Tag: Turkey
Meaning Of Thanksgiving At The ‘J’ Ranch
What It Means to Celebrate Thanksgiving At The ‘J’ Ranch
As a holiday celebration that prominently features a turkey dinner feast, it is front and center in this author’s thoughts. Having had several medical “Hard Resets” in the past fourteen months, a celebration of “What am I thankful for,” has my undivided attention. Here at the ‘J’ Ranch, Joyner Outdoor Media, there is a long list of things to be thankful for. The shortlist for this grumpy old turkey hunter includes a good supply of gobblers to chase next season.
I am literally thankful to wake up each morning. Thankful for the love of a good woman, my children, grandchildren, family, and friends. I am thankful for a career that is peaking in years when most are retiring out. I am also thankful to be able to walk again under the stars of a Texas sky this past spring. Gaining back the stength to climb a ridge to be on the same level with a bird in the turkey woods is something I am so grateful for. I was nearly denied temporarily or could have turned out worse had my medical issues resolved differently. Those are just highlighted ones; the list could run through several pages and my ability to recall them all.
This Thanksgiving will be observed in its full meaning here as I hope it will be at your home. Most years, a jake or jenny taken in the fall is featured as an essential part of our feast. My fall birds this year were taken in Missouri. The bounty will be enjoyed at Squaw Creek Lodge in Northwestern Missouri. It is a milestone as the first harvested gobblers taken there since the opening of the new outfitting business. At the “J’ Ranch we may use a bird taken this Spring in New York. It is our tradition to use a wild turkey for the thanksgiving feast or Christmas meal. Some years it is done for both holiday festivities.
This Thanksgiving, every holiday, truthfully every day, we rise to take on the day. We have much to be thankful for. Our lives are not perfect reflections of bedtime stories, romantic-themed movies, lofty ideals. It is seldom the fast-paced living on the edge, amps on 11 lifestyles. It sure looks good in a video and especially looks good on paper. Our lives twist and turn, we lose those we love. We are at times disappointed in ourselves. We can be discouraged by events. Sometimes let down in our expectations of others. It happens to all of us in varying degrees. It occurs at different times and places without regard to our stations in life.
We dust ourselves off from the imperfections, disappointments. We resolve the intentional or unintentional offensives and we take it on again the next day. That is the American spirit that we are proud to say. It is our common connection to others no matter where they come from. We celebrate the good in our lives, in others, the special moments, and the successes.
Your crazy deranged relatives at the Thanksgiving dinner table are actually human by birth. You might be surprised to know they live, love, lose, worry, and suffer for the same reasons yourself. They take joy in spending a day with you in it. Having the company of others on this holiday is no more complicated than that. Some of you may accept the challenge.
With many followers and friends here on social media, there is a continual list of those to pray for. Some, for the most tragic of circumstances. There are those passed unexpectedly, afflicted by disease, severe medical issues or addictions. There are many reaching out, struggling with divorce, and those with broken or dysfunctional families. I am one of many who include you in our collective thoughts and prayers. It is a stark reminder of what blessings I may have and to not take them for granted. We can for at least a few brief moments be of comfort in our responses and our actions. Not facing your strife alone, to know others are rooting for you is the upside of being human.
It is my sincere wish that all of you enjoy a day with family and close friends. May your joy and love of others leave no room for/cast away the things that divide us. We can surely do without the hateful politics, and contrived drama far from our homes and hearts.
Happy Thanksgiving!
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
DEC Finalizes ’22-’23 Wild Turkey Regulations
DEC Finalizes Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations for 2022-2023 seasons. The anticipated changes to open a spring season on Long Island and update shot size changes to include the #9 shot have been approved. Both are long-awaited changes. If you spend any time out on Long Island you will quickly learn they are long overdue for a spring season. One of the few areas of the state not seeing a decline. The shot size change accommodates the popular TSS formulations that are a game changer for small bore shotguns albeit expensive and overdone in traditional 10 and 12-gauge offerings. It will make a huge difference in the performance of your 20-28 gauge and 410 blunderbusses.
From the NYSDEC:
DEC Finalizes Regulations to Expand, Improve Wild Turkey Hunting
Changes Create a New Hunting Opportunity on Long Island and Modernize Hunting Regulations
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced changes to wild turkey hunting regulations that will provide hunters additional hunting opportunities. The finalized regulation establishes a spring turkey season in Suffolk County in 2023, with a season limit of one bearded bird, and makes #9 shot legal for hunting turkeys statewide during the fall and spring seasons.
“Wild turkeys are a conservation success story in New York and across the United States,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Thanks to DEC’s careful management and restoration programs and the work of our conservation partners since the 1960s, sizable populations of turkeys can now be found in every region of the state. This new regulation will increase opportunities for New York turkey hunters and supports ongoing effective management of this game bird.”
Since the 1990s, the turkey population on Long Island has grown to more than 3,000 birds. In 2009, modern turkey hunting on Long Island began with a five-day fall season and a one-bird bag limit. After DEC established this season and later a two-day, youth-only spring season, area turkey populations continued to increase. Current turkey populations support additional hunting opportunities in the form of a spring season from May 1 through 31, with a bag limit of one bearded bird.
For most turkey hunters, the new spring 2023 season will be the first spring turkey hunting opportunity on Long Island. Spring turkey hunting on Long Island will begin in May 2023 in Suffolk County, Wildlife Management Unit 1C.
In addition, following a public comment period earlier this year, DEC is modernizing statewide turkey hunting regulations by changing the minimum shot size from #8 to #9 for turkey hunting statewide. The change was necessitated by advances in shotshell technology. Previously, shot sizes smaller than #8 (larger number indicates smaller size) were prohibited because they lacked the kinetic energy downrange to humanely harvest a turkey. Modern shotshells use heavier metals such as tungsten alloy, tungsten-iron, or bismuth, maintain enough energy to humanely harvest a turkey, and perform as well or better than many traditional turkey loads. Changes to shot size restrictions apply to both fall and spring seasons and go into effect on Sept. 1, 2022.
For more information about turkey hunting, visit DEC’s website.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
NY Counties Est. Wild Turkey Harvest Reports
In further examination of NY State wide harvest reports, https://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2368 we’ll look at this by the county-wide macro, all the way back before the observable peaks and what is considered by many to be the heyday of turkeys in nearly every place you might look for them. I ask that you consider this carefully from the larger view, rather than looking at widely varying micro-ecosystems. There is a list of precepts, assumptions, and points to make to take notice of and pay heed to before coming to any conclusions. In comparision to the state wide view, pay particular attention to the numbers as the lower estimated numbers appear to vary widely and can be attributed to many factors that tend to null each other out in a larger, macro scale.
Source data used:
The data from 1999 thru 2021 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links. Currently, active published links only go back to 2012.
NYSDEC data from 2006 thru 2021 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
NYSDEC data from 1999 thru 2005 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
The data from 1990 thru 1998 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links.
Precepts:
- All data used to create this is from NYSDEC published reports. All comments made here are not as a representative or authority of the NYSDEC or reviewed. Corrections, and or clarifications are sincerely welcomed to make this as accurate as feasibly possible.
- Estimation factors applied to reported harvest numbers are targeted to realistically represent poaching estimates, harvest reporting participation, and other factors identified by the NYSDEC.
- This is a sub-macro county-wide view. Anecdotally, each of us can cite absolute conclusions from our honey holes, the trash talk at the diners, conversations at the trail heads, etc. Managing the wildlife resource by region is the current method.
- Very few of us hunt more than a few counties any given season and even less are afield throughout the entire year. The extenuating factors to list by towns. public game lands, much less by individual parcels, tracts of land are too many, too varied to digest well enough to rationally get a handle of the widespread landscape of decline.
- The factors derived by the years 1999 through 2005 were averaged out by county and applied to estimate numbers for 1990 thru 1998. NYSDEC has not provided or published factors for these years. The peak factor numbers were not used in my calculations so as to not overstate the peak years. If such factoring data exists it would be much preferred
Observations:
- As the peak years are based only on derived averaged factoring, (1999-2005 Spring Season) it is a conservative estimate that the population is now roughly 20-25% of the peak population year. Some individual counties at first glance appear to be further declined. It will require correlation with license sales in those counties to validate that. What is sustainable year to year is not submitted or asserted here. It is far more complex than the harvest data thus far can suggest.
- The factoring spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 2.65 to 7.40.
- The average spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 4.06 to 5.71.
- The averaged factor among all NY counties = 4.57 (1999-2005 Spring Seasons)
- Translation- for every harvest reported. 3.57 turkeys across the Empire State were not reported or taken illegally. It is unclear as to what percentages or other contributors.
Comments:
I invite the NYDEC to comment to participate in communicating to New York Sportsmen as to what goes into the statistical modeling and factoring of yearly game harvest number estimates.
I will conclude by asking each of you to view this as trending data, not absolute. Hopefully, the folks at the NYSDEC will provide much more clarity to this and further explain the modeling and factoring that makes this a monitoring tool for the wild turkey resource we are so passionate about.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Estimated Wild Turkey Harvest Reports NY
With the ongoing concerns about the observable decline of wild turkey populations in the great Empire State, it is a timely exercise to take a look at the estimated harvest numbers. We’ll look at this by the statewide macro, all the way back before the observable peaks and what is considered by many to be the heyday of turkeys in nearly every place you might look for them. As a geeky engineer personality, I follow such statistics concerning our favored nemesis, including measurable trophy records. I ask that you consider this carefully from the macro view, as estimations rely on statistical modeling that bears true overall from large volumes of data rather than looking at widely varying micro-ecosystems. Before I dive into this further there is a list of precepts, assumptions, and points to make to take notice of and pay heed to before coming to any conclusions. The current topic of population decline is an emotional and often heated discussion full of finger-pointing and rife with blame and quick fixes. The purpose of this is to show how severe the decline is estimated to be.
Source data used:
The data from 1999 thru 2021 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links. Currently, active published links only go back to 2012.
NYSDEC data from 2006 thru 2021 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
NYSDEC data from 1999 thru 2005 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
The data from 1990 thru 1998 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links.
Precepts:
- All data used to create this is from NYSDEC published reports. All comments made here are not as a representative or authority of the NYSDEC or reviewed. Corrections, and or clarifications are sincerely welcomed to make this as accurate as feasibly possible.
- Estimation factors applied to reported harvest numbers are targeted to realistically represent poaching estimates, harvest reporting participation, and other factors identified by the NYSDEC. I would invite them to comment on what is involved in reaching estimation factors applied to each county.
- This is a macro statewide view. Anecdotally, each of us can cite absolute conclusions from our honey holes, the trash talk at the diners, conversations at the trail heads, etc. Managing the wildlife resource by region is the current method.
- Very few of us hunt more than a few counties any given season and even less are afield throughout the entire year. The extenuating factors to list by county much less by individual parcels, tracts of land are too many, too varied to digest well enough to rationally get a handle of the widespread landscape of decline. Such studies on micro ecosystems would take decades to complete and reach any consensus or actionable conclusions.
- The factors derived by the years 1999 through 2005 were averaged out by county and applied to estimate numbers for 1990 thru 1998. NYSDEC has not provided or published factors for these years. The peak factor numbers were not used in my calculations so as to not overstate the peak years. If such factoring data exists it would be much preferred
Observations:
- As the peak years are based only on derived averaged factoring, (1999-2005 Spring Season) it is a conservative estimate that the population is now roughly 20-25% of the peak population year. Some individual counties at first glance appear to be further declined. It will require correlation with license sales in those counties to validate that. What is sustainable year to year is not submitted or asserted here. It is far more complex than the harvest data thus far can suggest.
- The factoring spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 2.65 to 7.40.
- The average spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 4.06 to 5.71.
- The averaged factor among all NY counties = 4.57 (1999-2005 Spring Seasons)
- Translation- for every harvest reported. 3.57 turkeys across the Empire State were not reported or taken illegally. It is unclear as to what percentages or other contributors.
Comments:
I invite the NYDEC to comment to participate in communicating to New York Sportsmen as to what goes into the statistical modeling and factoring of yearly game harvest number estimates. Poaching of course is already illegal, over-harvest, etc. One thing each of us can control and improve as a group is the harvest reporting participation. 90-100% is possible. I can recall from NYSDEC -NY NWTF meetings during the change over from raw harvest data reporting to estimated harvest reporting, how low the harvest reporting participation was thought to be. I am a big fan of removing as much guessing as possible to improve the statistical modeling. With the population severely declining, how well does it bode to turn a blind eye to those we know that pile up a half dozen gobblers season after season before filling the first tag? It is not the primary reason for the decline but a contributing factor and hinders the ability to accurately model population trends, or stability.
We can do better. If we are to get a handle on the low-hanging fruit of root causes causing the population to decline, we need to get past this, what we can directly, and immediately control. This is a friendly reminder that as sportsmen, we do not require a state agency to self-regulate our own actions. I won’t implore that any of you adopt my personal ethics, but I would ask each of you to give pause/reservation to squeezing the trigger at your favored stomping grounds where you now only see one or two birds whereas you use to see fifteen or twenty in the spring. In far too many locations across the state, we make that choice on what may be the last remaining turkeys, in the field, on the hill. It may be some time to see them rebound, and there are too many places on my list that I’ll check on, but I am no longer willing to fill a tag there. This includes my own property. It is a most disheartening thing.
I will conclude by asking each of you to view this as trending data, not absolute, and is in a broad view of the entire New York wild turkey population. Hopefully, the folks at the NYSDEC will provide much more clarity to this and further explain the modeling and factoring that makes this a monitoring tool for the wild turkey resource we are so passionate about.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Fanning & Reaping, Banned In Seven States
If you engage the fanning/reaping technique, you want to check up-to-date state regulations where you’ll be hunting next season. You’ll find that I repeat prior musings in part or in whole that are worthy of repeating from past reports on the method. Tennessee has now adopted a ban against Fanning on WMA’s https://www.tn.gov/twra/news/2022/6/3/fish-and-wildlife-commission-sets-hunting-and-fishing-seasons.html
Seven states have an outright ban on the practice. Nearly half of all US states either ban or strongly warn against stalking which encompasses fanning and reaping methods. The states are listed at the end of this. The NWTF and hunter safety education curriculums promote hunter safety in their published materials in all states which cautions specifically against the practice of stalking (fanning/reaping.) The list is based on the premise of what is officially published. For calling it out, it is a valid criticism of foreseeable risks.
It is understandable that proponents see it as exciting and just the thing to try for gobblers that won’t leave a field, and won’t budge off of a ridge. I won’t deny how much adrenaline is experienced, it has to be a thrilling experience as reported.
On the flip side, it is perfectly ok for the gobbler to win the skirmish.
Most of the paces I often hunt would present a risk without justification for using this method. Having said that, this does not apply in other locales where turkeys are hunted in different parts of the country. This is not a safety concern in open prairies, wide-open mature forests, and large tracts of plowed farm fields. Exceptions of wide-open terrain without rifles of course are noted.
There are recorded incidents that specifically report fanning/reaping/stalking, and it is my hope that it remains only a few. It is a grey area as the reporting is sparse and critical details are left out far too often. Many of the hunting incident reports site use of decoys, but not the manner used. I’ll make no assumption as I know of incidents where staked decoys were shot at, decoys shot at while sticking out the back of a turkey vest. Several seasons ago, a hen decoy sticking out of a turkey vest was shot with a crossbow at 8 yards. Lucky in that the errant hunter missed but struck the victim in the forearm. Trust me, it is a horrific wound.
Our hunting communities have gotten as polarized as national politics, it is disappointing, but not unexpected. I’ll not apologize for common sense, nor put respect and courtesy on the back burner in order to kill a gobbler that is giving me fits. Turkey hunting is life to a point…
As a fraternity of turkey hunters, we abide by the ideal that any and all turkey hunting incidents are 100% preventable and that one is far too many. 2022 was not a spotless record. To my knowledge, none that have been reported involve this method this season. I can assure you that I am more than fine with that idea. Zero incidents are the acceptable number in any season.
List of States, Provinces
In a review on the various DNR’s, DEC’s, DWR’s etc, the following States enacted a ban on the practice of stalking, fanning, reaping, and specifically stated in their turkey hunting regulations:
Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
South Carolina (WMA’s only), Rhode Island, Tennesse (WMA’s only)
The following States, and one Canadian Province issue a statement of caution specifically in their hunting regs and or species-specific guides against the practice of stalking as a matter of safety:
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho
Kentucky (specifically fanning/reaping), Maine, Maryland, Missouri.
New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon.
Ontario, Canada. Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
There may be more that publish separately as safe hunting tips, and hunting education courses. For my research, I used the published hunting regulations for each state or province. I will edit the list as others become known.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
2022 Curtain Call NY Spring Turkey Season
Whatever grandiose plans you may have, the moment of truth has a shelf life of five hours and forty six minutes. Not that anyone is counting…
Apply what you have learned during the course of the past week, better yet with such little time to get it done, pinpointed gobbling or direct line of sight is the best tactile data. Make no mistakes,, add in a dose of good fortune and you’ll send the fat lady packing before show time. With exceptions noted, your choices will make or break the deal.
With a full green up and a depressingly suppressed population of wild turkeys, you are rolling the dice running spot to spot. If you know they are in a piece of woods, work it slowly and methodically. If you follow my musings you know I like my gobblers without an advanced education and dumb as a rock. Best advice-no short courses in hunter tactics and maneuvers.
You are appealing to social gatherings of less than forty yards for turkeys. Confidence calling, feeding purrs, whips and whistles light clucks, and very soft yelping. If one drowns out your call with a more than insistent gobble, get ready as they may not gobble again and come in silent. Late season encounters often conclude in minutes not hours. In recent years I’ve tagged three dandy gobblers with less than two hours left for the season. It can be done, stick with it. As I type this, three gobbles on the roost, and not sure which county he was gobbling from.
If you do get a hen that challenges you, match her and if she goes all in, add one more note, it either escalates quickly or whimpers out. Girlfriend mouthing off gets the boyfriend in trouble far more often than not.
Turkeys have been chased for four weeks and any mistake you make will in most cases result in a hasty exit. Attention to details on anything you wear or carry that makes an unnatural sound, the way you walk through the woods, calling too loudly, snapping twigs underfoot, are all subject to the scrutiny of a very wary bird. It is this scrutiny that amplifies what you can employ to your advantage. Using your fingers to imitate scratching for food in the leaves, using the brim of your hat to imitate a hen stretching her wings and scratching it on the tree bark is a far more effective call than you might first think.
Should you get a bird to gobble it should be noted that what you thought was two hundred yards three weeks ago is well under a hundred yards and closing. They often won’t gobble until very close, nearly in range the last week of the season, and if you aren’t focused and ready you may miss the opportunity.
Hunt all the way to your spot, and all the way back to the truck, the entire hunt can turn around in seconds and the action can be fast and furious. Stay sharp, safe, and alert.
Best of luck the final remaining hours of the season. Now if I can get this lady off my damn shoulder…
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Fanning Reaper Bullies
Had a few comments made to me today and like clockwork repeated each time I visit this topic of Fanning, Reaping, and Stalking. I have revised a Facebook post from some years ago-
In as much accusatory tone as one might muster, apparently, I’m elitist, that I believe I am better than other hunters, and I blast those that don’t hunt as I do or see it my way. I have been told these things directly and accused of actually being an Anti-Hunter…
Sacrilegious… Fighting words… Cash Me Outside …
Seriously, please indulge me for a few moments while I shed a tear in this profound tragedy.
Delete and block are the modern tools in social media that have replaced a black eye and a sore jaw that one got for uncivil dialog back in my youth. Back then, you got real physical feedback for engaging your mouth before putting your grey matter in first gear. I digress…
To be crystal clear, we are talking about the practice of reaping, fanning, and stalking in the rolling, high grass, heavily wooded hunting grounds. This is not a point of concern in open prairies, wide-open mature forests, and large tracts of plowed farm fields in states where rifles are not legal in turkey seasons. I state this for the peanut gallery as otherwise, the village idiot could figure this out. I have friends who do this in very open areas, where the risks of incidents are not a factor. My criticism is directed at circumstances that present undue risk and defy common sense.
I am of critical opinion of those that choose to engage in risky methods in inappropriate settings in the turkey woods, potentially at others’ expense. No apologies, none forthcoming. We are expected to speak up when one displays unsafe gun handling, and engages in methods of undue risk. Is common sense no longer common? The common-sense principles used to promote defensive driving similarly apply very well to hunting. Ask any hunting safety instructor.
Turkey hunting has its inherent risks as in any form of hunting (arguably, factually low,) but why add undue risk? I do not wear antlers on my head or a deer suit during deer season. I am confident my life insurance company would cancel my policy if they were to find out I was rolling the dice on opening day with a nice set of booners on my head. Would a judge dismiss the case should I be shot for wearing a deer costume out in the woods for the opener? I guess yes. I’ll also guess the same when you crawl across a rolling meadow with a real fan and full-color neck and head decoy mounted to your gun barrel. Is the shooter to blame, you bet, are you the reaper to blame, you bet. The most incompetent lawyer across the land would get that thrown out of court. BTW not getting shot is the point.
My take? I hit a nerve and upset my counter-opinioned hunter to the point of a triggered, uncivil response. This is all over the continual debate over Fanning, Reaping, and Stalking wild turkeys. I do not stand alone in my view, nearly half of the state DNRs, DECs have explicit language, and safety information not recommending stalking wild turkeys in any manner. Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina (WMA’s only), and Rhode Island have outright deemed it illegal to use Fanning/Reaping Methods or engage in stalking turkeys.
The following States, and one Canadian Province issue a statement of caution specifically in their hunting regs and or species-specific guides against the practice of stalking as a matter of safety: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky (specifically fanning/reaping), Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Ontario-Canada. Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Despite the unfortunate shootings of two hunters while fanning in 2017, on private land together with a third, or that in 2013, a fellow turkey hunter suffered fatal injuries from these practices, we have the kill gobblers at all cost crowd claiming folks like me and others are full of it, have no proof, safer than driving, Indians did it, elitists telling us how to hunt and the foolishness goes on and on. There are other incidents that cannot be included at this time as the reporting is vague and one cannot separate decoy use from the topic at hand. Truthfully If I never again found cause to report a hunting incident it would be a great thing.
Me an Anti? Not in this lifetime. I personally don’t care if you choose other ways, or strategies other than what I might choose. Hunters make different approaches work however best it suits them. When it comes to doing things that presents a plausible incident scenario, I will speak out. Having regard for others, and some sense of logical reasoning, my viewpoint is not arrived at lightly or just to see what I might stir up.
The efficiency of the method is not in dispute, nor is the thrill of the experience. It is called reaping for a reason. It can get the job done. Snap shooting while the gobbler is trying to achieve Mach 2 in any direction but yours makes for very hurried, haphazard shots. Some of the youtube videos show this in cringe-worthy gun-handling footage. Throw into this entire mix, you have rifles legal in some states, shotguns pushing up to the 100-yard mark, actually taxidermy or dried fans for more “realism”, and my less than favorite, “I only do it on private land” as we all know those $50-$100 fines all but ensures peace, tranquility, and the ultimate of privacy on our own lands or private lands of others. The arguments for fanning and reaping are that foolhardy.
To round out my observation and comments on a revisit to this foray, do I think I am better than other hunters? I have my doubts as I remain a hopeless member of the tenth legion and I have plenty of lumps and scars from living through difficult periods, events of great loss, and “it’s reality time” moments in my past six decades. In short, hell no. Before I hoist that gobbler over my shoulder, it is pure adrenaline, heart in my throat moment up until he shows up. 30 years later it is every bit as good as my very first turkey hunt. I assume that most of you as fellow hunters have a similar experience. I sincerely hope that you do. I do enjoy other successful hunter’s postings. It pleases me as I know I will get out there as well. So no, I feel akin to my fellow hunters and enjoy as they do, not from a lofty better than thou view. I’ll be just as happy to see your hero pics. Your stories I like even better.
As long as we stay silent, afraid to “ruffle feathers” or hurt our collective reaper/fanning feelings (for some) We allow this promotion (or lack of opinion in fear of) to give a black eye to our great pastime.
Truly yours-
Not Afraid
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
When Trespassing and Poaching is Not Enough
Several months of the 2022 spring turkey chasing have concluded with only one shooting incident reported across our great nation, we now bump it up to two. This one I will suggest represents a micro fraction and a stark contrast to the dedicated an ethical turkey hunters I know and respect. I am more than willing to extrapolate that out to the several million turkey hunters that enjoy this time honored tradition without incident every season.
In Grundy County, Missouri, it is reported that two poachers( (it is inappropriate to call them hunters,) trespassed onto another property after a gobbler they were pursuing. They subsequently killed the gobbler. While breasting out the bird, they were approached by two lawful hunters. One of the poachers shot at the two hunters while grabbing the bird and attempting to flee.
Both brothers were charged with numerous wildlife game violations and the 22 year old shooter is currently held on $25 thousand bond for felony weapon charges.
Rules to Live by for a Turkey Hunter
Never return to a place without the host that you were invited to as a guest.
Always be a graceful and grateful guest
Never leave a sit or a blind without a gun “just to take look, answer a call of nature.”
Always be observant and alert, as the action can change instantly.
Never stalk a turkey sound, shoot at sounds, or movement in the brush.
Always be 110% sure of your quarry. Always be safe in the turkey woods.
Never be late on an invite. Bring extra coffee and appropriate rations of Little Debbie’s.
Always arrive early at your hunting grounds. Have a plan B and C. Come back later after they leave.
Never knowingly intrude on another hunter’s setup.
Always first assume that turkey calls may be another hunter.
Never argue with an uncivil jackass in the turkey woods. You’re not the “Ass whisperer”
Always be the better person as the turkey woods are too magnificent not to enjoy.
Never think you are invisible. The best camo in the world is rendered useless by “can’t sit still.”
Always be still, Always be patient.
Never ask someone how many gobblers they kill.
Always, if asked, lie like a fisherman.
Never run turkey calls like you would hawking products at a sports show
Always use turkey calls as a tool in your hunting strategy
Never compromise your ethics or safety in your methods and actions.
Always respect your fellow hunters. You never know when you may need them.
Never be in a hurry in the turkey woods, There is far too much to enjoy,
Always slow it down a bit, it is not a race. Run and gun doesn’t always work.
Never rush a shot. Identify, acquire, clear foreground/background, and then squeeze.
Always get your head down on the stock. Make it count.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Maytom Wood Works Spur Display
At the conclusion of any successful turkey hunt there are many ways to memorialize a grand day in the turkey woods and create a fitting tribute in honor and respect of the monarchs we match wits with. If you happen to regard wild turkey spurs as I do and as one might as a deer hunter in awe of a massive rack of a trophy buck, then I have a product in front of me that you might be keenly interested in. As the fat lady has sung across the country for the 2018 spring turkey season, the current offerings of Maytom Woodworks display products for your trophy gobbler are a perfect solution for your man cave, office, or trophy room
A new updated version of the “Turkey Spur Display Board” is now being offered by Maytom Woodworks of Lake View, NY. The latest version features Red Oak with nicely figured grain, brass rods and colored beads as holders/separators between spurs. Also featured is a custom silk screen brass plate, a brass hanger embedded on the back side, and a shell brass with real turkey breast feathers adornment. There are many ways you can display this coveted trophy part of our favoured game bird, and this spur board is a fantastic way to display many successful hunts in the turkey woods.
Once you have your spurs prepared (typically with borax or other suitable substitute), cleaned, polished or clear coated, you can mount four pairs in each row easily assuming you trim the leg bone somewhat close to each spur. You have some leeway there not to fret about being exact as you can see in the original version spur board I have shown below. With four rows you can mount 16 pairs of spurs which should cover many of you for a season or two that hunt multiple states each spring.
Loading up the spur display board is super easy, you simply need to place your display board on a soft non scratching surface, and remove two screws holding one of the side pieces that the brass rods insert to. Place your first bead then each spur with another bead until you place the last spur followed with an end bead. Repeat for each row or until you have loaded all the ones you have. You can easily come back later each season to add more. You can substitute these beads with your own, those made of bone or exoctic woods for example. The ones included in the kit work nicely and look great.
The final verdict of this review is a two thumbs up and a must for every turkey hunters home. With father’s day just a few weeks away, it would make a perfect gift for your turkey hunting patriarch of the family. In full disclosure I’ve known Paul Klima, the owner of Maytom Wood Works far back to the mid 1990’s when he first started making these fine products. To know Paul is to like him and he applies a fine hand craftsmanship to everything he makes as you would expect from any well regarded call maker. I would encourage you to contact him and you’ll find my remarks to be spot on. Below, I have a slideshow of other products he also offers. The Turkey Spur display board sells for $85.00 plus S&H & NYS Tax.
Maytom Woodworks- Contact Info
© 2018 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
#turkeyhunting #maytomwoodworks #wildturkey #spurs #beards
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