Turkey Hunting

Nate Lawrence

Natural Resources

March 22, 2009

Description

• Turkey hunting is a sport that involves the pursuit and kill or capture of a wild turkey.

• Even before European settlers arrived, Native Americans were hunting wild turkeys.

License Requirements

• The requirements to hunt turkey in Wisconsin are: A small game license, and the turkey stamp, license, and carcass tag combo.

• The combo costs 15 dollars.

• The small game is 10 dollars.

Season Dates

• Spring Season Dates: April 15th through May 24th.

• Spring Season has set dates per individual permit.

• Fall Season Dates: September 12 through November 19th.

• No set dates per individual in fall.

Pros of Turkey Hunting

• Wide Variety of calling choices.

• Using Decoys is very effective.

• Can allow for family time and bonding.

• Allows nature lovers to get outside.

Cons of Turkey Hunting

• Waking up very early.• Attempting to be quiet

while moving through thick brush in the early mornings.

• Potentially missing a turkey.

• Turkeys have extremely good eye sight and hearing.

Materials

• Camouflage should be worn from top to bottom.

• Blinds• Optics• Shotgun, bow, or

crossbow.• Decoys.• Friction calls.• Mouth diaphragm calls.• Ammo

Education

• Turkey hunters safety is available in Wisconsin for those who choose.

• National Wild Turkey Federation provides information on turkey hunting.

• Wisconsin DNR provides useful habitat information and typical behaviors of wild turkeys in Wisconsin.

Weapons• Shotguns are the most common

weapon used for turkey hunters in Wisconsin.

• 10 gauges are the most powerful shotgun on the market, but with newer 12 gauges and the ammo used, they are closely matched.

• 410s are a lesser powered shotgun, but good for young hunters.

• Turkey ammunition is very powerful and no shot larger than No. 4 shot is allowed in Wisconsin.

• Some turkey hunters will use bows as a choice weapon.

• Turkeys require a well placed shot to the head, hunters should use full chokes in their guns.

• Bow hunters should aim at the base of the head where it meets the neck.

Habitat

• Easter turkeys, which are those found in Wisconsin have a wide range of habitat.

• From Northeastern Woodlands, to Southern Swamps, to Midwestern farmland.

• Mixed oak and pine forests with fields, creeks, and rivers are ideal for good flocks.

• In hilly areas, turkeys will roost on high points, on flat areas they will roost almost anywhere.

• Open areas like fields and food plots are necessary for breeding.

The Hunt• The hunt can start early morning when

the turkeys fly out of the roost, and end in the evening when they go back to the roost.

• It is illegal to shoot a turkey out of a tree.

• Turkey hunting can be done by stalk hunting or sitting.

• Stalk hunting: Using calls to locate birds and approach them for a shot.

• Sitting: Using calls to lure the birds in for a shot.

• There are two main types of calls, friction and mouth calls.

• Mouth calls allow for a hunter to make basic sounds while freeing both his hands.

• Friction calls require use of hands but can be more elaborate in their communications with the birds.

Interview

• I used a poem written by Barry Arrington as my interview.

• He recalls his personal experiences turkey hunting.

• He discusses how turkey hunting meant more than just killing a bird, but spending time with his father and enjoying nature.

• He points out some of his likes and dislikes.• Like: Spending time with his dad, and harvesting

a tom.• Dislike: Waking up early, and being quiet.

Fitness

• Sitting hunts: Potentially long walks can be needed to get to a good sitting spot. Walks are normally a easy pace and allow for rest along the way.

• Stalk Hunts: May need to move quickly and quietly through the woods or area. More terrain to cover in less time.

A Day in The Field• A day in the field would consist of an early morning wake up call and

being in the woods before sunrise.• There would be a walk to the blind or area of hunting choice. Some

calling should be done before the birds fly out so they know where you are and think there are other turkeys in the area.

• This will provoke the turkeys to land near you.• Hunting could last a few hours or all day depending on the birds.• In fall the jakes, hens, and toms will split into separate flocks.• In spring, the toms and jakes stay solitary and attempt to acquire a

group of hens for mating.• Spring calling is much easier, basic clucks and purrs will work great.• Fall calling requires more advanced calling as the birds will not

respond to a mating call. Purrs and quick clucks will work during fall.