Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

Kirkland Warbler, Wild Turkey use Audio Bait

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Six years ago I wrote; How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys. This post generates more traffic than any other article I’ve written on charlie elk, particularly as we head into a new turkey season each year. Puzzling, considering all the reads the post has garnered no one has left a comment. Something I have wondered about; Are the readers who searched about “best bait wild turkeys” or something like that disappointed? Or is it confusing and few if anyone understands my strategy of audio baiting is all about.

A quick recap. There are times the turkeys are not on land I can hunt. Does that ever happen to anyone else? In an attempt to alleviate the problem I call from the hunt-able property. Generally, my calling takes place in the evening prior to roost time. Hen cackles seem to work best, a lot of them. Think fly down cackle but we’ll call it fly up cackle. Make them loud but not screaming. Followup with some lost turkey yelps fading into contented purrs. As the sun sets, make a few gobbles listen in between for an answering tom. Most of the time there will be no answer, no matter I start the next morning’s hunt in the area which has been audio baited. Of course, it does not work every time but with wild turkeys what does? However, it works often enough that I use the tactic several times each season.

Interestingly some wildlife technicians have started using an audio baiting strategy to help endangered birds find each or inhabit some suitable habitat that is not being used.

Three examples are:

September 2018 Wyoming sage grouse hunt.
  • Wyoming sage grouse where teams are attempting to move the grouse away from energy-producing rigs. Btw, not just oil fields but also wind and solar developments. Activities like these are detrimental to the peacefulness sage grouse require for nesting success.
  • Northern Oklahoma lesser prairie chickens. WMA managers are using spring mating calls of the chickens to lure them onto WMA land where it is hoped they will have better nesting success than on the area’s working ranches.
  • Now in Wisconsin, we have, as Lisa Gaumnitz calls it–eHarmony for birds. In her article, A Happy Tune Kirtland’s Warbler Playback Project published in winter 2018 issue of the Wisconsin Resource Magazine Lisa describes the audio calling project of the rare Kirtland’s Warbler. Be sure to click on the above link and read Ms. Gaumnitz entire article. Following are a couple of excerpts.

Every day, three times a day for several hours, a Kirtland’s warbler belts out a love song at the top of its lungs in Bayfield County Forest. Its dawn chorus is not live but a recording that Nick Anich and collaborators are using to lure Wisconsin’s rarest songbird species – a tiny endangered bird with very particular habitat needs – to the forest.

“We’re announcing, the party’s here,” says Anich, a conservation biologist with DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program. “The presence of other individuals at the site during breeding season is one cue, or way, the birds assess the habitat quality of a breeding site.”

Nick Anich

For three years he played matchmaker to Kirtland’s warblers, and it has paid off. Starting slowly but building steam, the audio playback has helped males and females find each other and successfully reproduce at sites more than 140 miles from the main breeding area in Wisconsin and more than 300 miles from the species’ core population in Lower Michigan.


Rather than trying to create and manage habitat for a given endangered species where it’s currently or has historically been found, the playback method can attract species to areas where the ownership, land use and habitat management are more conducive to their recovery.


Lisa Gaumnitz

For the most part, I think birds are birds. If audio bait works for turkeys it should certainly work to attract other birds to their own mating calls and vice versa. When your spring season arrives and you have trouble finding a gobbler to hunt try some audio baiting. However, make sure during the season you do your own calling. Calling to wild turkeys using an electronic call is not legal in any state that I am aware of. And is most turkey hunting circles it is considered cheating to use recorded turkey calls.

West Nile Virus detected in Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse

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The following is a news release regarding rugged grouse in Wisconsin.

MADISON — West Nile virus was detected in three of 16 ruffed grouse that were found sick or dead and submitted by the public to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource for testing from October through December 2018.

At this time, there is no evidence to confirm that West Nile virus or any other factor is having population-level impacts on ruffed grouse in Wisconsin. Ruffed grouse populations are known to rise and fall over a nine- to 11-year cycle, so declines are not unexpected, though the 2017 decline occurred before the cycle would typically predict.

Of these 16 birds, 10 were negative for any viral infection, three were positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, one was positive for WNV and two were positive for both EEEV and WNV. Of the six birds that tested positive for EEEV or WNV, three showed signs of clinical disease, which may or may not have eventually resulted in death.

These results are preliminary, and 238 hunter-harvested grouse samples remain to be tested from the first year of a three-year study of WNV in ruffed grouse across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. Preliminary results for year one of this regional exposure study are tentatively anticipated to be available in mid-2019. Ultimately, the timeline for results will depend on the number of samples submitted by each state and the extent to which follow-up testing is required to differentiate between WNV or other similar viruses.

Anyone who finds a sick or dead ruffed grouse is encouraged to submit its carcass for disease sampling — sick or dead ruffed grouse carcasses can be submitted at any time. Observations can be also reported to local DNR Wildlife Management staff.

In addition to sick or dead submitted samples, DNR staff distributed 500 self-sampling kits to grouse hunters statewide with assistance from the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress as part of a multi-year regional study [PDF] with Minnesota and Michigan.

Both WNV and EEEV are mosquito-borne viruses that can affect humans, horses and certain species of birds. Clinical signs of WNV in birds are indistinguishable from those of EEEV and can include tremors, weakness and loss of coordination. WNV was first detected in the state in 2002 but only now has been detected in ruffed grouse. EEEV is considered a native virus and was first detected in Wisconsin’s grouse population in the late 1950s. This historical information suggests that the likelihood of EEEV having population-level impacts on grouse is low.

State wildlife officials say continued focus on habitat management for ruffed grouse is the best method to mitigate potential disease impacts on the population. Ruffed grouse are a short-lived species with only 30 percent of the average adult population surviving year to year. The Great Lakes region contains some of the most extensive early-successional forest habitat and healthiest ruffed grouse populations in the nation. DNR staff are currently working with partners to develop a long-term management strategy for ruffed grouse in Wisconsin.

WDNR News Release

A good friend told me he hoped West Nile virus would be found in Wisconsin grouse submitted by hunters for testing. Because that would prove the grouse can survive with the virus. However, these were grouse carcasses found dead in the woods. Does this mean the grouse will die when infected with WNV?

Wild Turkey Burns

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Two hens and three toms strutted about two hundred yards ahead.  I had taken cover behind the charred remains of three oaks spaced like the legs of a three-legged stool.  Other than these oaks it is wide open between the birds and me. “What to do?” Is the recurring question bouncing around in my head; with their focus on the hens it is unlikely the gobblers will pay any attention to my calls.  Meaning the hens must go, only writers hunting on those protected game preserves call in hens who in turn lead the gobblers to the waiting gun. Wild turkeys in genuinely wild places do not act in this manner. Instead, the wild hens are jealous by nature and will try to lead the toms away rather than share.   Without a turkey dog, a scatter will not likely be useful.

As the toms fans into the strut, they are all facing away from me, and the hens are looking in my direction; I stand up to make sure those girls see me and see they do as the scoot off into the brush line leaving the deflated gobs trying to figure out what just happened.  Before they realize anything is amiss, I yammer out some forceful clucks and yelps on the slate which is the first call out of my vest, putting the birds back into a strut; Although they are standing their ground well out of range as I grab for the next call.

On my knees behind the oaks, hunched over in a semi-ball shape, boonie hat pulled low to the eyes I am hoping to appear like a turkey as the challenge yelps and clucks charge off the Tongue Teaser. I peek around, and through the blackened oaks, one of the toms is within 100 yards and closing fast, I start to shake, oh my! all this may work! How can the gun be brought to bear?  As I pick up the little 20 gauge, I feel under gunned.

My poor planning has placed the gun on the left side of the trees, it would have been better on the right side, but in turkey hunting, you go with the situation.  All three turkeys stop when I peek around for a look; gently I lay the gun down to pick up the call and striker.  My striker’s hand is trembling with excitement to the point it’s sending out a morse code rather any sweet sounding turkey talk.  I have to smirk; it’s what I love about turkey hunting, the excitement is still there.

I sway slightly side to side telling myself this is to glimpse the birds. However, it does wonders for the cramping muscles.  Not only have I seen the birds, who have moved closer, one of which is now about 60 yards staring intently at the movement in the trio of burnt trees.  The gun still lays near at the ready, and this is calming, I scratch the burnt ground with a stick and then make some clucks, exchange the call for the gun and lean to the left.

The nearest turkey is approaching in all his splendor head-on, the sound of his feathers is audible, he gobbles and the electricity of the moment envelopes all of us at this moment, in this burnt field.  It is almost a shame the gunshot deflated the moment, but that is why we are called hunters, and that is what we hunt for time and time again.

 

Turkeys Gobbling Time To Scout

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Start scouting now?  It’s only March in Wisconsin! Turkeys are still in winter flocks; What possible reason is there to start scouting wild turkeys now?  The birds are likely going to be in different woods and fields by the time my spring season opens.

Turkeys spend more time in trees than we realize

The number one reason: it is fun and educational to be out talking to actual wild turkeys any time of the year, even

Sign turkeys have been around.

better when an upcoming season is only a few weeks from opening.  Rarely does a “spring only turkey hunter” venture out to experience the pure yet complex world of wild turkeys.  Those who are year-round hunters know the male turkeys gobble and strut at all times of the year.  Meanwhile, the other turkey hunters are shocked when they hear fall turkeys gobbling their heads off.

Here’s a brief what should you look for:

  • Goes without saying, try to find birds they make it all the more fun. This time of year wild turkey flocks are getting a little frayed around their social edges but still spend the day and night in their winter flocks.  Hens plus jennies and gobblers with jakes satelliting, when the opportunity presents a lone gobbler the jakes like to harass him.  Jakes act like the teenage boys of the turkey world, full of energy and trying to be part of the turkey world.
  • Travel corridors, with snow or mud or just soft ground walking turkey leave tracks which are quite easy to see.   You can also determine the number and sex of the turkeys traveling together.
  • Turkeys use their wings more than most hunters realize.  When turkeys are fluttering and flying around the bare treetops, they are easy to spot. On many occasions, I have seen turkeys hovering, much like giant hummingbirds pecking the swelling tree buds, typical behavior when the ground is an icy snow sheet.
  • Sounds of wild turkeys. Many of the flock’s members are beginning to disagree with the hierarchy they agreed to last fall and getting noisy about it.  Especially the gobblers, who, for the most part, have not talked to any of the ladies in the neighboring gaggle for quite some time.
  • Call to the turkeys.  Yeah, I know, all the “expert” advice is you are not supposed to call outside before the season opens.  I’ll go out on a limb here and admit a secret;  I have practiced my spring time calling to real live wild turkeys for the last twenty years. And what is the worst thing that has happened?  Wild turkeys have moved into areas I can hunt.  That’s right turkeys are very social birds and regularly seek out those other unknown interlopers.  Read about “audio baiting” here– How to Legally Bait Turkeys

An icy beard is hanging as he flies to the trees.

Whenever you can get out–do it and enjoy. By the way, if you deer hunt, their trails, bedding

Frozen insects are high protein food for winter time turkeys.

and feeding areas will be pronounced. These are the same areas the deer frequent during WI firearm, muzzleloader and late archery season.

2018 Wisconsin Spring Wild Turkey Hunt Drawing Completed January 5, 2018

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Hat tip to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wild Turkey department for completing the 2018 spring wild turkey hunt authorizations.  Starting in the fall of 2017 WI now refers to license permits or tags as authorizations.

Eventually, hunters will receive a notification postcard via snail mail, USPS.  To check your success go to the Go Wild Site, Login, click on “Current Licenses,” if successful notice under “product name” click the “Spring Turkey Eligible” link, a message will say “Batch post to winners.”   Spring turkey license can be purchased starting in March.

For the first time, both of my grandson and I have been selected for the second season, Yahoo! We get to hunt together. In the past, we were always drawn for different time periods.

Next step: Hunters will wait for the leftover authorizations posting which will go sale March 19, 2018.  Spring turkey authorizations can be purchased one per day until sold out.

Winter Turkey Hunt; makes for the seasonal slam completion

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The first question; What is a seasonal wild turkey slam? It’s the taking a wild turkey during each season of the year; spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Wisconsin turkey hunters are lucky to have a turkey season open during all yearly seasons. Usually, the most challenging bird to bag is the winter turkey.  In 2017 the first day of winter was December 21, in Wisconsin, the turkey season closed December 31 this gives a hunter ten days to complete their seasonal slam. During winter visibility is excellent against the snowy white background, everything is frozen so that all things from the ground up to your equipment makes a lot of noise that is easily heard by the turkeys.  Not to mention setting up for some “cold calling” takes on an entirely different dimension, if you are lucky some days may rise above zero with minimal wind.

Because the turkeys are in large 50+ member flocks, they can be hard to find but when located the excitement is such a hunter will forget about the cold, at least for a while.  Vic the turkey dog and I searched many empty fields and woodlots with no success in locating the turkey flocks.  Even after being invited on a “there are turkeys there for sure hunt,” we found no turkeys, lots of sign that they had been there.

During the next few days, we continued searching for turkeys, no success until, as usual, when, my attention started to wane as my mind

River’s current if flowing fast and icy.

wandered around random thoughts.  As we trudged up an old logging trail along the river Vic begins sniffing and looking towards the river below.  Some rabbit and squirrel tracks were leading into decaying treetops felled by a tornado a few years ago.   I glanced down towards the ice chunked river and seeing no turkeys continued, leaving Vic to have some fun with the rabbits.

Suddenly the crystallized air exploded with the sounds of scattering turkeys.  Earing aids under ear flaps make it very hard to hear directionally and the sounds of excited turkeys and Vic’s barks echoing off the hillsides all around… I tore off my hat; clearly, the commotion was coming from behind me and down towards the river.  Hastily as I could with the heavy insulted boots clomping along, I headed back towards Vic just in time to watch perhaps seventy-five to a hundred turkeys rising above the standing timber then soaring off in all direction including some flying across the river.   Stunned does not begin to describe how I felt about strolling past that many turkeys.  What the heck?

All the years I have hunted this area and hiked this trail I did not know there was a nearly flat bench tucked in the hill out sight from the path.  While above on the trail you can see the river just beyond what appears to be a very steep drop straight to it.  The bench is not visible, and the turkeys were enjoying a smorgasbord of acorns.  The snow cover on about five acres of ground was scratched away with all the leaves turned around and over.

Vic gave me the most exasperated look, after all the pheasant hunting we had been doing he, no doubt, expected to hear gunfire and watch some wild turkeys fall from the sky.

During Wisconsin gun deer season Vic and I frequently go pheasant hunting.

But he should know I am not real keen on shooting turkeys in flight; it’s time for us to setup and get-to calling some back before the sun sets.  Vic chose a nicely sheltered setup area; I spread out his closed cell foam pad and insulated blanket for cover he snuggled close to my side as I leaned back on my new Alps Grand Slam turkey vest.  (A very thoughtful friend gave it to me for Christmas)  I love this vest.

When it gets cold friction calls do not seem to work as well, perhaps this is due to my stiff fingers, losing the feel through mitten covered hands or the snow dust that is attracted by the call’s surface.   After sitting quietly for about 12 minutes, I begin sending out some inquiry yelps and kee-kees.  Sometime later a distant yelp answered the trumpet which I quickly answered by series of loud yelps breaking a the end as if the turkey was losing its voice, that’s my best imitation of a lost turkey.  I did that a few times and got no answer, except the 40-yard gobbler starring at us from our right and behind us.   He had not made a sound and of course as it always seems to happen this bird came in from behind on my wrong side to shoot.  When he moves behind a tree I cluck once and raise the gun while pushing Vic down,  I hate to shoot this close over his head, so we wait as the tom moves parallel along the river below.  Seems like forever before he steps into the shooting lane, at 45 yards the prototype number 9 Federal Premium TSS (tungsten super shot) dropped him dead.  Vic is released to hold the gobbler down until I get there.  No matter if the turkey does any moving or not that is one of Vic’s favorite part of the hunt.

There is still a half an hour before sunset, so we set back up to resume calling.  Two turkeys fly back from across the river and land down along the bank a bit out of range.  Vic sits up to see better; I have to pull him down and lean my body over him, the movement caused one of the turkeys to move closer in range, my last #9 TSS drops the bird.  Incredibly at the shot, the second bird moves towards us into range, one of my regular turkey loads drops him flopping on the ground.  I released Vic to race down on the flopping bird, and he gets on top it quickly holding it down until the first turkey starts twitching then he races onto that turkey.  I am moving as fast as I can to help contain the turkeys.  Before I can get there the turkey, Vic released flips over off the edge falling twelve feet down onto the river’s shelf ice, in slow motion slides off the ice shelf into the fast current and is swept away out of reach.  I had to scream to stop Vic from attempting a retrieve in the icy river, we both hate losing birds.

Damn it; the other bird is not laying there!  Where in the heck did it go?  While trying to stop the flopper, the “dead” turkey slid off onto the ice shelf below.  As insurance, I immediately shot this bird in the head again even though it showed no sign of life.  No way are we going to lose two turkeys.  It’s a beautiful hen lying dead on the ice sheet much too close to water’s edge.  The bank is twelve feet straight down; I kept from falling by grabbing roots and rocks.  Fortunately, there is a pebbled place to stand off the ice, the ice cracks as soon as I put any weight on it, the turkey is 17 feet out of reach.  I climbed back up to find branch or sapling long enough to hook the turkey with to drag it within reach.

Winter hen and gobbler called in after an excellent scatter.

I can’t recall a time when having a turkey firmly in hand felt as good as this one did but I still have to climb back up which requires both hands.  The bank was too high to throw the turkey up.  No, of course, there was no rope handy, so I did the next best thing; slung the turkey over my shoulder and clamped the leg in my teeth.  It worked.

Vic wanted a vanity shot of him with the hard-won wild turkeys.

Anyone who has hunted with me when the game requires follow up to retrieve knows I did not give up easily on the bird swept away in the river.  Vic and I walked along downstream until the light of day gave way hoping to find the turkey pushed up somewhere we could retrieve it without risking life.   We returned the next morning to resume searching further downstream; sadly we never saw that turkey again.

 

 

 

Vic and Charlie Turkey Dogging Video

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Shane Simpson, Vic and I have been trying to get a turkey dogging episode completed for a few years.  Either the weather, the turkeys or life’s turns have not worked out until now.  Many times I’ve told Shane it is the jinx of the camera; seems like whenever a camera is on one of my hunts…Well, things don’t go as planned.

After several days of hunting, it finally came together.

Let us know what your thoughts are on this video.  Visit Shane’s website Calling All Turkeys.

Wisconsin Summer Hunting Season 2017

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The opening day of hunting season always dawns with the excitement of high expectations and a healthy dose of optimism thrown in for good measure.   More often than not reality begins to set in as the temperature steadily climbs to water gulping levels and all forms of flesh-eating insect life start its daily routine.  As it was on the opening weekend of Wisconsin’s fall turkey season, sometimes this makes hunting feel more a slog than a fall hunt in the north country.

No matter, dedicated hunters do not quit over such trivial discomforts.  Even with the success of the federal government’s efforts to increase the Massasauga Rattlesnake population; who the heck thinks that’s a good idea!?  Vic the turkey dog and I continued hunting.  Although, considering wild turkeys may be the snake’s number one predator I did consider pursuing something else. Nah.

We use ravines and dry washes to “sneak” on likely turkey locations.

After all the years of turkey hunting, one would think Charlie would be ready for the early fall birds who spend nearly all day in the treetops.  These tree walking turkeys make it hard for a turkey dog to find and scatter and during a setup, it is tough to determine if an approaching turkey is on the ground or coming in via tree limbs.  If they are in the full foliaged trees taking a clean shot is also problematic at best.

Over several days of hunting; burning high quantities of Therma Cell fuel, repellant pads, drenching the hunting clothes and Vic’s fur in permethrin.  A healthy dose of deet applied around out face and ears; a few really close calls at getting a shot on a turkey, I started to wonder if a 2017 Wisconsin Slam was within reach.  A Wisconsin Slam consists of killing at least one turkey during each season of the year; spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Official autumn is September 22nd, so Vic and I had better figure out how to get our summer turkey of 2017 season.

Vic’s tongue was hanging to the ground and sweat pouring down my back we figured it was time for water and a rest.  Vic had coursed  12 miles so far for the day while me, the lazy human only did about 4 miles.  These are known distances thanks to the Garmin Astro 320 tracking GPS.

As the late morning was about to turn to afternoon, we sat together to refresh with water and perhaps a nap.  As is my custom whenever there is a pause, I make some turkey noise on a wingbone to which a turkey promptly responded with a gobble!  Not a full gobble, rather a jake of the year gobble and his gobble was answered by two more gobbles.  A group of jakes is a fall turkey hunter’s dream because they are the easiest to birds to call in, and these birds were not an exception.  They came trotting right to us in spite of me not having my face net down nor were my hands covered by gloves.  There was a feeling of nakedness and exposure that would cause them to bust before coming into gun range.  Must have been all the insects hovering between them and us.

A nice plump Wisconsin Summer jake of the year.

Happy turkey dog Vic on a hot summer day during Wisconsin fall turkey season in 2017.

Here is what this turkey was eating. Crops tell the story.

 

 

Grandkids and Puppies Go Together; especially if the puppies are Vizslas!

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Some questions don’t have to be asked twice-I’m going to visit Vic’s breeder and he has a litter

A basket of puppies. Life is good.

of Vizslas; “Would you like to come with?”  Heck, I don’t remember hearing an answer but the Jeep had both the grandkids sitting in it ready to go. Clearly, those kids had puppy fever which was betrayed by all their quivering as we drove the 200 some miles to Lone Oak Vizslas in Hutchinson Minnesota.

I have to admit this trip could have turn out to be “dangerous” for me, Vizsla puppies, particularly those from a strong hunting line are very, very tempting to a man with an empty

Please get off me!

place in his heart. However, I am not known as a fellow who would pass on an adventurous trip due to any type of challenge being involved.  Besides, the main reason for this trip was to talk to Marc about breeding Vic.  We had planned to do this a few years ago but Mrs. elk’s cancer put those plans on hold.

Vic will be seven years old in December 2017, it’s getting time for him to work with an apprentice. Turkey dogging requires a dog to learn a specialized skill set and to know the difference between turkey hunting versus other upland birds.  For example, Vic knows he must range out 200 to 400 yards to find a flock of turkeys then charge in to scatter those birds rather than point them.  If I have heard the turkeys scatter Vic finds me and leads me back for a setup.  While on setup during the call back he needs to be still and hold steady at the gun as the turkeys come into range.  On command, he goes out to hold the bird in place rather than retrieve as he does with the traditional upland game birds.  As regular readers of this blog know when Vic and I are hunting the upland birds like grouse, pheasant, and woodcock he works the traditional pointing style hunt.  That is he finds the bird, points holds steady to the gun and retrieves to hand.  Assuming I have done my part in that equation, if not, I become the recipient of “the look.”

Vic chatting it up with the ladies.

All that is easy to write and with the right bloodline in the dog, training in all those different skills is achievable.  With Vic, it was remarkably easier than I had anticipated.  Marc is a good breeder who loves his dogs who have good hunting pedigrees.

As of a couple of weeks ago, there were a few puppies not spoken for from this litter so if you have an interest you can contact Marc or Kerri at Lone Oak Vizslas.   Also, there was another litter born last week with some puppies not spoken for yet.

We plan to breed Vic late October – early November, so his puppies will be born in December and ready for pickup early February 2018. There is never a guarantee, hopefully, Vic’s offspring will continue his hunting pedigree. To say I am excited about training up another hunting companion is an understatement.

Enjoy all the pictures.

Papa to be Vic.

 

Am I cool or what?

 

What you want now?

 

Super heroes are boring.

Take me home with you?

I can point.

Seriously? I know I can hunt.

Wild Turkey Mating In the Middle of Road!? Lookout a Car is Coming! Video Proof

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This show went on for 29 minutes, the Hen telling Tom where to go! While her poults sit tight, she’s telling him he’s supposed to be a sentinel on the lookout, not trying to court her, you big dummy! The poults like to feed in the ditches, while Tom thinks the road is his strutting ground.
Turn up the speakers, what do you think she’s saying? In the next video, count how many poults are left.


It’s July 7, 2017, the turkey books say mating is done by now. Consider, this feathered lady already has thirteen kids.

There were 13 from this one hen, 2 days ago. Don’t know how they manage, between the cars, the weather and all the predators. There are a few stragglers in the bunch, so keep watching.

Note by charlie: Make sure to click the AWTHDA link above to check out more information on wild turkeys and while you’re there consider joining.

To Protect the Young – Sassy Hen Sashaying in The Corn Video

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Courtesy of  American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Association

Accidentally got too close to a hen turkey with poults and she didn’t like it. Flew at my head twice before the video started. Then she acted like a Killdeer with a broken wing, so I’d follow her and get away from where she told her babies to hide. She was indignant and fearless, determined to make me leave – I did! She had a slight stubble of a beard – don’t ever shoot bearded hens. Wisconsin – June 2017

Do Hunters really do this? Are there Those Who are That Dumb?

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Stunning.  The old saying “no good deed goes unpunished” is more accurate than we’d like to admit.

This wild turkey habitat demonstration area was not for just habitat but also a place disabled hunters could be taken out hunting.

Why would anyone who hunts destroy signs like these?

Or This?

This takes a crackpot. Not a crack shot.

Come on there are shooting ranges all over Wisconsin with much better targets than this.  As my rage subsided and my brain begins to work it came up with other possibilities.  Perhaps it was not hunters, rather some other entity whose cause would be advanced by bad Hunter P.R.

Many signs in this hunter were shot up

Maybe some rabid anti-hunters.  Sobering to think they might have taken up arms.  But then I remember members of the Human Society of The United States advocating vandalism on hunting lands to make hunters look bad.  A few years ago I some found alcoholic beverage containers strewn about the parking areas of a WMA during a fall hunting season. Being a concerned hunter and good citizen, picked up the litter on my way out.  A few days later I returned and found the same type of litter.  On my fourth hunt, there was more of this litter.  Clearly, this problem was not random, reporting it would be a waste of time without more evidence of the identity.  However, being it was hunting season I did not want to waste time.  In a discreet location, up went an old trail camera.  A week later more bottles were dumped along with several beer cans.  I recovered the camera for review after my hunt.

A few years ago I some found alcoholic beverage containers strewn about the parking areas of a WMA during a fall hunting season. Being a concerned hunter and good citizen, picked up the litter on my way out.  A few days later I returned and found the same type of litter.  On my fourth hunt, there was more of this litter.  Clearly, this problem was not random, reporting it would be a waste of time without more evidence of the identity.  However, being it was hunting season I did not want to waste time.  In a discreet location, up went an old trail camera.  A week later more bottles were dumped along with several beer cans.  I recovered the camera for review after my hunt.

After getting my turkeys cleaned and my dog settled in it was time to check out the camera images.  The camera caught the culprits including their license plate number. Called the sheriff to report and emailed the photos.  Each of the four litters were fined $700 and asked the judge for leniency because they were trying to help get the area closed to hunting so that animals would no longer live in fear.  Turned out these creeps wanted to stop hunting and figured if hunters were made to look dangerous more people would become activists on their side.

My mission on Saturday was not finding a bunch of shot up signs rather find turkeys, in particular, turkey poults and make notes of the type crops planted or not planted.  I found plenty of deer, many does had twins and triplets in tow!  The hen turkeys had 4-7 poults each with many hens still sitting on nests.  The extra nest setting is probably due to all the rain washing out their first nesting attempts.

On Monday I will be contacting the nice lady in charge of Wisconsin’s voluntary access program to find out where I can purchase some replacement VPA signs to put up.  The very last thing we need are landowners who are considering signing up their lands for public access seeing what they will most likely assume are unappreciative hunters.

I don’t think hunters vandalized those signs.  What is your opinion?

Update: 6/20/17

I have been in contact with WDNR and found out these signs had been replaced previously and now they have been shot up again, outside of any hunting season.  Makes me suspect it might not be someone who hunts.  Also, I did not make clear in the post street signs were shot all the way to the location of the NWTF sign obliteration. 

 

Beyond The Patterning Board; X-Rays of Shot Turkey Head/Necks

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By FirstBubba

Due to a rather “brisk” discussion on another blog about turkey ammo, I could think of no other way to prove that #8 shot IS adequate for turkeys than xX-rays of harvested birds.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank Dr. Kerri D’Arbonne, DVM and her husband (both avid hunters!) of Chisholm Trail Vet Clinic, Duncan, Oklahoma for the use of their equipment for this endeavor.

My apologies for the mess I had to clean up afterward! LOL! Secondly! This project was my maiden voyage to the “Sea of Xray.” These shots aren’t “exactly” what I had in mind, but hope they help!

Let’s go with “layout” first.

Left to right: Turkey #1 was taken at nearly 35 yards, quartering away right to left. Turkey #2 was taken right at 30 yards, broadside traveling left to right. Turkey #3 in the neighborhood of 15 yards moving right to left.  The first shot is a side view.

 

Shot #2 is a frontal view. Left to right: Turkey #1 was taken at nearly 35 yards, quartering away right to left. Turkey #2 was taken at 30 yards, broadside traveling left to right. Turkey #3 in the neighborhood of 15 yards moving right to the left.

 

Left to right: Turkey #1 was taken at nearly 35 yards, quartering away right to left. Turkey #2 was taken at 30 yards, broadside traveling left to right. Turkey #3 in the neighborhood of 15 yards moving right to left.

(Told you I were no expert! LOL!)

  • All three birds dropped at the shot.
  • All three birds were taken with 2.75″ Winchester Super-Handicap
  • Heavy Target Load @1250fps with 1 1/8 ounce of #8 lead shot.

Plain Jane Remington 870 12 gauge with an aftermarket “extra full” choke tube.

The “brisk” discussion was mostly over whether #8 shot would maintain enough kinetic energy to penetrate deeply enough to break bones (vertebrae) out to 40 yards.

Note on bird #1, the two #8 shot that appears to be behind the right eye. Those two shot HAD to transect the entire head to reach their position.

I believe “turkey specific” ammo is overrated and over priced. Why buy 5 to 10 rounds for $2 or so per round when I can get a box of 25 for 5 to 7 bucks?(depending on sales. I AM a tightwad! LOL! )

I also believe that the 3 and 3.5-inch ammo tends to cause otherwise good hunters to attempt shots well beyond the 40-yard mark, resulting in wounded and unrecovered birds.

Therefore, I shoot 2.75-inch ammo and call birds in as close as possible.  I believe “pattern density” kills, not shot size. The more pellets you deliver to the target, the higher your chances of delivering a fatal pellet strike. Therefore, I shoot #8’s to deliver as thick a pattern as possible.

I’ve burned lot’s of ammo at sheets of newspaper and butcher paper to get an idea of “pattern density,” but what REALLY happens when you pull that trigger?  A specific percentage of pellets in a ten-inch circle at 30 yards?…40 yards?  Guess what guys; A turkey head ain’t that big!!

I’m hoping these X-rays give others a look at what happens that the patterning board just doesn’t tell you.

IF you are comfortable with the ammo you shoot, the range you shoot and the pellet size you prefer, DO NOT change because of my beliefs! I’m not suggesting everyone change ammo, but if you’re looking for different ammo options, here is one!

If you have a hunter friendly vet in your area, talk to them. Xrays reveal a lot about pellet performance!

How Many Syllables are in a Gobble?

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As I sit in turkey setups I ponder “How Many Syllables are in a Gobble?  Thanks to a text I received the other day from my buddy treerooster.   Just what I needed as if I didn’t pay close enough attention to gobbling before this question was planted in my inquiring mind.  Now the old ears are trying to feed every note upstairs for analysis.  And it seems to be a depends on what the gobbler is seeking to communicate or how aggressive he is feeling.  Some gobbles are short with few notes or syllables, while others are quite complex with short and long notes and syllables.

It’s a real legitimate question to which nearly all other turkey hunters have not thought about very much.

Please list your thoughts and observations in the comment section.

Ending up Intoxicated on Wild Turkey in Colorado

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It sounded almost like a breeze moving dead leaves on the tree branches, but I don’t remember there being any leaves on the early spring cottonwoods. As another wave of the fluttering sound reached my ears I realized the sound was not the trees or any leaves; it was a flock of turkeys rustling their feathers, and there must be a lot them to make that much noise at little after 4:00 am.  A few minutes later the first yelps of the morning started.  Apparently, Colorado turkeys wake up much earlier than those sleepy eastern birds in Wisconsin. Sure enough by 4:30 the first crescendo of gobbling cascaded down from their roosts, each like a wave crashing on a rocky beach.  Each time the audio wave began it gained volume as if urging the sun to rise early. My shivering intensified, surprised I was that cold, then I became acutely aware it was maximum exhilaration that had no relationship to the temperature, this is what turkey nirvana is all about, like being drunk on wild turkey, the non-alcoholic kind.

Six years ago, on a now defunct turkey forum, Treerooster and charlie elk recognized each other as fellow turkey nerds.  We discussed things like the length of the turkey’s memory, how they find food, the effect of ground temperatures on behavior, what the snood means, why two- dimensional sight works, techniques for tree-roosting all night with turkeys; OK you get the idea.  Fortunately, the forum had a private message option allowing treerooster and charlie could make hunting plans.  And when charlie got enough preference points to draw a spring license he was on his way to treerooster’s hunting turf in Colorado.

Our optimism was high we waded across the dark river back to the truck. We had roosted at least 15 toms and jakes on this eve of Colorado’s opening day of spring wild turkey season.  Wake up was scheduled for 3:00 am to make sure we could take our place among the roosted turkeys well before sunrise.  A treerooster nugget of wisdom – “Turkey hunting extends your life, each day of turkey hunting is the equivalent of 2 or 3 days of “normal life.”

There’s something about 15 or so roosted gobblers that make the lack of sleep and morning grogginess recede into the background of one’s conscious mind.  Gazing up at a half dozen roosted turkeys highlighted against the moonlit sky I wanted to give treerooster

treerooster sometimes likes to spend the night in the roost trees.

 

two thumbs up for his accuracy last night casting the correct GPS  coordinates.  Clearly, he has done this many times, and that is why I told him that I would hunt the way he hunts.  And he is a one of a kind tree-roosting aficionado, sometimes he actually sleeps in the tree with the turkeys; Prefers to setup, not 200, 100 or even 50 yards from roosted birds, rather, right in the middle of them.

There was a certain surrealness sitting under roosted turkeys expecting the morning light to brighten and instead, it became quite dark after the moon set as we waited for the first glimmers of sunrise.  However, the turkeys had no inhibition and continued to call and gobble to each other.  They did not seem to care there were coyotes on the prowl, raccoons screaming out their mating calls; every sound caused all those anxious roosted birds to turn up the volume. Treerooster was supposed to do the calling but any calls we’d have made would be the equivalent of spitting in the ocean due to all the actual turkey noise.

Is there such a thing as sonic boom gobbling?  Had anyone asked me this question before my first-morning hunt in Colorado I would have thought them crazy.  But, not now. A couple of mallards came flying through the trees, and one of them quacked, this caused such loud gobbling that it caused the ducks so much turbulence they almost fell out of the air.  Laughter would have erupted from me had my ears not hurt so bad, never before did I wish to turn down or remove my hearing aids on a turkey hunt.  What had been 15 roosted gobblers was now apparently 50-70 raucous male turkeys surrounding us on all sides. In almost 40 years of turkey hunting, I have never experienced anything like this.

When the hens snuck up from behind on my five, I became concerned if I didn’t get a tom out this huge group I’d have egg on my face and some explaining to do. Hen turkeys are notorious for messing up a well-planned gobbler killing strategy. One of those hens got so close she could have rested her beak on my shoulder when she yelped.  I swear I felt her spittle on my cheek.  If she putted, no one here noticed and none of the turkeys noticed the deer that almost tripped over my boot.  Thankfully, the deer did not notice me, perhaps due to all the ruckus from turkeys.

 

Treerooster and charlie with Colorado opening day Rio wild turkey

More gobblers flew down; it was quickly getting crowded here on the ground. Finally, the one who had strutted back and forth from one end of the limb to the other launched and sailed in.  Lesser turkeys scrambled out of his way, for a brief moment he disappeared in the dawn’s light.  As his head came around the other side of some wispy brush I made a quick check for any other turkeys in the area, the roar of the Benelli caused a literal explosion of turkey wings clawing at the air and every sound these large birds can make filled the woods and the surrounding grassland.

In almost forty years of turkey hunting, I’d never experienced anything like that Colorado morning.  We ended the

charlie carrying Rio turkey from the kill site.

hunt intoxicated by overdosing on a whole lot of wild turkey. The non-alcoholic kind.

Hip boots are required for access.

 

Crossing the river with the turkey while using a  walking stick to stabilize footing on the shifting sands.

 

Pause to soak in the hunt and wide open scenery.

 

Treerooster’s very comfortable camp.  Where charlie managed to arrive the day before right after treerooster got is setup.

 

Hey treerooster, thanks for the best of the best turkey hunting experiences.

 

Wisconsin 2017 Spring Turkey Hunt Forecast

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Spring 2017 is going to be good turkey hunting.  After all, this is Wisconsin, home of 500,000+wild  turkeys the only thing that keeps Wisconsin turkey hunters from harvesting more turkeys than any other state is the licensing scheme.  The licensing process here is exclusionary by design it prevents a large number of its hunters from taking part in the spring hunt during the first 3 weeks of the season when the toms are most actively gobbling.  In any case, for those with tags in their pocket hunting will good and the harvest will be in the Wisconsin average range.

During my pre-spring wanderings, I have found turkeys in some really unlikely areas such as this-

Are turkeys really around here in this desert like area?

Yes, apparently

There are a lot of wild turkeys in Wisconsin, it’s all good, bring on the spring hunt.

The first 2017 spring hunt season is starting about a week later than usual so late start could hamper the harvest of hunters who must hear gobbling in order to be successful.  If the later start causes hunter effort to drop off then the harvest will be lower perhaps in the low 40 thousand range.

This forecast is not, in any way related to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rather it is based on charlie elk’s experience, observations and fellow turkey spies across the great turkey state of Wisconsin. The first charlie turkey forecast was done in 2014 and was the opposite of WDNR dire forecast, they had forecast bad spring turkey hunting with low harvest due to the worst winter severity index ever.   WDNR even cut permits by 25% at the last minute.  In spite of the spring permit reductions, charlie took an opposing view and predicted a higher than average harvest. This was based on the incredible number of turkeys across the landscape during the fall of 2012 and even considering the tough 2013 winter there were very few dead turkeys reported.  Turkeys are not deer so you can not apply deer management theory to turkeys.  The winter severity index was developed for deer managers, not turkey managers.  Turkeys have wings and when local conditions get bad they fly out of the locale for better areas. 

 

Velvet Trophy Shows His Stuff

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vic preparing for setup

Due to Vic’s training, he will not chase deer.

On Sunday, Vic and I were out for a woodland stroll during the lunch hour.  Of course, our ultimate goal is to locate turkeys and check on the local flock dynamics.  There are so many deer across the landscape these days that most of the time they just blend into the background, but then on occasion, a few standout.

You never know what you'll see on a summertime stroll in a Wisconsin Woodland

You never know what you’ll see on a summertime stroll in a Wisconsin Woodland.

This smallish velvet buck was eating small burning nettles, as Vic and I approached he lifted his head and walked over to get a better look at us.  Fortunately, I had my camera and was able to get out and turned on.

Deer, including trophy class bucks are not afraid of dogs.

Deer, including trophy class bucks, are not afraid of dogs.

As the deer approached, Vic sat near my left leg, so I was able to snap this picture of a beautiful public land buck.  After spending the better part of a half a century pursuing trophies like this, I marvel at how at home they are around dogs.  I wrote about deer and dogs here.   I know what some readers are thinking, “Oh, well, that’s just a summertime buck.”  Wrong, this happens in the fall while wild turkey hunting, pheasant, grouse, or woodcock hunting.  At that time of year, a shotgun is in my hands, and the camera is in a waterproof, cushioned pocket so getting a picture like this is more challenging.  Interestingly the deer will tolerate my dog even if he growls or barks at them, but they will not stand around when I start digging in my pockets.

My passion these days, fall turkey hunting, so now the question I ponder; Should I go out this season and take him or should I give the GPS coordinates to some other deserving hunter?

Deer can’t be reliably saved for future years because there are too many hazards in the wild that most likely will take their lives.  In Wisconsin, a buck deer like this has about a 50% CWD infection rate.  There is a 50/50 chance  that any buck you encounter will look like this next year.

Patrick Durkin wrote an excellent piece on CWD in WI.

Patrick Durkin wrote an excellent piece on CWD in WI.  His article should be mandatory reading for all hunters.

Somewhere along the line this fall I’ll meet a deerhunter who’d like a crack at a nice buck and I’ll give them the coordinates.  Perhaps, they’ll tip me off as to where all those turkeys I’ve been seeing went.

Does Wild Venison Tastes Best when Procured in September or Early October?

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Early Season Buck

Ever wonder if wild deer meat, venison, has a different taste and or meat quality during the year?  Which is better table fare; a buck, doe or fawn?  Many a deer hunting camp have hotly debated the second question, but it seems no one talks about or even thinks about the first question.  Perhaps, this is because due to work and family commitments most deer hunters have a limited window of time to hunt and as a result hunt during their state’s firearm season.  Most gun seasons are open later in the fall, so without a thought of hunting any other time they go out to fill freezer when they can.

Deer killed in November and December are good to eat and for many outdoor folks, some very excellent eats indeed.

Whitetail deer numbers have grown significantly since the late 1960’s, and early 70’s when some states had to close deer season due to the small numbers or in some areas where there were no deer.  Nowadays, deer are found all over the country with very liberal deer hunting doe-2-fawnsseasons.

Here in Wisconsin farm country, deer season starts with archery mid-September continuing with a variety of seasons into January.  The long season structures give deer hunters the chance to shoot, eat and compare table venison each month of the fall.

I have killed deer throughout all of the seasons, in many years I have taken deer during each month of the open hunting periods and found early season (mid-September to mid-October) venison is the best eating.  Here’s why:

  • No matter which sex the deer, they have less fat or tallow on and in their flesh.  Tallow is not pleasant to eat, without the fat build up the venison’s flavor is not tainted nor gamey.
  •  Deer food sources are abundant and varied, so the animal does not need to travel very far to eat. Nor do they need to eat a lot during the summer months, so their meat is more tender due to much less effort required to live comfortably.
  • Neither bucks or does pay much attention to each other, for the most they stay in their chosen territories eating and sleeping to build up strength for the upcoming rut in early November.
  • The reproduction hormones are not flowing yet.  The production of these hormones seems to change both the texture and flavor, not saying it’s bad, just different.
  • Starting late October the deer begin to move about much more.  Bucks are on the move setting up breeding territories while the does attempt to avoid them.  All the extra exercise firms up the muscles which have a direct effect on the texture of the table venison.

Deer watching

Several times when I have had dinner guests we dined on venison from each month, and there has not been a single guest who did not prefer the early season deer over the later season.  All the venison is delicious no matter when it’s taken so continue hunting and enjoying yours.  Just, if you get the chance at a September deer, take it and see what you think.

turkeyanddoe

July Gobbling in Wisconsin; when and why wild turkeys gobble

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Turkeys gobble all year long.

 

July 21, 2016, the sunrise was greeted by profuse gobbling.  How cool is that on what is predicted to be the hottest day of the summer?

Why do gobblers gobble in July?

This morning is not the first time I have heard gobbling toms during the summer months.  There always has been a bit of mystery as to why there is any gobbling outside of the traditional spring mating season.  As a matter of fact, I’ve heard male turkeys sounding off during every month of the year, plus, many of my fellow hunters report the same type of off-season gobbling all year long.

Here is my reasoning as to the timing of gobbles

Late January – March:

  • Male turkeys are coming out of winter with different levels of physical strength along with differing levels of mating hormones.  The pecking order as established last fall is in the process of being reorganized while the bachelor flocks are beginning to separate.  All of this change is very exciting causing much gobbling.

April – May:

  • Of course, all hunters know this is mating time, the gobbling is an attempt to attract hens and scare off lower ranking toms and jakes. A mystery many hunters ponder is why on some of the spring days the sound of gobbling rings throughout woodlands and on other equally nice weather days mornings can be greeted by silence?  Personally, for the most part, I believe the amount of gobbling is directly related to the willingness of hens to mate and the number of gobblers competing for the hen’s attention.

June – August

  • During June gobbling for mating is winding down and the remaining male turkeys are becoming more interested in forming their

    Courtesy of D Gordon Robertson

    Courtesy of D Gordon Robertson

    summertime bachelor groups.  Some strutting and gobbling continue in an attempt to locate hens that did not breed or have lost their nest.  I’ve seen toms strutting in fields with attentive hens as late as the first week in August.

  • Male turkeys are less competitive and because they are seeking each other’s company rather than only focusing on hens.  Gobbling and coarse yelps are used to find each other.  A lot less fighting takes place at this time of year.

 

September

  • The jakes of the year are asserting themselves and anytime during the day short higher pitch gobbles will be heard.  They will be leaving

    Jakes milling around

    Jakes milling around

    their broods to form what I think of as gangs, much like teenagers who don’t want anything to do with the brood hen.  Many times these jakes seek out broods of hens with jennies to target for harassment.

  • September is an exciting time to hunt these jakes.  When you find them, they respond quickly and aggressively to calling.  Wisconsin fall turkey season opens mid-September.

October – November

  • Winter flock formation begins to take place in earnest.  As these weeks click by the flocks become larger as more birds join male flocks with separate flocks for the ladies.  Establishing pecking order in both flocks is contentious, so wild turkey calls abound at all times of the day.
  • Male turkeys, in particular, will fight, gobble and yell at each other.; This is the best time to get a fall gobbler, considered an extra special trophy by many hunters.

December – January

  • Winter has arrived, the turkeys settle in with the acquisition of food high on their daily agenda.  Occasional tiffs and arguments erupt beard swinging gobblerover the more desired food sources.  A few gobble will be heard from time to time, but mostly angry purrs or clucks warn off an encroaching turkey.
  • If a band of turkeys finds one particularly, abundant food source they will call to others and males may gobble.

All of the above is reason enough to get hooked on year-round turkey hunting.