Shooting turkeys on full-auto.
WV Jake
Where I hunt in WV has two separate seasons. The entire state has a 9-day season. If spring gobbler harvests are at least 0.5 birds per square mile, there is another 7-day season beginning the last Monday in October. The mountain counties have a season that continues through mid-November, regardless of spring harvest figures (I have never personally hunted over there).
West Virginia was action packed for us this season. I was very excited to hunt there since some of the areas I hunt were part of the Brood XIV periodical cicada emergence this past spring/early summer.
During the first week, I hunted Columbus Day and the following day. Both days yielded separate gobbler breaks. Unfortunately, I was not able to connect with one. I did get to heard some awesome gobbler talk and had three close calls with those birds.
I headed back down opening day of the second segment. We went on a good hike in the morning and had no luck (previous post). I decided to check out one of the gobbler breaks areas that afternoon. Both dogs were acting birdy as we made our way into the woods. About 300 yards away from where we had a break two weeks prior, Lily found a group on the top of a small knob. Levi joined in the break and I watched a hen fly to the west. As we were setting up Lily kept ranging out 185 yards to the NW. I made the mistake of not setting up facing that direction.
The break wasn’t a very vocal one, but I did hear a bird make some light clucks and yelps behind us. I turned around and focused my attention down hill and never seen anything, though I could hear it walking around. I eventually didn’t hear anything and turned back around. A few minutes later, I hear something over my left shoulder. I looked over and seen a Jake slowly walking about 15 yards away! He seen me move and began pitching off the knob. I pulled up and was able to make an excellent shot!
Both dogs found more birds at the base of the hill aswe were making our way down to bird.
It was nice 10 lb. 10 oz. Jake, undoubtedly he enjoyed the cicada emergence after he hatched! I hunted that same ridge on the last weekend of spring turkey season. The cicada chorus was deafening after temperatures began to rise in the morning!
Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
We parked on the base of the far ridge in the distance. I hiked just under 6 miles, Lily ran 10 miles, and Levi ran 14 miles on that hike! No fresh sign unfortunately. We did find some really old dropping and feathers. Both dogs flushed some woodcock though.
Out of Ammo
During our weekend trip in Michigan, our radiator began leaking and we had to have it towed to a local shop. We got a one-way car rental and drove home. The following Friday, I received a call and was told it was ready to pickup.
The weather forecast wasn’t great for hunting that weekend. Saturday’s high temperature was supposed to be in the low 80’s and windy, with widespread rain showers developing later in the day lasting into Sunday. I figured we’d just go up and pick our vehicle up and not really hunt. We took the dogs and our gear anyway.
On the way up in NW Ohio, I decided to stop at a small piece of public land to run the dogs. I have never personally hunted this property, but I have seen multiple groups of turkeys on the surrounding private lands when I was in the area for work this past summer.
Well didn’t even bother take our hunting gear with us on our hike. It turns out, we do encounter a decent size of group of birds on the back end of the property.. roughly a half mile from the parking lot.
We hike back up to the vehicle and start getting ready. I realize that I took my vest out of the car when I shot my Ohio bird a few days prior and I took Kaily’s shotgun shells out of her bag when I was in West Virginia earlier that week.. we were out of ammo!
Seeing how Sunday was going to unfavorable weather wise and Ohio’s season was going to close in one week, I decided to take the gamble of leaving the break to find some turkey loads. Thankfully, there is a small hunting supply store about 14 miles away.
By the time we purchased our shells, drove back, and hiked back to the break site, it was about an hour and a half after the initial flush.
We set up under a very large black walnut tree.. which was a mistake since it was raining walnuts the entire time. I made about three series of yelps before I got a response to the south. Shortly after that bird began yelping, we had a juvenile Jake begin gobbling to the west. Both birds were coming in and they were going to get to our setup around the same time. Kaily did see the Jake first and he hung up at about 40 yards and began to head towards the south into a thicket. Shortly after, the hen came sprinting into our setup and Kaily was able to get a shot!
It was an unexpected hunt we won’t forget!
What's Lost is Found
Winter forecast
There's something up there.
Making old dogs young again.
Best thing to do for an old dog is take them hunting by themselves. Thought Lucky couldn't hear or smell anymore, but she got this bird off the ground. Made her and I both proud.
Turkeys 1, hunters 0.
Wanna see deer, go turkey hunting!
There was one turkey, we both heard it make one loud cluck, then Suki made one loud bark, just before they both ran across the road full speed, 300 yards into a deep swamp. Lucky they didn't get hit by a truck, not hunting there again.
Ohio Jake
Compared to other areas I hunt, I don’t have a wealth of public land near where we live. The best option is a 4,500-acre State Forest, which the whole thing should probably designated as a State Park with the amount of trails and recreation users that frequent there. I only hunt there is the weather is unfavorable, or it’s during the week. Nowadays, I need to take a few hours off of work to check out areas before deer hunters begin filling the woods. We’ve been hunting there at least once a week since season opened on October 1.
Two days ago, I decided to check out a few areas after work. I encountered two horseback riders on the trail on our last walk out. They were very friendly (I’ve encountered some not too pleased with the dogs running around) and asked if I had any luck. I told them no and explained what we were doing. They told me that they encountered a good sized flock the week before a few ridges over. The next day I decided to check it out.
To access the area, you need to walk through a salvage timber harvest from a June 2022 tornado. They left plenty of slash and it’s not the easiest walking. Plus, the vegetation is starting to get pretty thick. When we were in the clear cut, Levi began to act like there were turkeys nearby. Once we got back into the woods, the dogs shot out to about 250 yards on the other side of the ridge. Based on their behavior, it looked like a good sized group.
The sit was pretty uneventful. At about the hour and a half mark (which seems to be the best time for us after a break), I heard some light rustling in the leaves (were in a drought, so it’s easy to hear things walking). I focus on that spot and see a turkey making its way up to us. Shortly after seeing it, it lets out some soft yelps. At this point, it’s well within shooting range and I just need it to talk from behind a small mound. He finally clears it and I shoot and miss. He becomes airborne and I shoot again, knocking him down into a spicebush thicket. I release the dogs and begin looking for the bird. I can’t find him anywhere! Both Lily and Levi begin barking about 70 yards away from me and I think I can hear additional birds running from them. I continue to look and still nothing. Levi returns to me and I see Lily is stationary. I walk up to her and she had the bird! I really don’t think it would’ve been recovered if I didn’t have the dogs with me. It was some great teamwork!
Juvenile male
9 lbs 2 oz
Making turkeys fly
Yesterday Suki flushed turkeys without barking, today it was Red. Both dogs just developed this new technique of silent trailing, to pressure them harder by not barking until the birds left the ground. Seems like they decided this on their own beforehand. Not something I could teach them.
Clear Cut Turkeys
I think everyone can agree that we all appreciate areas that turkeys hangout in consistently. We found a public spot where there are birds basically every time we are there. At the end of season last year, the state had come through and marked trees for a timber harvest in the area.
The cutting did not bother the turkeys and the dogs found them between the harvest area and a creek. We were treated to the sight of watching Lily and Levi chase a group of at least a dozen birds on the edge of the cut. Kaily did get an opportunity on a nice hen. It was an excellent October day!
Turkeys vanished in thin air
Longbeard on a limb
A few years ago, a gang of gobblers were running Lucky in circles. One jumped up on a log 20 yards away from me, beautiful in the sun. An easy shot, but 'click', forgot to load it. Never forget that picture.
Well today, Red flushed a gang of gobblers, one big tom went up on a limb, 20 yards from my friend. He was one second from pulling the trigger, when the turkey bailed out and was gone. A great picture he'll never forget.
Sexing Turkeys
Wisconsin survey
We harvested birds from all 3 hatches so far:
First hatch May 20 - 7# 11 oz. Jake 10/3/025.
Second hatch June 23 - 5# 2 oz. Jenny 10/7/25.
Third hatch July 27 - 3 lb. 6 oz. Jenny 9/15/25.
Confirmation of the good hatch this year.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
-
Saw these mating June 7, 2025. Poults should hatch about 7/27/25, they'll only be 7 weeks old when the season opens September 13. For ev... -
They can outrun most dogs, or fly away when they can't. Here's proof of their fearlessness, walking right on Lucky, Suki and Red...
-
Overharvest by Illinois tourists, collecting and drying rare porcupine eggs for floral arrangements, have made Porcupines an Endangered Spec...