Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Feral Wild Hogs have been spreading throughout the U.S.A. And this invasive species continues to menace private landowners as well as public areas. Research in the state of Michigan is quantifying just how destructive feral hogs can be to habitat, wildlife, agriculture, and even human health.

Feral hogs, swine or Russian boar, are a prolific invasive species, reaching reproductive maturity at a young age. Hogs farrow multiple times a year in large litters and have a high natural survival with little impact of predation. They can also endure extremely high levels of harvest, and although this bacon may be fun to hunt, the damage these tasty pigs cause is serious business.

The Michigan DNR has now determined that free-ranging feral hogs occur in 76 of 83 counties, in a state that’s a long way from Texas, one of the most severely impacted states, and other southern hot beds. The new invasives are a threat to Michigan’s billion-dollar wildlife and $300 million domestic swine industries.

Feral hogs also negatively impact forest regeneration, compete with native species, can prey on some, such as ground nesting birds, and cause serious erosion problems. The total cost and scale of ecological and economic damage across the U.S. is unknown, but it must be astronomical.

A top priority for research is disease monitoring and control. Feral hogs are known reservoirs and potential amplifiers of viral and bacterial disease. At least 37 of these parasites can affect humans, livestock, and wildlife. The presence of this disease vector is a risk to Michigan’s disease-free status domestic livestock herds and further complicates the issue of eradicating bovine tuberculosis in deer.

Summer is hunting’s “pre-season” so treat it like any sport and prepare mentally, physically, and mechanically.  Long summer days allow you to spend time in preparation so that when that long-awaited hunt begins, you are confident of success.  Begin physically with your foundation by strengthening your legs and core.  Jogging is great, yet a brisk walk builds stamina and endurance.  Even standing burns calories and exercises the foundation of movement.  If you have the choice to work standing or sitting, choose the former.

Embrace Technology

When it comes to “old school” I’m of the Flintstone generation, yet I use my Fitbit watch to monitor my movements every day.  My goal is to walk about three miles and I can usually put in two miles around the house by constantly being active.  When I shop I always park at the far end of the parking lot for extra walking, I prefer doing multiple trips instead of multi-tasking, and I climb stairs as often as possible.  I”m always on the lookout for small pockets of deer cover near my home and use the mapping app on my phone to identify property owners to ask permission.

Set up Mineral Sites

Deer need minerals just like people and you can benefit deer and other wildlife as well as improve hunting.  I have a cellular camera at one site and have had black bears, raccoons, a porcupine, and deer visit it routinely.  Unlike a bait site, you rarely have to visit the spot to replenish the minerals because they dissolve into the ground, making the site attractive for months.  Check your state’s regulations, but most treat minerals and bait differently.

A bull elk bugled so violently, the mountainside seemed to quake.  Seconds later it bugled again, only closer.  As I huddled by a well-used trail to a wallow, I realized THE BULL WAS COMING STRAIGHT FOR ME!  With my nerves in a panic, I slide as low to the ground as possible while resting against a small pine.  In seconds, a huge 6X6 bull appeared along the trail and I readied for a point-blank frontal shot.  Suddenly, the beast turned and drank from the stream below me.  It stood perfectly broadside and I hastily estimated the distance at 60 yards, aimed over its back, and released.  The bull raised its head and slowly walked away as I tried to reload.  In hindsight, the bull was standing 30 yards away, not 60, and it should have been an easy shot.  Oh, the agony.

What Price Success?

When I think of archery gear, I often think of that missed opportunity.  This was a bull-of-a-lifetime and a rangefinding sight would have sealed the deal.  It’s been three years since that shot in Wyoming and I’m still trying to draw another tag.  Rangefinding sights are more expensive than pin models, yet how do you measure the cost of failure in dollars and cents?  The Oracle X is not only accurate but very well built.  This spring I flew one atop my TenPoint Viper 430 in a suitcase all the way to South Africa and, despite three airline transfers, had to adjust the sight just two clicks to return to dead-on.

How it Works

The Oracle X comes as an intact unit so all you have to do is put in the battery and attach it to the Picatinny rail of your bow.  The rail mounts attach with sturdy screws that are tightened by two huge Allen wrenches.  The scope has buttons on the top of the scope which can be used to sight it in and activate the rangefinding device.  Since you can’t look through the scope and at the top of it at the same time, Burris uses a triggering button that communicates by Bluetooth to the scope.  Attach the activation button by Velcro to your forend where it’s convenient and below the safety shield. When you sight a target, depress the button and the scope shows the distance in yards and automatically adjusts a red dot for that range.

Sighting In

Like most scopes, you sight in your scope using your hunting weight arrows and target points at 20 yards.  Elevation adjustments are made to the mount while windage adjusts the reticle itself.  Each has a tightening and loosening screw so that once your scope is sighted in, you can lock it into place.  Next, you “True” the sight by shooting at longer ranges such as 40 or 50 yards.  Follow the instructions supplied with the sight and you will soon have the scope shooting at 37 or 43 yards.  I rarely shoot beyond 60 yards but the process works all the way back to 100 yards.

Adapting to the Deer Woods

Whitetail deer and trees seem to go together and one might ask, “How does the sight perform among trees?”  I learned the answer on a deer hunt near the suburbs of Washington DC.  I was sitting on the ground in the late morning when I heard a deer approach from behind me.  Eventually, it passed through several small openings at 32 yards.  I tracked the buck as it move and finally, it stopped with just its shoulder showing.  This was a 1.5-year-old 6-point and the landowner only wanted older deer taken.  I didn’t fill my tag, but the scope performed perfectly, and I’m hoping for a “do-over” this fall.

By Robert Hoague

Distinguishing a big, mature wild turkey gobbler from a hen is easy. First, there is that long beard sticking out of his chest and hanging down several inches. Also a mature gobbler is larger than a hen and his feathers are darker colored. And when he is in full-strut, every feather on his body is extended to the max. His head is bright red because you’ve excited him with the sound of your turkey calling technique. You will instantly recognize him as a gobbler.

However, what if he is not a mature gobbler yet? What if he is a younger, first year gobbler, refered to by many State Game Department’s as a ‘Juvenile’ turkey, and to hunters as a ‘Jake?’ Even though Jake’s have a beard it might be too short to poke out through his chest feathers. Or maybe his beard is sticking out a little bit but you cant’t quite tell if your eyes are playing tricks on you … or not.

And what if, in early fall, some Jakes are still traveling with a group of hens of similar age. And you have a Fall wild turkey tag and you want to attach it to a legal turkey’s leg.

Chances are good that unless you are a experienced turkey caller, calling a gobbler into range may be a real chore. But if you are in good wild turkey country it’s likely you will see groups of wild turkeys around, both hens and young gobblers — and maybe even a mature Gobbler. And in wild turkey hunting it’s “Opportunities”, plural, that will result in success.

The hen’s overall look is all about camouflage and protection from predators. She is smaller and appears more drab than mature gobblers. The top of her head as well as her neck have more feathers which adds to her camouflaged appearance.

So, you’re thinking that this is the year to put a bow in your hand and become an archer, or bowhunter, or both. Don’t buy a used bow, the odds are very much against it fitting you properly or it working out for you. Buy a new bow. Bow manufacturers have been competing with each other for decades. All the bows are good now. You want a bow that you can draw and shoot comfortably.

Buy your bow from a place that sells new bows. Look the bows over and listen to what is said about the bow. Tell them you want to shoot some bows. They will help you with this. (If they don’t, go somewhere else.)

If you are wanting a new bow your questions are (1) which bow to choose and (2) when to buy it. First, you have to do your research as well as shoot the bows that are interesting to you to settle on a particular  bow. One thing, in most cases, the sooner you buy a bow, the better, particularly if you want to bowhunt with it

Today’s ‘Modern’ bows are more perfect than bows from previous eras. The materials used and the actual building and design of the bows are exceptional. They shoot great and are easy to shoot

For beginners, start shooting at 10  yards. Stay with that close yardage and concentrate on your shooting form. Once your arrow groups get closer together, keep shooting at this range. This is about holding your bow correctly in your hand, aiming precisely at your target while holding the bow at full draw. Be completely still as your aim at your target. Then release the arrow, don’t drop your hand and don’t yank or jerk the bow. Watch your arrow hit the target. Then shoot 20 arrows a session for 5 sessions over the next 2 days.

Why NOW is the perfect time for helping the deer by feeding them exceptional nutrition when Mother Nature isn’t.

Love The Grind TV

Dad can be difficult to buy gifts for, but not if he enjoys hunting.  Here are six pieces of exceptional hunting gear that I have used and loved over the past hunting seasons.  Each comes with a website so that you can browse, leave hints, and order in time for his special day.  Dads, in case mom or children, don’t get this message, be a man of action and buy these yourself.

1.  Final Rest Gripping Tripod

This is the perfect rest to use in a blind whether you hunt with a crossbow or firearm.  The gripping option allows you to rest the forend of your bow firmly inside the jaws of the rest leaving both hands free to use a grunt tube, rattling horns, or binoculars.  In addition to its use as a hunting rest, it is also ideal for backyard shooting and eliminates the need for a shooting table.  I use an inverted bucket for a seat, lock the bow into the final rest and have an absolutely solid method of zeroing arrows or checking accuracy.  It folds up for easy storage or transport and also doubles as a camera rest.  www.FinalRestShootingSystems.com 

2.   Kuiu Camouflage

Camouflage trends have moved from leaf-and-twig patterns to designs that match universal environments like mountains, forests, and open terrain.  Kuiu has captured the market with unique, all-blending designs and features that hunters cherish.  Fabrics are light, durable, and rugged such that you can carry a complete set of three-season gear in a small backpack.  Vests and jackets have strategically placed pockets with zippers that work.  Garments are made from durable fabrics that are water resistant and silent when passing through brush.  For frigid winter conditions, down jackets will keep you warm and concealed. www.kuiu.com

3.  TenPoint Viper 430 Crossbow

If you are thinking of upgrading your crossbow, the TenPoint Viper is an excellent choice.  At 430 fps, it’s sizzlingly fast and seemingly defies gravity out to modest ranges.  Like most premium TenPoint crossbows, it features the Acuslide cocking system that allows the powerful bow to be easily cocked and uncocked with a crank, a feature you will learn to love, especially with the cost of arrows.  The Viper features a beefed-up Picitini rail which is reinforced with a solid angular bar to assure your scope won’t get bumped off target.  I once leaned a crossbow against a post that fell over while I retrieved arrows.  In the next shot, the bow shot two feet high because the rail had moved from the slight impact.  www.TenPointCrossbows.com 

If your hunting property has internal Logging Roads you might be wondering if you should plant food plot seeds in those roads … or not. Truthfully, it’s not a yes or no situation. There are things to consider before you decide to do it … or not to.

Hail Mary Week

Look for remaining gobblers near water; expect them to come in silently.

Spring turkey season has ended in many states, but not in the Western states where it runs through the end of May, this is do-or-die situation for wild turkey hunters with unfilled tags.

Earlier in May, you could get away with aggressive calling and sloppy hunting setups; however, the surviving gobblers have heard it all by the current late date, and they are increasingly wary—especially on heavily hunted public ground. Their testosterone levels are dropping, too, so they’re not as fired up by every hen yelp they hear or jake decoy they see.

Gobblers may appear to ignore your calls, but they’re playing a different game this late. Some gobblers still check on you but it takes extra patience to be successful now.

Now you should call sparingly. Consistently watch for wild turkey movement, And be as still as you can. This time of year many gobblers have gone silent, but that does not mean they won’t respond to your calling. But they frequently come in quietly and silently. Watch around your area for a silent gobbler slipping in to see the hen he thought he heard.

WINDSOR, Vt. (WCAX) – Wild Turkey Hunters still have time to get out there for Vermont’s spring turkey season, which ends at the end of the month. Ike Bendavid visited the Windsor Grasslands Wildlife Management Area to learn more about why this season marks a major milestone in the recovery of the state’s wild turkey population over the last century

Look no further than the Black Gold Pro Dual Trac for the ultimate single pin bowsight. This top-of-the-line option is unmatched in precision and accuracy, making it a must-have for any serious archer. Don’t settle for anything less than the best – choose the Black Gold Pro Dual Trac.

Introducing the remarkable Black Gold Pro Dual Trac – a cutting-edge innovation in the world of machinery. This powerful tool boasts exceptional performance and versatility, making it a top choice for any professional seeking unparalleled efficiency. Experience the ultimate in precision and control with the Black Gold Pro Dual Trac – a true game-changer in every sense of the word.

The notable characteristics of this product include… The pin size measures at a precise .019, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail. The dimensions of the housing are precisely 1 and 3/4 inches. This product is impressively lightweight, tipping the scales at a mere 9.4 ounces. The adjustment wheel is an essential component that enables precise adjustments to be made with ease. Its functionality ensures that even the most intricate modifications are possible without any hassle.

Trust this device to provide you with the accuracy and control you need for a perfect shot and result every time. This bowsight boasts an additional aiming reference that can be easily adjusted to a lower or higher position as needed.

The dual indicators on the sight wheel perfectly align with each aiming reference. This gear system is impressively solid, boasting absolutely zero slop. The pin fiber is thoughtfully safeguarded by a transparent plastic cover, ensuring that it can acquire the optimal amount of light while being shielded from any potential harm.

All the bucks are growing this year’s antlers, now. Jeff Sturgis with Whitetail Habitat Solutions shows you his top Tips for what you can do this June that will produce big benefits in your deer hunting area this year.

FIRST: Pound out your wild turkey breast to an even thickness. This step is very important as it breaks down the connective tissue as well as tenderizes the wild turkey breast meat. Thicker sections of meat will take more time to pound flat than thinner sections.

Then divide the wild turkey breast into sandwich-sized portions. Then coat each cutlet in a well-seasoned flour, dredged in eggs and sprinkled with breadcrumbs. The wild turkey is topped with rich marinara sauce, melty mozzarella and fresh basil on hearty Italian roll.

INGREDIENTS

1 wild turkey breast

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

They call it the “moment” of truth, not “minute” or “seconds” because a gobbler or mature buck won’t stand still very long.  If you hesitate, in the blink of an eye, your shot opportunity evaporates and you may have to watch your long-awaited quarry walk away.  Last fall, I took a great Pennsylvania buck while hunting from the ground.  I grunted the buck within 20 yards where it instantly saw my partially concealed image.  Too late!  Thanks to a red dot scope I launched the instant I could see its chest and the mature 9-point went down in seconds.

Benefits of a Reflex Sight

The beauty of a red dot sight is what you don’t have to do.  You shoot with both eyes open and you don’t have to choose a reticle or pin.  A zero magnification means that the dot is in front of you like a TV screen with your target clearly visible.  There is no squinting or having to “find it in the scope.”  As the deer or turkey moves from place to place you can plan your shot and see the animal and your best shooting lane.  Best of all, the point-and-shoot setup is fast and accurate.

MeoSight IV

Just like 2.0 shows tech advancement, the fact that the MeoSight is in its fourth generation indicates how advanced it is.  Battery life is amazing with a single CR 1632 “penny-size” battery that will last 30,000 hours (about three years).  The device is equipped with a motion sensor such that the dot goes into sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity.  When the device is moved, it instantly turns back on to its previous brightness.

Ideal for Wild Turkeys

Most kill-shots on wild turkeys are under 20 yards so there’s no need for range estimation.  The Meopta MeoSight IV has a 3 MOA (minute of angle) dot which makes it large enough for quick target acquisition, yet small enough for accurate shot placement.  In the above picture, put the red dot just above the beard of the bird on the left and launch.  In hunting situations like this, you won’t have seconds to shoot, you will have fractions of a second.  The red dot will contrast and stand out against the body of a whitetail deer or the feathers of a wild turkey.

Both Eyes Open

Most of us practice shooting on stationary targets that are still as a stone and remain that way for as long as needed.  You can squeeze and squeeze the trigger and the paper target or 3-D animal doesn’t move.  Hunting is rarely like that.  The key to a successful shot is not only where you aim but when you shoot and squinting through a scope at a moving target does not allow you to anticipate trees, limbs, and other obstructions the animal can walk behind.  Aiming with both eyes open will dramatically improve your shot success.  Since the Meopta has zero magnification, you will see the full animal and its surroundings.

Here are some steps you can follow to learn about archery:

The cornerstone of my style of wild turkey bowhunting for wild turkey gobblers is setting up in a well scouted, known traffic area for gobblers and waiting patiently for something to happen. That does not mean that every day is a wild turkey festival because as you know there are days when you see nothing. Yesterday was one of those days, things were slow in our 20 yard circle of bow range possibilities.

Today had began just the same, but today was gonna be different.

Directly in front of the blind we have 4 decoys set up. They are all within easy bow range.

The First Action: A group of yakety yack Jakes showed up on the opposite side of the fence in front of us. They saw our decoys and walked back and forth but never noticed the new hole in the fence that Terry had made earlier in the week.

Behind the Jakes we saw a Longbeard’s red head.

We have all watched the exploits of The Slockmaster, Tim Wells, the host of Relentless Pursuit. But on this adventure, it was Tim’s wife Kerrie Wells who stole the show.

Hunting in South Dakota with Melissa Bachman, Kerrie was able to close the deal on her first ever Merriam’s Gobbler. Watch as they call the big fella across an expansive wheat field. When the big Tom comes running into a decoy at 25 yards and Kerrie is able to put a 2” Grim Reaper Whitetail Special just above the wing butt, dropping the Gobbler in his tracks.

Tim Wells stated, “The gobbler jumped in the air and when he hit the ground, he was dead.”

Tim and Kerrie like big broadheads for wild turkeys as it knocks them flat.  Tim related the video footage is awesome and will be out on Relentless Pursuit Tv and YouTube in about 4 weeks. Congratulations to Kerrie Wells on a great hunt and memorable harvest!

Relentless Pursuit TV

FAQs

Do Wild Turkeys abandon their nests?

Wild turkeys only abandon their nest when necessary. If a predator approaches, female turkeys will flush in an attempt to draw the danger away from the nest site.

Do Wild Turkeys nest on the ground?

Female wild turkeys nest on the ground during incubation and until their young can fly (typically 1 to 2 weeks after hatching). During this time, the hen and her poults are extremely vulnerable to predation. As soon as the chicks can take flight, the family begins roosting in trees.

Where do Wild Turkeys nest at night?

Wild turkeys roost in trees at night. They generally have a few roosting trees within their territory that they reuse.