jperch

In the areas that I hunt turkey numbers and turkey behavior is very different than it was 20 years ago. I turkey hunt in Northern Oswego and Cayuga Counties. Back then it was not unusual for me to hear 15 different gobblers sounding off before legal hunting time. I think this was the peak of turkey numbers, certainly in my lifetime. They were much more aggressive back then. I have sat on top of a hill and called to gobblers that I could just barely see and they came running in. It's not like that now. There is still plenty of turkeys around on the properties I hunt, just not like it used to be. I think the predators have something to do with it, including the raccoons and hawks/owls. I have learned to call a lot less, more softly, and generally do everything I can to not disturb the birds. It's still a great game.

I had a gobbler flopping 25 yards or so out in a field. As I started to approach a coyote came out of the woods and started approaching the gobbler. For a bit I thought we were going to have a discussion about who that turkey belonged to. He eventually changed direction and ran 100 yards out and sat down, watched me recover the gobbler. He or she must have been very hungry. I have called in coyotes, foxes and raccoons in the spring. One fox came right up to my blind with a gray squirrel in his mouth. Talk about greedy!

It's early, they usually migrate three days from now.

Yup on birth rate ratios, just like humans. I suspect even in areas with no human hunting pressure that the adult doe population outweighs the adult male population. I have seen countless times a doe with fawns approach my stand and the doe becomes aware something is wrong. Frequently the button buck is the last to leave or even approaches while his sister and mom scram. Testosterone, I suspect. Obviously if a buck survives a few years they undergo a major personality change but by then I think their relative numbers have been reduced.

Proud to say one of my students works on this project.

These days I prefer any very small razor sharp folding knife with a good point. I agree the Sharp Finger is a great knife, a nice choice for a fixed blade. I owned one of those pretty Buck 110 knives in my late teens, had to save up for it. I managed to lose in the excitement of gutting one of my first deer. Years later my cousin found it in the woods, cleaned it up and uses it to this day. We are still hunting buddies forty years later and every time I stand over him as he is gutting out his deer I comment what a fine knife that is and how I wished I had one. Always good for a laugh!

I'll say coydeer, I don't want to be the one to break the tie.

I just follow the directions in the manuals that came with my muzzleloaders. (Lately that is just my Savage 10 ML II, it calls for some mil spec grease that looks like aluminum paste.) I use cheap nitrile gloves from HF when applying the recommended grease, gloves go in a sealable baggie on my workbench, no mess at all. I discard them at the end of the season. A small amount of grease goes a long way.

Well, back to the original question. In the areas I hunt it is much more difficult to get a gobbler to come in from a long distance than it was 30 years ago. Back then as I sat on top of a hill I have seen gobblers with binoculars on an adjacent property that came in on a dead run once they heard my call. (Yes, a box call for long distance.) That just does not happen any more on the properties where I hunt. I can only speculate why that is. Maybe it's coyotes, increased hunting pressure, who knows. Now, as others have said, it's good to know where they generally roost and where they generally want to go. Then soft calling to "steer" them combined with an excellent set up so that you have a shot as soon as he is visible. Also, as far as distance goes, once the trees are leafed out there is a dramatic drop in the distance that you can hear them and they you. I have no experience with "big woods" turkeys, that sounds like a real challenge.

Things are not fine in Florida. I lost my younger brother recently, he didn't believe Covid was serious. I doubt he took any precautions. The rest of my family down there is isolating as much as they can now. There are people who do not, can not, or will not believe in science. (A survey of US citizens a couple decades ago said 1/3 of the population believed the Earth was 6000 years old.) That is just the way it it is apparently. As far as the vaccine is concerned everyone must evaluate apparent benefit vs apparent risk. I just wish more folks would consider that the benefit is not just to the individual receiving the vaccine, it also is to public health in general. I doubt that the government would mandate that all individuals must be vaccinated. But some employers, schools and colleges likely will.

I used this exact procedure this year, wish I had a video. By the time I reloaded the deer was clearly dead. I came back the next day to find all the stuff I dropped in the snow. Who me, excited?

I used to work in the sporting goods department in Woolworth's in Greece, NY back in the early to mid seventies. We got crates full of Mausers that we sold for CHEAP. I bought one, don't know what happened to it. I remember they were packed full of thick grease and wrapped in heavy brown wax paper. I think I paid about thirty bucks. We actually sold a lot of good quality firearms along with some very low end firearms. If you bought a good gun we usually threw in a box of ammunition. I remember some pretty crazy interactions with customers.

Same here, the manuals for both my Knight and Savage say to grease the threads, grease actually came with both. I just follow the supplied directions.

Yes, this is what I used to do when using pellets on my Knight Disk muzzleloader. Now I shoot a smokeless Savage ML II. If I unload via the backdoor I find powder granuales get stuck in the grease in the threads and it's a pain to get them out. So now I just discharge it and clean it.

Yes, this is what works best for me. You can buy good insulated coveralls at a reasonable price and wear what you want underneath (buy a size large enough) depending on conditions. These keep the wind out better than a jacket/pants combination. Too warm for still hunting perhaps. Prior to these I used to wear Woolrich outfits for gun season.

Deadliest broadhead on the market! Knocks em dead even if you just hit them in an antler. That lady could get rich off that picture.

I hunt a family camp near Ossian, NY during archery season that has a lot of adjacent state land. Lots of beautiful mixed hardwoods, tons of acorns this year. I believe the state bids out parcels for logging and they have conditions that must be followed. There was one area that was full of mature locust trees with little deer activity. It was logged and most of the tops left where they lay. We called it the "clear cut" and looked messy, and was very difficult to walk through. It became a deer mecca and is now a much more diverse woods. I think a short term mess is worth a long time gain. There are pine state lands nearby that are full of low value pole trees that could use the same treatment. By the way, I gave up gun hunting this area because the place is overrun with drivers on opening day and all weekends. Just not peaceful or fun for me.

I believe from personal experience that what the deer biologists say is true. Deer do not seem to be bothered by hunter orange because they don't see it like we do. Apparently they see the color blue fairly well. I also believe the statistics that the DEC reports: You are 7 times less likely to be shot if you are wearing hunter orange. For the life of me in this state where they mandate everything I can't understand why it is not required that you wear hunter orange during gun season. Yes, I wear it in my stands. It makes it easier for the trespassers (who don't wear it of course) to avoid me. Probably just as well.

Ha, yes. I think a dying rabbit sounds like a human baby in distress.

Your adventures are always my favorite read on here. The last deer that Luna found through the swamp is just amazing. Thanks for taking the time to post and keep up the great work!

Agree with Nomad at 20 yards. And he said his box blind is only 8 feet up, even less difference. On the other hand, one should practice on point blank shots from height.

I have talked with two professional butchers about ageing venison. They have stressed that it is crucial to be able to control both the temperature and the humidity. Most of us can not do this at home. By the way some of my hunting is in Livingston County and I highly recommend Grizzly's in Hunt, NY. He will not cut a deer until it is ready and is meticulous. He is by far the best processor I have used and it's worth the money. My GF is thrilled when I get a "Grizzly's deer".

Very sorry for the loss you and your wife have suffered. Congratulations on a beautiful buck. Especially given the circumstances he deserves a place on your wall.

Mice will do the same thing, I think all rodents have an instinct to store food. In my garage I'll put out a small handful of pellets several nights in a row, hoping they'll be more inclined to eat it. When I put out a whole package it will be gone in the morning and I might find it in one of my boots next winter! Your friend may be right about accidentally poisoning raptors, cats, etc. I think my pellets say not to be used outdoors. It is a great year for chipmunks for some reason.

They even ate the face, I have not seen that here. They have probably learned there that a late rifle shot means dinner bell.