Wild turkey beards are an unusual form of feather that feels more like whiskers than fluff.  All male turkeys grow them their first year and make identifying a yearling bird much easier.  Known as “jakes” these immature gobblers have beards of one to three inches in length.  As males turn two years old, their beards grow longer making a “tom” easier to identify. About 10 percent of female turkeys grow beards according to the Audobon Society website, although that number seems high in my experience.  Would you shoot a bearded hen?  It’s probably legal, but is it ethical ..read more

Are binoculars critical gear for turkey hunting?  YES! A week roaming the South Dakota prairies and Badlands proved that hunters will be more successful using binoculars than hunting without them.  This became abundantly clear the first afternoon of the hunt when Larry Naeyaert and our Indian guide sneaked ahead of a feeding flock.  Eventually, we lured several gobblers across a creek into a patch of timber.  With my naked eye, I could see nothing, yet the Maven 10X30’s showed three gobblers clearly scanning our direction for the source of hen calling. 24.5 pounder The gob ..read more

The right broadhead may be more critical for turkeys than deer.  Despite its seemingly large size, the kill zone of a strutting gobbler is amazingly small.  The feathers on a strutting tom make up more than half of its body size and the heart/lung area is the size of a baseball.  The following image should be on every hunter’s phone for quick reverence. The Most Critical Element Accuracy and consistency are the two most critical elements of a turkey broadhead.  It doesn’t matter how larger or aggressive the cut will be, if you can’t put the broadhead exactly where aimed, t ..read more

Pine Ridge Archery makes the ideal item for compounds and crossbows that will keep your critical moving parts out of the dirt.  Light and compact, see the quality that goes into this unique product.   www.PineRidgeArchery.com    ..read more

Equipment Preparation: Arrow Weight: Heavy arrows are not needed for full penetration on a turkey. A lighter arrow shoots faster and flatter, which is crucial for hitting a turkey’s small kill zone. Broadhead Selection: Choose broadheads specifically designed for turkeys. Large, fixed heads that fly consistently, large diameter mechanicals and particularly hybrid heads like the Grim Reaper Micro Hybrid offer advantages of each. Blind Concealment: Use a ground blind for ultimate concealment.  Turkeys are not like deer and will often ignore a blind even if in the middle of a field. Locat ..read more

Turkey hunting requires total camouflage and the SKRE camouflage folks developed a package plan they call a “bundle” that includes a total system for complete spring camouflage.  There will be no Super Bowl quarterbacks or green lizards in this package, so let’s get to it. Gotta Have Gloves- You hands move more than any other body part when you are calling a turkey.  As you draw a bow or raise a crossbow, your hands will flash a skin tone signal that is not normal.  Likewise, as you use a diaphragm caller or friction device, you hands display movement which can be quickly seen ..read more

Maryland hunters have been harvesting giant deer for a decade and it deserves to be among your best bet for an out-of-state hunt.  A non-resident hunter can be fully licensed for multiple deer for under $200.  If venison is your goal, how about a limit of 10?  Additionally, a hunting license entitles hunters to pursue turkeys and small game.  Charlie Wallace took the giant buck shown above from St. Mary’s County.  It grossed 186 7/8. State Record Crossbow Buck Maryland recognizes hunters in a number of divisions.  Above is Abigail Russum who took the #1 Non-Typic ..read more

This trail camera picture was taken just before I shot the middle gobbler.  It was posted near the jake decoy and captured the action prior to the shot.  Unfortunately, this image was “still only” and a video would have been very entertaining. Love this Longbeard. https://bowhunting.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/750282-bfb85c9e-ed13-11ee-948f-764cd50b7e3e.mp4 This big gobbler walked past my blind a few days ago and seeing it gives me high hopes for opening day.  As you will see, this time was 10:31 and that’s about the time that turkeys have entered this field in the past.  ..read more

Punching paper is poor preparation for success.  At the moment of truth when your heart is pounding and you struggle to hold steady, knowing where to aim must be instinctive.  Few things in nature are as exciting as a mature turkey gobbler strutting toward your location and gobbling every few steps.  You must know when to draw or raise your bow and more importantly the exact spot to aim.   From Points to Broadheads If you use a decoy, a shot on a wild turkey can be a close-range affair.  You want to practice with your compound or recurve until you can touch fletch on ..read more

“I’m not even sure how to write this post and I hate that I have to share this news with our many mutual friends,” said Collin Cottrell in tribute to his friend’s passing.  “Our great buddy Robert Hoague has passed away. I’m still I shock. Damn it, man. It hurts. He was an amazing friend, mentor, hunting partner, drinking and eating buddy, teacher, and so much more. He was the grandpa I never had growing up.” If you knew Robert, he was so unique and one of a kind. He made the kind of impact on my life that I can’t even express in one post but will continue to share with others for the r ..read more