Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Tips presents free, seasonal how-to advice from Larry Whiteley, host of the award-winning Outdoor World Radio show. Each weekly tip offers practical advice to improve your skills.
Tips offered for April include the following:
How to Fool a Subordinate Gobbler – With the turkey population at an all-time high across America, you have a pretty good chance of coming across a dominant gobbler traveling with hen, jakes, and subordinate gobblers. Even though it’s next to impossible to call the boss away from the flock, it can be pretty easy to call the flock’s subordinate gobbler into range.
Subordinates are usually 2-year-old birds that have gotten beat up by the boss a few times. Because they don’t want to upset the boss again, they rarely gobble, but do yelp and cluck to keep track of the flock.
Whenever you hear a gobbler doing this 30 to 40 yards to one side of the flock, slip as close as you can and try to make the subordinate believe one of the boss’s hens is calling him. He will usually come in pretty comfortable and confident with a smile on his face, but won’t risk gobbling because he’s afraid the boss will find out. Keep your eyes open and be ready.
Tips for Introducing Kids to Turkey Hunting –
Are you taking a child on their first turkey hunt this year? Make sure they have a shotgun that fits. Buy a youth model or trim the stock of a full-size gun. A 20-gauge is best for most younger kids and will take a turkey with good shot placement.
Before you take a youngster on an actual hunt, be sure and teach them safe gun handling. Show them how to pattern the shotgun and let them practice.
During the turkey hunt, place them tightly by your side or inside your knees. Help them align the shotgun on the incoming turkey and pre-arrange a signal for when they should fire.
If they are lucky enough to get one, they will be thrilled. Let them admire the bird, smooth its feathers, feel its beard and spurs, and take lots of pictures.
Let them see how proud you are, even if they weren’t successful, and you will have a hunting buddy for life.
