Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Turkey Final Day Finale


This spring, turkey season has had its highs and lows.  Have you ever had those hunts where everything that can go wrong does?  This season has been full of those hunts.  Overall, it should have been a good year.  I've called in several birds but something would always seem to go wrong before I could close the deal.  One hunt was blown by two deer running between me and a bird I was working.  On another hunt, I called a big Tom into shooting range but my camera man wasn't able to get the bird into frame.  I called this same bird in again two days later only to have another hunter slip in between me and the bird and blow the hunt.  On our Up North Journal Pro Staff hunt in Kentucky I was able to call in a big strutter and roll him at 35 yards only to have him flop over the edge of a 80' bluff.  I wasn't able to recover that bird.  Persistence finally paid off when I teamed up with a good friend and we were able to take a decent bird on the last morning of the season.  It's always good to end on a high note.

On another note, everyone remember to keep all of the storm victims in their prayers.  As most everyone knows, Alabama was devastated by tornados last week.  There are still people missing and lots of families have lost their homes and loved ones.  I don't think that there is anyone in the state that wasn't affected by the storms in some way.  But with all of your prayer, God will help us get through these tough times.  No prayer goes unheard.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The rut is on




The bucks are finally rutting here in central Alabama where I live. There is one week of deer season left so burn those vacation days and stay in the woods all day. Bucks are on there feet and moving during daylight hours so get in the woods early and stay late. The bucks are covering lots of ground looking for receptive does so I like to hunt travel corridors and doe bedding areas at this time. Bucks will be scent checking these places regularly. Clearcuts seem to be good also. Don't be shy about using grunt calls and can calls. They can be really productive right now. I used a grunt call to call in a 8 point two weeks ago and a combination of tending grunts and doe bleats to call in a nice 9 point on Jan. 20th. We've only got one week left so make the best of it. Stay in the woods all day, hunt those areas with lots of doe activity and use your calls.
GOOD HUNTING.