Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: April 2016

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Turkey Hunting | Challenges and Techniques for Hunting Call-Shy Gobblers

The Best Turkey Hunting Calls and Tips Throughout the Season

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Whether you primarily hunt heavily pressured public lands or you’re doing some late season turkey hunting, you’ve no doubt encountered a few call-shy gobblers at some point. Sometimes they don’t respond to calling at all, and sometimes they just hang up outside of gun or bow range. It’s unbelievably frustrating to see them strutting in circles and not be able to take a shot at them. But you’re bound to run into the situation eventually. Why is hunting call-shy turkeys so difficult?

Lone Star Thunder Chickens | Bone Collector Season 4, Episode 18

(Video) – Michael is invited to hunt both Texas and Louisiana for springtime turkey hunting. Michael and Mason Waddell are hunting some hard headed, stubborn birds, it takes a lot to be successful in these situations.

As we mentioned, wild turkeys get pretty wary towards the end of the season. After they’ve been called to and shot at by hunters in every field opening, woodlot, and food plot, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they would get a little tight-beaked and distrustful. But there are other natural reasons why gobblers get call-shy throughout the spring months. It could be that a subordinate bird had his feathery butt handed to him by a mature tom a couple times, and he’s nervous for another confrontation. Or perhaps the peak breeding period is over, which means there’s no urgent reason to respond to calls. Maybe the bird you’re trying to hunt just has a weird personality and is naturally a very quiet and solitary creature. Who knows? Luckily, there are several techniques you can use to hunt call-shy turkeys more effectively this spring.

Strategies for Hunting Call-Shy Turkeys

One of the best ways to get after a quiet and nervous gobbler is to use a deer hunting tactic. Simply sit still and wait for the bird to come to you. That’s obviously much easier said than done, but it’s not hard in theory. Spend some time getting to know your hunting property and the birds that live on it by doing some pre-season turkey scouting. Use trail cameras to gather critical details while you can’t physically be out in the woods watching and observing in-person. Learn where the birds primarily roost and where they feed, and set up in between those two areas. Try to find a place that’s closer to the feeding area than to the roosting trees, so that you can sneak in and get set up without a reasonable fear of spooking the turkeys. Driving your Bad Boy Ambush iS side-by-side to your hunting location, and switching to the electric drivetrain to sneak even closer is a proven tactic time and time again. Also, if there is a natural bottleneck or funnel location between these two areas, that is exactly where you need to be. Use vegetation and topography to your advantage by sneaking behind such structure to within striking distance.

Turkey Hunting | How To Locate Spring Gobblers

Turkey Hunting Tips and Tactics | Turkey Locator Calls

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The time is here. Dark silhouettes on branches, thick foggy air, and the first sunlight sparkling on the dew. For some the number one time of year has come, spring turkey hunting! Chasing spring turkeys is an amazing experience that everyone should try at some point in their life. “For me it’s just something special about the spring time of the year… I heard a lot of people say, that really, turkey hunting is like a disease…” – Michael Waddell

Bone Collector | Turkey Hunting Teaser

(video)- This week, it’s all about the birds! Catch an all new episode of #BoneCollector this week on the Outdoor Channel!

There are many aspects to spring turkey hunting that makes it a very special time. From the budding plants to strutting gobblers, we all have a vision of what spring turkey hunting is to us. If you were to ask, what the one thing that spring turkey hunters look forward to each and every year, aside from squeezing the trigger on theBeretta, they would likely tell you it is hearing the sound of that ole’ long beard spitting, drumming, and gobbling. While the sound of spring gobbler sounding off at daylight is a magical thing, it can also be a turkey hunter’s biggest advantage when it comes to making that perfect set up.

One of the greatest advantages that you as a hunter can have at your disposal is a good selection of locator calls. Locater calls are often underrated in terms of their importance but have aided turkey hunters in introducing that weary long beard to aHeavy Magnum Turkey load on many occasions.

Michael Waddell’s Take | Spring Turkey Hunting, The Beauty Of Our God Given Right

Simple Thrill: Narrated By Michael Waddell

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The woods are sprawling with life during spring, and if you are familiar with hunting you know what we are talking about…turkey hunting is our beautiful god given right!

Simple Thrill: Narrated By Michael Waddell | Knight & Hale Turkey Hunting Brand Video

(video)- “For me it’s just something special about the spring time of the year… I heard a lot of people say, that really, turkey hunting is like a disease…” – Michael Waddell
As a turkey hunter you know that the feeling associated with hunting turkeys is “Indescribable.” Michael Waddell narrates our latest brand essence video and explains the “Simple Thrill” associated with chasing gobblers. Enjoy.

Whether you are in it for the time, the beauty, the success, or just to get away from the hustle and bustle, turkey hunting offers something for all of us. Anyone who has got the fever for hunting, god’s creation, and the outdoors is ate up with it… and it’s strong. Apart of this thrill is not only the ole longbeard gobbling, it is testing your skill,calling him in talking the talk, using decoys, spending time with friends, and at the end of the day…the success and harvest is just the icing on the cake.

The Spring Outdoor Trifecta | Turkey Hunting, Trout, and Morels

How You Can Enjoy All Three Wild Edibles

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Have you ever stepped into the woods filled with the hope of harvesting the spring trifecta? You probably don’t recognize it by that name, but we bet you’ve thought about all of the activities involved once the snow disappears and the temperature starts to climb.

If you’re wondering what we’re talking about when we say “spring trifecta,” it includes turkey hunting, trout fishing, and foraging wild edibles like morel mushrooms. That’s a tall order, and most would consider it a personal challenge to accomplish in a single day. It’s very easy to let the optimism of a beautiful spring morning convince you of your outdoor prowess. But finishing all three in even a single weekend can be a real challenge.

But if you can manage to do so, you can enjoy the ultimate satisfaction that goes along with taking and harvesting all three natural and renewable resources while feeding your family the perfect outdoor spring feast. If you’re up to the challenge, we’ve got the steps you should take for each activity outlined below. Study up and then get out into the woods near you for the amazing opportunity that we are privileged to have in this country. If you’re successful, you’ll also find tips at the bottom of the article to prepare your bounty and amaze whoever partakes in your feast.

Turkey Calling Guide | The What, How, and When, of Turkey Calling

Bone Collector | Fully Loaded Turkey Calling Guide

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Whatever level of turkey calling you are currently at, whether you sound like an eerily sounding sick, crippled hen, a near perfect lonesome lady, or a sweet sounding, seductive, fluent turkey talker, you could always use a little more practice in the final weeks before turkey season. Lucky for you, we have compiled some intensely detailed information on which type of call does what, how to use them, when to use them, and extra tips on selecting the right type of call. This is to better your turkey calling techniques and strategies, no matter what level you are at, beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

Figure Out Your Calling Level

This might be obvious to some, but harder for…well let’s face it, the hard headed turkey hunter. If you think you are an expert turkey caller, than you might want to re-evaluate and think again! How many turkeys have you killed, how many turkeys have you busted, and how good do you really sound? If you think you are that good, get you’re most successful turkey hunting buddies and put on a show…the comments might be more negative than you would have thought.

For some it might be harder to admit, but figuring out whether to label yourself at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced calling level will help you by the time you are finished with this article. From selecting the right call, to using the more advanced mouth calls in the right scenarios, and in the right tone, particular information will be more valuable to you depending on how much or how little you know.

Selecting the Right Call

There are several types of turkey calls on the market. Friction, tube, locater, and the well-known diaphragm calls all have their place among turkey hunters. Here is a quick overview of the style, when, why and how to use each call.

The Most Effective Turkey Hunting Decoy Strategies

Spring Turkey Hunting 101 | Bring on the Flop

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It doesn’t matter where you live in the country. The flop is coming to a field or woodlot near you. You’ve probably been seeing the #cantstoptheflop2016 campaign winging its way around the internet the last few weeks. That can mean only one thing: turkey season is coming. To celebrate this wonderful time of year, we want to explore some turkey hunting decoy strategies that are proven to work time and time again. While calling and camouflage are very important pieces of the puzzle too, effectively using decoys can make or break your day in the woods. There’s no doubt that turkeys are easier to call in when they see a “live” turkey near the commotion. By utilizing this turkey hunting guide, you too can experience the flop

Turkey Hunting Locations | Bone Collector

Turkey Hunting Seasons and Locations

First, let’s recognize that turkey seasons occur over a very wide time period across our nation. While folks down in Georgia are placing their best turkey decoys and sitting in a ground blind, hunters up in the northern Midwest states could still be out ice fishing. As a result, there’s a lot of timing variability between them. But you can still implement the turkey decoy techniques outlined here whenever your particular turkey season arrives.

The other thing to note is that turkey populations have exploded in recent years. Northern states that historically had very few, if any, turkeys have now seen dramatic increases in numbers. This opens up a new and exciting type of hunting for more hunters across our nation, who might not be familiar with turkey tactics. Use online resources to key in on your local sub-species of turkeys. Each region is a little different, so knowing the key differences could make a big impact on your success as a hunter. Now let’s discuss one of the most important turkey hunting tips for beginners: decoys!

Pre-Season Turkey Practice | Calls You Need To Learn and Master

Turkey Hunting | Calling Strategies You Should Practice Right Now

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How fluent are you in turkey talk? Can you effortlessly speak the language and entice lonely birds to stroll into your set? Or do you sound more like a psychotic chicken squawking away in the woods? No judgment here. But if the latter is true, the offseason is your friend. You’ll have months of down time, often with no other hunting seasons to distract you, to practice your cackles, yelps, and purrs. And if those terms sound foreign to you, you’re definitely the psychotic chicken clucking away in the woods and not seeing turkeys. Do yourself a favor and change that before next spring arrives.

Let’s start with some basic turkey vocabulary, so we’re all on the same page. Turkeys make an incredible number of vocalizations, far beyond what most people know about. They each have their own place, and it’s to your enormous benefit to know when to make each one.

Gobble – This is the most commonly associated turkey hunting call. Males gobble to attract hens and challenge other tom turkeys. You can easily produce a gobble using ahand-held call.

Cluck – This call is used in short bursts by both males and females. It is a basic “come-here” call that can be done with a slate, glass, or box call such as the Dual Threat Glass and Slate Turkey Pot Call and Switchblade 3-in-1 Turkey Box Call.

Yelp – Turkeys use yelp vocalizations for a variety of reasons. They’ll use them when they’re lonely to find other turkeys, to assemble after the flock has disbanded, and to simply comfort each other. Turkey hunters can use a slate call to make yelps, as well, which are slightly longer than clucks.

Cackle – You’re probably familiar with this call, but turkeys use it when flying down from a tree roost. It is a series of 10 to 15 short bursts that starts and ends slowly. You can use a box or slate call for a cackle.

Purr – Turkeys make purring calls to simply stay in contact as they travel in their flock. It is a short purring noise that is best done with a diaphragm mouth call.

Kee kee – Used as an alarm call, this high-pitched whistling noise consists of 3 to 4 short bursts. It is best done on a slate call to get the right W or M motion with the striker.

6 Turkey Hunting Tips and Tactics from the Bone Collectors

Turkey Hunting 101 | 6 Turkey Hunting Tips from the Bone Collectors

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There is no doubt about it… you #CantStopTheFlop. Every year when spring rolls around, hunters return to their neon green fields and woods, dressed head-to-toe in Realtree Camo. They are chasing the flop, and it is addicting, to some even more so than deer hunting. What makes it so enjoyable? Turkey hunting can go right, or it can go wrong fast…it’s difficult and easy at the same time, all depending on your actions. Communicating with and decoying in a Tom is extremely satisfying. Add the gobble, spit, and drumming into a hunting situation and it’s one of the most thrilling experiences a hunter will come across. The one thing about turkey hunting that we come to love is that it directly tests your ability as an outdoorsmen and turkey hunter. Do you have what it takes to kill a long beard this turkey season? Here are the top 6 turkey hunting tips from the great Beard Collectors, Michael Waddell and Nick Mundt.

Pre-Season Scouting

The turkey hunting itch begins as early as February for some. When it comes, don’t ignore it…scratch that itch! The best way is with pre-season scouting. Earlier in the year during the late winter, you will be looking for the flock. Scout food sources such as mast bearing (acorn filled) hardwood flats, cut grain fields, and pastures for tracks, droppings, and scratching. “Set up some trail cameras in some areas where you think they might be feeding“– Nick Mundt. Locating the flock with this tactic gives you the general area, but later in the year you will focus more on locating gobblers to hunt.

Take advantage of days off work, weekend days, and any hours you get free. If you’re off work on a rainy day, use it to scout! “Especially when you’re hunting eastern turkeys, rainy days means they like to come out on the fields. I don’t know if they feel more comfortable out in the open or safer out there, but that’s a good time to take a cruise around if you’ve got some open fields and find where you’ve got groups of turkeys.” -Nick Mundt.

7 Deer and Turkey Management To-Dos | Bone Collector

7 Off-Season Turkey and Deer Management To-Dos

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In the final days of February and on through the month of March, cabin fever can really start to set in and one one may start to wonder, “Will this winter ever end?” There are food plots to be planted, sheds to be found, and spring turkey hunting right around the corner, and just when it seems like Mr. Winter might finally be on his last leg, he finds a few more inches of snow to keep us just on the verge of insanity. Fear not! Winter does have an end and it is very near. Just beyond these last few cold, cloudy days await blood red sunsets and songbird mornings. But before they arrive, here are 7 deer management and turkey management to-dos to yield prosperous 2016 deer hunting and turkey hunting seasons!

TSI

One of most detrimental shortages a property can experience is a lack of cover. Not that the land it self is suffering, but the wildlife residing there surely is! Don’t think cover is necessary where you hunt? Here is how it works…No cover = No deer. No deer…Poor you. So, the lack of cover is a land management issue that must be addressed to ensure quality whitetail habitat and enjoyable hunting for years to come, and what better time to tackle the job than the stagnate months between deer season and turkey season?! TSI stands for timber stand improvement, and it may be the single most effective land management practice you can implement on the property you hunt. All you will need is a chainsaw and a general knowledge of tree species in your area. The latter may be more difficult to come by, so consult your local forester before taking to the saw with a chainsaw like a madman…or woman. The idea is to cut down the non-desirable trees to accomplish a number of management objectives. First, by bringing some of the forest canopy to the ground, you are providing the wildlife both food and cover.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Feeding Deer This Winter

Supplemental Feeding Deer | The Right and Wrong Way to Feed Deer This Winter

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Old man winter has shown mercy this year, and both the deer and hunters are grateful! With that being said, we still have the rest of February and March to get through before “green life” returns to our neck of the woods. Once spring does arrive, turkey fans won’t be the only thing we see shoot up. Fresh protein rich food sources will also spring up, and once again flourish in the hardwoods and in our food plots. While the country is still in old man winter’s frozen grip, this spring green up is in sight and with it, the end of a 4 month long struggle for life. Deer are hurting right now, maybe not as bad as previous years, but don’t let the lack of snowfall fool you. It is this struggle that we hunters start to become concerned about this time of year and as a result, we naturally feel obligated to intervene. This intervention is often in the form of a bag of “deer corn”, and it could spell disaster for you. Feeding deer during the winter is not a subject to lightly dismiss as a “common sense subject”, there is a right way and a wrong and in some situations fatal way to do it. To understand every piece that is required before feeding deer during the winter, we first need to take a walk in the shoes of a whitetail.

Walk a Season in the Whitetail’s Shoes

Imagine if you will, you’re a hog of a buck, one of those southern Iowa whoppers we all know exist. Its late October your busy eating acorns and stacking up the energy and carbs before the rut, putting on the pounds of fat. You feel your testosterone rising and those little bucks are really pestering you. Once November rolls around your weight is at an astonishing 255 pounds! You’re having fun running does throughout the southern Iowa corn fields and hardwoods, occasionally locking one down in your favorite thicket. It’s all fun and games until that first snowflake falls, then it’s back to survival. Now let’s fast forward to late February, you now weigh 180 pounds, you have shed your antlers, your fat reserves are almost spent, there is no corn left in the fields, and the snow is a foot deep. You need energy and protein to repair your body condition after the long rut. The worst news is that your instincts understand new food isn’t coming anytime soon, and more winter is still likely to be had!

Why You Are Not Finding Sheds This Year

Shed Hunting | Top Mistakes Made by Shed Hunters

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It has been a mild winter thus far. Sunny days and high temperatures have thawed out the deer woods, literally giving way to spring fever. The warm weather is tempting bored and restless whitetail hunters off the couches and into the woods. They are prospecting for white gold, priceless trophies to any outdoorsmen or women, but most will not find even a single shed. Why? We can give you 7 mistakes you are making while shed hunting, and tips to correct them.

Wrong time

The biggest mistake made by far is shed hunting at the wrong time. If you are not finding antlers chances are you are too late or too early. Eager hunters bust deer off the property before they drop their antlers and get discouraged early, keeping them out of the woods later, when the sheds are actually there to be found. Waiting to late is even worse. Trespassers or squirrels have beat you to the sheds. As much as you hate to hear it, trespassers can and will take advantage of the off season. Thinking you are most likely not on the property in the cold weather means a buffet…and it’s not just sheds. Trail cameras, stands, and sheds are all in danger. Waiting to late might also spell some damage on the sheds, as squirrels with gnaw on them within hours of the shed dropping. There is a lot to be considered and learned when it comes to when bucks drop their antlers. If your eager to learn the best time for shed hunting dive into our article on when whitetails shed antlers.

Shed Hunting Dogs | Man’s Best Friend Can Get Even Better

Shed Hunting | Shed Dog Training Tips

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It’s that time of year again when the snow is starting to melt (at least on warmer days) and the winter seems like it’s closing up shop soon. Before you really make plans for spring food plots or morel mushroom hunting, there’s another deer hunting-related activity that’s probably at the forefront of your mind. Shed hunting!

Some of us have many fond memories as a child of roaming the late winter woods with our fathers. On a pleasant sunny day, we would roam the forest following deer trails, and keeping our eyes peeled for sheds. It was mostly an excuse to get out of the house after a long winter. But there’s nothing quite like stumbling across a shed tucked halfway into the snow; its tines reflecting back the mid-morning sunlight. As a kid, you most likely played retriever for these shed hunts. But if you have a puppy that’s going to serve as future duck master, pheasant chaser, grouse flusher, or just plain old house pet, you can have a shed hunting dog with a little training.

What Type of Dog?

While you could technically train almost any obedient dog to be a shed hunter, some breeds will just learn the ropes a lot faster. Retrievers (e.g., Labradors, goldens, Chesapeake Bay’s, etc.), for instance, have deep instincts that help them perform very well for this task, which probably makes them the best breed. However, pointers, setters, and spaniels also learn very quickly and are very obedient dogs. If your pup is a hunting dog, it’s probably one of these breeds anyway.

How to Stay Busy in the Off Season

Deer and Turkey Hunting | 5 Rewarding Off Season To Do’s

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Deer hunting season has sadly come to in many parts of the country. About a month or so after the season ends and after a little recuperation, honey do’s, and some much needed sleep deer hunters begin to get bored. This period can be hard on hunters as you are left asking, what should you do in the off season? The realization of winter setting in and the several months long gap before turkey season can have some feeling claustrophobic. Cabin fever is unforgiving! Fortunately, there is a long list of beneficial activities that can be done right now that are satisfying for the most season deer and turkey hunters. Here are a few to-do’s that benefit your deer and turkey hunting each and every year.

Scouting

The recent snow storms blasting the Midwest had doors sealed shut and heaters at full blast. With some amount of warm weather returning (at the moment) some post-season scouting is called for. Scouting in the snow is eye opening. You can tell exactly where the deer on your property walk, bed down at, browse on, and feed at. It has not been that long since the rut was in full swing, take note of the deer sign on the property. Rubs, scrapes, funnels, and beds are key to your deer hunting success on that property.

Getting boots on the ground and checking in on your best turkey hunting spots is also advantageous. While it’s still way too early to go out and scout for gobbling toms, you can learn the property’s terrain and identify where you think turkeys will roost, feed, as well as identify strut zones to take note of before spring.