very ground you now stand on.

Instead remain calm, cool and collected.

Sometimes it goes this way.

Sounds like you have the trip of a lifetime coming up, things memories
and dreams are made of, and you get to share it with your Dad.
That's a wonderful thing many don't get the chance to do.

I think your both gonna have some of the best times of both of your lives
right there.

Bring us all back some pictures if you can.
Best of luck to both of you.
Bones.

[normanrd]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

I'll be out hunting turkey's for my first time this year, heading to the east of Toronto....Peterborough and Lindsay area.

Not much of a turkey caller (total rookie) but going to give it a go, I can make many noises with mouth reed. Can do the purr, clucks and some other turkey noises..also bringing the bow for the added fun....what's the goto sound(s) to get the Toms all fired up an coming in?

LC

I'll give you one of my box calls and a crash course and you will do just fine. Remind me next time we are going to see each other. You can use my decoys too.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by normanrd

I'll give you one of my box calls and a crash course and you will do just fine. Remind me next time we are going to see each other. You can use my decoys too.

Sounds good man! Was going to ask you because I know you are the turkey whisperer!

LC

[Bonescreek]

Sorry about that Lefty didn't mean to leave you out in cold, just
called into work is all 12:00 am to 6:00 am Friday night.

I can't tell you what will work for you but I can offer a few things
that may help, simple stuff but helped me a lot.

It is true that hens for whatever reason stop and poop, that makes
a pile simular to popcorn.
Jakes, Toms on the other hand seem to keep on walking.
I realize this may sound a bit out there but it's true.
Toms and Jakes (younger male birds) leave behind poop like this...



or this one not popcorn at all but more like the letter J ...



Another thing that's true Turkeys like any bird NEED water (matabolizum ?)
and will stop and or follow springs, creeks, rivers etc. maybe twice a day or more.

They also love white oak acorns like deer (which are the first to drop come fall and are less asidic (no need for pepto). Look for the white oaks.

Just a few things to keep in mind, hope they help.


P.S. Decoys...
In the fall I put out a "spread" of 3 to 6.
In the spring I put out 1 upright Jake and 1 feeding hen.
Put the Jake facing the back of the hen right up against it,
just 6 to 8 yards from your blind no more.


You need to give a bird with zoom vision something else to look at.
You need to make that distraction look real. (put that feeding hen
on the ground don't use a stake.)
Doing the above can go a long way to help when your learning how
to call them and when not to call at all.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Thank you very much sir! Truly appreciate the tips!

LC

[Bonescreek]

I like to use a paddle box call because I can make it gobble or
yelp or purr.

Don't want to drop names here cause it'll start a fire I didn't intend.

Most important is in knowing when to quite.

Young birds will get rilled up and you can't call enough.
Older birds have been shot at from blinds like yours and know better.

So there you have it, if your trying to kill a turkey for the first time...
Call as much as you want.
If you want to get an old bird, well I guess you have to learn what
he knows.

The hens find the toms in nature you have to find a way to brake the
rules. When calling them in, as they answer back, call less each time.

[Bonescreek]

Best of luck to you all in CA this spring turkey season.
It's not an easy thing but a lot of fun trying.
And I did see a few photos of grouse, huns and sharptails yall
took down this past fall, that made me smile.
With both gun and bow both, I love to read the posts about
the ice and spring ice aut fishing the most.
Thank you all for the memories, I was there once.
Love to read your stories and posts.
If i was younger I'd be there with ya.
Thanks again.
Jeffie

[Lefty-Canuck]

Here is a northern chicken pic to tide you over

Hope to ad some North Eastern turkey pics in less than a month.



LC

[bullsbucksandbears]

Lefty, you should do fine. There are lots of birds up in that area. My old man has property up near Peterborough and they see up to 80 birds at a time. They're there. I have shot 3 in MB myself, you will enjoy it. Nothing more fun than getting into a conversation with a fired up tom. Well, maybe a fired up bull, hahaha. Have fun and post pics.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Thanks! This is a joint turkey hunting/ fishing trip so no matter what it's going to be a blast.

My Dad's buddy is quite experienced with hunting turkey there so I hope we are in good hands!

I picked up a Tactacam that I plan on doing some filmimg with and I will for sure take some pics to post when I get back.

LC

[bullsbucksandbears]

Sweet!! Have you tried out the TACTACAM yet? I was looking at them but still on the fence. I would be curious to see some footage. Espescially of a tom with an arrow on it's way.

[brohymn2]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Thanks! This is a joint turkey hunting/ fishing trip so no matter what it's going to be a blast.

My Dad's buddy is quite experienced with hunting turkey there so I hope we are in good hands!

I picked up a Tactacam that I plan on doing some filmimg with and I will for sure take some pics to post when I get back.

LC

sweet, you know we're gonna require a review on the tactacam when you get back

good luck!!!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by batten231

Sweet!! Have you tried out the TACTACAM yet? I was looking at them but still on the fence. I would be curious to see some footage. Espescially of a tom with an arrow on it's way.

I did some footage in the basement at 10 yards....arrow is too quick coming out of the bow at that distance. I am thinking lighted nocks is the way to go, as long as you aren't looking for a P&Y entry.

The big thing is to maintain follow through after the shot to get the footage of the arrow getting to the target. One of the only cons I see with it is the mic, when fully waterproof the mic is covered by the end cap which limits the sound....with the mic cap on the sound is better but not very loud.

I like the gun mount actually for the bow...straddling the stabilizer...rather than having it in the end, just for a little added protection.

Pic of just the cam, one button operation



Pic of the mount on my 3d and hunting bows.





LC

[gitrdun]

Here's wishing you barrels of fun and best of luck Lefty....

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Here's wishing you barrels of fun and best of luck Lefty....

Thanks man! May 3rd cannot come soon enough!

LC

[Bonescreek]

Thanks for the pics. Lefty.

Hat's off to you, grouse in my opinion were the best tasting and hardest
to drop bird I have ever known. (and that was with a scatter gun, like
trying to shoot down an F14 in the woods).



I realize you likely took those birds on the ground, I'll give you credit for
that, since you did it with yer bow and not a scatter gun.

Still none the less quite a feat!

So you gonna claim a double or a triple on those birds with one arrow ?
Just kidding.

Seriously, have fun on the trip coming up and post us some pictures when
you can.

[Bonescreek]

My first 3 took a while...

First..


Second.. that fall


Third 2 springs later..


Hope these pictures bring you luck and inspiration, it well worth while.
It's not a hard thing to do but more like a test.

I think you'll find it all difficult, fun and very, very rewording.

[Bonescreek]

Don't be supprised or dismayed if it don't work out with the turkeys this year.
Sometimes that's the way it goes, next year is just around the corner.

Even though I was blessed with the 3 birds above, my best year was last
year when I didn't get a shot.

What I did do was prove to myself I could call,
I called a tom (8" beard 3+ year old) away from three hens
(the books say you cannot do this since the hens come to the tom).

I did not get a shot but worked the bird from predawn until around 11:45 am
back and forth, he would gobble, I would gobble.

I would Yelp, he would gobble, finally I got sight of him with 3 hens working
up the ridge to my right maybe 600 yards down hill from my blind. (9:30 am ?)

By 11:00 am all four had made their way up that ridge until they were above
me on the next ridge over. And still I could hear him gobble only less often than before now. That group was moving on by I thought.

All went quite, no gobbles, no nothing for a while.

11:45 all hewall brakes loose from 17? yards behind my blind, I about jumped off my chair, a small cloud of dust and leaves blew past the
front window of my blind.

I turned to the back right window in the blind and slowly, very, very slowly
pushed the curtian to the side to peer out, there he was.
I could only see his head neck and breast and beard on the left of pine
behind me at 17 yards and the fan of his tail to the right side of that pine.

Full strut, just 17 yards behind me with a 20" pine in between.
Very nice, sheeat.

I'm sitting on my tripod chair, twisted half way around trying to see
what's goin on, my bow is still parked on the bow stake, my left hand
is holding the window blind crept slightly open. He's kickin' up a storm
right outside.

I slowly let the window cover of the blind close, I pick up the box call
and Yelp, Yelp, .. Yelp.
He thonders out a gobble, I lift my bow with my left hand, let the box
call settle on the ground with my right hand.

As the box call falls over on it's side,
It lets out a screach.

Game over.

That bird ran as fast uphill back from where it came, as it did to come
down to take a look.

And it was gone.

Never got a shot, but was the best time I have ever had in the woods
just knowing, I called that bird away from his hens, I called that good.

Things like these are what memories are made of.
Nobody has to tell you "you done good" you simply know it's true yourself.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Two more sleeps!

Hope to be sitting in a blind by 4 PM on Saturday....and our plane arrives in Toronto at 1pm

LC

[CNP]

Seen some gobblers at Lundbreck Falls last Sunday.

[Bonescreek]

The day before opening day for deer, turkey or trout has always held a place in my heart.

Just like Christmas eve back in grade school days.

No matter how much you get ready for the upcoming season it seems
you never get it all done, and come the eve you find yourself waxing
and waning over things to yet be done, that we should have done.

Kind of like a nervous Nelly, trying to do all the details and the more
you look the more you find, at the last second you give in and simply
do it.

As the sun rises and dawn breaks, darkness and shaddows melt before
you at dawn.

And you only then realize the only thing you really needed was to simply
... be there.


It's a majic time of day. Time of life.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Well said.

LC

[Bonescreek]

[Lefty-Canuck]

Well my Dad tagged a 23lbs bird tonight! It was a shotgun kill....really excited for him, I had 9 birds within 42 yards of me and 4 Toms but no shot....tomorrow is another day!

LC

[Lefty-Canuck]

Here is the pic.





LC

[pchunter]

Nicely done, I wish I was hunting too.