TO PUBLIC HUNTING, FROM THE ROLLING OAK AND GRAY PINE FOOTHILLS, TO THE RUGGED PONDEROSA PINE COVERED MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS IT. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS ALSO HOME TO HEALTHY POPULATIONS OF THE THREE OUT THE FOUR NORTH AMERICAN WILD TURKEY SUBSPECIES (RIO GRANDE, EASTERN, MERRIAMS). WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HUNT ONE STATE AND ALMOST COMPLETE A GRAND SLAM! THERE IS SO MUCH TRASH LITTERING OUR PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS IT MAKES ME SICK. HELP KEEP OUR LANDS LOOKING WILD AND PACK OUT WHAT YOU PACK IN. IF YOU SEE GARBAGE ON THE TRAILS PICK IT UP. REMEMBER THE EASIEST WAY FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ARISING ON THE LAND THEY MANAGE IS TO CLOSE THE AREA. |
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF CALLS ON THE MARKET THEY ALL SERVE A PURPOSE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HUNTING SITUATIONS. THE FIRST STEP TO CALLING TURKEYS IS FINDING A CALL OR CALLS THAT WILL WORK FOR YOUR HUNTING SITUATION. NEXT STEP IS TO PRACTICE AND LEARN YOUR CALLS LIMITATIONS. MY CALL OF CHOICE IS THE BOX CALL. I HAVE USED THE SAME CALL FOR 15 YEARS AND KILLED MANY NICE GOBBLERS USING IT. THE BOX CALL IS EASY TO USE AND CAN ADAPT TO ANY HUNT. THE ONLY LIMITATION TO THE BOX CALL IS MOISTURE. I HAVE FOUND THE LESS CHALK ON THE CALL ON WET DAYS THE BETTER IT WILL WORK. THERE IS A REASON THE BOX CALL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A CENTURY OR SO BECAUSE IT WORKS WELL. SLATE CALLS WORK EQUALLY AS WELL AS THE BOX CALL BUT SLATE CALLS REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE FINESSE AND PRACTICE TO MAKE SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TURKEY SOUNDS. DIAPHRAGM CALLS ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO MASTER AND THEY DO SOUND GOOD. ANOTHER PLUS TO THE DIAPHRAGM CALL IS THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY EXTREMITY MOVEMENTS TO SCARE OFF THAT EVERY SO WARY TOM. WHAT EVER CALL YOU CHOSE IS COMPLETELY UP TO YOU BUT REMEMBER PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. CALLING TURKEYS IS NOT BRAIN SURGERY. THEY WILL EITHER RESPOND TO YOUR CALLS OR THEY WONT. THIS IS WHERE HUNTING EXPERIENCE COMES INTO PLAY ON PROPER SET UP AND STALKING TECHNIQUES. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT NEED A HOBBY IN THE OFF SEASON TRY MAKING YOUR OWN CALL. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL SLATE AND BOX TURKEY CALLERS. IT IS FUN AND THEY MAKE GREAT GIFTS FOR YOUR HUNTING BUDDIES. I HAVE LISTED SOME CALL MAKING SUPPLY COMPANIES ON THE LINK PAGE. SOME OF THE BOX CALLS I HAVE MADE ARE PICTURED BELOW. |
SECOND, GO INTO THE AREA AND LOOK FOR SIGN, FOOD AND WATER. THE TURKEY SIGN YOU FIND WILL TELL YOU IF THERE ARE A LOT OF BIRDS IN USING THE AREA AND WHERE THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME. THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND THE ROOST TREE IS TO SCOUT THE AREA AT DUSK AND LISTEN FOR BIRDS. TRY NOT TO DISTURB THE BIRDS WHILE THEY ARE ROOSTING, BECAUSE THEY WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER ROOST AREA IF DISTURBED. HUNTING BIRDS OFF THE ROOST IS THE BEST WAY TO BAG A BIG TOM EARLY IN THE SEASON. I HAVE FOUND MOST TURKEYS WILL STAY IN THE SAME AREA AND CONDUCT THE SAME DAILY ROUTINE UNTIL DISTURBED. IT IS A PLUS TO FIND THEIR ROOST TREE, BUT IS NOT NECESSARY. SINCE I HUNT PUBLIC LAND I HAVE FOUND MOST THE SMALLER AREAS DON'T PROVIDE THE ROOST TREES THE TURKEYS PREFER AND MOST BIRDS WILL ROOST ON THE ADJACENT PRIVATE LAND. HOWEVER, BIRDS WILL EITHER FLY OVER OR STRAY ONTO PUBLIC GROUND DURING THE DAY. THIS IS WHERE YOUR PRESEASON SCOUTING WILL PAY OFF. LATER IN THE SEASON BIRDS WILL AVOID THE SMALLER PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS ALTOGETHER. THIS IS WHEN YOUR CALLING SKILLS COME INTO PLAY. A GOOD TURKEY CALLER IN AN EQUALLY GOOD POSITION CAN GET A GOBBLER TO LEAVE THE SAFETY OF THE PRIVATE LAND TO INVESTIGATE THE SWEET NOTES YOU SEND HIM FROM THE ADJACENT PUBLIC AREA. SCOUTING THE LARGER MORE REMOTE PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS WILL PREVENT BLISTERS ON YOUR FEET AND AN UNSUCCESSFUL HUNT DURING THE SEASON. I HAVE SPENT YEARS FINDING AND SCOUTING MY SECRET HUNTING SPOTS. MOST OF THEM ARE HUNTED BY THE MOST DIE HARD TURKEY HUNTERS WHO AREN'T AFRAID OF A LITTLE HIKE TO BAG THEIR BIRD. I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP MY TURKEY HOT SPOTS, BUT I HAVE PROVIDED A LINK BELOW TO AID HUNTERS WITH FINDING THEIR POTENTIAL HOT SPOTS. |
KNOW MOST OF THE TIME IT IS UNAVOIDABLE BECAUSE WERE AFTER THE SAME THING, BUT IF I SAY SOMETHING PLEASE DON'T DO THE FOLLOWING: 1) IGNORE ME AND SET UP 50 YARDS AWAY 2) GIVE ME DIRTY LOOKS, YELL AT ME OR GIVE ME ATTITUDE CAUSE I BEAT YOU TO THE SPOT. 3) START STALKING THE BIRD I'M CALLING, MOVE ON AND FIND YOUR OWN BIRD. THE SEASON IS PLENTY LONG AND THERES NOT A SHORTAGE OF BIRDS. BE KIND TO YOUR FELLOW HUNTER IT MAKES THE HUNT ALL THE BETTER IN THE END. |
A FULL OR EXTRA FULL TURKEY CHOKE. UNLESS YOU MODIFY YOUR SHOTGUN, YOU TYPICALLY WILL ONLY NEED TO DO THIS ONCE. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON BOWS AND ARROWS, BUT JUST LIKE CALLING YOU NEED TO PRACTICE YOUR SHOTS BEFORE THE SEASON. THERES NOTHING WORST THEN TO SEE A NICE GOBBLER GIMPING AROUND THE WOODS WITH AND ARROW STICKING THROUGH HIS BODY. I HAVE SEEN A VIDEO WITH THE GOBBLER GUILLOTINE BROADHEAD AND IT LOOKS PRETTY EFFECTIVE. GUILLOTINE VIDEO |
GRAY PINE, GREAT ROOST TREE
BLACK OAK
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST
OAK WOODLANDS
GREAT PUBLIC HUNTING AREA
PONDEROSA FOREST
bird mounted is super expensive from $400 (flying or standing) to $800 (full strut). My wife is not a big fan of having these huge birds adorn the walls of our home. So, I usually cut the fan off hang it in the garage and put the beard and spurs in a nice box I made. However, I have mounted a bird myself and I can see why the taxidermists charge the prices they do. It was a royal pain. It was a monster Tom my brother shot back in 1995. I mounted it for him and gave it as a Christmas present. I think the mount turned out well. If you are thinking of mounting a bird yourself. Start off by practicing on a bird much smaller like a pheasant. This will give you an idea on what you will be doing with a turkey. Then get a good instruction video or book. Finally set aside plenty of time and just do it. I have included some pictures of the Tom I mounted below. Inspection The thaw and prep The kill Forming Finished Product |
For those of you who would like to practice your taxidermy skills try mounting a Jake or hen for a realistic looking decoy. Joe Slaton has done this and has
had some awesome results. See the pictures below Joe sent in.
had some awesome results. See the pictures below Joe sent in.
