Turkey calling

Sighting In My Tenpoint Crossbow

Yesterday afternoon I was sighting in my Tenpoint Crossbow with my new Defender limbs.  I was shooting the new tenpoint 20'' lighted omni nock bolts.

It only took a few shots to get the tenpoint on target.  I was shooting at 20 yards and 30 yards at Falcon Archers.  Saturday is the first day of spring turkey season and I am excited about the opportunity to go hunting again.

I plan on using my shotgun the first day. I purchased an additional Turkey tag, so if I harvest a bird with my shotgun, I can still use my crossbow for a chance at a second Spring gobbler later in the season.

Savage .17 HMR

I picked up the new Savage semi automatic .17 HMR from Field & Stream last week. I am mounting a Bushnell 4 x 16 lighted reticle scope on it.  The reviews all say this savage is a real shooter and is capable of turning in extremely tight groups.

I plan on using it this summer to take out a few varmints (groundhogs and coyotes). It's an extremely accurate flat shooting rifle with very little recoil. It's capable of hitting hard and should be perfect for this type of shooting.

This .17  HMR uses a new ammunition specifically designed for this rimfire rifle. It shoots 100 ft./s faster than any other .17 ammunition on the market.

Coyote Hunting

I had the opportunity to go coyote hunting this week near Bethel Park. The weather was a little bad, windy and at times raining. I was hunting out of my van so fortunately I was not out in the weather.

I was using my Stoeger shotgun with 3 inch Number four turkey loads. The coyotes were not responding to the squealing rabbit call. So we switched over to young coyotes hunting, with excited yelping and barking. Before long we had one howling and answering us. He was about 200 yards out.

The weather turned a little worse and the winds kicked up, so we decided to call it a night. The coyote that was responding would not come in for whatever reason. It was still a fun night, maybe next time I will get a shot.

Pro Elite Carbon Bolts

This year I will be shooting the 20 inch Carbon Pro Elite Bolt with Omni-Bright Lighted Nocks from Tenpoint.  They turn off much easier than the Burt Coyote bolts I used the last several years. I picked up a dozen bolts from the factory this week.

The Pro Elite 20-inch 22/64ths diameter Easton® carbon fiber arrow is fletched slightly offset with AAE EP-40 Elite Plastifletch 3 7/8" vanes. It is fitted with a 68-grain brass insert and TenPoint’s neon yellow Superbrite Omni-Nock or Omni-Brite lighted nock. Precision engineered by Easton®, Pro Elite shafts are inspected for straightness to within .003 and hand-sorted for weight tolerance to within two grains per dozen.

*Standard-weight / 425-grains

I was able to get blue and white vanes (Penn State). I am looking forward to sending one into a turkey next month!

Second PA Spring Gobbler Tag

I realize this is probably a huge mistake, but I bought a second Spring Gobbler tag from the game commission today. Hunters have the opportunity to purchase a second Spring gobbler tag before the season opens on May 2.

I enjoy hunting turkeys as much as I enjoy deer hunting. I would love to have the chance to take a spring gobbler with my shotgun and crossbow this year. I plan on starting off with my shotgun and if I am successful, then I can use my Tenpoint crossbow for an opportunity at a second gobbler.

How many of you are buying a second tag this year?

Crossbow Maintenance

Its important to check your crossbow for any cracks on the limbs or defects every year. Routine maintenance includes making sure everything is tight and properly lubricated. Tenpoint found a crack in my limb yesterday at the factory and replaced it all under warranty. 

The pro staff at Tenpoint were extremely friendly and made the whole process very easy. It was my first trip to the factory in Ohio but it will not be the last. I plan on taking my crossbow in for inspection and routine maintenance every year.  Check out their tune up special offer HERE

If you are planning to archery hunt turkeys this year, please get your bow or crossbow inspected. Good luck and be safe.

Fairbank Rod and Gun Club

Today was the second turkey and bacon shoot at Fairbank rod and gun club.  I managed to win some great bacon. I shot at 40 yards against six able bodied shooters in each round.  It's always good to get out and shoot with friends.  I think this is excellent practice for spring turkey season. I may not be as fast as I used to be, but at least I'm still on target.

Thermacell and Turkey Hunting

Spring turkey season is about to begin here in Pennsylvania. The only negative thing about hunting here in the spring is bugs and mosquitoes.  I have been hearing really great things about Thermacell and decided to give it a try this year.

My friends who have used them say they work great. I only wish I had a  Thermacell on my Spring bear hunt in Canada in the 1990s. Those blackflies could literally carry off small children.

2015 Pa Spring Turkey Tags

Statewide Spring Gobbler Season: May 2-30, 2015

A second turkey license can be purchased BEFORE the start of the regular spring turkey season (by May 1, 2015) from any issuing agent or online: https://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com/start.php

See page 32 of the Hunting & Trapping Digest for details:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pa_huntingdigest1415/#/32