Blog Archives
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.
Book Projects- State of The Union
Things at Joyner Outdoor Media have been rather chaotic and very busy these days. After recovering from a terribly Covid experience going into last winter, many things have changed, mostly for the better. Several projects have dragged on for years while I forged a living with my tech company. Several long-term projects will be completed, and a few unusual and different ones will surprise you as well. On top of all that, a redesign of the Joyner Outdoor Media website will integrate all the existing published books and will introduce each new book as it is released or slated for a release date. the home base at turkey-talk.com will also be completed and will solicit advertising to make the indulgence self-sufficient.
D.D. Adams- Evolutionary Turkey Call Pioneer, a long-awaited title. is scheduled to be released in June of this year.
Ten To Life- Delirium Tales Of A Covid-19 Survivor is also scheduled to be released in June of this year. This is obviously a different project from what my audience would expect. It is a raw and wild recollection of too many days in hospitals and 18 days in an induced coma.
A Walk In The Turkey Woods- Wandering Thoughts and Revelations is scheduled to be released in August of this year. This collection of thoughts and introspection is an exercise of our mind, and spirit while immersed in the turkey woods. This is a deviation from my prior hunting story books and takes a look at life while spending time in our favored setting.
Empire State Limb Hangers– New York Wild Turkey Records, another long-awaited title, is scheduled for a February 3rd, 2023 release.
There will be a few small book signing tours starting this summer and I will post those when details become available,
Future Projects:
Roost ‘n Time Tales– Another turkey hunting stories book is likely to come out in 2023 or 2024 and that depends on a number of things coming together. I rough draft stories each season, so it is not absolute in the schedule. As a fourth storybook that may be the last of those efforts,
Old Turkey Tree is a collection of my favorites from each title and will be offered in a hardcover, full-color edition. That will come sometime after Roost ‘n Time Tales is published.
A wild turkey cookbook is a slow cooker work in progress and will come out whenever I get to road-testing my hazardous culinary skills. If I survive that experiment, it will happen…
There are five more slow-rolling book projects that pique my interest in pursuing, and a few novels if I ever get to it, two ideas are turkey hunting themed, and the third is in the sci-fi, horror genre. I might have to be well into retirement at that point.
Books in print:
Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Hills Of Truxton
A 2.0 version is coming later in 2022 with a new cover, a few updated pictures, and the typical text corrections and small edits in the effort to follow in some semblance of the Queen’s English. A hardcover w/ dust cover will also follow in the 2.0 version, The laminated hardcover 1.0 edition is no longer available.
Tales from the Turkey Woods: Mornings of My Better Days is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Tales From The Turkey Woods
A 2.0 version is coming later in 2022 with a new cover, a few updated pictures, and the typical text corrections and small edits as with my first title. A hardcover w/ dust cover will also follow in the 2.0 version Release of 2.0 will be announced later this fall.
Grand Days in the Turkey Woods is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Grand Days In The Turkey Woods Hardcovers can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Days-Turkey-Woods-Joyner/dp/1495125475
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
NY Wild Turkey Records Book Project
The Empire State Limb Hangers book project is coming to a final close for inclusion for the first edition. It has been a long time coming. Since a significant life event this past late summer/fall, wrapping up large works and getting them to the finish line are a concentrated effort now, I have done what I can to gain interviews, including several state wide tours. I can entertain a third tour this summer.
Any new record entries are invited to interview. If you tag or have tagged a legally harvested gobbler that meets the criteria listed at the end of this, I would love to interview you for inclusion in the project. Although your stories and photos will be captured for the book, you will retain all rights to your photo’s and your story. Should you wish to have the story I write up to be used for other uses, Copyright permissions would be normal and expected for personal uses, commercial use can be reviewed for consideration.
The deadline for interviewing for the first edition will be November 21, 2022. If you should tag a fall bird for consideration during late season this fall, contact me- mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Book Release is slated for June 3rd, 2023.
The challenges with keeping it all legit for the project is typically weight as most of the common small scales that are used to weigh fish can vary +/- 1 lbs to 2 lbs or more. A weight coupon from a certified scale ensures accuracy and proof of measurement. Otherwise, it can be legitimately and reasonably challenged. The scale should be suitable for products or goods for sale that are taxed in the state.
Pictures with tape measurement in the pics are best to show scale for beards and spurs. There are several handy products to help measure spurs (including the curved outside edge) but as of this writing, none cover the spur measurements that have been described going back decades as published by the NWTF http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbpmeasure.html#spus
Anecdotal evidence cannot be used to substantiate record book entries. If you think you have one for the books: weigh the gobbler on a certified scale and be sure to get a weight coupon. Take plenty of photos. NWTF requires witness signatures that also have to be an NWTF member if you wish to participate in their records program. Safari Club also has a program but is not viewable unless a current member. I may include them if details can be worked out in the future. I am accepting record entries not included in the NWTF system. Please note that the NWTF requires verifications that I have mentioned and will accept their determinations for the project. I do support their system and would encourage you to enter your submission with the NWTF as well. NWTF submissions are now accepted online: www.nwtf.org/hunt/records.
Scoring tabulations for the project will include the NWTF system, and the SBP weighted system. for more info on SBP http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
For those that I have contacted or attempted to contact at the beginning of the project: Your stories will be available to review as I complete them. The book will not be published until each person reviews and provided feedback as to the accuracy and that no sensitive information that needs to be private remains so. Hunting location is often the consideration for discretion.
If you haven’t been interviewed and would like to be included, please contact me, I would love to include as many as possible that met the original score criteria.
There will be future editions as records are broken. For those I attempted to include in prior attempts, should you desire to catch up and be included in the project, that would be welcomed for future inclusion. Some hunters have passed on, and should their families or hunting partners have an interest, please contact me directly. The more turkey hunters that come on board that I originally sought to interview, the better. Records are made to be broken, eclipsed, and are expected.
If you have harvested a legally tagged wild turkey with one or more of the following attributes in NY during the 2021-2022 spring/fall seasons, or years prior, registered or not registered with NWTF records, I would love to talk to you about being included in the book!
Please contact mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Note: Non-registered birds- measurable attributes must be verified for consideration.
Typical score greater than 75.000 (weight x1 + beard x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Non-Typical score greater than 105.000 (weight x1 + beard(s) x 2 + L & R spur(s) x 10)
Weight greater than 26.5 lbs. (verifiable certified weight)
Beard Length greater than 12″ (verifiable length)
Spur Length greater than 1.625″ (verifiable length)
Color phase variations and Hens with beards or spurs are notable stories for inclusion.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Back In the Saddle
There is something to be said for being driven, to be able to harness that energy to overcome circumstances, to bounce back from near death which I can authentically speak to now after a near-fatal Covid event. The passion of being in the turkey woods shares this drive with many other pursuits and you can translate this into whichever it may be for you, from your own source of inspired living. This in no way lessens the importance of God, family, country, and the love and care of your friends.
I won’t go into much detail about this past late summer/early fall brush with death, but in a nutshell; I was hit hard with Covid-19, delta variant, given a 10% chance of surviving, spent 40 days in four hospitals, 18 of which was sedated in an induced coma. As I write this, I am still actively recovering.
I missed the entire fall turkey season as it was not at all feasible at the time. It was a concentrated effort and succession of small milestones that led to sitting in a blind for deer season, not 80 yards from my home. We live in the woods, so it’s actually a viable choice. I can tell you that I was beyond thrilled to be able to do that much. By the end of deer season, I was able to take an ATV to a favorite sit, although I am far more into hunting all the way in and hunt all the way-out mentality. What walking I could do was on a treadmill in a controlled setting or along the country roads carrying a portable O2 tank.
Fast forward to spring recovery planning, and I would continue to increase walking, and see slow but consistent improvements. There is a blessing in going through such circumstances and coming out the end of it as a survivor. Seeing the ones you love, and friends you sorely miss are the most obvious things to be so grateful for. As I walked to my appointed listening spot under a starlit Texas sky, I took in all its splendor, so grateful to be able to slowly walk a mile and a half in without toting an oxygen tank or covering the distance with a walker. I enjoyed every step of that old dirt road.
To those that know me for many years, I prefer to take the game to the gobblers I chase. Not one to just hang out in a blind along a field. Sometimes it is the right strategy. As a ridge hunter, as my preferred terrain, I see a four-hundred-foot elevation change as a matter of time to cover the climb and the distance, not if I’ll go after a gobbling bird. I remain of a similar perspective, just much slower until I drop weight and put back some of that spring in my step.
Each of the three days hunting in Eden, Texas, I put in four to five miles a day of walking and carrying my loaded turkey vest and firearm. Walking on a treadmill is one thing, out in the field it is a bit more effort. On the second day, I had to walk a small hill for the first mile and finished the last half a mile downhill. Once again, a beautiful still morning and you could hear forever. I could hear a bird gobble as I crested the hill and heard him several more times as I descended to the river bottom flat that I was looking to get to. The hunt was a memorable one, rather productive as it resulted in calling in 19 hens with 5 strutting gobblers. Two gobblers came back with me. Beautiful morning and I continued to enjoy the remaining hunts at the ranch. The ranch had a variety of wildlife, and we would enjoy seeing the periodic visits throughout each day.
For those of you recovering from Covid or the exhaustive list of other life-changing ailments, I implore you to do what you can to get outside, to get back to what moves you, what drives you each day. It is hard at times; it is downright depressing when it doesn’t go as planned or fast enough to suit your expectations. Those are often temporary setbacks and change for the better is inevitable if you can embrace a positive outlook. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones. If this old grumpy turkey hunter can do it, there is hope. If you are a believer, the power of prayer is a powerful thing, for those that do not, embrace the energy of goodwill on your behalf. I do wish each of you recovering the best in your journey.
We are back in the saddle! Just riding a bit more tame and gentler horse.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
NYSDEC Proposed Changes to NY Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations
Two new regulation changes are being proposed to the landscape of wild turkey hunting regulations. In a nutshell, they are looking to include shot sizes as small as #9’s and add a spring turkey season to Suffolk County on Long Island. As always, your opinion only makes an impactful difference if you voice it directly to those crafting legislation and regulations.
I’ll state this bluntly- Responding in those never-ending echo chambers is a fool’s errand. Pause the back and forth chatter on social media and take a few minutes of your time to voice your support or opposition to proposed regulations. Public comment on these regulatory proposals runs through June 5, 2022.
Send your comments by email to wildliferegs@dec.ny.gov with “Proposed Turkey Regulations” in the subject line or mail to: Joshua Stiller, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/125107.html
As to the #9 shot, you get my thumbs up as long as it stipulates heavier/more dense than lead. As I read the regulation change, it does not. Hevi Shot and TSS loads are a huge upgrade to smaller than 12 gauge bores and with the right choke, deliver an ethical ballistic solution when reviewing comparative observation of expected pattern/energy on target. If proposed regulations opt only for TSS shot, it can be argued reasonably as it is yet heavier and denser than Hevi-13. I would recommend #9 shot in TSS for .410 shotguns as an optimal choice. My opinion however does not support or suggest the longer ranges that some promote.
Suffolk County has plenty of turkeys, and suitable habitats to hunt them. The downside is the access as much of it is private holdings. To those that have hunted and fished on Long Island, it is abundant in opportunities, but it is different. There are folks that are not opposed to hunting but do not want to see it directly. Discretion and sportsmen’s best behavior in these settings would be essential to the success of opening a season there. Much of the public access in Suffolk County is multi-use and well-used and you can be assured that those groups will voice their opinions without reservation.
You can find info on public grounds at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40399.html
The following is the currently proposed text:
6 NYCRR 1.40(c)(2) is amended as follows:
(2) Spring. A permittee may hunt wild turkey only during those open seasons and in
those wildlife management units (as described in section 4.1 of this Title) listed below.
Open season Wildlife management units
Closed 1A[, 1C] and 2A
May 1st to May 31st Rest of the State
6 NYCRR 1.40(d)(2) is amended as follows:
(2) Spring. A permittee may take:
(i) two bearded turkeys during the spring season as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of
this section; however
(ii) no more than one bearded turkey per day; and
(iii) no more than one bearded turkey in WMU 1C
6 NYCRR 1.40(f)(3) is amended as follows:
(3) A permittee may hunt turkey with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot no larger
than number 2 and no smaller than number [8]9.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
When Your Season Needs A Little Pick Me Up
Season a little dull, need to up your turkey master game? Try a new twist of the modern biathlon! 10 Meter Gobbler snatch and 21KM Run. Truly separates the posers from the alpha males come turkey season! Just the ticket for poacher training too!
My Valentine is a Turkey Hunter
With the holiday of love and romance close at hand, I thought it appropriate to cover once again such a timely topic. Having returned to be among the living this past fall, each holiday, anniversary, and recognized celebration is a gift, not to be taken for granted, and Valentine’s is certainly worth such recognition. It is also a great topic, a reminder to up your game for pre-season spousal approval units. My favorite topic of course is anything and all things related to turkey hunting, with deer hunting a close second. How turkey hunting relates to Valentine’s Day is easily revealed as I reminisce about my own experiences over the past twenty five years
This year like many couples, Lee and I will celebrate the holiday with a special dinner at home. We live in a modern log home in a picturesque setting in the woods. It is a serene and private setting that lends itself to unwind from long days at work. Lee is a fabulous cook, and I can manage if I set my mind to it. Maybe we’ll cook together, or I create something worthy of the occasion. We’ll most likely open a nice bottle of wine to complement the meal.
As I think about it, this Valentine’s Day as those in the past is more akin to other days in the year. Hunting seasons as they come and go, are more days together than days apart. Much like Valentine’s Day, we celebrate and enjoy the time together, especially on opening days. Those opening days are always great experiences even though sometimes we return home with tags still in our pockets. When we first met back in 1997, Lee was not a hunter, nor all that interested in it. Over time, my passion for time spent in the turkey woods piqued her interest. The following year, Lee accompanied me on several hunts and came to learn what I enjoyed so much of my time spent there. Although I have been successful as my memories, serve me, the stories I am so fond to recall, I generally fill my tags each season. It is not the singular focus of the taking of game. It is one of the outcomes we expect from skillful strategy and accurate shooting. I am happy that I was able to convey that to her. Over time, she has become a passionate hunter in her own right.
I would submit to you to share your time in the woods with family, loved ones, and especially your spouses. There is much to be shared and learned in the forests and fields. The only downside I have yet to find is that your hunting budget might double, but I would suggest that is money well spent. I am a fortunate man to be able to share so many days that are much like Valentine’s Day or from another perspective to have Valentine’s Day be much like most other days of the year.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Typical Facebook Turkey Hunting group
Q: How to run a turkey call?
Responses:
One respondent describes in accurate concise detail how to run a turkey call, shows articulate form, and exquisite tone in accompanying video clip.
Original Poster says “thanks” and posts video of themselves running a turkey call.
46 Empathetic passive-aggressives post to share similar experiences of learning to run a turkey call and how running a turkey call could have been taught way better.
28 Camo Karen’s post to caution about the bad habits of running turkey calls.
431 Narcissistic purists post they use trumpet calls only and are offended by running other types of turkey calls discussions.
24 Post to argue over whether it’s ‘run a turkey call’ or “natural voice.”
392 to condemn those 24 as stupid.
220 Post to tell those 392 to stop being jackasses.
23 Industry professionals well practiced in customer fails post to inform the group that the proper term is “running a mouth diaphragm.”
37 Call makers post 542 pictures of their calls with accompanying self promotion.
531 Prostaffers from 37 call makers in corresponding call maker company logo caps and shirts chime in and bash the other 36 mobs of prostaff while posting selfies running their superior calls.
75 Know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and post that “run a turkey call” is perfectly correct.
249 Post meme’s and gif’s, laugh to themselves for hours.
6 Post that this page is not just about running turkey calls and to please take this discussion to a turkey calling only page.
11 Appeasing sympathizers post to defend the posting to this page saying that we all run turkey calls and therefore the posts are relevant here.
22 With anger issues, nothing useful to say, post GFYS.
8 clueless dolts to ask what GFYS means.
102 Voyeurs post “Following”
243 Elitists post to debate which method of running a turkey call is superior, where to buy the best turkey calls, what brand of turkey calls work best for this technique and what brands are junk.
214 to ask if the brands of turkey calls suggested are worth the money.
29 to tell them that if they like a turkey call, buy it.
1156 “Me to” people to post pics of their own turkey calls.
74 to post URL’s where one can see examples of different turkey calls.
6 to post that the URL’s were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL’s.
130 “Me too” people to comment “Me too”.
18 to post to the page that they will no longer post or are leaving because they cannot handle the $!%cking running a turkey call controversy.
16 Turn coat nannies to report the post or PM an admin because someone said “f÷×$”
42 to say “Didn’t we go through this already a short time ago?”.
30 to say “Do a search on running a turkey call before posting questions about running a turkey call”.
1642 to bring politics into the discussion by adding that (insert politician of choice) is closing down wood and call making material factories, not building new call making companies. Trump Sucks, Biden is brain dead.
17980 more to get into personal attacks over their political views.
6 admins to ban the running a turkey call posters who took it all too seriously.
10 late arrivals to comment on the original post 6 months later and start it all over again.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Update-Maine Woman Shot By Fall Turkey Hunter
Update From Sept. 27, 2021 Story- A fall turkey hunter from Leeds, Maine while hunting, now faces multiple felony charges and one misdemeanor stemming from last September’s shooting incident which left Katherine Brennan requiring medical services.
Brennan was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and later reported in stable condition. It is reported that on the day of the shooting, Jacobs called 911 and remained with her until emergency services arrived.
Timothy Jacobs, 61, Jacobs has been indicted for aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a firearm, both of which are felonies, and assault while hunting, a misdemeanor. If convicted, Jacobs faces up to a 10-year prison sentence and a possible maximum fine of $20,000.
source: https://www.argus-press.com/news/state_news/article_94f24485-684f-5ff8-971e-157684e02917.html
http://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2180
Repeated from prior posts: We can do better as zero incidents is the only acceptable number by following the most basic safety protocols. Each time I go afield I know that I owe myself, each of you to clearly identify my target, what is in front and beyond the target, to be safe, to employ strict and safe firearm handling. I also owe each of you to pause if anything is not quite right, or by chance what is in front of me is not 100% as it appears. Take the time to be 100% sure…
I will update as more details are published. As with any incidents like this we pray for those injured, that have succumbed to their injuries and for their families. May they heal well Godspeed.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
RSS - Posts