The following is an edited sequence of three short videos captured by Al Ladd’s trail camera. The first is a roughed grouse (partridge) checking out a late winter bait pile. The second of a young “jake” wild turkey at a very popular game crossing area. And last, at the same game crossing, a tom turkey momentarily “struts”. Spring mating season in Maine should be in progress as I post this.

Below is the fourth of a series of four instructional videos from Scott Ellis on turkey mouth calling. Scott is a Florida State Champion turkey caller and competes nationwide. He also is a contributing writer for U.S. Hunting Today and other state magazine web sites.

Please watch Part I, Part II and Part III.

Woodhaven Custom Calls

Below is the third of a series of four instructional videos from Scott Ellis on turkey mouth calling. Scott is a Florida State Champion turkey caller and competes nationwide. He also is a contributing writer for U.S. Hunting Today and other state magazine web sites.

Please watch Part I and Part II and Part IV.

Woodhaven Custom Calls

Below is the second of a series of four instructional videos from Scott Ellis on turkey mouth calling. Scott is a Florida State Champion turkey caller and competes nationwide. He also is a contributing writer for U.S. Hunting Today and other state magazine web sites.

Watch Part I: “Excited Yelping” and Part III “Add Realism to Your Calls” and Part IV.

Woodhaven Custom Calls

Below is the first of a series of four instructional videos from Scott Ellis on turkey mouth calling. Scott is a Florida State Champion turkey caller and competes nationwide. He also is a contributing writer for U.S. Hunting Today and other state magazine web sites.

Watch Part II: “Cluck and Purr” and Part III “Add Realism to Your Calls“.

Woodhaven Custom Calls

The below photo was sent to me by Jim Richards of Blue Horse Outfitters in south central Wyoming.

The turkey was taken by Ray Pullins in southern Ohio on 4/25/11. Reports are he took a similar half white jake last year.

Click on Image to Enlarge

AUGUSTA – Spring wild turkey hunting season will begin Saturday, April 30, with the traditional Youth Day and commence Monday, May 2, for all licensed hunters with permits.

A notable addition to this spring’s hunt is two wildlife management districts in the Downeast area. WMDs 19 and 28 are open to spring wild turkey hunting, but will not be open during the fall hunt.

Also this spring season, hunters will continue to have the opportunity to harvest a second bearded wild turkey, the result of a bag-limit regulation change that was implemented in 2010.

An initial permit for $20 will allow turkey hunters to take only one bearded wild turkey in the spring and a wild turkey of either sex in the fall. A second permit for $20 can be purchased anytime after the purchase of the first permit that would allow for the harvest of another bearded wild turkey in the spring only. Agent fees are not included in permit prices.

Youth Day will be held on Saturday, April 30. Kids over 10 and under 16 with a junior hunting license are allowed to hunt on this day with adult supervision. Youths will be allowed to take up to two (2) bearded wild turkeys during the spring season without any additional permit fees. The resident spring/fall turkey permit and the second spring turkey permit are included in the resident junior hunting license.

The regular season for spring wild turkey hunting opens Monday, May 2 and ends on June 4 in wildlife management areas 7, 10 through 26, and 28. It is open to all hunters who possess a spring/fall wild turkey hunting permit and a valid Maine hunting license that allows hunting of big game. A valid archery license in addition to a spring/fall wild turkey permit allows wild turkey hunting with bow and arrow only.

Legal hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until noon local time. All harvested turkeys must be registered at a designated tagging station.

A complete description of turkey hunting regulations, WMD descriptions, instructional videos, as well as an informative Turkey Hunter’s Guide can be found at the department’s website at www.mefishwildlife.com

MDIF&W again will be conducting a spring wild turkey hunter survey to aid in biologists’ ability to understand spring turkey hunter efforts and experiences. The information will be used to help provide a quality hunting experience. Surveys can be found online at www.mefishwildlife.com.

The opening of two Downeast wildlife management districts to the spring wild turkey hunting season is welcome.

“We started introducing wild turkeys in eastern Hancock and Washington counties back in 2002, resulting in nearly 300 birds being released in the Downeast area,” according to Tom Schaeffer, a MDIF&W Regional Wildlife Biologist, based in Jonesboro. “The opportunity to hunt wild turkeys is the result of invested time, money, and cooperation between the Department of Inland of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, the Maine state and Downeast Longbeards chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and a number of dedicated volunteers and private landowners.”

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife urges hunters to review the following safety tips:

· Never try to stalk a gobbling turkey. Your chances of getting close are poor, and you may be sneaking up on another hunter.

· Avoid hunting the same gobbler as your hunting companion or other hunters. Pick a different area to hunt.

· Stick with hen calls. A gobbler call is intended for special situations and might attract other hunters.

· Don’t be patriotic. Avoid red, white or blue. A tom turkey’s head has similar colors.

· Avoid unnecessary movement. This could alert turkeys and attract hunters.

· Don’t hide so well that you impair your field of vision

· Wrap your turkey in some blaze orange cloth for the hike back to the car.

· Always sit with your back against a tree trunk, big log or a boulder that is wider than your body. This protects you from being accidentally struck by pellets fired from behind you.

· If you use a decoy, place it on the far side of a tree trunk or a rock so you can see the birds approaching from all directions, but cannot actually see the decoy. This prevents you from being directly in the line of fire should another hunter mistakenly shoot at your decoy.

· Never shoot unless you’re absolutely sure of your target. Since only turkeys with beards are legal during the spring season, lack of positive identification could result in shooting an illegal bird, or worse, another hunter.

· Consider wearing hunter orange while moving from set-up to set-up. Take it off when you are in position.

This photo and short caption was sent to me from Black Bear Blog reader, “jes”. Thanks for sharing.

The Good Lord gave me the gift of only going out twice, and saving gas….Two trips, two birds. First time I’ve ever done that! Also the first time gas was almost $4.00 a gallon…..

Please Click Image to Enlarge