Turkey calling

Western River Game Stalker Pro Electronic Game Call

The Western Rivers Game Stalker Pro Call seems to be a very good product.  I purchased the call through Amazon and it arrived quickly. It came preloaded with 400 calls and was easy to understand and set up.  The call uses eight double AA batteries and the remote uses one 9 Volt battery.  Most of my flashlights use double AA batteries so I usually have a few spares in my backpack.

The turkey calls sound great and I can't wait to set it out with a few decoys and see what walks in this spring.  I am also excited to use this call to bring in a few coyotes. My friend Glenn has been asking me to go coyote hunting in the evenings. This call is a perfect reason to get me out one night hunting.

After I use it a few times in actual hunting situations I will complete a more thorough review. So much for keeping it simple this spring.

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?

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!

Box Call Tips

Turkey Call

My friends over at  Thunder Mountain Game Calls recently sent me a new turkey call.  I can't wait to give this a try in May here in Pa.  These hand crafted calls are made in the USA and I think they are works of art not just calls.

Look out Tom Turkey, I'm looking to put a toe tag on you very soon!

Calling Turkeys

Men in Black

NWTF Youth Calling Contest Sept 15th

Custom Calls

If you are looking for a custom call you have to get one from J & J Custom Calls .  John really makes outstanding products, check out this box call for spring turkey...

Plus he has a project going Current Dream where he takes children hunting for the first time.  If you are able to give any donation, I know it goes to a great cause.

Electronic Call Use in Pa

Yesterday I received a response from the Pennsylvania game commission regarding my special permit to use electronic calls in Pennsylvania. The request was approved, so I will be able to use the electronic call legally for spring turkey season!

The entire process was really easy and I encourage any individual with a disability to apply for the permit. I would also like to thank Senator Solobay for his help and support.

Mini Phantom Digital Call Review

The Mini Phantom Digital Call runs on 3 AAA batteries that are included. It has a green LED On / Off light and volume control wheel, with automatic shut off after 2 minutes. The unit came with two sound sticks, featuring 5 calls each (mini Predator and Mini Gobbler). I think it will make me more independent this Spring Gobbler season....

Now its up to the Pa Game Commission to give me a special use permit to use an electronic call.

Electronic Call Use in Pa

I received a reply from the Pa Game Commission and Senator Solobay on Friday about using an electronic call for turkey hunting in Pa.  Here is the next step...

You may apply for a special use permit, which are issued in very limited circumstances for hunters with specific disabilities that require accommodation outside the standard authorizations in the law or regulations. You will need to write a letter requesting a special use permit explaining the situation and provide specific medical documentation of your disability from your medical doctor, including phone number and name of your doctor. The request should be directed to the following:

Pennsylvania Game Commission
Bureau of Wildlife Protection
Attn: Special Permits Enforcement Division
2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797

When received, it will be reviewed and considered. Normal processing time is six to eight weeks, but because contact will have to be made with the doctor and there is the possibility for additional medical documentation. You should allow at least 12 to 16 weeks for this type of special request.

Turkey Calls

I received a very special package in the mail recently from Guy Hostutler the president of Pioneer Quest Game Calls.  If you have been reading this blog very long you remember that Guy went turkey hunting with me and acted as my professional guide.  

Unfortunately I missed the Jake that Guy called in for me but I will never forget the hunting trip or how great Guy sounded while calling in birds.  

The package contained numerous turkey calls , grunt tubes and doe bleats.  A fantastic assortment of game calls !    I doubt I will ever be as good as Guy, but practice makes perfect, right ?

Thanks very much Guy, I really appreciate your kindness and generosity !       

Pioneer Quest Game Calls and Dreams Become Reality

This morning I had the privilege to go turkey hunting with two real professional hunters, Guy Hostutler president of Pioneer Quest Game Calls and Chris Gillin CEO of Dreams Become Reality . My brother John and I met Chris at 4 AM and followed him to a property near Waynesburg Pennsylvania. There we met Guy, Chris transferred me from my wheelchair into a mule and loaded my power wheelchair, hunting blinds and cameras up and we set off up the mountain.

It didn't take very long to get to the hunting area, Chris transferred me back into my power chair and set up my gun brace. They also set up two Primos ground blinds, one for Chris and I and another for Guy and John. Several turkey decoys were deployed and Guy began calling.

Now I am no stranger to turkey calling, I can do a little bit of it myself and have heard friends call in many turkeys over the years. But let me tell you, Guy is absolutely hands-down the best turkey caller I have ever heard in my life.

As the sun came up and the fog began to lift I watched two white tail deer cross the saddle about 100 yards away. It wasn't very long before Chris spotted the first turkey coming to the decoys and Guy's yelps.

Chris was able to use the video camera to watch it approach, as it got closer and closer we looked for a beard, but it was a single hen. It actually approach the ground blind at a distance of 5 yards, I could count the feathers. If it would have been a gobbler, I could easily have taken this bird.

The hen stayed with our decoys for several minutes before moving on. About an hour later a Jake made an appearance but I could not get a bead on him the way my shotgun was pointing. He actually stood around at 25 yards to my left but I could not maneuver my wheelchair for a clean shot. I have to say my heart was racing at this point.

As the sun was getting higher in the sky the temperature in the blind was going up. Another Jake made his approach but hung up at 45 yards. Using the camera once again we could tell it was a young Jake. As he began to walk away I decided to take a shot. At this point I can only see his head. As my shotgun went off I was hoping for a quick, clean kill. But it was not to be this morning, it was a clean miss.

I had so much fun with Guy, Chris and John this morning. It did not matter that I did not kill a bird, I enjoyed myself immensely and made two new friends in the hunting community. It was such a pleasure seeing these professional hunters operate and how they took time and care to make sure I had the best hunting experience possible.

Thank you both so much, I really appreciate everything you did the last two days preparing for my hunt and working so hard to get me a shot. I can't wait to do it again!

Tomorrow's the Day

I usually like the saying " today's the day "  quoting Mel Fisher , but actually tomorrow is the day I go turkey hunting for the first time since my spinal cord injury in 1999.

I have been practicing with my diaphragm call, and I actually sound pretty good.  Unfortunately I do not have full use of my diaphragm, so my calls are a little soft and I run out of air quickly .

 

My Jake decoy is ready to be deployed and the weather forecast looks good for Tuesday.    Tonight I will round up all of my hunting equipment , and get ready for the early-morning wake-up call.

I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to take a bird .  It will definitely be exciting being in the ground blind trying to fool old Tom turkey .       

Turkey Calling