Message Board: WOODHAVEN Custom Calls / General Discussion / General Forum

Any Hints?

OO7(aka Roy S) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:54:22 GMT

Any hints to what Woodhaven is going to have new on the shelf for this upcoming year?

Happy Birthday

FloridaCracker — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:39:06 GMT

joetex25 have a goodun

Filler

FloridaCracker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:49:15 GMT

Well it's been so long since I posted I thought I would throw one out if for no other reason than August is almost over. It seems like I look forward to every season in its time and I am getting pumped, archery starts here in Ga. in two and a half weeks, college football starts thursday and maybe cool weather will be coming soon.
I also welcome Mountain Man to the board.

Michael Waddell is NWTF's new spokesman

Mitchell Johnston — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:52:16 GMT

It was brought to my attention that Michael will be the new spokesman for the NWTF. He will be hosting turkey call tv and emceeing the Nationals next year. I think this will be a great move for our sport. What does everyone else think?

Check out NWTF.org

Rangefinders

TTBenelli — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:30:47 GMT

This post is for any member, Woodhaven staff, etc. I'm in the market for a rangefinder. I have been doing my research, reading product reviews, etc. I have even gone to Gander Mountain and tried out of few of the main brands out there. I do like the Nikon rangefinders out of the Leupold, Leica, and Bushnell that I played around with. I like the ease of use with the Nikons. I have also noticed all of the rangefinder models with the angle range compensation, true ballistic range, incline/decline compensation etc. So I pose a few questions to any of you (that use any of the above mentioned rangefinders): Is it worth purchasing a rangefinder with angle compensation features vs. one without this feature? Does this feature make that much of a difference in any of your hunting experiences? What do all of you use?
I'm trying to make my purchase count the first time so that I don't have any regrets and be looking for another one down the road. I do intend to try them out again before I make a final purchase.

Tim

ANY DIE HARDS STILL CHECKIN' THE BOARDS???

Strait Struttin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:36:26 GMT

Haven't seen any new posts for quite some time....any of you die hards still checking the boards???

Not much going on in PA....it's waterfowl show season for me!!! Off to NY, OH, and throughout PA working waterfowl shows all of July and August. And then....EARLY GOOSE opens on Sept. 1 and well, it's game on from there!!!

If Sadler or Mike read this....thank you so much again for you help with my calling. It made a huge difference. It's funny how that works!!! I have been keeping on it so, hopefully, maybe this fall, or next spring...I will feel comfortable enough to step on stage and give a couple local contests a shot!!!

I hope EVERYONES' summer is going well!!!

After a MONTH of hunting....FINALLY

Strait Struttin — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:16:22 GMT

After hunting every weekend and a few mornings that I could get off work, I was finally able to bag and tag a decent tom. Our turkey season started off TERRIBLY. My brother-in-law and I took a newbie out on opening day and the morning started off great!!! Birds were hammerin' on the roost, only 100 or 150 or so yards away. Once the birds hit the ground...nothing....not a peep. With some soft calling and some time, we could hear the birds working their way through the dry leaves to us. Then, out of no where, comes a dog rippin' through the woods the behind us...that blew that hunt! We moved to another property that we had SOLE permission for....and right where we had planned to set-up was a B-Mobile decoy and two hen decoys. Being as it was not our own property, we didn't feel it was right for us to approach the trespasser....although we most certainly wanted to!!! So, we headed back to the property the dog blew up for us and gave it another shot. My brother-in-law and I worked in a jake for the newbie and we'll, he shot, and missed!!! So, we moved across the road and up a powerline where we had seen birds strutting in the days prior. We set out the DSD hen and hoped she would work some magic for us....well, she never got the chance. As we started calling, we could hear birds in front of us in the thick brush or just on the other side. They were working their way closer...and then all of sudden, nothing. We called a little and then we heard this god-awful noise coming from up the powerline....and low and behold - we called us up a couple orange hat wearing hunters. By that point, there was only about 15 minutes of hunting time left...as we can only hunt until 12:00 p.m. and we have to be out of the woods by 1:00 p.m. We called it a day....

That was the way our first three or four hunts of the season went...it was truly unbelievable. We had guys cut us off while we working birds, we had another run in with some dogs in the woods, we got shot (peppered from about 70 yards or so) as some Amish fella popped one of the dogs, we almost got run over by a four wheeler....we were so disgusted!!!

To make a long story short....we hunted HARD in some new areas and made our mark!!! My brother-in-law connected on the biggest bird of the season....8 3/4" beard (major beard rot on the tips), 1 3/16" spurs, and just shy of 25 lbs. My bird was shot on a property we have hunted for years...we called him and his hen from the other side of the field....9" beard, 1 1/16" spurs, and 22 lbs. I would post pics but they are on my mother-in-laws digital camera....if I can get her to email them to me, I will post them up. WHAT A LONG SEASON....but it just goes to show, IF YOU PAY YOUR DUES AND PUT IN YOUR TIME, YOU WILL BE REWARDED!!!

Oh..and the second to the last day of season, there were three of us that went out....and we came home with 3 birds!!!! TAGGED OUT...on three different properties!!! What a way to end the season!!!

Woodhaven T spotted in Carribean

FloridaCracker — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:41:34 GMT

In an earlier thread Dr Cliff and I commented on our better halves and their patience an understanding. Well my youngest son decided to join the ranks of wedded bliss. Their wedding took place at Shaw Gardens in Jamaica and Momma said we were going to be there and we were going to cruise to get there and I said yes mam. This really worked out pretty good even though it took 5 days of vacation for two reason's one I could not imagine one of my kids getting married and us not being there and two come Sept 30th we will have been married thirty years (Seems like a lot when I see it in print). So we got two birds with one stone here and I don't use a week of deer season keeping the home front happy.
One of the stops was in Grand Cayman and by then I was starving for some regular redneck conversation so I wore my Woodhaven T shirt trolling for a turkey hunter. I hate to say I didn't get any bites. Maybe they were there and their wives just wouldn't let em talk hunting on her vacation. I did get another picture made with the big blue parrot in front of Margaritaviile, Grand Caymans. I am not sure who called up who.

Pics from 2nd to Last Day of Spring Gobbler in PA

Strait Struttin — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:37:05 GMT

From Left to Right.....Tim (with his first turkey), Me, and My Brother-in-Law Adam

Here a couple of me and my daughter Mackenzie...got a feeling she'll be a turkey hunter!!! She's 21 months old...and can't keep her hands off the birds!!!

New here

PLP — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:03:15 GMT

Just wanted to join up and send a special thanks to Mike Pentecost for the Cherry Classic Crystal Call that he donated and signed.I won it in a contest on another forum,but look forward to making new friends here as well!

I am looking forward to next year so I can try this baby out!

16 YEARS!

Dr. Cliff Higgins — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:27:52 GMT

My wife and I have been married for 16 YEARS, TODAY!!!

I always feel lucky to survive April without waking up with my throat cut! And, I have done it for 16 years in a row!

Thank God for a good woman!

Off Color Turkey

redsnow — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:21:12 GMT

A friend of mine killed this bird last week. He was out in the middle of nowhere, worked the turkey 3 or 4 days before he got a shot. I don't know if it's just a freak, or if it's mixed with tame birds? Another guy said he'd also killed one nearly the same color, years ago. Anyone else ever see one like this one? It was killed in West Virginia.

Birthday Boy!

OO7(aka Roy S) — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:35:03 GMT

Happy Birthday Mike! Hope all is well down your way.

New to Turkey Hunting.....need help!

Ozarks — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:39:32 GMT

Hello, I am new to Turkey Hunting and need help!

I plan to hunt the Ozarks of Southern Missouri

and would appreciate any advise on how to hunt/call

Turkeys.

I have purchased a Woodhaven Legend Slate call and

a Foolproof box call.

Happy Birthday Doc

OO7(aka Roy S) — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:50:51 GMT

Hope you have a good day Doc! I thought you were 25?

Most Memorable Hunt Ever

MI-TURKKILLER — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:25:05 GMT

Outta the 150+ gobblers in the past 15 years Ive called to their death and the 15 Longbeards I have watched get hammered by family friends and myself this year, this bird I called in for Karl may be the most memorable.

I met Karl when I called him around eight years ago and asked him for permission to hunt his property up north by me. Karl was suprised that I called and said anyone man enough to ask permission and not trespass is good by me. He gave me rights to his property for all recreational purposes when he is not around. Since a strong relationship has formed.

Karl is 80+ years old and has two hip replacement surgeries. Last year he stated that he was going to quit deer hunting because it was becoming too difficult. Not wanting to see a man whom loves hunting so much end his hunting career, Sally and I volunteered to track, haul, gut and skin all of his deer if he vowed to stay at it.

Karl called a few weeks ago and said that he was coming up to turkey hunt. Immediately my brain started racking as to how I could get a fellar who cant walk very far a turkey. Out of the 30 or so properties I have too hunt 5 or so provide walking of only 100 yards to prime turkey territory.

Karl and I hunted tuesday. with no success, worked a few birds early but had none come in. I hunted with sally wednesday and than was back with Karl today. Are first few setups resulting in limited gobbling.

I decided that we would go to a piece I had that had tons of birds. Karl setup facing the north in his Mossy oak lawn chair, due to hip replacements Karl cant get up from the ground. I set up Duane(full mount strutter) behind us in small foodplot in case the birds came from that direction. After about an hour I hear a horn honk on the road about 400 yards away followed by a gobble. I figured the birds were on the road and would eventually show up. After about 10 minutes I hit the call and was hammered by a distant gobble. A little while later the same thing yet a touch closer. I hit the call again and the birds were within 150 yards. Karl stood up and threw the lawn chair outta the way standing behind the tree. I hit the call again and noticed the birds were walking down the two track and would enter the field next to the truck along the swamp to our left.

Karl said I see them on the two track. I hit the call and they gobbled and began coming. One bird of the three came into 15 yards and was a miracle they didnt see us. I myself am wondering why Karl isnt shooting. The bird than somewhat spooked and went to thirty yards. BOOM Karl missed. And the birds walked about 100 yards to the two track and stood there. Karls had tried pulling the trigger earlier but had not fully racked his 835 close and the bird spooked upon him doing so.

In the meantime I can here Karl cussing loudly. LOL This piece of sh1t mossberg, somebodys gonna get a good deal. I told Karl to be quiet as the birds were still strutting. I started calling again and this time gobbling. It was a miracle the birds were coming back. The bird Karl shot at stood back at 50yards as his two twins walked in to investigate Duane. They got to Duane and started pecking at his head. I told Karl to throw his gun up and shoot one, when he threw his gun up they starting walking away BOOM And one of the two flopped.

I have never seen a man so excited as what Karl was. I have never been so relieved as I have never put so much pressure on myself to put a bird in front of someone. Despite his limited mobility, the lawn chair and being blind in one eye we had done it.

It was the most rewarding thing for me to see the excitement in his face and hear it in his voice like a 12 year old. I have never hunted with someone that has appreciated the kill as much as Karl had on this day. The bird was a two year old with a 9 inch beard.

Goulds hunt in MX (pics)

Dr. Cliff Higgins — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:13:30 GMT

This was the easiest bird I've ever called in and shot! I went to Mexico for a 3 1/2 day hunt, and it only lasted 15 minutes! That's O. K. I took my video camera out for the next three days and captured some AWESOME footage of Goulds gobblers strutting, drumming, and gobbling. I called this ol' boy in with a Red Wasp.

The scenery down there was unbelievable!

Headed to South Dakota

Yelp softly — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:37:46 GMT

I wrapped up my Alabama season this morning by calling in 2 jakes and letting them walk. It was tough to let the biggest one go. He was gobbling like a big boy. Liberty City Longbeard told me at work the other day that shooting jakes is bad luck and since we fly out to South Dakota this Wednesday, I didn't want to jinx us. 2 buddies went to SD about 2 weeks ago and both tagged out in 2 days. This will be my 2nd trip to the Black Hills.

I wrapped up my Alabama season with one jake and one longbeard. It was a tough season. The longbeard was killed just yesterday morning and he followed a hen to my set-up. I just couldn't find any lonely Toms.

Box calls, What's best: Walnut or Cherry???

redsnow — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:55:05 GMT

I'm new here, honestly I'd never heard of Woodhaven till a week ago. A friend of mine showed me and let me play with a cherry Woodhaven call the other eve, it was signed inside, but didn't have the "real hen" stamp on the paddle, maybe it's an early model? Without having the option of playing with a walnut model, before I buy one, which would you reccommend? I really liked the cherry one, but hate to plunk out $60 for something I've never heard. Also, are these calls available direct from the shop?

Roosting Gobblers

TTBenelli — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:57:32 GMT

I'm just curious how many of you are consistently successful at getting roosted Ohio Toms to gobble the evening before the hunt? I'm starting to question my reasoning for roosting birds when I rarely hear them gobble on the roost. I will use a owl hooter a few times, but have only had maybe just of a couple of gobbles fire back in my 13 years of turkey hunting. I know the old saying, " roosted aint roasted", but I just want to get a mark on a bird. There are turkeys on all of the areas I hunt but they just don't seem to gobble on the roost much. Appreciate any feedback. I just thought I would throw out this post for fun.

Tim

Is there going to be a world contest?

conrad — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:37:26 GMT

Hey Mike, this is Jason Conrad. Don't know if you have read the email I got from Bob Coker, but if you haven't here it is.

Jason: It cost me $18,000 minimum per year, to run the contest with absolutely no revenue back. If the callers do not appreciate me running and paying for it by myself for over 13 years now, without any financial or labor, man hour help, from any of their companies, and all I ask if that there be at least 20 contestants be signed up by April 30th, then I am not going to have it anymore!!!!!

I can not wait til 30 days out. My contract requires me to give the Mobile AWF written notice at least 14 months prior to the following year to get out of my contract with them. I already have to pay them for 2008 no matter what, But if I notify the BJCC by May 1st, I can get out of my contract with them for the space and the labor and all the rent on all the chairs, stage, and everything else.

Well this is the last day maybe someone else could have the contest. We go through this every year with these threats about not haveing the contest, and well either have it or not he's tired of running it, were tired of the threats of not haveing a the contest, it may be time to move on and just concentrate on the contests we know we are going have. What are you at liberty to say about this.

Hope you had a good spring!!!!!!!!!

To much work here to have had a good one!!!!!!!!!!!

Michigan 1st Season

MI-TURKKILLER — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:42:51 GMT

1st season in Michigan has exceeded my expectations. I figured due to the hard winter our numbers would dwindle and the breeding cycle would be behind. I have found the opposite to be true, lots of birds and hens are already nesting. We have split seasons through lottery. I had three guys draw. The unfortunate thing is one guy has a lot of time and the other two none.

I had to put my dog down monday. Hardest thing I have ever done so I only hunted till 9. I took the guy that has a lot of time out Tuesday and we shot a bird in ten minutes. I staked my full strut mount in a small field made four yelps he gobbled called again he gobbled saw the deke and marched down the barrell. Then the other two fellers finally had time today and we tagged out by 10 am. All gobblers were typical two year olds with 9 inch beards.

I only hunted eight hours the first week, least ever. We had eight mature birds within gun range and killed three. Cant wait for second season tommorow my dad and two buddies got tags. Are birds are ripe

Iowa Success

MI-TURKKILLER — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:23:58 GMT

After tagging out in SD the GF and I headed to Iowa. We both were fortunate enough to tag out on the first day.

In three days of hunting in SD and IA we killed six mature birds.

Opening day success in NC (PICS)

drum817 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:03:01 GMT

Saturday was the NC opener. Me & my brother-in-law got a GREAT double to kick off the season. My bird was 23 lbs.,10 1/2" beard & 1 1/2" spurs. His bird was 20 lbs., 10 1/2" beard & 1 3/8" spurs. The ONLY call I had to use was the Woodhaven Red Wasp.

4 Dead IN SD Pics

MI-TURKKILLER — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:20:42 GMT

Despite the less than steller weather we are tagged out in SD. The first morning was beautiful set up 100 yards from a bunch of gobbling birds. One broke and the GF shot him at 30 yards.

The weather turned to rain and hunting was difficult. The next morning in a monsoon I struck 40 birds at a quarter mile and called them up and shot a Merriam Eastern Hybrid with inch and a quarter hooks.

The weather turned to a blizzard heavy snow and 50 MPH winds, we decided not to hunt the third morning. The weather broke at 4 and by 5 we killed two more. Now its off to iowa.

Win. Super x-2

foxtrapper — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:29:41 GMT

I purchased a Win. Super X-2. I have it all decked out with a scope, sling, ect. I have been doing some testing using an Indian Creek choke tube. Mike Ponder has been really good with working with me. He sent me a .655, .665, and .675 to test out. I have tested it with the Hevi-13 2 1/4 oz, #6, 2 oz #6, Win. Ext. Range 4, 5, & 6's, plus the Win. Supremes 2 1/4 oz 4, 5, & 6's. These are all in a 3 1/2" shell. Out of 4 sittings at a bench, I had Hevi-13 2 1/4 oz. that topped all with a .665 ICC tube. I used a 12" circle and had 360 pellets in that circle! Guys, this is WAY too tight for normal hunting conditions. I shot this load at 25 yards, and I all but had a large hole. There is NO room for error on the shot. This was shot at 40 yards. The next closest thing was the Win. Ext. Range #6 in a 3 1/2 " shell. This one didn't even come close. In PA, I have only found one place that sells this Hevi-shot, and that is Cabelas. They tack on haz. shipping charges with the order. This presents another problem. I guess what I am asking, is there any one out there that has shot a Kicks or the Indian Creek with a super X-2 with really good results using the Winch. ext. range or Supremes??????? Any suggestions is greatly appreciated!

Decoy Help

Bowen1 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:32:51 GMT

I've turkey hunted for 15 years and have had good success here in Iowa. The last 2 years I've decided to use my longbow and hunt from a Double Bull Blind. I'm curious as to what some of the other bow hunters use for decoys and specific set ups. I like the looks and reviews of the Pretty Boy/ Girl . Any suggestions would be great. Thanks

"THE DEAL"

Dr. Cliff Higgins — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:59:54 GMT

Boys,

My kids have been ridin' me HARD about shavin' off my beard, especially my nine year old daughter, Sydney. So, I got an idea. I made a deal with Sydney: If she shoots a bird opening day of our youth season, here in AR, my beard is comin' off! She'll have the joy of claiming TWO beards in one day! (The turkey's and mine!!!)Hopefully I'll be posting a photo on here in a couple of weeks with my daughter, a big bird, and me with a slick face! I'll keep you posted!

Lead vs. Hevi-shot

Yelp softly — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:38:59 GMT

I was just wondering how many folks are still using lead shot and how many are using one of the new alloys. There has been some debate over how much the heavier than lead stuff can damage a gun barrel. What do you use?

I'm sticking with lead.

Hevi shot ?

FloridaCracker — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:30:04 GMT

I didn't want to steal the thread going on lead vs hevi shot with a question on a different topic. However that thread hit home when Mi-Turkkiller made his statement about what we spend on everything else and not on the higher priced shells. That has always been my reply to folks trying to use two and three year old mouth yelpers that have lost their pop. My excuse has always been that it is so thick here in N. Florida and SE Georgia I seldom get opportunities beyond 35 yards and my federals have worked fine for 30 years.
Now I am trying to play catch up. Since so many of you have went through the research and expense of testing what choke do I need to start out with. I shoot a winchester super x 2, and use a kicks .680 with federal extended range 5"s. This shotgun is the same as the browning gold.

West Texas Turkeys

w5ketch — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:43:51 GMT

Just wondering if anyone knew if the West Texas Birds have turned on yet. Headed out there in a week on private land, and there has been no one out there to listen.

Hello and thank you....

Scott B. — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:22:05 GMT

I am new here as you can see...

I sent an email, but it got rejected so I thought I woudl post this here.

Hi my name is Scott Bauswell, I am from Salisbury md. I wanted to say thank
you for building a great mouth call. My friend Allan Stanley (of allan stanley
game calls) Turned me on to your mouth calls, and they are absolutely the
best I have ever used.

I won a contest this past weekend here in Salisbury with the Copperhead,
hornet and I think Billy Yargus call.. (the orange one with the ghost cut)..
Anyway, as a caller, (5 time MD state duck calling champion) and a close
personal friend of a duck and goose call maker, I know that call makers
appreciate knowing when their calls do well in contests. In Fact Allan won one here in
MD earlier this year with the hornet I think.. Not trying to get anything
out of you or anything like that, just thought you might like to know..

Thanks again

Scott

Ok I know it seems weird but can any of the pro staff guys pass this on to the head honchos? lol Like I said I am not looking for anything, I just wanted to let them know that their calls won something, even if it was a small time deal...

The More I play

MI-TURKKILLER — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:05:11 GMT

my vision aluminum the more I fall in love with it. I mean I really love the cherry crystal, but that vision hits all of them mid tones before falling into B E A U T I F U L rasp.

That thing is going to be heck on birds this year with the oak flare tip.

DSD Decoy

MI-TURKKILLER — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:12:53 GMT

I think the turkey hunting world is about to change soon.

Dave Smith Decoys has announced the introduction of a hen decoy. If you have never seen dave smith goose decoys, you have not seen anything. The attention to detail in all aspects of their goose decoys: paint posture, size etc. Is second to none.

If they transfer this to their turkey decoy, it will be the best thing next to a stuffer, count on it.

I just called them, and they said they would be availiable in a month, cant wait. My stuffer in strut may have a new girlfriend.

TUREKY AND FLOOD REPORT!!!

Dr. Cliff Higgins — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:35:05 GMT

God is good, boys, and girls!!!

I went up to my place, EARLY this morning. My camper is still there, and no water got in it. It had to have gotten close, but the thing was bone dry inside! The place I had it parked was higher ground than I had remembered. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about it flooding. If the water didn't get in it this time, it is likely that the creek won't get that High in another umpteen years. Six inches of rain in 12 hours floods the heck out of those mountain creeks!

One thing you boys need to know, if you are hunting in North AR, or South MO, you need to be in your "listening spot" no later than 6:30 am. Any later than that, and you'll be kickin' yourself for not getting there early enough.

The birds are HAMMERING right now! I heard at least five different gobblers this morning. They gobbled from daylight unitl I left them just a little after 9:00, and I left two of them gobbling hard! The leaves were still soaking wet, so you could slip around like an Indian out there. I sliped up to within 50 yards of one long beard and his hen. They were on the other side of a ceder thicket so I could get close, and man that was fun! He ran that neck out and GOOBBBLLLED! And it sent chills up and down my spine!

Man, I wish turkey season was open RIGHT NOW!!!

I always tell my buddies this, and I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, but if there are any guys out there that are fairly new to this sport, I'd like to share one word of advice about pre-season scouting. BE LIKE A NINJA! You should never be seen, or heard. Don't make a peep on ANY kind of a call, including locators!!! Go in the woods in FULL camo. The turkeys are not being pressured and will many times almost walk right over the top of you before the season opens. I have learned more about how to call from listening to the hens this time of year than anything I've done in the past

Good luck, guys,

Woodhaven product idea

Yelp softly — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:19:10 GMT

I saw a post that Mike put up earlier this year asking about new product ideas. I didn't have any at that time but after Opening weekend I realized that I need a new face mask. I don't like most of the ones that your local outdoor shop have for sale. I despise the net kind with the wire around the face opening. Could they have thought of something more uncomfortable? I have been using a Primos 3/4 face mask with eye and mouth openings. The elastic around the top is about as thick as dental floss and now it's worn out. I have to tuck my face mask up under my hat to keep it from falling down. Lastly, I can't even imagine hunting in one of the seemingly popular stretch fit kind that most companies are offering. How about sitting for 2-3 hours with one of those on during one of those 80 degree days that are so common during Alabama turkey season. You would think that it would be simple to design a comfortable face mask but I can't seem to find one that covers most of my face.

I just figured that since Woodhaven makes the best calls in the business, they would probably design other high quality accessories that every turkey hunter uses.

MAN THE LIFE BOATS!!!

Dr. Cliff Higgins — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:44:19 GMT

SON!,

We are getting the rain in Arkansas!!! I can't even get in to my property to see if I still have a camper. I bet the sucker has washed away! I have a 21 foot travel trailer that I stay in on my property for deer and turkey season. It is up on a hill about 80 yards from a nice "little" creek. Martin's Creek can get MEAN when it rains, and when it rains alot, it can get down right VICIOUS!!! We got over six inches in 24 hours. The run off from that kind of rain in the Ozarks is impressive, to say the least. I can't even get up to my place because the main highway is closed. I'm just certain my camper is gone! I'm planning on attempting a trip up there Friday morning, before daylight to listen for birds and look for my camper. Wish me luck, and say a little prayer that my "camp" is still there. If it's not, I'll have to start rat holeing money for another camper. That is not money that I want to spend right now with gas at $3.15 a gallon! It's expensive enough just driving an hour and a half through the hills to get to the turkey woods!

Good luck this spring to all you hard nosed bird chasers!

Alabama Season Opens

Yelp softly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:51:12 GMT

This past weekend marked the opening of our Turkey season. I thought it would never get here. Saturday morning was awesome as I had 2 strutters hit the ground about 20 minutes before the hens. The gobbled constantly trying to coax the hens down to them. The whole time, they were 60-70 yards out. Only after the hens hit the ground, did they work their way towards me. The only problem was that the longbeards never cleared the hens to offer a clean shot. At one point I did have a satellite gobbler at 30 yards all by himself, but I got greedy and was holding out for a strutter. As they started to leave, I tried to ease slowly towards the departing birds, but one of the hens busted me and they left via flight. Sunday I heard 2 gobblers and several hens. Never saw the birds, the trees still have no leaves to allow a hunter to move in close.

Rainy Day Gobbler April 2007

educote — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:28:12 GMT

Attached are pics of my windy, rainy day gobbler from Louisiana in 2007. After the youth hunt story I thought I would post one of mine from last year to get us fired up - like we need any help.

"Hunting in all that wind reminded me of hunting in Oklahoma. In fact, some lessons I learned in Oklahoma helped me to stick with it on this hunt.

Glad the weather doesn't come on my antenna on Sat. mornings. I came close to not going but oh so, glad I did. My long story is below.

I decided to go about 3/4 mile south of where I called up a hen Th. morning and try and be close to where I heard some Gobblers Th. morning. I also went across the bayou because I tried to roost birds from the same side as the hen on Friday evening to no avail. I hoped they might be across the bayou.

Man, it was windy. I eased into the bottom near the bayou knowing that it would be hard to hear and the weather may make the hunt quiet. I was also concerned that they would stay on the roost longer and I didn't want to bust any turkeys out of the trees. As it got daylight I heard a gobble SE of me about 0.5 miles.

The landowner just clear-cut a bunch of hardwoods and he was inside the edge of the new tree line a little ways. A well road also ran east and west dividing the hardwoods. So I figured I would hunt slowly parallel to him and try to call him across the road. Turkeys operate on both sides and I did the same thing last year. I slowly hunted that direction.

About an hour later I arrived at the edge of the new tree line, where I originally heard him on the roost earlier. I figured he and his hens would head East into the bottoms instead of West into the new clear cut. He only gobbled 2 times from the roost so I figured he had hens. I did some calling with no response. So I kept hunting east hoping to parallel him and maybe call him across the road or I knew in another 1/2 mile or so that a bayou crossed the road and also wrapped around him to the south of him. I hoped they might feed to the bayou and cross the road and I could cut off the group. Their side was much more open than my side. I was sure they would spot me if I entered the other side of the road. Crossing was not an option. There was lots of scratching on my side so I knew they would be operating there at some point.

When they pushed the road through there years ago there remains small dirt mounds on both sides and a small, thick line of brush too. I would hit openings where my calls would not be muffled on either side in an effort to reach into the bottoms. At 8 am, he responded to my calls once. He gobbled twice more at crows but was still moving east.

I continued looping to stay up with him. My hawk call and natural crows and hawks made him gobble only 1 or 2 more times. The last time I thought he might be headed back west. The wind was real bad and at times I couldn't even hear myself.

I made it to the bayou with no responses. I really thought he was still out in the bottom so I started looping back along the road hitting the little clearings. I eased up to one about in the middle of the bottom. I stood there and some crows fired up in front of me and he gobbled straight out in front about 100-125 yds. It was 11 a.m. I sat down hoping that by now the hens had left. He was non-responsive to my hen talk. The crows fired him off again and he was deeper in the bottom. I supposed a hen was leading him away again. She must have been the last one.

I had been in this position before with a non-responding bird and thought if I could get him fired up he may come over. I didn't feel comfortable cutting a lot on a day like Sat. because of the conditions. About 11:20, he gobbled to the crows but was east of me again but closer.

At this point I looked at my watch and laughed to myself. I told my wife that I would be home at 12:30 for her to leave. I knew I had a long walk and 30 min drive. It was now or never. This happened to me before after tangling with a gobbler over 2 hours I had to walk away leaving him gobbling.

So I thought to myself to replicate a hen fight. I could be loud and aggressive for a good reason. I thought he might get fired up and come to investigate. I had nothing to lose. I used my slate to sound like a hen from the left and my Woodhaven Red Wasp diaphragm to sound like a hen from the right. I simulated them getting closer and then through out some fighting purrs, cutting and flogging my leg with my cap. As soon as I let off the calls he BOOMED back with a gobble. I gave some loud assembly yelps and I hit right back with exciting yelps and he BOOMED back. I cut and yelped on the Red Wasp and he fired back another GOBBLE. I was pumped that he was now fired up and responding well to my calls for the first time that day. I promptly shut up and after a little silence he gobbled 3-4 times on his own. Oh yeah, he was finally lonely and gobbling.

I had a good view of the road and ditch in front of me but not down the road. At his angle I figured he would strut down the road but with no decoy out I didn't want him to get bored and split. I knew I needed to be on the dirt hump in front of me aiming down the road. I belly crawled over there scratching as I went. The water moccasin I killed earlier in the day was on my mind. I hoped not to meet another face to face. I made it to the dirt hump and aimed down the road through the tall grass.

A few minutes went by and he ran out on the road in a beard swinging trot. He stopped 50 yds. down the road to look my way. I turned my head directly away from him and yelped softly. He ran a few steps closer and disappeared in the road ditch on my side. I couldn't tell if he was coming down the ditch or through the woods. I peeked down the ditch and couldn't tell. The anticipation grew thicker. He hadn't gobbled since he left his post.

I heard footsteps in the woods. Problem was my gun is pointed down the road. The road edges are thick with young vegetation but I didn't know how well he could see my direction. I scratched and moved my body and gun as low as possible to aim 40 degrees to my left and into the woods. More footsteps and he majestically appears through a gap in the brush.

He stopped with just his tail sticking out behind a big red oak at what appeared to be in range. Only being able to see through broken brush made yardage estimating difficult. I reminded myself to stay down on the gun and make the shot.

I scratched in the leaves and his fan would go up and down. I scratched again and his fan raised and lowered. He didn't know where I was. "Come on, walk out from behind that tree." I turned directly away from him and yelped softly. He came around the tree towards me a step or two and all I could see was waddles up to the top of his head gleaming a beautiful red, white and blue. I aimed tight and dropped the hammer. All was quiet and still. I ran around the thick stuff and there he is flopping at 20 yds. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord.

His specs were right at 20 lbs, 10 3/8" beard, right spur 1" and left spur was 1 1/8". As you can see from his tore up head that at 20 yds the Hevi-Shot is humming like a swarm of bees on the attack."

turkey call no-no

ezcaller — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:15:42 GMT

I thought you all might get a kick out of this. A friend of my sons came over for some calling instructions, he is 23 and will be hunting turkeys for the first time this year. He was interested in the slate calls and decided to got to the local sporting goods to buy one. Once he got in his truck he couldnt wait to try calling -so while he was driving he was trying to operate a slate call.Well you probably guessed ,he rear ended a guy in the parking lot.Nobody was hurt but I think we might have to put a warning on them Woodhaven calls.