In This Issue:

- Spring Time is “Snake Time”

- TrollingMotor SelectionTips for Your Rig

- How To Scout Turkeyswith Trail Cams

- Calls of theWild Turkey

- Outdoor Truths

- Solunar Tables

April 2013 John 3:16 Vol. 4 No. 33

Follow us on FacebookHillcountry Outdoor Magazine/Dean Wells

158 East Road • Ecru, MS 38841hillcountry@ms.metrocast.net

In This Issue:

- Spring Time is “Snake Time”

- TrollingMotor SelectionTips for Your Rig

- How To Scout Turkeyswith Trail Cams

- Calls of theWild Turkey

- Outdoor Truths

- Solunar Tables

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Over the past few months I’ve been on the road travelling all overthe eastern United States, as well as parts of the midwest. I’veseen lots of snow and met some really nice folks, and taken apretty good poking for my accent. I have to say these folks uphere are seriuos hunters and fishermen. I’ve never seen anythinglike it.

There are more hunting and fishing clubs up here than you canimagine. Every county has their own archery, deer, turkey, andfishing club. Some of the lakes I passed, had ice fishing houses all over them and the fishermenwere dressed in clothes so thick, they looked like a staypuff marshmallow man. Quiet frankly, Idont see how they can enjoy themselves with all the effort they put themselves through, just to gofishing.

I don't know if any of you have ever watched the movie “Grumpy Old Men” are not, but that movieis the most realistic to life of any movie made, about the folks in this region. The poking and kid-ding each other and the competition is fierce. When the old guys run into each other at the shows,it starts. “Hey, so in so, I heard you lost a nice walleye at the willow pond last week. Do you wantme to come over and catch him for you?”

You can’t imagine how entertaining it is to to listen to a bunch of folks with a northern accent tearin to one another. They leave no stone unturned when they start. I mean they say slurs about eachothers wife, kids and they even talk about each others dogs. They’ve been asking me when ourfishing season opens. When I say, “it never closes, except for handgrabbling”. “What's that?”,they ask. Have you ever tried to explain handgrabbling to a yankee? I was trying to explain to anold guy, about eighty I suppose, and about half way into the story I noticed I had a pretty goodcrowd starting to build. It was then I had a flashback to a story a friend of mine told. So, I decidedthese rascals might could use what I call a “Burly Littlejohn Special.” So, off I went, after theyasked if we still fished with willow limbs.

My story started on a cold winter day. My friend Burly, was fishing the tailwater below the SardisLake Dam. Burly had been working overtime all week and tending to the farm and listening to agrouchy wife, so he decided he was going fishing. He reached up on the wall, picked his favoritefishing rod and reel, and off he went with his headlights own high, to his favorite rock. Upon ar-rival, daylight was now breaking as he started unloading his bait and gear. It was about then thathe noticed a “uh o”. Instead of getting his catfish rod he had picked up a lightweight Zebco 202,and to cap it off, the handle was gone off the reel. His heart sank, and he couldn’t believe hehadn’t noticed this before leaving home.

Well what was done was done, so he made the best of it and looked in his tool box and found apair of 16'' vicegrips and clamped them on the spool stem to wind up his line. All gear in hand,Burly made his way down the wet rocks as the spray from the spillway covered them and theywere slick as owl ----. Well, you know how slick a wet rock can be. When Burly arrived to hisrock there sat two fellows from Michigan. The two men were visiting some relatives and haddecided to come down and fish that morning. They began to poke fun at Burley’s rod and reel.

It was about 10 a.m., and Burley decided he was going to make a sandwich. He laid down hismodest fishing rig and proceeded to put together a dagwood. Midway through the sandwich mak-ing one of the Michigan guys yelled, "your rod, your rod!". As Burley turned he saw his rod bentdouble. He slid across the rocks and grabbed his rig just before the handle went into the water.“Fight him rebel, fight him rebel," they yelled pumping there fist in the air! “If you can’t handlehim I’ll go get my kid at the park, and let him catch that fish for you.” Burley never stopped fight-ing the fish. The 4’ rod was about to break and the vicegrips had busted all of his knuckels as hefell down the rocks and broke his glasses. He looked at his now blurry watch and the hands saidhe had been fighting the brute for 45 minutes. "Give it up reb and hand that reel to one of us andwe’ll show you how to fight a monster. You know, we have muskies up north as long as that rodyou’re fishing with.” So, Burley being tired, surrendered and handed it over to the persistant onewho called himself “Walleye Wallie.” The fight continued as Wallie fought for another 30 minuteswhile his buddy screamed and cheered him own.

It was about then that the fish gave up and laid down about a hundred yards from the bank. Withonly inches of line left on the spool, he began to crank the vicegrips and walk into the water. Wall-eye Wallie turned to Burley and said, “up north if we have to, we’ll go in and get him".Wallie now up to his waist in the cold water, slowly reeled with the vicegrips until the rod waspointing down to the resting place of Wallie's catch. He slipped his hand and now his arm into thewater and grapped it and started dragging his catch to the shoreline. "See there reb, a yankeealways gets what he comes for.” He then reached around and flung his catch on the shoreline.

The crowd that gathered to see the monster all stared at the catch, then up at Walleye Walliie asthey realized he had caught a car tire. "Well,” Burley said, “if that don't beat all the odds,“I caught that same tire last seek and threw it back.”

Editorial

water. They do not scare easily and will defend themselves whenthreatened. They are usually seen in wetland areas, rivers, lakes, etc.,in the southeastern states. Cottonmouth and copperhead bites arepainful right when they occur.

Signs or symptoms associated with a snake bite may vary dependingon the type of snake, but may include:

• Bleeding from wound• Blurred vision• Burning of the skin• Convulsions• Diarrhea• Dizziness• Excessive sweating• Fainting• Fang marks in the skin• Fever• Increased thirst• Loss of muscle coordination• Nausea and vomiting• Numbness and tingling• Rapid pulse• Tissue death• Severe pain• Skin discoloration• Swelling at the site of the bite• Weakness

Precautions Towards a SnakeIndividuals should take the following steps to prevent a snake bite:

• Do not try to handle any snake.• Stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves when possible.• Avoid climbing on rocks or piles of wood where a snake may behiding.

• Be aware that snakes tend to be active at night and in warm weather.• Wear boots and long pants when working outdoors.• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.

First Aid for a Snake BitesWorkers should take the following steps if they are bitten by a snake:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible (dial 911 or call local• Emergency Medical Services.)• Try to remember the color and shape of the snake, which can help

with treatment of the snake bite.• Keep still and calm. This can slow down the spread of venom.• Apply first aid if you cannot get to the hospital right away.• Lay or sit down with the bite below the level of the heart.• Wash the bite with soap and water.• Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.• Apply a ice pack this will stop the poison from spreading.

Do NOT do any of the following:

• Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it.• Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten, seek immediate medicalattention.

• Do not apply a tourniquet.• Do not slash the wound with a knife.• Do not suck out the venom.• Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.• Do not drink alcohol as a painkiller.• Do not drink caffeinated beverages. (Continued on page 5)

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This page contains information on how to identify and avoid venomoussnakes in an emergency situation. Exampels are the rattlesnake, cot-tonmouth, copperhead, cobra, coral snake. You will also find out how toidentify the symptoms and also preventions of a snake bite as well asthe first aid steps and finally a list of the most Venomous snakes.Venomous snakes found in the United States include rattlesnakes, cop-perheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and coral snakes. They canbe dangerous to outdoor workers including farmers, foresters, land-scapers, and any other workers who spend time outside. Although rare,some individuals with a severe allergy to snake venom may be at risk ofdeath if bitten. It has been estimated that 7,000–8,000 people per yearreceive venomous bites in the United States, and about 5 of those peo-ple die. The number of deaths would be much higher if people did notseek medical care. It is important for individuals to train themselvesabout their risk of exposure to venomous snakes, how they can preventand protect themselves from snake bites, and what they should do ifthey are bitten.

Rattlesnake

There are many species of rattlesnakes in the United States. Rat-tlesnakes are the largest of the venomous snakes in the United States.They can accurately strike at up to one-third their body length. Rat-tlesnakes use their rattles or tails as a warning when they feel threat-ened. Rattlesnakes may be found sunning themselves near logs,boulders, or open areas. These snakes may be found in most habitatsincluding the mountains, prairies, deserts, and beaches. They occupyregions across the united states. Rattlesnake bites are painful whenthey occur.

Copperhead Snake

Copperheads vary in color from reddish to golden tan. The coloredbands on their body are typically hourglass-shaped. Most adults are18–36 inches long. They are not usually aggressive, but will oftenfreeze when frightened. Individuals are more likely to be bitten whenthey unknowingly step on or near a copperhead. Copperheads areoften found in forests, rocky areas, swamps, or near sources of waterlike rivers. They are usually seen in the eastern states, extending as farwest as Texas.

Cottonmouth (Water Moccasins)

Cottonmouth snakes average 50–55 inches long. The adult snakeʼsskin is dark tan, brown, or nearly black, with vague black or dark browncrossbands. Juveniles have a bold crossbanded pattern of brown or or-ange with a yellow tail. Cottonmouths are frequently found in or around

Spring Time is"Snake Time"

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Spring Time is Snake Time (continued from pg. 4)

Keeping Snakes Out of the YardThe best protection against rattlesnakes in the yard is a “snake proof”fence. It can be expensive and requires maintenance, however. Thefence should either be solid or with mesh no larger than one-quarterinch. It should be at least three feet high with the bottom buried a fewinches in the ground. Slanting your snake fence outward about a 30-de-gree angle will help. Vegetation should be kept away from the fencesince the snake could crawl to the top of an adjacent tree or shrub. Dis-courage snakes by removing piles of boards or rocks around the home.Use caution when removing those piles - there may already be a snakethere. Encouraging and protecting natural competitors like gophersnakes, kingsnakes and racers will reduce the rattlesnake population inthe immediate area. And, kingsnakes actually kill and eat rattlesnakes.

More information: We hope this page was helpful and provided youwith some information on how to identify and avoid venomous snakes.Check out our main page for more survival scenarios here SurvivalGuide knowledge is light, and knowledge can save your life. Make sureyou do your best to know what to do in a survival situation and thenpray for the best.

Itʼs hard to find a better month for huntingand fishing than in April. With the fish bitingand the turkeys gobbling, I find myself in afevered pitch trying to fit it all in. If I couldjust get my grass to stop growing until June,then Iʼd be fine. But then, thereʼs the carportand the other outside maintenance that iscalling my name as well.

Since most bass fisherman love throwing spinner baits, they are in lakeheaven right now. Thereʼs nothing like feeling the sudden stop of mov-ing bait. And thereʼs nothing like seeing that largemouth trying to spitout what seemed so appetizing just a few seconds before. For the landlover, the turkeys are in high gear. And it should become a little easierto find even more willing gobblers in the next couple of weeks. All in all,Iʼd give this spring an A+, so far. What I really enjoy is tying both ofthese pastimes together. I like to go fishing with my hunting gear storedreadily in my boat. Then, as I cast, I listen and occasionally call.

There have been a few times that Iʼve had to make a quick jolt to thebank in order to set up on a fast moving tom. The only thing that couldmake that trip any better would be to stumble upon some HickoryChicken mushrooms on the way back to the boat, after Iʼve killed aturkey. I would definitely consider that a day that was ordained and or-chestrated by God.

But in fact, every day creation is ordained and orchestrated by God. Ithas a purpose and plan. It is on God schedule. The turkeys will lay theireggs on Godʼs timetable. The fish will spawn and the doe will give birthto its fawn on that same timetable. The tree and plant life also work inunison with those who need them most. They will provide much neededfood and cover for the new families that are “moving in.” Yes, itʼs all ofGod, and itʼs designed to point an undeniable finger back toward Hisexistence and power. You and I, then, are to respond to those attributesby trusting that He also has a purpose for us and that He will fully pro-vide all along the way. The Bible puts it this way.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet Isay to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one ofthese. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field andtomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, Oyou of little faith?

Yes, all of the signs tell us that God is good at sustaining that which Hehas created. He will especially do that for His most special creation….us.

Gary Millergary@outdoortruths.org

OutdoorTruths

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TrollingMotor SelectionTips For Your Rig.

The correct trolling motor can be an very useful tool for catching yourlimit, but there are a lot of options and variables to consider when se-lecting one.

Thrust, shaft length and features are just a few of the many things tothink about when it comes time to pick the perfect trolling motor.

In this article, we'll discuss the key factors you need to understand toensure you get the right motor for your boat.

Thrust

The issue of thrust is the biggest factor people struggle with when se-lecting a trolling motor, and it’s an important issue to get correct.

Too little thrust and your boat won’t be able to move well in the water.Too much thrust and you’re spending more than you need.

There are two metrics for determining the proper amount of thrust -boat weight and length.

Boat weight is by far the best determinant. If you know your boatweight, use this metric to determine thrust needed. However, it’s oftenhard to determine boat weight and length is often used as a good proxy.

The charts below will give you a good idea of how much thrust you’llneed for your boat:

These are recommended minimums, so if you often fish in wind orstrong currents, you may want to step up to the next level of recom-mend thrust.

Also, when considering boat weight, make sure to figure in theweight of boat passengers and equipment.

Transom vs. BowMount

Almost all trolling motors will mount either to the transom (rear) or to thebow (front) of the boat.

Transom mount motors are most commonly used with small to mediumsized boats, are more affordable and are fairly straight forward.

Bow mount motors are usually used with medium to larger sized boats,cost significantly more and are usually compatible with a host of fea-tures such as foot pedal control, wireless control, AutoPilot technologyand others.

The type of mount you need will be dictated by your boat size and fish-ing style.

Small boats with open bows will almost always use a transom mountmotor as bow mount motors require a flat platform on the bow formounting.

Larger boats will often be compatible with both transom and bow mountmotors, and the choice will come down to budget, boat size and fishingstyle.

If you want both hands free for fishing, you’ll want a bow mount footpedal controlled motor.

Continued on pg. 8

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If you’re on a budget and don’t mind steering the trolling motor by handfrom the back, a transom mount motor would be a fine choice.

For Shaft Length

Shaft length is another issue that causes confusion when selecting atrolling motor. A trolling motor’s shaft is the straight rod that connectsthe head of the motor to the propeller, and is measured in inches. Theprocess for determining the correct shaft length varies slightly based onwhether you have a transom or bow mount motor.

TransomMount Motors

Transom mount motors should have approximately 20” to 25” of theshaft underwater to ensure proper performance.

To determine the shaft length you need, measure the distance from thetransom of the boat to the water line, and add the 20” to 25” submer-sion factor.

For example, if it’s 20” from your transom to the waterline, you’d want ashaft that was 40” to 45” long.

BowMount Motors

Because the bow of a boat often moves up and down more than thetransom, the submersion factor for bow mount motors is a bit larger.

Bow mount trolling motors should have 25” to 30” of the shaft underwa-ter to ensure proper performance.

To determine the shaft length you need, measure the distance from thebow of the boat to the water line, and add the 25” to 30” submersionfactor.

For example, if it’s 20” from your bow to the waterline, you’d want ashaft that was 45” to 50” long.

If in doubt, always go with a longer shaft length than a shorter one.While you can always stow your motor or adjust the shaft length up-ward, it’s impossible to compensate for a shaft that is too short.

Brand

While there are many electric trolling motor manufacturers, the twolargest and most well known players are Minn Kota and MotorGuide.

Both are well respected and while Minn Kota is more popular there arelarge regional pockets where the MotorGuide trolling motor is definitelyking.

Both Minn Kota and MotorGuide make quality motors, and you shouldfeel comfortable that you’ll receive a quality product no matter whichone you decide on.

If you don’t have a strong opinion either way, find the best trolling motorthat fits your boat and budget needs regardless of brand name.

Additional Features to Consider:

Apart from the basics - thrust, mount, and shaft - there are a number ofother features and options to consider.

While these aren’t necessary for motor operation, they can serve tomake your time on the water much easier and more convenient:

Quick Disconnect Plates - Disconnect plates, or trolling motor releasemounts are an optional accessory which allow you quickly remove yourmotor from the boat.

These are very convenient if you want to use a single motor with multi-ple boats, or if you park your boat in a public area and are worriedabout theft.

Built-In Transducer - Some models have a sonar transducer built-in tothe bottom of the shaft for use with popular fish finders.

Having a transducer built-in reduces cord clutter and significantly re-duces the risk of breaking a transducer attached manually to the bottomof the motor shaft.

AutoPilot - Some high end bow mount motors are compatible with Au-toPilot a feature that keeps your boat on a fixed heading automatically.This is very convenient for fishing shorelines, shelves or for maintaininga heading over open water.

Wireless Control - Some upper-end models feature wireless boat con-trol which lets you control your motor with a remote control from any-where on the boat! Apart from being convenient, wireless remotesserve to reduce the clutter associated with traditional corded foot ped-als.

Battery Gauge - Nothing is worse than unexpectedly running out ofbattery life when fishing which is why built-in battery life indicators aregreat. They let you know how much life remains so you can plan, anduse your motor, accordingly.

Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Trolling Motor Selection (continued from pg. 7)

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The problem with turkeys is they donʼt behave much like deer, whichmakes effective camera placement a challenge.

Deer like to walk down trails, but turkeys often wander all over. Deer oftenfeed in fairly predictable spots, but turkeys forage in a seemingly haphaz-ard manner. Deer can be lured into setups such as mock scrapes, butturkeys donʼt respond to scents or scuffed-up dirt. Consequently, manytime-honored camera ruses donʼt work on turkeys.

Still, itʼs possible to get birds to pose, and capturing turkey photos near afood source is a good bet. For example, many people enjoy feedingturkeys in the off-season, and a camera placed near such a site is perfectfor capturing great photos. Unless you hunt where baiting is legal, makesure to remove all bait well before the opener, for obvious legal reasons.Livestock watering tanks represent another ideal setup for turkey-cam pic-tures.

Natural food sources present more of a challenge but are far from impossi-ble. Searching for scratchings, droppings and feathers in a field or oakstand will tip you off to a favorite food source, and mounting a cameranearby should be productive. Try to pinpoint the hotspot within that source,and place the camera as close as possible to it.

In my experience, cameras should be within 40 feet of the target area toget the best photos. Because most trail cams were meant to be strappedto a tree, that can present a problem in open areas. Iʼve had good luckdriving a pole or metal fence post into the ground in such spots. Also, youcan use one of several new tripod-style mounts for situating cameras infields and other treeless areas.

It would be wonderful if gobblers responded to scrapes like whitetails, buttoms have equivalent areas: strut zones. Obviously, the best way to

identify a strut zone is to spot a bird using one. Then, you can set up acamera when the bird is tending to other business. Lacking visual con-firmation, however, strut zones can be identified by wing drag-marks onfield edges, forest openings and logging roads.

Another good place to mount a trail cam is what some call a stagingarea; a spot where turkeys prepare to fly up to roost or the first spotthey fly down in the morning.

Although trail cameras might never enjoy the widespread appeal forturkeys as they do for whitetails, they are worth considering.

Face a trailcamera tocatch birdshead-on ratherthan broadside.This will allowthe cameramore time totrigger photosif turkeys arewalking quickly.

How to Scout Turkeys with Trail Cams

Sophie Hooker proudly shows off her nice gobbler.

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By Pat CardinOutdoors Writer and Turkey hunter.

The vocabulary of the wild turkey isversatile, but yet not that complicatedto where, with a little practice, a turkeyhunter can master the calls and strate-gically use them to lure that old gobblerin this spring.

As far as hunting goes, I will say thatyou donʼt have to be an expert caller totag a gobbler. Iʼve made mistakes in the past and still managed to takea gobbler. Years ago at Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky,I took a gobbler after my box call fell off the log I was setting by andmade a terrible squawk.

I would much rather have woodsmanship over calling. If you hunt deer,squirrel and other creatures that inhabit the forest, you stand a prettyfair chance youʼll be successful at turkey hunting.

Iʼll try and go over some calls and describe what effect they have incommunicating to not only gobblers, but hens also.

THE YELP is probably the most used call by turkey hunters and forme, it is a must call that every turkey hunter should know. The yelp is aseries of notes from 3, up to nine notes. I really donʼt believe the num-ber is a factor. I have heard real hens carry on with a series of 15 ormore notes in their yelp.

The sound you want to create, if I can put it in words, is a keouk,keouk, keouk. Most of the yelps I do are at least 7 to 10 notes. I like tostart off with one slow, long keouk followed by the 7 to 10 cadence ofnotes.

The yelp is a call that says, “come on over here”. Itʼs kinda like Iʼmlonely and could use some company. Hens will make this call early inthe morning, especially when assembling her flock of young turkey.Hens will also make this call while going to a gobbler or while attractinga gobbler. Stand your ground and make the yelp and plead for thegobbler to come to you.

There is the TREE YELP, which is a very soft, slightly slower rhythmthan the regular yelp. This tree yelp is used right at the crack of dawnto entice a gobbler, who is on the roost, to fly down in your direction.The tree yelp should be kept shorter and not do over 5 notes and againvery softly. The late Ben Lee used to say that if a hunter could hearyour tree help at 30 yards, you were to loud. A gobbler should respondwith a gobble once he hears the tree yelp. If he doesnʼt, you mightmake it a little louder to be sure he hears it, but keep the volume andnumber of notes to a minimum.

THE CLUCK is probably the second most used call and again, this is acall that every turkey hunter should know. It is a very easy call tomake, but donʼt get the cluck to short or high, or it will sound like a putt,which is the alarm call for turkey.

The cluck is a “where are you” or “are you still there” call. Whether youuse a diaphragm, box call, slate or whatever, you should try and say orimitate the word, Chuck or cluck with the call. It is a short, lowerpitched call that can be used in between a series of yelps. I usually fin-ish up my yelp with 3 or 4 clucks.

THE FLY-DOWN CACKLE is the sound the hen makes when leavingthe roost. It starts off with a few clucks and as she leaves the limb shewill have very fast clucks all the way to the ground and ending by slow-ing the clucks somewhat and finishing with two to three clucks at theend.

An added trick for hunters is to use a diaphragm call to make this calland use your hat to imitate the sound of wings by hitting the hat againstyour leg vigorously. Also you can hit your hat in the leaves a couple oftimes to sound like the hen has just landed on the ground.

By making several tree yelps and then followed by the fly-down cackle,hopefully you can entice that gobbler to sail down in your direction andcome on in to what he thinks is a hen who has just flown off the roost.

THE PUTT is a sound I hope you never hear a turkey make, butchances are you will hear several times if you spend much time in theturkey woods. As I said before, this is the alarm call, “Get The Hell Outof Dodge” call and “itʼs all over” call combined.

The sound is similar to the cluck in that it is a short, quick call but it is asharp, higher pitched call. If you have a gobbler come in on you and allof a sudden he telescopes his neck up, starts pacing rapidly but nevermoves his head so that his eye is on you at all times and then makes ahigh pitched cluck right before he runs or flies, you have now heard aputt. Itʼs a call you wonʼt likely forget once youʼve heard it.

CUT OR CUTTING CALL is one of the best calls around to entice agobbler to “sound off” and gobble back at you. And why not, it is an ex-cited call that combines clucks and putts together in a fast, excitingrhythm. All the “cuts” are short, accented calls that have no particularpattern except a few will be close together followed by a couple of sin-gle accented clucks, but really these arenʼt that far apart from the rest.

I have made calls with a yelp and cluck and gotten no response. I im-mediately start cutting and a gobbler sounds off. If a gobbler is reallyworked up and “cutting you call,” that is, before you finish your call,whether it be a series of yelps or cutting, he breaks in and gobblesback at you, you can really get this olʼ boy worked up with cutting.

KEE KEE RUN is mainly a fall call used by young turkey to locate theirmother or the flock. It starts off with a high pitched whistle-like soundof kee, kee, kee, kee call and ending on a series of 4 or 5 yelps. Thecall must run right out of the whistle kees into the yelps with no pausein between.

To me, this is one of the hardest calls a turkey hunter could master andthe best way to imitate the call is with a diaphragm call. Also, the di-aphragm is one of the harder calls to master verses a box, slate orpush-pull call. I would not worry about this call unless I planned to huntturkey in the fall and then it is not a “must” call.

Itʼs like some of the turkey calls, that sure it would be nice to be able tomaster it, but you can kill turkey without ever making a kee kee run.

THE PURR is a soft call that has the rhythmic sound of a house catpurring. This call is a calming, feeding type call and I use it whenever agobbler is hung up or in fairly close range and I need him in a littlecloser. I use a diaphragm call to make a purr but it can also be imitatedon a slate or push-pull call.

Continued on page 11

Calls of the Wild Turkey

Page 11

When I make a purr, I will use a couple of purrs, followed by a softcluck or two and then maybe one or two more purrs. If you have everbeen on a deer stand and witnessed a flock of turkey feed by you, youcan hear them purring even though this is not a loud call.

This is like the cutting in that it is not a “must” call but it would be niceto have it in your repertoire of calls.

THE FIGHTING PURR is similar to the purr but a more excited purrand it has some putts thrown in from time to time. Most of the calls onthe market that imitate the fighting purr are push-pull box calls, al-though a diaphragm can also imitate these calls.

The fighting purr comes from the sound that two gobblers make whilesparring off at one another. The calls are loud, excited and if a gobblercould growl, thatʼs what theyʼd be doing at this point. The theory is thatother gobblers will come running in to get in the fight or see what isgoing on. I have used this call and only had success with it one time.It is kinda a “last resort” call for me and after I have exhausted all othercalls, I usually figure ʻwhat the heckʼ and try a pair of fighting purr push-pull calls along with using my diaphragm, purring loudly and puttingever so often.

THE GOBBLE is a call I do not recommend and the reason I bring it upis to warn you of the safety aspect of gobbling. You are hunting gob-blers and the one thing that turkey hunters will key on is the gobble.

Quaker Boy makes one of the most realistic gobbles Iʻve heard and Iuse mind at turkey seminars to get the attention of the crowd. I donʼteven carry it to the woods.

Well there you have it. A quick summary of calls are:

THE YELP – a “must” call that pleads for the gobbler to “come on overhere”

THE CLUCK – the other “must” that ask the question “where are you”.You can take gobblers with these two calls and I believe you shouldmaster both.

THE TREE YELP – very soft and not very long yelp that you shoulduse if the gobbler is still on the roost. Restricted to very early in themorning.

FLY-DOWN CACKLE is the next call you would use after the tree yelpto make that gobbler think you have flown off the roost.

CUTTING – is the best way to get a gobbler to gobble back at you.Very excited call.

PURRING is a good feeding call and a natural call for turkey to make. Iuse this call when the old tom hangs up a 100 yards out to entice himin.

PUTTING is the alarm sound that is higher pitched and shorter than acluck. Putts by themselves are bad, but used in cutting and the fightingpurr can get a tom that was otherwise hung up to come on in.

FIGHTING PURR is a last resort call for me, but it imitates the fightingof two toms. Aggressive purring, cutting and putting are all part of thenoise maker.

Calls of the Wild Turkey (continued from pg. 10)

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Page 15

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Recipeof theMonth

5 lb. wild turkey, deboned & cubed3 lb. fresh pork, cubed3 lb. smoked pork sausage3 lb. onions, chopped3 bell peppers, chopped3 stalks celery, chopped3 c. green onions, chopped4 c. tomatoes, crushed, stewed or whole5 cloves garlic2 lg. cans mushrooms1 c. cooking oil4 lb. rice, Uncle Bens, coveredSeasoning (Creole or Cajun)6 tbsp. Kitchen Bouquet

Brown turkey and pork in cooking oil. Add sausage, onions, yellow and green,bell pepper, celery and garlic. Cook until wilt. Add tomatoes, mushrooms,kitchen bouquet and 2 quarts of water.

Bring to boil, reduce to low heat and cook until turkey is tender. Add water tobring stock to approximately 4 quarts of liquid. Bring to boil, add rice, reduceheat and cover pot. Stir occasionally until rice is cooked. (If rice is too hard add1 cup boiling water and simmer. If too moist remove lid and simmer.) Leavecovered for 30 minutes before serving. Yield serves 12-15.

WILD TURKEY JAMBALAYA