Live for the season...

A nice surprise!

Every once in a while the INBOX brings good news!  A few weeks ago I got an email from Caleb at AmmoForSale.com - a fairly new online ammunition retailer.  Apparently he had run across my blog and liked what he saw.  He asked if I would be willing to write a review in exchange for a box of 9mm ammo....  uh YEA, of course I would!

Just a few days later, the brown truck pulled up with my shells.  I couldn't wait to try them out, but as it so often does, life got in the way.  I didn't get a chance to go to the range until this past weekend.  It was a beautiful, sunny, January day, so I loaded up and headed out to the farm.  

I was testing Fiocchi 9mm 115gr JHP.  First impression - a great looking cartridge.  I was shooting my Springfield XD SC.  I loaded 5 rounds and stepped off 10 yards.  My plans for the first 5 shots were to empty the magazine as quickly as possibly.  As always, the XD performed flawlessly.  It seemed to like the Fiocchi  :))

 Next, I loaded 15 more rounds and stepped back to 15 yards.  My plans for this test were to take it a little slower, and concentrate on accuracy.  DISCLAIMER - I have never claimed to be a great handgun shooter!  

All in all, not a bad group for yours truly.  I must ad mitt, I am impressed with the Fiocchi.  This was my first experience with that brand, but I like it!  It seems to be a good quality cartridge at a great price!

If you get a chance, check out Ammo For Sale.  They have a large selection, some great regular prices, plus some fantastic sale prices in their "Ammo Deals" section.  Give them a chance next time you need some ammo - I know I will!

 

It's the set-up...

Here is another article I wrote for Archery Country. Just a little more than 5 weeks till turkey time!

It's The Set-up…

One of my favorite things about being a turkey guide is being able to hunt with a diverse group of people every year. I always find it interesting to see just how one client's hunting style differs from the next guy. After years spent guiding others & hunting myself, I have come to the conclusion that no matter what your hunting style or skill level is, the one factor that most determines whether or not you will carry that gobbler out of the woods this year is your set-up. In turkey hunting, your set-up is how and where you position yourself in relation to the birds that you are hunting. Sure, having the latest in gear and camo will make things a little easier and it helps if your call sounds a little better than a rusty door hinge, but you just can't consistently kill turkeys if you don't set-up on them properly. To the successful turkey hunter, the art of choosing a good set-up becomes second nature.

Learn to pick a spot where you can use the terrain hide from the turkey's amazing vision. Use the crest of a hill, a rocky outcropping, a thick patch of brush, or even a bend in a creek to hide behind, making sure that the gobbler won't be able to see your location until he is within shooting distance.

Know your birds. Put your time in and do the homework so that you know where the turkeys are most likely to fly-down whenever they roost in certain spots. If you do enough scouting, I think you'll find that Spring turkeys are often creatures of habit. You'll soon learn that whenever they roost on this ridge, they are most likely to fly-down in that pasture, or if they roost on this bluff, often they will fly-down in that meadow, etc.

Don't be afraid to move! Without a doubt, the one thing that my hunting clients comment on the most about my hunting style is my aggressiveness. But rather than aggressive, I like to think of it as fluid. When I am working a bird, I am constantly moving and adjusting to what the gobbler is doing. I'll often change positions and set-up as many as 15 or 20 different times on a turkey that is slow to come in. For those who haven't tried it, you will actually be amazed at just what all you can get away with when moving on a turkey. As long as you aren't spotted, your movement through the woods will have little or no effect on undisturbed turkeys. Human footsteps in the leaves sound almost exactly like a walking turkey, which can add even more realism to your next calling sequence. Think about it - how often does a real hen stand in the same spot and yelp for 30 minutes? Now don't get me wrong, no one enjoys settling in beside an old Oak tree and watching a big strutter come to the call through the open woods more than me, but really how often does everything go perfect in the turkey woods? As the bird is coming in, you often need to "fine tune" your set-up so that you will be in the proper position for a kill when he does get in range.

So this year take a little extra time when you set-up on that gobbler. Think about the direction from which he is most likely to approach and staying hidden until he is in range. Think about what the last turkey did that was roosted in that spot. And most importantly, no matter how good your set-up, be prepared to move and find another one if necessary.

Pattern Those Early Season Gobblers

Thought I'd take a brief time-out from the Funny Hunting Stories to share another article I wrote for Archery Country. Hard to believe, but turkey time is almost here!

Pattern those Early Season Gobblers

For many of us, opening day of Spring turkey season finds our birds still "bunched up" and just starting to break out of their Winter flocks. There are a couple of good things about this: 1 - if you can find one of these big flocks, you are going to be treated to quite a show! It's not uncommon to see multiple mature Toms strutting, gobbling, and even fighting as they start to establish dominance around dozens of hens. And, 2 - multiple gobblers means multiple opportunities. Obviously, the bad thing about hunting big flocks of turkeys is, well... you're hunting a big flock of turkeys! It doesn't matter how good your call sounds, chances are you are not going to call a Gobbler away from 40 or 50 hens.

I like to hunt these early season birds with the same mentality that I use for deer season. Scout, scout, and scout some more. Once I've found a flock of birds, I try to be there at fly-down time every single morning for at least 2 weeks before season opens. If you have the opportunity to watch some turkeys day-in and day-out like this, I think you'll find that often, they are fairly easy to pattern. Even though they may roost in different spots and rarely travel the exact same path 2 days in a row, they normally will end up in the same general area every morning. So like the saying goes, "don't hunt 'em where they are, hunt 'em where they're going to be".

For this type of hunt, I almost always use a portable blind. In my opinion there is no better way to kill a turkey with archery gear than using a pop-up blind. Once I've patterned my birds, I like to set a blind up a day or two before season. I really only do this out of convenience, there is no need let the birds "get used to the blind" or "brush it in". More often than not, I'll set my turkey blind in the middle of an open field, with no cover around what so ever. It's funny how a turkey will walk right past a blind that was not there the day before, without ever even giving it a second look - very different from deer!

Once you've got your blind set, it's really just a waiting game. Again, think of it more like deer hunting - sit back, call a little, and let the birds come to you. If your patient and you have done your homework, I think you'll find this to be a fun and successful way of hunting early season gobblers!

Hunting Pictures

ONE of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to hunting is seeing a picture of someone's harvest where they didn't take the time to get a decent picture. One - because I think we owe it to the animal to portray them with the utmost respect in death and Two - who wouldn't rather have a good picture to show off their trophy??? Below is an article that I wrote for Archery County on this subject:

Capture that Trophy with a Perfect Photo

For many of us, the memory made is one of the most important aspects of the hunt. I doubt that there are many hunters (me included) who can look back through their photo albums without wishing for better pictures of some of their best trophies. With a little practice, planning, and forethought, you can preserve the memory of that hunt forever. Remember, you can't do it over once he's skinned and butchered, so take the extra time and follow these tips to help you get that perfect photo.

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Clean Up Your Act…

For a quality picture, you want your animal to look as "life-like" as possible. First & foremost, DO NOT leave a deer's tongue hanging out the side of its mouth. Smooth out the feathers on turkeys and other game birds; brush out the coat on deer and other big game animals. Remove as much blood as possible from both the animal & the area around it - water works pretty good for getting blood off a deer, but Windex is even better. Cover all visible wounds - leaves, snow, or even your weapon work pretty good for this. Also, always take your pictures before field-dressing the animal. Not only will it appear larger, but it will also look a lot cleaner and more life-like.

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You Don't Hunt in a Garage…

So why take your pictures there? Whenever possible, take your pictures in the field. Field photos almost always turn out to be the best, plus having a picture from the spot where you harvested the animal will only add to the memory. Even if you're by yourself, most of today's cameras have a timer for self-shots. If it's not possible for you to take your photos in the field, at least find a spot that looks "woodsy". Make sure that there are no houses, vehicles, other people, or anything else man-made in the background. Rule of thumb - if it would look out of place under your treestand, it doesn't need to be in your picture.

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Dress the Part…

This part is simple - it's a hunting picture, wear your hunting clothes. If blaze orange or a white over-suit is required, you should wear it in the picture. Not only do you want to remember that moment exactly as it happened, but the contrast of bright orange or white also really adds to an otherwise dull outdoor photo. The human eye is naturally drawn to others' hands so always put your gloves on before the picture. This will highlight what you are holding rather than the way you are holding it. Also, don't forget your weapon - nothing played a bigger part in your success, so it should be included in the photo.

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Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, and Shoot Some More…

With the modernization of digital cameras, each shot literally costs only fractions of a cent. The biggest mistake most hunters make in taking pictures of their trophy, is just simply not taking enough. You never know when you might have blinked or the camera might have been out of focus. If you think 10 is enough, take 20; if you want to end up with 20, take 50; etc. Shoot several different angles and poses - you really never know what's going to look best until you review them later. And when you think you're done, go back to view each shot on the camera's screen just to make sure you're happy with the results.

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What's Your Angle…

I'd recommend thumbing through some hunting magazines and paying extra attention to the photographs. Notice how the hunters pose their animals in the best shots. Turkeys normally look best with the wings spread, the tail fanned-put, and the back-end slightly raised. Antlers usually appear largest from a slightly "quartering - to" angle with the hunter in the background. Keep the sun to the side, or slightly behind the camera, but not so bright that the hunter is squinting or that the photographer's shadow is in the picture. And, whenever possible, keep the camera at or below the level of the subject - your trophy will appear smaller if the photographer is standing above you, shooting at a downward angle.

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Consider a Professional…

You've spent thousands of dollars on gear, tags, and hunts over the years when fate finally smiles on you with that "once in a lifetime" trophy - this is no time to skimp on the pictures. For these unique and extraordinary trophies, consider hiring an experienced outdoor photographer. There is no comparison between the quality of pictures from a professional camera versus your own "point and shoot", plus things like lighting, background, and poses come second nature to these folks.