Category: Hunting

Turkeys For Tomorrow Launches Chapters in Five States

AUBURN, Ala. — Turkeys For Tomorrow has launched seven chapters in five states, while momentum behind its mission continues to grow.

Turkeys For Tomorrow was founded two years ago to address the nationwide decline in wild turkey numbers. Its work supports academic research to precisely define the problem, and it helps hunters and land managers learn how they can be a key part of the solution. This two- pronged approach is giving land managers and policymakers the tools they need for the future, while applying common-sense tactics to help populations right away.

“Research and direct action are both needed,” said Dan Braman, co-chairman of the board for TFT. “While research takes time, there are common sense actions we can take today. If we do our part to improve turkey habitat and create a more balanced population of predators, turkeys’ survival numbers will go up.”

Hunters are responding to the need by joining TFT and taking part in events. Pete Daugherty, TFT’s Director of Outreach, has seen the group’s membership grow to represent nearly every state in the union. He has fielded serious inquiries from motivated hunters in 21 states seeking to launch chapters and host events. Deliberate, responsible growth of the organization is a key part of ensuring a bright future for wild turkeys, and TFT’s chapter program is being developed with caution and care.

“Hunters everywhere have already seen the problem for themselves,” Daugherty said. “They led the restoration of the wild turkey decades ago, and they’re ready to do it again. They know if they don’t do it, it won’t happen.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan Turkey Hunting: Then and Now

Success in Shiawassee County, Michigan

Wild turkey hunting season has opened!  When I think back to my first Michigan turkey hunt conducted in the past century, I realize how much has changed.  We had very few turkeys after attempts to reintroduce them had failed.  Of course, wildlife officials had yet to learn that raising the magnificent birds in pens and then releasing them was only a good way to waste millions of dollars; the birds had not learned anything more than when the dinner bell sounded, and unfortunately, could not fend for themselves and perished.

The way forward, however, was established when wildlife biologists learned that trapping and relocating wild birds to suitable habitat was our future.  The birds were not only surviving, but thriving!  Little did anyone know where the movement was headed.

There were no over-the-counter licenses available; drawings for permits were difficult, as well, and rightly so.  Although wild turkeys were already making their national comeback, we still had only pockets of the wild gamebirds, but by chance, I had discovered there were some in Montmorency County during small game hunting and made plans for a spring hunt.

To become successful, I listened intently to any audio recordings available to learn the sounds of the tasty dinner bird.  There was no YouTube; heck, VHS tape had yet to become popular, and therefore, my cassette player was my teacher through the audio classroom of one Rob Keck – future CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).

He taught me the requisite vocals and tactics I would carry to the field in the northern woods.  With only a three percent success rate at the time, I would need some luck, too.

I pitched my two-man tent on state land and began my scouting only a day before the opener.  To the highest point in the area, I drove my VW Rabbit up the one-way trail to the top, where I could see for miles in any direction.  The plan was to watch for unsuspecting hens and gobblers, as they flew to their roosts.  I was astounded, when I saw exactly what I wanted:  birds settling in for the night.

That meant they’d be there in the morning and so would I.  With number 4 shot and a double barrel, side-by-side Spanish shotgun, I snuck to the field’s edge and hastily fashioned a ground blind.  With a 180-degree view, I sat there with high hopes, a box call, and no decoy.

As light made its appearance, a gobbler sounded off to my left; then an answer to my right.  I couldn’t believe my ears!  Dueling toms!  My heart was getting a workout when I spotted one of the males entering the field.  I was too scared to make a sound.  Yes, I was frozen in amazement.

When I realized the gobbler wasn’t coming any closer, I thought I had better take my shot.  Pow!  And, the prize scampered away leaving a single feather in its wake.  I had paid my dues.

Since then, I’ve taken a fair amount of gobblers over the years including one that’s in the Commerative Bucks of Michigan’s record book.

A Good Michigan Gobbler

With success rates near 50 percent, modern gear from pop-up blinds, dedicated turkey guns, specialized ammo, trailcams and an abundance of birds, has made it all more possible.  Thinking back, these are the good ol’ days.

Hunting

The Grind Releases What the Flock Decoy Pack

Minden, LA — The Grind is launching the What the Flock Pack for turkey hunters who rely on a lifelike decoy setup.

The What the Flock Pack features three high-quality decoys as well as a quiet decoy bag that can double as a mini blind and fit up to three standard decoys. The easy-to-hold Reaper Quarter Body Strutter sports a detachable full fan and allows for using a real fan in its place. The Lay Down Hen features a realistic breeding position, while the Relaxed Feeding Hen’s posture simulates movement in a decoy spread. The lightweight decoys are constructed of a durable EVA material with a heat-treated, textured paint process for long-lasting realism.

These four pieces would normally retail for $229.96, but the Beard Buster Pack is available at just $174.99 with free shipping. Read more

Hunting

Garmin Foretrex 801 and 901: Wrist-mounted navigation with tactical and ballistic applications

Featuring an easy-to-read display, advanced navigation sensors and up to 1000 hours of battery life, the new Foretrex series is ready for rucking or range time

OLATHE, Kan./April 18, 2023 – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) Monday announced the Foretrex® 801 and Foretrex 901 Ballistic Edition – the latest additions to its wrist-based GPS navigators for outdoor and tactical applications. Foretrex 801 and 901 keep users on track thanks to multi-band signal reception technology for improved positional accuracy, dedicated tactical and ballistic features, and up to 100 hours of battery life in default tracking or up to 1000 hours in expedition mode. Foretrex 901 also helps streamline aiming solutions for precision rifle competitions with an onboard Applied Ballistics (AB) solver and integration of the AB Synapse – Garmin app.

“Foretrex is an essential piece of kit for adventurers, tactical personnel and competitive rifle enthusiasts who need robust, dedicated features that can be quickly accessed while keeping their hands free. Now with enhanced positional accuracy and dedicated features for special applications, the Foretrex 801 and 901 will be indispensable tools whether on assignment or at your next competition.” – Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales

Purpose-built features

Foretrex 801 and 901 now provide Stealth Mode and Kill Switch features to support users located in sensitive areas. Customers can utilize Stealth Mode, which collects distances traveled without recording location data, while training or during operations. Leveraging this feature ensures customers can use Foretrex 801 and 901 – and even upload logged data – without concerns about revealing location information. By not recording location data to the device, Stealth Mode protects operational security should a device become lost. Activating the Kill Switch hot key quickly resets a unit to factory settings, discarding any stored data. Users may find this option useful if they work in a position where data saved to their unit could be considered sensitive.

Thanks to the Applied Ballistics Elite® solver integration, the Foretrex series has become a trusted tool for competitive shooters within Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and Extreme Long Range (ELR) events. In addition to the Applied Ballistics Elite solver, Foretrex 901 is now compatible with the AB Synapse – Garmin app to provide users with more streamlined shooting solutions. When downloaded to a compatible smartphone, this app allows users to manage ballistic profiles on their Foretrex 901 while the integrated Applied Ballistics solver provides state of the art solutions for calculating long-range rifle trajectories. Read more

General, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan Turkey Patterning Day

Saturday, April 15, noon to 4 p.m.

DNR Rose Lake shooting range
14500 Peacock Road, Bath Township (Clinton County)

For this free event, National Wild Turkey Federation staff and volunteers will be ready to assist in patterning individual shotguns for the upcoming turkey hunting season. This event gives new and experienced hunters an opportunity to prepare for the season and connect with the turkey hunting community.

We will be grilling out, and food will be provided while quantities last, if you’d also like to socialize and ask questions about the upcoming season or anything hunting-related.

Turkey targets will be provided. Bring the personal firearm you’re planning to hunt with, along with the ammunition to practice with.

Registration is not required. Questions? Contact Morgan Register at 336-601-8721.

Firearms, Hunting

Michigan: Flat River Youth Turkey Hunt

Saturday, April 29

Ionia County Fishing and Hunting Club – Bertha Brock Park
2311 Bluewater Highway, Ionia

This annual event will introduce kids to safe hunting practices, including tips and tricks for beginning turkey hunting, and give them their first opportunity to get a shot at a wild turkey with a National Wild Turkey Federation-guided hunt. It’s a chance for young people to get outdoors and for families to connect in learning a new skill together.

Cost is $25, which includes a NWTF JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) membership and food/equipment.

A parent or legal guardian must attend to accompany the youth on the hunt. Prior to the hunt, participants need to get their spring turkey hunting license (either the ZZ Hunt 301 or the ZA Hunt 112 license).

To register or if you have questions, contact James Kennedy at 616-446-8599 or Sarah Kennedy at 616-745-8070. Registration closes April 22.

Hunting

Arizona: Apply for Limited-Entry Permit-Tag Seasons Beginning April 15

Dale Hajek, Community Relations Specialist
623-236-7215, dhajek@azgfd.gov

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will accept applications for limited-entry permit-tag seasons beginning at 8 a.m. (Arizona time) Wednesday, April 5.

These new big game hunting opportunities give hunters a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn permit-tag, while generating revenue to help support wildlife conservation efforts across the state.

To apply, visit www.limitedhuntentry.azgfd.com/. The deadline is 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, April. 11. Read more

Hunting

Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO to Host Callmakers Championship

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Presented by Chêne Gear, the newest attraction of the Delta Duck Hunters EXPO is the Delta Waterfowl Callmakers Championship. The Duck Hunters Organization is adding the tribute-style callmaking contest to the excitement July 28 to 30 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“It is our great pleasure to introduce the merger of the World’s Championship Callmakers Contest with Delta Waterfowl, specifically the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO,” said James Miller, founder of the contest. “After the success of our contest last year we began looking for ways to improve the contest and make it bigger, more prestigious, and bring in more people.”

Chêne Gear—known for high-quality waterfowl gear and apparel—is the presenting sponsor for the Delta EXPO event.

“Chêne Gear is proud to be a part of the Callmakers Championship,” said Jeff Jones of Chêne. “The art of taking a historical piece and putting today’s technology and touch on it is something that is near and dear to our company. The past will always point the way to the future, paved by way of technology and craftsmanship—this callmaking contest embodies just that.” Read more

Hunting

Turkey Hunting Ammo Options: Good and Expensive

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

The turkeys are back!  In my neck of the woods turkeys are numerous – that is until late fall when they perform their disappearing act.  I don’t know why they leave (or, where they go for that matter), but leave they do.  In any event, the generous hunting seasons begin in three weeks.

For most hunters it means shotguns with tight chokes and heavy payloads.  Traditional ammo has been improved immensely over the years.  In the ‘70s copper-plated lead pellets were the go-to choice in shotshells and still work well today.  In fact, the 12-gauge Winchester Long Beard shells in No. 4 to No. 6 shot with its unique buffering was and has been my chosen loads for years never having let me down.  And, I’m talking legitimate 50-yard lethality and beyond.  What more could a hunter desire?

Ammunition manufacturers have stepped up their offerings to include tungsten alloy shot.  In so doing, they’ve also stepped up the cost of drumsticks to some $10 per shot!  That’s right.  One 5-round box of Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS turkey ammunition in 12-gauge, non-toxic tungsten is going for $47.23.  Good thing my friends at Midway USA have marked it down from a list price of a whopping $74.99.  Step right up!  And, no wonder it’s available, too.  I’m wondering if solid gold might be more affordable.

It’s hard to argue with results, however.  Per pellet size, tungsten is heavier than lead and does not deform like lead.  These factors allow manufacturers to fill the hulls with much smaller shot which translates into more shot on target.  The baseline for performance in TSS shot is that 50-percent of the shells’ payload is within a 10-inch circle at 40 yards.

To effectively take a gobbler at a given range, a good load of anything must deliver at least 7 pellets in the head and neck region of a turkey; tungsten can do this easily at 40 yards, but how much energy will the tiny pellets produce when they arrives?  That is the question.

On a recent crow hunt, I carried a 12-gauge shotgun afield stoked with traditional 1 1/8-ounce of lead shot in No.9 size.  At one point in the hunt I took 5 crows in 5 shots with the tiny pellets, but some birds needed follow-up shots beyond 40 yards.  The energy simply was not sufficient at moderately long range.

The small pellets will naturally shed velocity quicker than larger pellets; as with any ammunition, there are trade-offs for every variation.  Even though pattern density is impressive for the smaller TSS shot, energy is questionable and may not be sufficient to be ethical beyond 20 yards.

In fact, Bryce Towsley in writing for American Hunter magazine points out the conundrum of the lighter TSS shot relative to turkey hunting.  He states, “My limited experience supports this with the TSS, as turkeys shot at distances beyond 40 yards with No. 9 TSS were not 100 percent kill rate and had to be dispatched.”  In conclusion, he states No. 7 TSS loads would be a better choice, but the best bet is to get closer.

At $6 to $10 per shot, I find TSS ammo cost prohibitive, when less expensive ammo can get the job done in fine fashion.  Availability is still an issue, so make sure to check retailers before assuming they’ll have whatever your preference is.

Ammunition, Hunting

APEX Turkey Ninja TSS Named Best .410 Turkey Load

Columbus, Miss. – APEX Ammunition’s Turkey Ninja TSS has been named Best .410 Turkey load by Outdoor Life. In their recent test, Outdoor Life focused on Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads in .410 because of the density of tungsten pellets, and APEX’s Turkey Ninja TSS shotshells by far delivered the best performance.

The test was conducted at 40 yards using three of the most popular .410 turkey guns. The number of pellet strikes within the 10-inch diameter target circle was then measured. For each load, two patterns were shot with each gun, and then all six patterns were averaged.

“APEX is largely responsible for the popularity of TSS in turkey hunting, which also bolstered the popularity of turkey hunting with .410 shotguns. So it’s fitting that APEX’s Ninja would win our Editor’s Choice pick,” said Alex Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Outdoor Life. “The load produced far denser patterns than others in the test……With the Mossberg 500, the load patterned phenomenally averaging 154 hits inside a 10-inch circle. For reference, in our review of the best 12 gauge turkey loads, there were a couple TSS loads and lead loads that didn’t print as good of patterns. Remember, we’re talking 12 gauge rounds with significantly higher payloads.”

The 3-inch Ninja loads contain 403 No. 9.5 TSS pellets with a payload of 7/8 ounces and velocity of 1060 fps. Read more

Ammunition, Hunting
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