whiskey

Hiking usually means I want the lightest, smallest possible. I don't worry about the critters much. I just carry the smallest I have. I bought a keltec 9mm just for that purpose. Camping, like from the truck, I just carry whatever. Maybe a few. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote name="roverboy" post="1137899" timestamp="1397354106"]Wow! I'm glad to see that some of you have killed some great birds. Still no luck with me so far. I've usually got one or two by now.....................[/quote] Hang in there, things just seem to be getting right on our farms. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats! Way to slay them. All that coyote hunting has obviously honed your skills. 

Doubled up with my buddy this morning. We worked this flock of birds for a long time this morning. There were 4 strutters, 8 jakes and a wad of hens. The hens were very vocal till about 8am. The strutters spent over an hour hung up at 70 yards. My buddy was up front on the gun and I was sitting a couple trees back calling. I finally got one of the longbeards to to ease off the hill our way. My buddy got a long shot and hammered him. As soon as he shot, the other longbeards came running in and jumped on his bird, so I hammered one too. We laser ranged the shots afterwards and they were a bit further than I would recommend. Fortunately we had both spent lots of time patterning and tweaking to make the shots lethal at that range. Both shooting 3.5" Hevi Magblends. I'd like to be good enough to call them to 20 yards every time. Till then, it's good to know the effective range of my gun. Don't ask how far... :) It was a great hunt and good memories were made. [URL=http://s75.photobucket.com/user/whiskey101/media/VDM%202014/95B599F9-FAE1-4CC4-A363-BC78B362ED6C.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s75.photobucket.com/user/whiskey101/media/VDM%202014/894F26E1-FD55-462C-BEB3-ED050708148D.jpg.html][/URL]

Congrats Slappy!    I hunted today from 10 to 3. I had a bird gobbling for a few hours, but he must have been loaded with hens because he never got close enough for me to see him in the woods.    Most folks have had a pretty slow start, all except Shaun. :) I am sure it's his secret hunting crocs that allow him to sneak up on the birds. I'm trading my muck boots in for crocs if my luck doesn't improve soon.    KY opens next weekend. I have had pretty good luck on those farms I hunt up there. We shall see...

Congrats again! I had a crazy wonderful hunt this morning, birds everywhere and lots of gobbling, but I couldn't get one in front of the gun. Good news is, they were fired up and it kept my heart racing for a few hours. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats Shaun! Nice bird. Did you shoot him in the backyard? :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  Gotta hate when that happens. Did you have just a hen deke out?     If I am going single deke, I like to use a jake. I like to use a jake and hen together better. 

Who doesn't love the rain? Opening day wet butt. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love the thought of going to Bass Pro Shop and finding all my hunting needs. However, the thought isn't enough. They NEVER have what I want in my size. They usually do have a higher priced option in my size... 

Here's some additional information I found:   From TWRA Region 2 website FAQ:   http://tn.gov/twra/region2/reg2faq.html     This web page claims to be approved by the state of Texas and meet the IHEA standards. http://www.hunter-ed.com/texas/approved_hunting_course.html   Texas Fish and Game website links to the page above from their Hunter Education website.  Additionally, TN links to the same website.  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/outdoor-learning/hunter-education/online-course-for-certification     To me, this seems to cover all the bases and make a full circle. If I needed a hunter safety course and couldn't get into a TN class, I would feel safe taking the Texas online class and printing my certificate as proof.    If anyone has questions, I am sure the Regional TWRA office would be helpful in clearing up any confusion. If you call, please make sure you ask the right questions.    Does Tennessee accept a hunter's safety certificate from Texas? Yes or No? That's really the only question TWRA needs to answer. I believe the answer to be "yes" based on the links above.    There may be a question for Texas Fish and Game. Can an out of state hunter take the Texas online Hunter Safety course? Yes or No? I believe the answer to be "yes" based on the wording of the Texas Fish and Game website. They include out of state hunters in their statement and do not list any restrictions on who may take the online class.      So assuming that Tennessee accepts the Texas certificate, worst case scenario, you take the Texas class and spend 25.00 bucks and you get a letter from the State of Texas stating that you aren't going to get your permanent card.    Again, this is all just an uneducated guess... If you are nervous about the situation, call TWRA and Texas Fish and Game. 

I am not going to say this is legal or illegal, but who says you have to take the Tennessee Hunter's Safety Course? There are 31 states that offer online hunter's safety courses. Some of these states do not require a field day. You just take the course, take the test and print your certificate. I believe all states accept certification from all other states. I took mine in Tennessee, but I have used it for Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Fort Campbell, and probably other places I have forgotten.    I searched through several states listed on the site below. Alabama doesn't require a field day, but on the Alabama fish and game website there is a statement "must be an Alabama resident" to complete the online test. However, Texas also doesn't require a field day for hunters over the age of 16 and I could not find any restrictions on their website about residency being required to take their test.    At the top of each state's page is a link to their DNR/Fish&Game pages.    http://www.hunter-ed.com/   texas info page   http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/outdoor-learning/hunter-education/faq

I started in north Alabama last weekend. Not much happening. Heard one gobbler, didn't see any birds till our drive out on Sunday.    Hit Fort Campbell today. Heard one hen.    It's seems like it will be a slower start this year. That suits me, seems less turkeys get killed opening day when things start slow. 

Well here's my two cents.    .223 is plenty of gun. Only take neck shots. Google "Hog neck shot" for pictures of shot placement. Use a good hunting bullet and be dead on with your shot.    You can hunt from the ground just fine.    The meat is delicious. You need to clean immediately in warm weather. Have the cleaned, quartered hog on ice an hour after you shoot and you will have some fine meat. Let the meat sit in a cooler for a few days, adding ice and draining off the bloody water. Smoke the quarters to 165 degrees, slice and enjoy. I have not been successful smoking like store bought pork, the meat is too dry to cook till it is pull tender.    Hogs are active at night more than day. FL allows you to use lights at night, if I am not mistaken. I think the popular thing is fixed lights around a feeder. Please read up on the regs for FL. They have changed a bit in the past few years and I moved out of FL seven years ago.    Before I got on the internet and found out how "wrong" I was doing it, I hunted hogs with a .22mag. I have killed them with shotguns, handguns, rifles, centerfire, rimfire, bow. They are little tanks, but they aren't supernatural. Neck shots will usually anchor them on the spot. 

Found the first tick of the season. Don't get bit!

Depends on what you want to feed, but corn is probably the best. In the late winter I add chicken scratch for the birds and turkeys. Mine is in the back yard, so it's purpose is for viewing game. I don't expect to attract big bucks. There are commercial additives sold to attract deer. I don't know if they work. 

She only needs the Jr. Hunt and fish unless she hunts a WMA. Once deer season gets here, she may need the additional non-quota tag to hunt does.

Well I read, BODY found in shed in my back yard...

I mixed up 2 and a half gallons of dip today. Dipping all my clothes tomorrow. Bring it on ticks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's time to defend yourself! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wow!

It's that time of the year again boys and girls. Get the kids out in the woods this spring! 

[quote name="safetyfast" post="1116508" timestamp="1393355676"]Thanks all. What should we look for in terms of where to find them?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote] Scout early March. Look for scratching in the leaves, but it's easiest to go at day break and listen for gobbles. Check fields early and late and watch for where they fly up to roost. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pattern your guns! I like Hevi Shot #7's in 12ga and the MagBlends in 20ga. There are lots of good expensive turkey loads, but if money is tight, just get some cheaper lead turkey loads. #6 is large enough in lead, #5's if your nervous. Don't bother with #4's, you don't need that large. Find a load that give a good pattern out to 40 yards and don't worry about shooting past 40. There are guys out there killing birds at 60 yards. For me, 40 is max, even through I have confidence in my gun to 50.    My daughter killed two birds last year with her 20ga, shooting 3" Magblends. If you get the right choke, it's perfectly possible. However, most 20ga shots should be within 30 yards.    Get a slate call. That box call will work fine, but you can call softer on a slate. Use the box when it's windy and the birds aren't close. Learn to cluck and purr on a slate.    I like decoys and use them in most set ups. The blow up decoys are fine. Get a hen and that's all you need to start. Add as you can, as you learn.    Camo up everything and learn to sit motionless, in bad positions for very long periods. :)   Set up is key. Set up is key. Set up is key. Yep, it's that important. If you set up well, get hidden, have good shooting lanes and don't have to move to shoot, then the rest is a lot easier.    Call much less than you think you should. This is especially true once the gobbler has answered you. Call softly at first, then work up to a louder sound.    Don't be afraid to move your set up, but don't move unless you know there isn't a turkey on his way to you.   It's a cat and mouse game. Enjoy that aspect. Most hunters can ambush a turkey if they see it and have cover to get in front of it. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I much more prefer to set up and call and convince a bird to come to me.    Get a good paying job, at night. Spend tons of money on equipment and hunt all day. :) Seriously, there isn't a bad time to go turkey hunting. Hunt morning, mid day, late afternoon.    Get some bug/tick treatment for your hunting clothes and treat them ahead of time. Use OFF anyway. Apply often and heavily. Ticks, chiggers and seed ticks ruin the experience.    Get a vest with a good seat, or just get a good seat. If you're like me, my butt needs comfort in order to sit on the ground for hours. I hunt off a stool sometimes too. I often set up early morning with a decoy set up, on a stool with lots of cover around me. If I don't shoot early, then I ditch the stools and decoys and switch to run&gun.    Every bit of what I have listed is optional. You can go with nothing more than what you have and kill a bird. The other stuff will just help you be successful or comfortable or both. 

  Good advice. Last year I hunted a private hunt in KY with Winchester AA Super Speed 20ga shells and killed every bird I shot at. The next weekend we went out again and all I had was cheap bulk pack shells. I could barely kill a bird. I would shoot and see a puff of feathers and watch the bird fly off.