Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

  • News
  • Think Pieces / Opinion
  • Turkey Hunting
    • Fall Turkey
    • Spring Turkey
    • turkey hunting tips
    • Stories
  • Humor
  • Deer Hunting
  • Willow Ridge Custom Turkey Calls

Archives for May 2013

Snowbound Turkeys & Hunter

May 30, 2013 by Charlie Leave a Comment

This is a turkey tale during the May snow storm of 2013, the turkeys who lived in it and the hunter who hunted in it.

This adds a dimension of challenge I had never in my turkey hunting life dealt with.

This adds a dimension of challenge I had never in my turkey hunting life dealt with.

I stepped out the door into knee deep snow, my first thought “Is it really May?”  Yes it was May in Wisconsin and the 4th week of spring turkey season had begun with 20+ inches of grainy wet snow.  The deafening sound of trees giving way under all the snow’s weight gave me pause; and I wisely chose to hunt the next day instead.  In the old days we called those crashing trees and limbs widow makers.  I don’t often change hunting plans but I have a lot of respect for widow makers.

The sun struggled even harder than me to get up the next morning and it, the sun, did not make it up.  Well, it might have been up it’s just all the snowy drizzle clouds might have just been blocking my view.

Not a turkey could be heard so I setup for some cold calling.  Ten minutes into my first set of lost yelping – a GOBBLE!  But it sounded odd with a kind of deadening muffle to it.  His red head stuck out harshly against the white landscape, something about his movements were very strange…

This gobbler could not walk on the snow either, he sunk right to his breast and this manned up turkey was not about to let a little snow get between him and a damsel, I mean hen in distress.  Never before had I seen a turkey clawing the snow with their wings with move forward.  It had to be tiring; soon his great wings lifted him up onto a large snow covered oak branch.  He trudged back and forth causing the snow to fall off.  Kind of like he was shoveling a strut zone and strut he did.  I was not sure if his booming gobbles were causing the scattering of the snow on surrounding trees or if it was from a breeze up above.

This gobbler’s show was worthy of an Oscar as time slid by unnoticed.  He gobbled, I yelped trying to sound as lonely and cold as I felt.  We were a fine duo him and me.  If he had not been out of range our song would have ended before all those other turkeys came flying in.

That’s right, more turkeys, 5 hens, a jake and 2 more gobblers flew in to apparently start up a choir.  Snow scattered filtering its way to the ground.  The turkeys fluttered from limb to limb cackling, clucking and gobbling to an unseen director.  My numb hands could not keep up the right tempo on the crystal pot call.  I could not get any of those turkeys to move a few more trees over towards me and since they were up above me  I am quite sure they saw me;  but they gave that no clue to that.

For over 3 hours or so it seemed; time was irrelevant, those turkeys entertained, taught and frustrated me.  They had quieted down while feeding on the oak buds and blossoms eventually fluttering away to do whatever it is turkeys do on snowy May days.

Filed Under: Spring Turkey, Stories, Turkey Hunting Tagged With: 2013 Wisconsin Spring Turkey, turkey hunting story

Total Wisconsin Spring 2013 Turkey Harvest

May 28, 2013 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Here are the preliminary spring 2013 Wisconsin turkey kill/harvest stats.

This graph compares the daily 2012 kill to the daily 2013 kill.

2013 = RED

2012 = BLUE

Obviously the extreme historic spring weather made a big difference in Wisconsin’s spring wild turkey kill.  Notice the decreased kill in 2013 compared to 2012 until the late seasons when 2013 kill increases substantially above the kill rate of 2012.  Without the nonparticipant adjustment the success rate was only 18%, this will increase when the adjustment is made.  The figures here are only preliminary.  The final stats will be available in the coming weeks.

Here is a PDF of the turkey kill by unit and season in Wisconsin.  Preliminary Spring 2013 Turkey Harvest 05282013

Please leave a comment about your thoughts or experience during the 2013 spring turkey season.

Filed Under: News, Turkey Hunting Tagged With: 2013 Wisconsin Spring Turkey, Turkey Hunting, Wild Turkey, Wisconsin Turkey Hunting

2013 Wisconsin Crossbow Bill – Upated May 30, 2013, June 6, 2013

May 28, 2013 by Charlie 25 Comments

Update – March 9, 2014 Wisconsin DNR Cancels Disabled Hunter Permits

Update September 18, 2013 Wisconsin Senate Passes Crossbow Bill

Update August 12, 2013 Wisconsin Senate schedules public hearing

Update June 6, 2013  Crossbow bill passes Assembly

Updated May 30, 2013

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 194, and Senate Bill 185 if passed in both houses and signed by the Governor would make it legal for anyone who has taken hunter education or bowhunter education to deer hunt with a crossbow or xbow as they are sometimes called.

Not all crossbows have cables and pulleys. A recurve crossbow is more challenging to hunt with than a modern compound bow.

Not all crossbows have cables and pulleys. A recurve crossbow is more challenging to hunt with than a modern compound bow.

Education is probably a good idea since many believe the myth that a crossbow is an all powerful weapon capable of shooting vast distances with very little marksmanship practice. (this is the argument made by those who oppose crossbows)

The bill would:

  •  Eliminate the requirement a hunter be over 65 or disabled in order to use a crossbow.
  • Require a separate crossbow license but only allow one buck to be taken with a hunter’s choice of archery equipment.  This license would allow the taking of all species as is currently the case with the archer’s license.  For $2.25 more the license could also allow a bowhunter to use a longbow, recurve, modern compound or crossbow; making it a “bowhunter’s choice” license.
  • Hunters who choose the crossbow would be allowed to hunt during Wisconsin’s regular bow season from mid September thru the first week of January.

Sponsors of AB 194 are Representatives Czaja, Danou, A. Ott, August, Ballweg, Bewley, Born, Brooks, Endsley, Hesselbein, Jacque, Jagler, Kleefisch, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Petryk, Smith, Spiros, Strachota, Swearingen, Tittl, Tranel, Vruwink and Wright. It was also cosponsored by Senators Farrow, L. Taylor, Lassa, Petrowski, Schultz, Tiffany and Lehman.

Crossbows kill with arrows making them no different than any other archery equipment.

Crossbows kill with arrows making them no different than any other archery equipment.

Before anyone gets too excited about using a crossbow in 2013 be aware that as of this writing there is no Senate version of AB194 and this point is crucial.  On a variety of issues in the past if there is no bill in both houses and only one passes a bill without a companion bill in the other house; in the end nothing happens and the process must start all over again in the next legislative session.  So if you want this passed into law and effective for the fall of 2013 make sure you contact your state senator to get a senate version introduced.

 

Update 5/30/13  Senate Bill 185      fiscal estimate from WDNR

SB185 opens any archery season to crossbows- Section 1.  29.014 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB185,2,62 29.014 (1m) (b)  If the department establishes an open season for hunting deer, elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow but not with a firearm, the department shall also open that season for hunting with a crossbow.
Introduced by Senators Farrow, L. Taylor, Lassa, Petrowski, Schultz, Tiffany, Lehman, Olsen and Hansen, cosponsored by
Representatives Czaja, Danou, A. Ott, August, Ballweg, Bewley, Born, Brooks, Endsley, Hesselbein, Jacque, Jagler, Kleefisch, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Petryk, Smith, Spiros, Strachota, Swearingen, Tittl, Tranel, Vruwink, Wright and Tauchen.

 

Filed Under: Deer Hunting, News Tagged With: deer, hunting, news, WI deer hunting

Dart Board Turkey

May 27, 2013 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Every year I throw a dart at a map to find a new place to hunt.

Every year I throw a dart at a map to find a new place to hunt.

Due to all those unexpected things that come up in life Wisconsin’s 3rd spring turkey season did not start off as planned.  I could not get out hunting during the morning,  you all know how that feels when you have active tags in your pocket and the morning dawns with beautiful hunting weather.

Come noontime the distracting tasks were completed and I was finally free so I decided to head over to unit 3 to a place I had never before hunted.   I like to hunt a new area every year without any extensive map studies or scouting.  The  area was picked by hanging a county forest map on a dart board and where the dart hit I headed to.

Hunting a different area completely cold is something I do at least once each spring and several times every fall.  To me it is one of the ultimate challenges of turkey hunting and an excellent way to hunt without any preconceived notions about the lay of the land or the turkeys inhabiting said land.  I find this concept keeps my skillset sharp and opens up more “known” hunting acres for me to consider each season.  Without pre-scouting you must quickly get attuned to the new area by paying close attention to all the small details of sound and sign.  So it was I found myself standing at the end of a county forest spur at 2:00 pm.

After enduring the horrible weather of season 1 this gorgeous day lent itself well to a beautiful walk in woods.  Other than the sounds of the usual cardinals, orioles, Canadian sparrows and other assorted song birds punctuated by the occasional goose honk; it was a relaxing walk in the woods. That is, until 6p when the tell tale single yap of a gobbler pierced through my revelry to swiftly draw my attention to task at hand.

The woods was full 50 year old straight manicured oaks dotted with red pines making the selection of a doable setup quick and easy.  I’d love to report a long battle of heavy back and forth calling and maneuvering but that would be an exaggeration.   From my selected tree I  made 2 yelps on a slate pot, heard a half gobble much like a jake and son of gun there he was standing at 20 yards.Unit 3 04242013

But it was quite clear he was no jake perhaps just an experienced gobbler who knew he should not sound off too loudly but ended up vulnerable to a dart board.

 

Filed Under: Spring Turkey, Stories Tagged With: Turkey Hunting, Wild Turkey, wild turkey story, Wisconsin Turkey Hunting

How to Find Turkeys in the Late Spring Season

May 16, 2013 by Charlie Leave a Comment

As turkey hunters are all to aware- Turkeys do not share our dinner plans.

As turkey hunters are all to aware- Turkeys do not share our dinner plans.

The spring of 2013 in Wisconsin has been one of, if not the most challenging spring season in history.  More late season tags have sold out this year than in previous years.  Some of my buddies are asking where do we find the turkeys?  How is their behavior different?

Regarding where to find them:

With the improving weather hens have begin laying.  I’m finding turkey nests with 4-6 eggs along with the occasional “drop egg” laying by itself.  In the next few days here in west central Wisconsin the hens should complete laying and start incubating.  When the hens are incubating they will not roost at night.  For a few days this will cause some angst among the gobblers resulting in more gobbling activity.

At first the hens will sound off from their nesting areas as their interest in the toms wanes.   So a hunter should experience good luck if they can get in the travel corridor leading from the tom’s roost to nesting area.  Once the hens are in the incubation process they are unlikely to run to the gobbler, leaving him “available”.  At this point hen talk should work to get the gobbler in.

Watch for the formation of summer time wild turkey bachelor groups and change your calling to gobbler talk.

Watch for the formation of summer time wild turkey bachelor groups and change your calling to gobbler talk.

If this were a normal year or the nature of things “catches up” to normal the gobblers would be forming summer bachelor groups this 6th season.  Gobbler talk would then be more effective calling.  Each area of the state is different so watch for the signs of what to do from the turkeys.

Key in on insect production areas, new wild flower and woodland grass  growth.  Hens seem to like to nest in open woodland near these areas.  Gobblers like to loaf and refurbish their bodies after the long breeding season.  Particularly late in the afternoon and early evening.  This is a good time for the audio baiting tactic described in “How to Legally Bait Turkey post”  Make sure you take your gun I have killed 2 toms this year between 6-7 pm calling in these areas.

Regarding turkey behavior-

Turkeys behave like turkeys and they are out there even if you do not hear or see them.  Turkey behavior changes throughout the seasons and a savvy hunter tries to learn as much as they can about turkeys and their changing flock structure from spring thru winter.

Filed Under: News, Spring Turkey, Turkey Hunting, turkey hunting tips Tagged With: 2013 Wisconsin Spring Turkey, Turkey Hunting, Wild Turkey

Wisconsin 2013 Spring Turkey Harvest – first 3 periods

May 8, 2013 by Charlie 2 Comments

Update May 28, 2013  Total 2013 Wisconsin spring turkey kill

Wisconsin’s 2013 spring turkey hunt  has been one for the history books with all of the record setting cold and snow.  Even during the first week of May we experienced an unprecedented, never before recorded May snowstorm that dumped 20+ inches in some areas.  Over all it has been one tough hunt this year.

How the spring turkey hunters faired? 

Here the preliminary turkey harvest numbers for the first 3 seasons.4th season last minute turkey

Time Period A, 4/10 through 4/16

Zone               Harvest

1                      2,232

2                      1,602

3                      1,946

4                      770

5                      380

6                      136

7                      66

Total             7,132

 

Time Period B, 4/17 through 4/23

Zone               Harvest

1                      1,995

2                      1,479

3                      1,765

4                      720

5                      359

6                      91

7                      61

Total          6,470

 

Time Period C, 4/24 through 4/30

Zone               Harvest

1                      2,342

2                      1,495

3                      1,904

4                      967

5                      352

6                      117

7                      77

Total             5,544

Looks like Wisconsin’s wild turkey harvest is on track to be 30% lower than last year’s.  We don’t have the registration for season D which will reflect May’s historic blizzard.  Unless more hunters go afield during seasons E & F the kill could be down 45% or more from 2012.  At least the hunter kill will be down.  But what about those turkeys that nature killed?  Most likely, as is usually the case more turkeys die of natural causes than by hunters.  Hunter only harvest about 10% of the total turkey population each year.

Filed Under: News, Spring Turkey, Turkey Hunting Tagged With: 2013 Wisconsin Spring Turkey, news, Turkey Hunting, turkey news, Wild Turkey, Wisconsin Turkey Hunting

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. No other email will be sent to you.

comments

  • Justin on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Kathy Eldred on Beavers Eat and Store Corn
  • Toney Jacob on Hunting Deer From the Ground in Wisconsin
  • Anthony Lumbard on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Bryan Ash on Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?
  • Jim Sinquefield on How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys

Top Posts

  • How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys
    How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys
  • Best Coyote Call - - Turkey Yelps
    Best Coyote Call - - Turkey Yelps
  • Patterning Board Surprise!
    Patterning Board Surprise!
  • Does Wild Venison Tastes Best when Procured in September or Early October?
    Does Wild Venison Tastes Best when Procured in September or Early October?
  • What do Wild Turkeys Eat?  Crops tell the story
    What do Wild Turkeys Eat? Crops tell the story
  • Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
    Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • When Do Turkeys Nest in Wisconsin?
    When Do Turkeys Nest in Wisconsin?

Recent Posts

  • Kirkland Warbler, Wild Turkey use Audio Bait
  • A Little more Frigid or Warm; What is better for Wildlife?
  • West Nile Virus detected in Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse
  • When the Deer Season Ends
  • First Bubba Chili Pucks

Recent comments

  • Justin on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Kathy Eldred on Beavers Eat and Store Corn
  • Toney Jacob on Hunting Deer From the Ground in Wisconsin
  • Anthony Lumbard on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Bryan Ash on Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?

Videos

Mosquitoes use six needles to suck our … [Read More...]

Have you ever had a whitetail deer standing real … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2023 charlie elk

 

Loading Comments...