Turkey Lurkey

Whose getting out for New York's season opener next week? I've got 600 acres of watershed property 400 yards from my front door that I plan to explore. If that doesn't work I plan to hunt at a former co-workers farm in Worcester, NY. There's a tom there that has made a fool out of me more times than I would care to admit.

The one complaint that I have always had about turkey season was that it interfered with trout fishing. In most years, except this one, early May was prime time for the Hendrickson hatch. I hope to blast a bird real fast and turn my thoughts back to trout. Maybe a trip to the West Branch of the Ausable could be in the offing. I love when the water boils for the Green Drake hatch.

HT- Have the stripers started to move back downriver to the lower Hudson yet?

The nice thing about blasting a bird, aside from the breast meat, are the feathers for fly tying. Wing, tail and body feathers can be put to good use on a variety of patterns.

I usually hunt the state land near me in Erieville, tiogafneoga or something like that for turkey. Yesterday evening mowing my yard I come in to refresh my beer and wife tells me neighbor just called and says her uncle has land and would like me to hunt it. I just got back from a tour of the property and I am stoked, its 40 acres of prime turkey habitat, freshley disked field borders the left side, hardwoods out the back and to the right with a mowed field along the right side also. There is a small creek that flows down thru the property, no fish in it but its clean fresh spring water. Guy that owns it Ray, says knowbody else hunts his property he had all girls but Im welcome to hunt for anything I want, just dont leave any trash. This kind of thing does not happen often I have asked a couple of folks to hunt their land and have found little luck, to have 40 beautiful acres all to my self is gonna make for an awsume opening morning. Luck to all.

My daughter and I took her first bird 3 years ago when she was 4 sitting under a tree no blind. Last 2 years have been tough on the stateland I think we can get our second one this year, sure have a better chance now. I will be there tuesday alone, mama wont let her take off school yet.

Bum, dont usually put them to bed I usually listen in the morning from a distance starting a week  early then get there early and try and draw them to me. I have some great decoys but dont usually break them out till 3rd week in the season, just find them and bring them to me. Never hunting hin this woods before Im gonna play it by ear, Im 100% self tought and over the last 20 years have had some great hunts, only wish I didnt gag so easy and could use a mouth call, do all mine on slate sucks if its raining. 

ORIGINAL: 3fan

Bum, dont usually put them to bed I usually listen in the morning from a distance starting a week  early then get there early and try and draw them to me. I have some great decoys but dont usually break them out till 3rd week in the season, just find them and bring them to me. Never hunting hin this woods before Im gonna play it by ear, Im 100% self tought and over the last 20 years have had some great hunts, only wish I didnt gag so easy and could use a mouth call, do all mine on slate sucks if its raining. 

Don't give up on the mouth calls. When I first started I use to gag like a sick hen and I wouldn't take one me for the first few years. Like you said , rain makes calling with a box or slate calls a waste of time most days.Then one day I told myself to take a mouth call and leave all other calls at home. If you could have heard me, you would have ran the other way in fear for your life.To make a long story short, I killed a big gobbler that day and have been using one ever since. The more you use it ,the less you gag and the better you sound. You just have to make up your mind and do it.
Good Luck and shoot straight and most of all, BE SAFE

As the weather predicted rain so I stayed in bed till 5, made coffee got dressed and pulled into the new spot 545. Walked slow and listened iside the woods along the plowed field. I hear a gobble on the other side of the plowed field, sit down in the mud for an hour or so calling maybe three times real quiet and get a gobble behind me in the mowed field I know is back there but cant see. About seven after not hearing anything and the rain coming down harder and my azz soaked thru already I get up and move slowly down hill. I come to his shootin shack, (amish built out house with the back top cut out for shooting and no crapper) look in side and there are 2 hot seats, grab one and walk into some heavy pines out of the rain, was gonna sit in the shooting house but it had two chairs and a card table no room. Sit in the pines maybe 15 minutes not calling at all and get a gobble dead out in front yank the call out and manage about three yelps and a huge drop of water lands on it, done put it away put the gun on my knee and wait. About 5 minutes or so and he gobbles then I see his head and beard nice bird if he comes Ill shoot. Walks right to me within 20 yards gobbles never fans and I nailed him, 81/2 inch beard and 1 inch spurs no slammer but makes up for last years -0-.

Went out this morning, not a bird to be seen nor heard. A lot of yotes in the area I hope they haven't gotten them all.

Hunting pressure will put the birds down just like a careless, sloppy cast to a rising trout.

Maybe I should buy an out of state PA license and educate some of your birds.

Another morning of heavy rain followed by intermittent showers. I hope to give it heck tomorrow as the weather improves.

Once again the skies opened up with thunder, lightning and heavy rain just before my alarm went off at 5 AM. Showers on and off. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

Fish with a shotgun slung over your shoulder. New Paltz or Walkill/Middletown?

Salmon is up Dime surprised your not up there, smallies should be hot about now.  Walleye tournament for me tomorrow and sunday first turkey hunt of the season with my daughter, hope they cooperate.Dime, feel like a little walleye fishing give me a shout, they arent pretty like trout but they taste way better, especially shore lunch and cold beer!