whiskey

I have one of the small sized dome mouth calls. I bought it a couple years back and the first day I took it out I got a boss hen so mad with it that she came in and knocked down my decoy. 

Try some different brands of calls. I can hardly call on some and I can wear it out on other brands. I gagged a lot when first learning. 

Please report any early mushroom sightings. Ready for a fresh batch...

I browsed it.

With kids, I like to walk a bit, sit a bit. Hopefully you have access to a place you can squirrel hunt with a road of field edge along the woods so you can walk a little more quietly. I like to walk till I see a squirrel, then move slowly towards that direction. Even if I spook the squirrel, usually I can sit down and wait 10-15 minutes and they are moving again. 

Google up some pictures of Hevi Shot #7's and look at how many more holes you get over a #4 or #5 pattern. Consider that the Hevi 7's penetrate like a #5 1/2 lead pellet and it shows the advantage they offer. I realize that not everyone wants to fork over 5 dollars or more per shotgun shell, but you really only need 4 or 5 at most per year once you get your gun patterned.    I know turkey are in the big game category, but I promise you that Hevi Shot #7's will kill them dead as a door nail at every ethical turkey distance. I'm not going to declare that no one should ever shoot past 40 yards, but that is a good distance to consider a maximum. I killed a turkey at 50 yards a couple years ago with Hevi 7's, but I didn't think it was that far away. I know to alot old shotgunners, that #7's belong in the dove field, but don't sell them short before you try them.    I not knocking anyone for using lead or for any other choice they make, I just want to share my good experiences with what I use. 

My daughter has the Mossberg Super Bantam 20ga combo. I put an Undertaker Hevi Shot choke in it and shoot Hevi Shot Mag Blends. It is a great combo. She has killed turkeys at 10 to 40 yards with it. She also dove and squirrel hunts with it. We haven't shot the slug barrel yet. We started out with the stock spacer out, but has since added it as she's gotten taller.    The youth 870 20ga is a nice gun too, but is about the same price as the Mossberg Combo. If you don't need a slug barrel, then I'd say take a look at both. The 870 is a little heavier than the synthetic Mossberg, which could be a good or bad thing. My only complaint with the Mossberg was how stiff the safety was when it was new. My daughter could get it on fire, but not back to safe by herself. 

Which Kent's did you get? I have seen them, but never tried them. Still a lot of lead shooters using them. 

Dave, in Alabama, last I remember... It has been a few years... You write it on your license. Landowners without licenses print out a harvest record log. You just write down what you killed. Looks like in TN we will still report kills to TWRA and just write down the kill in place of the current tag system.

Very often the difference between 30 and 40 is drastic with #4's. lots of folks use 4's, but I would guess 10 times more use #5's. Let us know how the next groups look.

I recommend sticking with the 10" circle for patterning. Knowing pellet count to a given yardage gives you confidence in killing to that distance. A nice even pattern within the 10" circle is the best.    First, I would go to a smaller shot. #5's if you are going to stick to lead. #6 or #7 if you are willing to pay for HeviShot or similar "heavier than lead" round.    shoot your 10" circle and then divide it into 4 parts. Count the pellets in each piece of pie. This will show you if you are evenly spreading your pattern. Find a shell that works well with your gun/choke combo.    I would feel comfortable at whatever distance you can keep 100 pellets in the circle if using #4's. I would want more like 130 if using #6 or 150 using #7.   Let the gun decide how far you can safely shoot.    I use a 3.5" #7 Hevi Shot with a .670" Pure Gold choke. I am close to 300 pellets in a 10" at 40 yards. I feel safe at 50 yards, but don't plan to shoot that far.

Alabama uses a harvest log. Sounds like that's what we are going to. 

My daughter missed a jake her first year and rolled backwards downhill after the shot. We always laugh about that too. It cut her a full flip.

I saw the discussion in the TWRA thread about taking a kid turkey hunting. Well, IMHO, turkey hunting is a great way to get a kid fired up about the outdoors. The weather is generally mild. The woods are starting to come alive with new leaves and flowers. Turkey hunting has to be one of the most interactive hunts available in Tennessee. If things get slow, move. If you can't find birds, pick flowers or go mushroom hunting. Spring squirrel seasons usually overlaps the end of turkey season, so hunt a bushy tail.    My daughter started turkey hunting around 10 years old. She was a small kid and handled a 20ga recoil pretty good. I started her off with bird shot and only asked her to shoot 1 3" turkey load at practice. When she fired her first 3" turkey load in the field she never noticed the recoil. She loves playing around with the turkey calls too. Another big advantage is you can go out and start a turkey hunt any time of the day. If your kid is strictly opposed to getting up before dawn, take them out at 9am or 2pm. Depending on their age, you can set up a blind or run and gun. I started my daughter in a blind, right out in the open in a field. Now we go light and mobile.    One thing I would avoid is trying to get a small 8 year old to shoot a 3" magnum load from a singe shot youth-sized 20ga. Those single shots kick like a mule. A pump or semi auto weighs enough to tame the recoil a bit more. Also, there is nothing wrong with using #5 or #6 lead field load in 2 3/4" shells. Just call that turkey in close so they can make a clean kill shot. My daughter killed her first tom at 15 yards. She killed her second at 40. #5 or #6 with a full or extra full choke should be a good killer under 25 yards. Just be sure to pattern your shotguns. Try to get a pattern with 80-100 pellets in a 10 inch circle. Let the pattern set your maximum distance. I wouldn't suggest going smaller than a #6 with lead loads. You can get down to a #7 with Hevi-Shot or even a #9 with TSS. We use the Hevi Shot Magnum Blends with #5,6,7 in a Mossberg bantam pump with an UnderTaker choke tube and it is a good killer out to 40 yards. That said, we try to keep shots in the 20 to 30 yard range. One thing to keep in mind if you go with a really tight choke is missing when the bird is in close. My daughter's gun is shooting a softball sized group at 15 yards. She has to make sure her aim and trigger squeeze are perfect or she will miss in close.    As far as camo goes, I would recommend getting a small adult sized 3-D leafy mesh camo suit. Wally world sells one that is reasonably priced. This will allow your kid to grow through a few years and still have camo. It will keep you from spending 100 dollars every year on new pants, shirts and jackets. They can wear whatever they want under the 3-D suit. The suit is mesh so it's not too hot. It has elastic cuffs so it can fit a good variety of body sizes. We are going on our 4th year without having to buy camo. Well, I still had to buy "fashion" camo for the little hillbilly. :)   Don't forget the bug spray and maybe a Thermacell.     

I am itching for turkey season to get here. I need new boots too. My alpha burlys gave out on me on new years eve. 

  ^^^ this is what their policy on their website states.

Can I still hunt hogs on WMAs? The take of wild hogs is allowed on some WMAs in conjunction with other scheduled hunts in Regions III and IV.  Please check the most recent hunting guide for dates and special regulations. Note: The TWRC has approved an amendment to the WMA proclamation to authorize the taking of wild hogs, in conjunction with deer seasons, at three additional WMAs in Region 3. The WMAs are Alpine Mountain, Skinner Mountain, and Standing Stone State Forest.   Hog Hunting is closed on Catoosa.    More info here: http://www.tn.gov/twra/feralhog.html

Congrats, nice buck!

Rob, you can catch cats in Tims this time of year. You need to fish the deep channels. I don't think there are skipjacks in Tims or Woods. I never saw one till I moved up here. Shad works good, but it was always easier for me to buy large shiners. I always fished them deep in the winter and caught a variety of fish on Tims. The upper side of the dam used to be good for me. 

Gonna send you a PM. I got some coons I'd like gone.

I lived in Alaska for a few years. I lived in civilized Alaska, but did make my way around a bit. If I were to ever go off the grid, it wouldn't be in Alaska. I think Texas would be more suitable. :)    I loved the PBS episodes of Richard Louis Proenneke. It certainly makes you want to move up there and make a go of it. Many people can, but many, many more are unsuccessful. 

I'd suggest you contact your local TWRA officer. You can find contact info on the TWRA website. They will know every access point for handicapped hunters and may have special opportunities for you.

That's deer hunting in a nutshell.    Ideally, you want to know where the deer bed down and where the deer feed and what routes they use to travel between the two. No better way to do that than to spend time in the woods.    Good luck

I lost a dear friend to MD. It is a terrible disease. I am glad to see that your friend got his chance to hunt. That will always be a special memory for both of you.

wild