Big Game Cameraman
03-12-2011, 06:00 PM
I've been a contributor on The Buck Barn for the last year or so, and I was its very first advertiser. Recently, in a phone conversation, Ron Reddington, creator of The Buck Barn and The Bass Barn, encouraged me to re-start my "Spring Turkey Tip of the Week" posts.
I'm not a professional journalist, but I've got a lot to say about turkey hunting. I've been fortunate to film turkey hunts for 21 years, from Florida to Montana and everywhere in between. I've had over 400 encounters with mature gobblers; many have turned out well, a few have been complete disasters, the rest have been somewhere in between. One way or another, I've learned some ups and downs of this wild and crazy sport. Maybe some of my experiences can help Buck Barners who are new to the sport.
In my opinion, the eastern turkey is the most difficult to hunt successfully, due to heavy hunting pressure. Some of my tips and tactics may help you to outwit that wily old tom in the Spring of 2011. For the next few months, I'll be posting tips here on a regular basis.
Spring Turkey Tip of the Week
March 12, 2011
How to find that bombSHELL PROPERTY
Part 2 of a 2 part tip
If you take my advice this spring for that new hot spot. In your scouting locate as many flocks of turkeys as you possibly can. (Remember both hens and toms). Now it is time to knock on doors. Treat it like a business. Dress clean cut , never in camo, that is too intimidating for the land owner. Dont show up looking like a member of the Charles Manson family, although I bet he would have made a pretty damn good turkey hunter.
Two more important things to know when your approaching a landowner: Ask if there is already people hunting turkey there, if the answer is yes, just move on and try somewhere else. Respect other hunters. On small tracks of land where I film most of my kills, be very aware of the safety zone. A hunter must be far away from any neighboring homes, occupied buildings, and public roads. Safety comes first when your turkey hunting.
I Prefer to stop and talk to senior citizens, they most likely dont hunt and they always can use help around their property. If a property looks like its holding birds, I am very interested. The land owner could be young or old. My secret has been for over twenty years, giving them my service. I am a landscaper by trade and I operate a tree service. Every home owner can use a tree man, maybe I will stump grind their old tree stumps, prune some trees, or perhaps a small landscaping design. I'll do this service free of charge for the rights to film hunts on their land.
It has been a great trade off for me for many years. I realize every buckbarner does not have a truck and chipper. But the land owner has something you want, their property is crawling with wild turkey. You must be creative in your approach.
Here is a list of things you can do before the season: buckbarners its mid March still plenty of time to make it happen before the spring of 2011. You and your hunting partners can offer some things such as: do a spring clean up aound their front and back yard, borrow a ladder and clean out their gutters, maybe jump on their lawn tracker and help with the grass cutting this spring. Trim bushes and hedges, maybe offer to multch their flower beds, make arrangements to have a cord of firewood delivered. Have a local person snow plow their driveway when weather is bad, have the sunday paper delivered for six months, maybe even a gift certificate to their local restaruant. Maybe one of your hunting partners is a handy man and you can offer the home owner small repairs such as plumbing, fix a leaky roof, or a small electrical job. Do some painting or give their car a tune up. Maybe something as simple as a fresh cut Christmas tree and a bottle of wine in early December could win people over.
Anyone of these things could interest a home owner. The best tip I could ever give you while your knocking on doors, is to ask the local mailman. The mailman sees wildlife all year long, he may tip you off on that new hot spot, where its teeming with gobbler activity. Just take the time and ask.
Theres always the chance the land owner does not need any help around the property and may simply say yes, enjoy yourself.
hey buckbarners, take the time to educate the home owner. Share with him your passion of turkey hunting, he will really respect you for it.
You can practice these tactics both close to home or up North.
My message should be clear, gather information, do the research in the best areas, introduce yourself to many, then decide the best property that works the best for you. That little slice of heaven that you can call your own, where Mr. Big lives, that barrell-chested, beard dragging 5 year old. He's out there, just find him. Then one early crisp May morning deliver him the goodies, shoot him square in the snot locker. Then the celebration begins! Be safe, happy hunting.
Keep the tradition alive, take a youngster hunting.
I'm not a professional journalist, but I've got a lot to say about turkey hunting. I've been fortunate to film turkey hunts for 21 years, from Florida to Montana and everywhere in between. I've had over 400 encounters with mature gobblers; many have turned out well, a few have been complete disasters, the rest have been somewhere in between. One way or another, I've learned some ups and downs of this wild and crazy sport. Maybe some of my experiences can help Buck Barners who are new to the sport.
In my opinion, the eastern turkey is the most difficult to hunt successfully, due to heavy hunting pressure. Some of my tips and tactics may help you to outwit that wily old tom in the Spring of 2011. For the next few months, I'll be posting tips here on a regular basis.
Spring Turkey Tip of the Week
March 12, 2011
How to find that bombSHELL PROPERTY
Part 2 of a 2 part tip
If you take my advice this spring for that new hot spot. In your scouting locate as many flocks of turkeys as you possibly can. (Remember both hens and toms). Now it is time to knock on doors. Treat it like a business. Dress clean cut , never in camo, that is too intimidating for the land owner. Dont show up looking like a member of the Charles Manson family, although I bet he would have made a pretty damn good turkey hunter.
Two more important things to know when your approaching a landowner: Ask if there is already people hunting turkey there, if the answer is yes, just move on and try somewhere else. Respect other hunters. On small tracks of land where I film most of my kills, be very aware of the safety zone. A hunter must be far away from any neighboring homes, occupied buildings, and public roads. Safety comes first when your turkey hunting.
I Prefer to stop and talk to senior citizens, they most likely dont hunt and they always can use help around their property. If a property looks like its holding birds, I am very interested. The land owner could be young or old. My secret has been for over twenty years, giving them my service. I am a landscaper by trade and I operate a tree service. Every home owner can use a tree man, maybe I will stump grind their old tree stumps, prune some trees, or perhaps a small landscaping design. I'll do this service free of charge for the rights to film hunts on their land.
It has been a great trade off for me for many years. I realize every buckbarner does not have a truck and chipper. But the land owner has something you want, their property is crawling with wild turkey. You must be creative in your approach.
Here is a list of things you can do before the season: buckbarners its mid March still plenty of time to make it happen before the spring of 2011. You and your hunting partners can offer some things such as: do a spring clean up aound their front and back yard, borrow a ladder and clean out their gutters, maybe jump on their lawn tracker and help with the grass cutting this spring. Trim bushes and hedges, maybe offer to multch their flower beds, make arrangements to have a cord of firewood delivered. Have a local person snow plow their driveway when weather is bad, have the sunday paper delivered for six months, maybe even a gift certificate to their local restaruant. Maybe one of your hunting partners is a handy man and you can offer the home owner small repairs such as plumbing, fix a leaky roof, or a small electrical job. Do some painting or give their car a tune up. Maybe something as simple as a fresh cut Christmas tree and a bottle of wine in early December could win people over.
Anyone of these things could interest a home owner. The best tip I could ever give you while your knocking on doors, is to ask the local mailman. The mailman sees wildlife all year long, he may tip you off on that new hot spot, where its teeming with gobbler activity. Just take the time and ask.
Theres always the chance the land owner does not need any help around the property and may simply say yes, enjoy yourself.
hey buckbarners, take the time to educate the home owner. Share with him your passion of turkey hunting, he will really respect you for it.
You can practice these tactics both close to home or up North.
My message should be clear, gather information, do the research in the best areas, introduce yourself to many, then decide the best property that works the best for you. That little slice of heaven that you can call your own, where Mr. Big lives, that barrell-chested, beard dragging 5 year old. He's out there, just find him. Then one early crisp May morning deliver him the goodies, shoot him square in the snot locker. Then the celebration begins! Be safe, happy hunting.
Keep the tradition alive, take a youngster hunting.