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August 29, 2009 by
Here's an open letter to National Wild Turkey Federation members that just arrived in my inbox. It's information of interest to all Strut Zoners.
Cass Sunstein, President Obama's choice for a powerful regulatory position in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), is a rabid supporter of animal rights.
This agency has extensive authority over all federal regulations including those coming from the Departments of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and Agriculture. If confirmed to this position at OIRA, Sunstein could block pro-hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations.
Sunstein claims that, we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it's sole purpose is human recreation. He also supports allowing lawsuits on behalf of animals, a right currently only extended to human beings.
Views such as this raise serious concern about the agenda Sunstein will carry with him into this position if he is confirmed by the Senate. This is why it is crucial that your two US Senators vote NOT to confirm Sunstein as the head of the OIRA.
As an avid outdoorsman or outdoorswoman, you know that hunters and anglers are the greatest supporters of conservation, and that the $76 billion outdoorsmen spend on their sport annually not only supports wildlife conservation, but also bolsters jobs and local economies.
Now is the time to act! If you value your right to hunt and fish, and want the same rights for your children and grandchildren, contact your senator immediately!
For more information on this issue, and to contact your senator, click here http://www.nwtf.org/help_block_animal_rightist_regulatory_czar.html\
[ Read Full Post ]August 26, 2009 by
Brood survey results from New Hampshire are in.
Ted Walski, the longtime Turkey Project Leader for the N.H. Fish & Game Dept., reports that some turkey breeding behavior was noted as early as mid March in this northern region of the country. This made for some early brood sightings.
As the brood survey goes, says Walski, “This summer is based on a random sample of 50 brood sightings [overall], mostly from towns in the southwestern region of the state.” This turkey-rich location in the Connecticut River Valley revealed that broods (8) observed in May had an average of 8 poults per hen. June’s averaged 6.5 poults per hen (30 broods). Seven multiple-hen broods in June also had 4.53 poults per hen. In July? 4.60 poults for single-hen broods that month, and 4.24 poults for multiple-hen groups.
What about estimated hatching dates? Biologist Walski achieves this data based on back-calculating from the size of the poults on the day observed. “The period of the most hatching,” says Walski, “appeared to be the fourth week of May (42%), followed by the third week of May (22%). The month of May had 68% (two-thirds) of the spring hatch [for the broods surveyed].”
Two of the hatches were even from late April Walski indicated, suggesting this data is considered an anomaly and not typical for N.H.
How did the heavy rains of June and July affect turkey populations? Walski suggests that: “Because of the ‘monsoon’ rainy periods during the spring/summer of 2009, production of young turkeys will be below the long term average over the years.” He goes on to say, “There are an abnormal number of hens with only 1-4 poults each, but there are also hens with 8-9 poults, especially from the hatches of the second or third weeks of May and from some re-nests during late-June and July.”
He also suggested brood observations during August and early September will better determine productivity for 2009.
On the N.H. seacoast region, and in southern Maine where I write this report, some multiple-hen groups are bugging in fields, bachelor groups of toms are now afoot and more visible, and one reliable source in my turkey-hunting network says he’s been watching a mixed family grouping of, catch this, 50+ birds.
The hatch results for this region of turkey country, if anything, are mixed.
[ Read Full Post ]
August 20, 2009 by
Scott Basehore of Pennsylvania is a custom turkey call maker whose fine work graces my turkey call collection. It’s a box call you guys would notice, adorned with a hand painted strutter (see photo); one you want to pick up and run some clear-noted yelps on. A two-season turkey hunter, he’s also an avid dog man who runs his turkey-nosed canine on fall flocks where it’s legal (as in PA); a list of states that grows annually.
Basehore started making turkey calls way back in 1985, just as the golden age of turkey hunting we now enjoy was commencing. To quote him, and put simply: “I thought it would be great to take a turkey using a call which I had made.” The dream became real as he guided and hunted across turkey country. More people saw his calls. More began to order them, Scott says.
In 1994, Basehore won his first National Wild Turkey Federation competition, taking top honors in the Grand National Decorative Box Call slot. In 2000, his work place first in the “Gibson” Working Box Call Judged on Sound competition. He’s placed high many other times.
But will they work in the woods?
“My calls are not mass produced. They are built one at a time, and worked according to each individual piece of wood.” And he backs that careful work up with a promise: “If I do not feel confident the call will call turkeys, it will not be sold.” His custom and paddle boxes are made from a solid block of wood, your choice: butternut, cedar, polar, cypress and mahogany. Money back, guaranteed.
Mine sounds as sweet as a gobble answering yelps on a nearby ridge.
Want more information? Basehore makes home base in Denver, Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 717-336-4458 or by email at: cbasehore@yahoo.com/
Don’t own a custom turkey call yet? You hardcore Strut Zone turkey chasers definitely owe yourself one. Run a custom or paddle box made by one of these guys, and you’ll see the difference between some of the lower-grade inexpensive options that of course allow everyone to play the calling game, and these custom made works of art.
[ Read Full Post ]
August 12, 2009 by
New York State used to provide one of the sweetest deals around for the two-season, out-of-state turkey hunter. You’d buy a nonresident small-game license ($55) then lock in for four turkey tags: two fall, and two spring ($30). That grand total of $85 always felt like a steal as New York has often proven to be one of the more enjoyable states to turkey hunt, with abundant birds, public land, and plenty of accommodating landowners, especially upstate.
Not now. In this age of economic downturn, prices just jumped. Can you say sticker shock?
The nonresident turkey tags for the coming 2009-2010 hunting seasons, again still four total, just inflated like a strutting spring gobbler to $50. Even the small-game license for out-of-staters got bigger, elevating to $85 — the former benchmark for both small game license and turkey tags. Resident small game by the way went from $16 to $26, while the turkey permit doubled in price from $5 to $10.
The 2009-2010 New York State hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) go on sale beginning Monday, August 17, 2009. As usual, licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC's 1,500 license sales outlets statewide, or ordered by mail, telephone and online at www.dec.ny.gov <http://www.dec.ny.gov/> (look for the "Purchase a Sporting License" link on the home page). All sporting licenses are valid beginning Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.
The new fees will be in effect for purchase of all 2009-2010 licenses, and are posted on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6107.html/ <http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6107.html/> Information on the changes to the license fees and license structure is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54955.html <http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54955.html> /
I’m still not sure whether to bite the bullet as a sign of the times, or pass on my longtime New York turkey hunting tradition and add another state to my list of five this year. What do you Strut Zoners think?
[ Read Full Post ]August 9, 2009 by
As of this writing, two items dominate Strut Zone turkey news: one to begin buying fall permits and one to offer an opinion on establishing spring hunting dates. Both share the same date: Monday, August 10, 2009.
First the permits. This year will be the first time turkey hunting is allowed during the November Nebraska firearm deer-hunting season.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission indicates fall turkey-hunting permits will be available for purchase on Aug 10. Their lengthy season runs from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31, and hunters may use either a shotgun or bow and arrow. A permit allows a hunter to kill no more than two turkeys during the season (two permit limit).
Turkey-hunting permits range in cost from $12.50 to $91 each, depending on the kind of permit sought and the residency of the hunter. Contact: www.ngpc.state.ne.us/ <http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/>
Do you spring turkey hunt the Bluegrass State? Kentucky is asking for your opinion regarding start dates for the spring season. Hunters only have until midnight on Monday, August 10, to participate.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources posted an online questionnaire at fw.ky.gov <http://fw.ky.gov/> / to gather information from hunters. During the past few weeks, 1,598 participants have taken the turkey questionnaire. The survey asks hunters whether they want to retain the current opening weekend of the general spring season (currently the Saturday closest to April 15) or if they prefer for the season to always start on the second Saturday in April.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission members will consider the results of the questionnaire at their August 14 meeting in Frankfort.
[ Read Full Post ]August 3, 2009 by
1. It will help you scout for deer firearms season, which often arrives later than fall turkey dates.
2. Spending more time with fall turkeys will help make you a better spring gobbler hunter.
3. It’s an excellent opportunity to introduce a young person to the turkey hunting tradition.
4. Early and even late archery seasons often coincide with chances at both whitetails and wild turkeys from the same treestand.
5. In some highly populated areas, taking an adult broodless hen or young bird is practical game management.
6. A wild turkey on your Thanksgiving Day table honors the hunt and extends memories.
7. Turkey dogs are used to find and flush flocks before you attempt to call gregarious birds back to the break site. As a result dog men, in states where it’s legal, can add the wild turkey to their list of opportunities.
8. You’ve got turkey hunting apparel, gear, and a bunch of calls. Use that stuff in two seasons, not just one.
9. That summertime honey-do list is finished (well most of it!). Time to start scouting for fall.
10. It's flat-out fun, and fall turkey camp is a chance to relive previous hunts and make more memories.
Stay tuned here at the SZ as we cover approaching seasons, plus field reports, and hunts on home ground in autumn turkey country.
[ Read Full Post ]
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