On a photo safari of sorts this weekend to celebrate the end of 2011 and ring in the new when I encountered this wild turkey. I’d walked right up on him and he didn’t seem to concerned with me so for a brief few minutes there was this standoff between my wife and I and Tom. Of course having camera in hand I started shooting photos and that’s when I noticed he was a multi bearded bird. Photos clearly show two but there may have been 3 but who knows. How prevalent is multi bearded toms? I don’t know but I have rarely encountered any never mind photographing one. Good omen for the new year? Who knows….. lets hope.

Eastern Wild Turkey

Red Wolf or Coyote? Maybe a bit of both

The News and Observer article the other day about red wolf reintroduction into North Carolina had a few people ask me about my thoughts. Well that certainly is a loaded question mainly because I’m not convinced what has been released as a red wolf is really a red wolf. No doubt it has wolf in it but it also has coyote in it as well. Myself I believe they are better described as a supped up coyote. While I know many will disagree with me I’m just not sure the federal government should be stocking in something that is not what they claim it is.
Now am I opposed to restoring wolves or other predators to ranges where they once were? No if it is done reasonably but that never seems how it is done. I do not believe predators should be stocked in to replaces man’s role at the top of the food chain. While there is room for both where the issue comes in that many of the supporters of restoration efforts want to allow these populations to grow unchecked we only have to look at western United States to see that.
Well anyone that knows me knows how much I like to turkey hunt so the main thrust of the article must make me happy;

Wolves’ role in helping these ground-nesting birds is well known, Rabon said. Raccoons eat the birds’ eggs, and red wolves prey on raccoons. More wolves mean fewer raccoons, and fewer raccoons mean more quail and turkey. Connecting the dots, more wolves mean more birds.
Effects like this aren’t unique to Eastern North Carolina. Research from around the globe, compiled in an article in the journal Science last month, shows just how deeply large predators like wolves and cougars are connected to the ecosystems where they live.
If predators vanish or reappear, even plants and soil might feel the effects. Predators play a crucial role in shaping the landscape.

I’m really not surprised the red wolf / coyote help many of the birds including turkeys. Other predators have gone pretty much unchecked with trapping becoming a politically incorrect activity and hunting of coons certainly not as popular as it once was. West Virginia did a five year wild turkey survival study and found that only one study turkey was taken by a coyote suggesting the coyote did not negatively impact the wild turkey population. Given that study the red wolf / coyote in eastern North Carolina most likely has some positive effects on turkey and quail populations.
Of course with anything in nature something has to give especially if the red wolf has federal protection and the population continues to expand. The protection is hard to enforce giving that the red wolf stocked in had coyote in its dna already and they will breed with coyotes making it impossible for anyone to prove if the critter in question is a red wolf or a coyote. That is my opinion and should not be taken as legal advice for sure. I hunt pretty infrequently in the red wolf territory but if you do you better educate yourself on the red wolf.
Red Wolf Id Card

Bottom line whatever you choose to call it the red wolf / coyote is having some positive impacts but a check with local farmers I’m sure they have some negative impacts these critters are causing.

Tagged out

Friday I tagged out on my second gobbler in North Carolina which is good and bad. Happy I tagged out after last year not killing a bird but it takes out half of what I planned for this next week. I’m on a Cast & Blast Trip plan was to fish for bass and turkey hunt. Being tagged out I guess I’ll focus on maybe some photography along with bass fishing. Once I get back and get a chance I’ll post some detail stories of my hunts.

Still time to fill your turkey tags so don't panic....yet!!!

We are about at the half way point of the turkey season time to a self assessment of where you’re at. If you’re like me you probably know a few maybe more hunters who are tagged out. (Maybe your one of those lucky stiffs.) If not if you got one of your tags filled you’re in pretty good shape but if you still have both tags maybe it’s time to panic. Hang on no need to panic there is still plenty of time to bag your birds.
There are a few things that play to your advantage the deeper into the season you get; everyday more and more hens go to nest leaving those Tom’s lonely, less hunters afield either they tagged out or they give up.
There are a few things that some look at as negative but if you think about it you can turn these into advantages. Increased foliage on the trees will make it harder for you to see that gobbler it will also muffle him some so he’ll be a lot closer then you think when he sounds off. This will also give you a bit more cover so you can get away with a little bit of movement but be careful that gobbler maybe closer then you think.
The vocal two year old birds, especially if your hunting an area that gets some pressure, have either already been given a ride home in someone’s truck or they have gotten an education and gotten a bit smarter. The flipside is a number of hunters have tagged out on those two year olds while the long beards have been henned up and now they ain’t. I believe you have a bit better chance on getting on mature birds now so take advantage of it.
Mid way point of the season and there is still plenty of time don’t put extra pressure on yourself. Get out there and fill your tag (s) that’s where I plan to be.

Cutting with a call to find a hot gobbler

Probably some of the most asked questions by new hunters is around the vocabulary of the wild turkey. Turkeys make a lot of sounds and a hunter that can mimic some will increase the likelihood of filling their tag. The National Wild Turkey Federation has a wealth of information including a page that has many of the calls of the wild turkey. Check it out and maybe this spring you’ll be eating an early Thanksgiving.

Opening morning I connected on a two year old bird that came into my decoy spread with 6 of his friends. They caught me by surprise and I had 3 Jakes looking into the blind before I realized they were there. I was able to get my gun up and shoot the strutting tom before they busted me.

The rest of the week when I got chances to hunt I just couldn’t seem to close the deal to fill my second tag. The Toms still seem to be henned up so calling them away was not working. I’m sure that I’ll get a chance to fill my final tag once the hens start going to nest and the Toms get lonely.

If the Government shut down Fed Lands will be Closed

Anyone that has a permit hunt for any of the Federal lands in NC or had planned to hunt Game Lands Owned by the Federal Government this weekend better watch the news closely. If the Government shutdown takes place many of these areas will be closed to the public.

“Visitor activities that require a permit, including public events, will not be allowed or will be cancelled or postponed. Visitor centers will be closed and access to park and refuge areas denied, including Patuxent NWR, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Independence Hall, Alcatraz, and the Washington Monument. Visitors using overnight concession accommodations and campgrounds will be notified and given 48 hours to make alternate arrangements. The National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and some Bureau of Land Management roads will be closed except when they are necessary as thruways.

USF&W

Don’t think there won’t be anyone to notice if you decide to still try to hunt because Law Enforcement as well as Fire and Rescue personnel are considered essential.

If there is a government shutdown, on North Carolina national wildlife refuges specifically, the following closures and cancellations apply:

* Alligator River – The tram tour scheduled for Saturday, April 9 will be canceled. The refuge will be closed to all public uses.
* Cedar Island will be closed to all public uses.
* Currituck will be closed to all public uses.
* Mackay Island will be closed to all public uses.
* Mattamuskeet will be closed to all public uses.
* Pea Island – The Visitor Center and restrooms (operated by the National Park Service) will be closed. The refuge will be closed to all public uses.
* Pee Dee – The permitted turkey hunts will be canceled. The refuge will be closed to all public uses.
* Pocosin Lakes – The Visitor Center and boardwalk in Columbia will be closed. The refuge will be closed to all public uses.
* Roanoke Rive r- The permitted turkey hunts will be canceled. The refuge will be closed to all public uses.
* Swanquarter will be closed to all public uses.

So I guess if you have a permit for the Pee Dee or the Roanoke I’d make sure I had a plan B for opening day.

What many of us hope to see Saturday

Saturday Morning the 2011 Turkey season will open across the state of North Carolina and many hunters will be hoping to call a gobbler in close enough to put a tag on. If your like me you’ve checked and double checked you vest and made sure every call is in its place and ready to go. After work tomorrow I’ll join a number of other hunters in turkey camp it will be a sleepless night I’m sure partly because of the anticipation of opening morning as well as all the snoring from the surrounding bunks.

Turkey season is about my favorite season so I’m always excited about it. I have a number of things I’m trying out this year; a new choke tube, some calls, and a few other unique items. Seems like every year someone gets hurt or killed chasing turkeys so please be careful out there. Remember your safe gun handling skills and always and I mean always identify your target.

Good Luck

running and gunning last youth day

Tomorrow (Saturday) is youth day for turkey hunting here in NC. Across the state young people will be chasing turkeys on a day set aside for them. Anyone taking young people out tomorrow please be careful, safe, and have fun. I plan to be joining a young man and his dad as they try to fill his tag.

working a gobbler last youth day