Windy Day Turkey Hunting
Spring turkey hunting often comes with a variety of conditions. A windy day is one of those that frequently occurs. The wind can make things a little more challenging.
Windy days create hunting issues for both the turkey and the hunter. The turkeys will have limited hearing abilities. They will also have sight issues due to the steady movement of leaves, limbs, or bushes.
The hunter will also have sound issues. They will not be able to hear clearly as sounds will be muffled by the wind. So hearing any gobbles will be limited if at all.
To combat windy day concerns, hunters can rely on previous turkey scouting knowledge. Being familiar with the terrain and habits of the turkeys will be a plus.
Hunt near areas frequently visited by the turkeys. Also search for open type areas such as fields that are surrounded by trees to help block the wind.
Other places such as low bottom areas that are surrounded by ridges can also be considered. Often the south side of a ridge can be effective.
Sometimes being more patient is the key. Find a good setup area and wait on the turkeys arrival. There will also be times when moving slowly from one area frequented by turkeys to another may be better.
When calling, use high pitched loud calls. A box call or an aluminum striker call can be effective during windy day conditions. Remember that the wind will muffle sounds so the distances will be reduced.
Also stay alert for movement. If by chance a gobble is heard, remember that due to the wind, the sounds will usually be closer than they appear.
Another windy day location could be a turkey strut zone area. Regardless of conditions, at some point during the day, turkeys may show up at such locations.
Although turkey hunting in the wind does create issues, being in the woods regardless of conditions will often be beneficial to the hunter.
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Turkey Hunting Strut Zones
The strut zones can be primary locations for turkey hunting. These areas are used frequently during the spring season. Here are a few tips for strut zone hunting.
What Are Strut Zones
Strut zones are areas that gobblers go in order to locate hens. These areas generally will be located near a primary food source. They may include ridge tops, flat bottom areas, logging trails, or agricultural fields.
Identifying Strut Zones
There are many characteristics of strut zones. There are usually an abundance of hen and gobbler tracks. There may be large amounts of hen and gobbler droppings. There may be dropped feathers. There are usually gobbler strut marks.
Note: A gobbler strut mark usually consist of three lines on both sides of gobbler tracks. They are made when gobblers drag their primary feathers on the ground while strutting.
How To Locate Strut Zones
Strut zones can be located by spending enough time scouting the turkey hunting areas. Look for food source areas and confirm the locations by finding the markings related to strut zones.
Observing fields or other areas with binoculars can also be effective. Making contact with land owners, other hunters, or wildlife officials can also be helpful.
Hunting Strut Zones
Strut zones are high trafficked areas used by hens. Gobblers instinctively know this and generally will keep check on these areas.
Sometimes the gobblers will go to these areas and gobble while waiting for the hens arrival. Other times the gobbler may only strut without ever making a gobble sound.
Under normal conditions, strut zones will be used from year to year. Even if a gobbler is harvested in such areas, another gobbler will generally take his place.
By finding these locations, hunters can setup accordingly and wait for the gobblers arrival. Decoys and calling tactics can be used but are not always necessary.
There may be one or several strut zone areas on any given tract of land. By hunting these areas throughout the season, the odds of seeing gobblers usually improves.
By understanding what strut zones are, identifying and locating them, and hunting these areas, the chances of success are generally better.
Turkey Hunting Decoy Setups
The use of decoys for turkey hunting at times can be beneficial. Decoys provide a visual object for the gobbler to see upon approach. Often decoys can be the deciding factor on whether or not the gobbler comes close enough to a setup area. Here are a few examples of how decoys can be used.
Single Hen
The single hen decoy is often very effective. It is one of the more frequently used decoy setups. Single hen decoys can be used throughout the spring season but work well as the season progresses. They are very good for both mature and young gobblers.
Single Jake
The single jake decoy can also be effective on gobblers of all ages. Young gobblers will come to jake decoys out of curiosity or companionship. Mature gobblers will come in often to rid the intruder from the area.
Single Jake Single Hen
The use of a single jake and hen combination can lead to excitement. A mature gobbler will approach such a setup with the intentions of beating up the jake and leaving with the hen. This is an often used style when hunting aggressively.
Strutting Gobbler With Hens
Decoys of a strutting gobbler with a single or several hens can also be used. The idea is to irritate or challenge a mature gobbler into thinking his hens are being stolen away. This is often a confrontational type setup. Not as effective as other setups but occasionally is ideal under certain situations.
Breeding Gobbler And Hen
The breeding gobbler and hen decoys can sometimes work as well. A mature gobbler will often approach looking for a fight. Probably one of the least used types of setups but in the right situation can be effective.
Several Hens
The use of several hen decoys offers a variety for gobblers. In the simplest form, the more hens there are, the more likely one will be ready to breed. This type of setup can be effective in the spring but also can be used during the fall season.
Decoy Tips
The decoy should be placed in areas with high visibility. It should be about twenty yards away from the hunter. By facing the decoy in the direction of the hunter, gobblers often will come in between the two. Make sure the decoys are secure and do not spin around during wind gust.
Venison Soup Burgers
Recipe for cooking venison soup burgers.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison
1 can tomato soup
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons mustard
choice of preferred seasonings
buns
Procedures:
1. Brown venison in skillet. Drain. Return to skillet.
2. Add can of tomato soup. (No water)
3. Add ketchup, mustard, and choice of any preferred seasonings.
4. Heat on medium until bubbly.
5. Serve on buns.
Venison Fiesta Meat Loaf
Deer cooking recipe for venison fiesta meat loaf.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground deer venison
1 cup onion (chopped)
1 cup green pepper (chopped)
1 cup celery (chopped)
1 cup chili sauce
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
Procedures:
1. Using skillet, cook green pepper, onion, and celery until tender in margarine.
2. In large mixing bowl, mix venison, bread crumbs, chili sauce, egg, salt, pepper, and cooked ingredients.
3. Form into a loaf and place in baking pan.
4. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.
How To Aim At Turkeys
Proper Turkey Hunting Aiming Tactics
Regardless of their large size, turkeys are not an easy bird to harvest. There have been, and will continue to be, many blown chances due to a variety of hunter mistakes. Here are a few aiming tactics for a successful turkey hunting harvest.
Proper Distance
Before attempting any shot on a turkey, the hunter must know the proper distance of where the turkey is standing. This issue can be resolved by walking off distances around the set up area and marking this distances with a rock or stick. The use of modern range finders can also aid in this task.
Proper Gun Form
How the hunter holds the gun will impact the shot as well. The use of proper form is important. The gun should be held snug against the shoulder. The hunter’s cheek should be down and resting against the gun stock. The hunter should be looking directly down the gun barrel. The use of special turkey sights or scopes can help with alignment issues.
Obstacles
Sometimes there are obstacles such as limbs or bushes that may prevent a clear shot. Since a turkey may come from any direction, it is best to set up in areas that offer many shot opportunities. This way the hunter will have several options to choose from.
Proper Aim
In order to make a clean shot on a turkey, the hunter must hit the turkey in the neck and head areas. Aim at the center of the neck between the head and the bottom of the neck where the feathers start. This should allow the pellets to spread throughout the head and neck areas.
Making sure to aim properly, use good gun form, know your distances, avoid obstacles, and the odds of a successful harvest will improve.
Diaphragm Turkey Call Reed Differences
The diaphragm turkey call has become one of the most popular calls to date. The call provides the hunter with the ability to produce all sounds made by the wild turkey. There are many varieties of the diaphragm call on the market. For the most part these differences are based upon the type and amount of reeds. Here is a look at these reeds.
Thin reeds will aid the caller in making easier notes. The reeds are easier to blow air through. The different sounds made by thin reeds are a result in the number of reeds on the call.
Thicker reeds generally produce a louder sound. The are harder to master due to added amount of air flow needed to correctly make turkey sounds.
Notched or split reeds are intended to create a more raspy sound when cutting or cackling.
Single reed calls are the easiest to use and are excellent for beginners. They make good yelps and clucks. They have clear tones. They require less air flow to use properly.
Double reed calls provide more note action. They generally provide higher volume and tones. They offer a more coarse sound and are raspier than single reeds. They allow for better cutting and cackling sounds. They are good for beginners but do require a little more practice.
Three or more reeds are raspier sounding and bring more excitement and volume to the call. The are very beneficial in expanding turkey sounds. They are harder to use and intended for more experienced callers.
Stacked reeds create intense cutting and cackling sounds. They are generally raspier like an older hen. They produce higher volumes. They are better for experienced callers as they require a longer time to master.
If new to using mouth calls it is best to start with a single or double thin reed call. As calling abilities increase experimenting with additional reeds, splits, or stacks can be helpful in perfecting more sounds.
Diaphragm turkey calls are usually the clearest and most realistic sounding of all calls. They are harder to learn but with enough practice can be perfected. The results of being proficient will usually be worth the additional time needed.
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Slow Cooked Venison Chili
Recipe for venison slow cooked chili.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground deer venison
2 (16 ounce) cans kidney beans
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 green pepper (chopped)
2 onions (chopped)
2.5 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Procedures:
1. Brown venison in skillet. Drain.
2. Place cooked venison in slow cooker.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Cover.
4. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
Awesome Dixie Deer Classic
This year the Wake County Wildlife Club presented another outstanding Dixie Deer Classic. The 30th annual three day event provided hunters and outdoorsman with some much needed relief from the winter blues.
I especially enjoyed sitting in on a variety of seminars. They were educational, entertaining, and often humorous. Special guest Michael Waddell along with special guest Lee and Tiffany Lakosky also provided great seminars with their vast knowledge and experiences in the field.
The hunting exhibitor booths offered something for everyone from kids to adults. Good thing the event lasted for three days as there was so much to see and do. There seemed to be tremendous crowds each day.
The Outdoors Lore workshops provided useful and valuable information on a wide variety of topics.
The deer racks scoring competition offered many outstanding deer from the state. There was also an exceptional display of record bucks from around the country.
I was very impressed with the added attention given to kids. The “Take A Walk On The Wild Side” program provided educational workshops, seminars, and hands on demonstrations.
The show was well managed and provided maps and directions for ease of access to all events.
My hats off to the Wake County Wildlife Club for another awesome show. I look forward to next year.
4 Shooting Tips
To be successful at deer hunting, one must become proficient with the weapon of choice. There are many reasons that one can make a poor shot. However there are a few tips that can be used to improve skills.
Practice Shooting
The serious hunter knows that before entering any deer hunting situation, one must be willing to practice shooting. Those that do not, should not be in the woods.
The hunter owes it to the deer and to other hunters that do what it takes to be proficient. Practicing is common sense, ethical, and improves safety. One should not take a weapon out without knowing how to properly use.
Use A Good Stand
Although hunters prefer stands that are less bulky and light weight, don’t compromise space to accomplish this. A stand should be large enough to move around in with ease.
There are plenty of stands on the market that are roomy enough and are made of lighter materials. The hunter shouldn’t bang his knees or be afraid to move.
Having more space will allow the hunter room to adjust better for cleaner shot placement. This will also provide more comfort.
Use A Rest
The use of a shooting rest with firearms will allow the hunter to be more stable with the shot. There are rest made for ground use and stand use. There are also bi-pod rest that attach directly to the firearm.
In a bind, the use of the side of a tree or placing firearms across limbs will also help improve on accuracy.
Stretch A Leg
When sitting for extended periods of time in stands or grounds, it is easy for the hunter to have muscle fatigue. This could cause problems while attempting shots.
To combat this, hunters can stand up periodically to stretch out their muscles. Also raise the weapon up to shooting position and hold for 10-20 seconds to keep the upper body loose.
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