Ammunition To Go. Com

I ordered my 12 gauge turkey loads late Monday afternoon (4 PM) and they arrived Thursday morning on my porch from www.ammunitiontogo.com

As a person with a disability I appreciate great customer service and they literally delivered! No more driving from store to store trying to buy my favorite ammunition, check them out for yourself. Great selection and great prices.

#ammunitiontogo, #springturkey, #longbeardxr

Spring Gobbler Mount

My spring gobbler is up on the wall and I think it looks fantastic. It's a huge bird and a great reminder of a wonderful hunt with my friend Skip.

2015 Pa Spring Gobbler Season Ends

Today is the last day of the 2015 spring gobbler season here in Pennsylvania. Hopefully you were  able to harvest a mature spring gobbler this season. I was so glad to be able to tag a great Tom on the first day.

I did purchase an extra turkey tag this year, but  I never went out hunting after the opening day.  I can't wait to get my turkey back from the taxidermist. I know it will be a beautiful mount and always remind me of that morning.

Big Missouri Turkey

Congratulations Scott Hettinger (C4/5 quadriplegic) on taking this outstanding Missouri gobbler this year. Scott was able to harvest this bird with his Stoeger 12 gauge at 38 yards.  The bird had a 10 3/4'' beard and 1'' spurs.

Spring Turkey Success, May 2, 2015

Yesterday was the first day of spring turkey season here in Pennsylvania. Like the last several years I went hunting with the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors in Eighty Four PA. Skip and I were in the DarkWoods ground blind by 6 am.

At 7 AM we had four gobblers working to my right but I was unable to turn my wheelchair for a shot. The birds were at 20 yards but all I could do was watch them and listen to them gobble.

At 8 AM this mature gobbler came from my left and circled  my ground blind. He stayed to the right for 30 minutes at 20 yards gobbling at least 50 times. Skip finally convinced him with soft calls into my decoy set in the front of the ground blind.

The Funky chicken decoy and feeding hen were not moving at all. With no wind or decoy movement, this Tom decided to walk off. I took a chance and moved my wheelchair into position for a shot. At the last second I took the shot at his head at 30 yards while he was walking away. He dropped in his tracks and I had my first spring gobbler since my injury in 1999.

We quickly called Jeff, the President of the Wounded Warriors and he came up to celebrate with us. Harvesting this turkey was absolutely a group effort and I am so thankful for everyone who made this happen.

If you are a person with a disability and would like to try hunting or get back into the woods. Please do your research, find out what is available in your area and pursue your dreams. With the right assistance everyone can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Turkey calling

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?

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

Funky Chicken

I plan on giving this Funky Chicken decoy a try this spring. I have several hen decoys and I think this Jake will make a great addition to the flock.  It looks well-made and appears easy to transport into the field.

I purchased the decoy at Field & Stream which is fast becoming my go to destination for all my outdoor gear.

What are your experiences with the funky chicken decoy?

Patterning My Shotgun

On Monday morning I was able to get to the range just in time to see a flock of turkeys crossing down below me in the fields. It was a beautiful site to see.  It made the urgency to get my new Stoeger shotgun and Bushnell scope sighted in even higher.

Now I can practice shooting for a few weeks before the season opener. I was shooting 2 3/4'' shells with number seven and a half shot for the ham and bacon shoot. When I go turkey hunting I will be using 3'' shells with number five shot.

Have you sighted in your shotgun or crossbow for the Pennsylvania spring turkey season yet?  What broadheads or shotgun loads do you prefer for spring turkey?

Push Button Turkey Call

I plan on using this simple to operate Turkey call this spring. Along with a larger box call if necessary. I think my motto this spring is keep it simple stupid. What tactics are you planning on using to harvest your spring gobbler?

Spring Turkey, Crossbow or Shotgun ?

I have been trying to decide what weapon to use for spring turkey season this year. I love to shoot my Tenpoint crossbow and feel confident shooting it out to 50 yards. I have taken turkeys prior to my injury using a compound bow. But I have never harvested a bird using my crossbow.

That being said, I have not taken a turkey since my injury and using a shotgun would provide more opportunities. I made the decision to use my shotgun. Using my Stoeger semi automatic shotgun will allow me to have multiple shots if necessary.

The current temperature is only 7°F outside, so I don't have the opportunity to sight in my shotgun today. Hopefully in the next few weeks the temperature will warm up and allow me to get some shooting time at the range.

This practice will also come in handy for next month's Ham and Bacon Shoot sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.

I like to sight in my shotgun at 40 yards.  What distance do you prefer?

Hen-Tastic

I was out hunting Saturday morning and had these three hens around me for over three hours. Anywhere from 10 feet to 40 yards. If they only had beards I would be a happy man right now. They were like live decoys! Thanks Austin Young for all of your calling and hard work this morning.

 

1st Day of Pa Turkey Season

I went hunting on Saturday morning.  It was the first day of the Pennsylvania spring turkey season.  I was hunting with the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors in 84 pa.

Jeff and Hayes helped Phillip and me get to and into the ground blind then Hayes set up our decoys for us.  Phillip and I got our wheelchairs set up and began calling.

It was a beautiful morning and we were seeing birds right away.  The first turkey made an appearance at daybreak, it was a hen at 150 yards.  She came into about 50 yards and milled around for quite sometime.

Next, out came a nice gobbler and three hens. He was strutting at 100 yards but would not leave his hens.  It was beautiful to see.

A short time later a long beard appeared 10 yards from my ground blind just to my right. Neither Phillip nor I could turn our chairs to get a shot at him. He was a boss Tom and strutting for our decoys.  It wasn't long before a second gobbler appeared to the right. Again neither one of us could get a shot. But at least we were seeing birds.

Around 10 AM a nice gobbler started strutting 60 yards in front of me. After a while I decided it was now or never and I had to take the shot, he was not going to come in any closer. I rolled the Tom over with my shot and he was flopping around. Phillip shot and hit him at this point (I only load 1 shell) but this gobbler got up and flew down over the bank.

Hayes went to look for my turkey but was unable to find him. Turkey's are tough to kill especially at 60 yards even with 3" magnum 12 gauge #6 loads.

I am hoping to go out this Saturday and try my new box call from Thunder Mountain Game Calls.  Wish me luck!

Almost Turkey Time

May 3rd is quickly approaching, are you hunting Spring Gobbler in Pa ?  I'm torn between taking my crossbow or my 12 gauge shotgun (3'' turkey loads).  What are your thoughts on archery for turkeys ?

2014 Spring Turkey in PA

Some quick information on hunting Spring Turkey this year in Pa.  Click HERE for your state, thank you NWTF for all the information !

Photo was taken by Austin Young, March 2014, thanks buddy
 

PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Game Commission
www.pgc.state.pa.us
(717) 787-4250

POPULATION: 191,000
2013 FALL HARVEST: 34,158
SEASON DATES: May 3-May 30

HUNTER EDUCATION: New hunters ages 12 and older are required to complete a hunter/trapper education course with the exception of those hunting with a mentored youth hunting license. Hunters with a license or hunter education certificate from another state are exempt. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers an Advanced Successful Turkey Hunting course. See the agency website for details.

HOURS: April 26 and May 3-17: half an hour before sunrise until noon. May 19-31: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset

BAG LIMIT: one bearded bird per regular hunting license. Hunters with a special second license may take a second bearded bird.

POACHER HOTLINE: (888) 742-8001

SPECIAL HUNTS: Youth Spring Gobbler Day: April 26

Spring Gobbler Season 2014

I woke up this morning dreaming  about wild turkeys, I can't wait to start sighting in my shotgun and preparing for the 2014 season.

Todays tip is: Start the season off right with a clean shotgun.  Make sure everything is tight and you have fresh batteries in your scope.  If you have shells left over from last year start sighting in with them but don't be afraid to test new shot size and loads. 

Stay tuned for some more upcoming tips that may help you fill your spring turkey tag.