I have just under 30 days before my turkey permit is good.  May 4th. is the magic date, and I can’t wait.  Usually the late season (me) is much slower than the first two weeks, but weather can play a big part in gobbler activity.  We are getting a late season snow storm right now, and generally speaking the weather has been cold, wet, and windy.  Those conditions could push back the mating/nesting activity a couple weeks.  That would play right into my turkey calling hands!

In the above picture I am holding a “Jake” that I took with my bow.  Two turkey have fallen to my arrows, but it hasn’t been easy.  Turkey’s eyesight is so keen, that it’s next to impossible to draw your bow on them.  The newer portable ground blinds help, but they are no guarantee for success.  I took the pictured bird from a blind.  Four Jake’s came into my decoy set-up, and I shot the one with the longest beard.  I didn’t get heart or lungs, and a 250 yard tracking job was needed, to put this young Tom in the freezer.  He expired in a swamp, and that is why he looks rather water-logged.  My grandson Quinn helped me track, and actually played a big part in this birds recovery.

A turkey hunter needs to know where the heart and lungs are located in its chest cavity.  They sit much lower than you would think.  There is a new turkey head on the market called the guillotine, and it’s made for a head/neck shot.  They are only accurate to about 15 yards, but it shouldn’t be a problem drawing a bird in that close, with the right set-up.  Of course if your using a shotgun, make sure you pattern your gun.  Go for the head and neck area, preferably when he sticks it out to let out a gobble.  In most cases 4-6 shoot will work fine, but remember those wings, and chest feathers are dense.  Save your B-B’s for that red head and swollen neck!

Mike