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Treble Hooked Triple Beard Turkey: What?!?

June 17, 2013 by Charlie 5 Comments

My good friend and hunting partner Jerry Cusick had one of the toughest spring turkey hunting seasons during this Wisconsin 2013 season.   We all had some seriously tough weather to contend with but nothing like Jerry experienced so it is good he killed this unique gobbler.

Story as told by Jerry Cusick:

  What I remember is it was downright cold that morning (First day of 3rd  WI turkey season).  I was bundled up pretty good and that was just barely warm enough. I was hunting above the river bluff on the edge of a picked corn field. There was gobbling in the dark before legal time, but nothing after fly-down.  It was at least 2 hours later when I heard a faint gobble somewhere down the bluff.  I called and he did not answer a hen yelp.  I switched to deep drawn out gobbler yelps and he gobbled back.  In my scouting the day before I found male turkeys still hanging out with other males, so I wasn’t surprised that it worked.  It only took about ten minutes and he came up from below.   I had a hen and jake decoy out and there was also a live jake that had walked in minutes before.  The adult gobbler immediately went into strut and ambled towards the live jake until he moved off.  The adult tom then turned and came right into my set-up.  He never gobbled the whole time I watched him and he never broke out of strut either.  I could hear him spit and drum clearly many times  before I finally pulled the trigger at about 10 yards.  He had good spurs, a triple beard and the odd thing was the treble hook with swivel that I found imbedded in his waddle.  I have no idea how he got it, but believe he may have tried to roost in a tree near the river where someone had lost their tackle up on a limb.

photo and kill by Jerry Cusick. Triple bearded wild turkeys are rare but what was imbedded in the turkey's neck is even rarer.

photo and kill by Jerry Cusick.
Triple bearded wild turkeys are rare but what was imbedded in the turkey’s neck is even rarer.

 

A Treble Hook in a wild turkey's neck?!   photo courtesy of Jerry Cusick.

A Treble Hook in a wild turkey’s neck?!
photo courtesy of Jerry Cusick.

I have killed a lot of turkeys over the years many of them near rivers and streams that experience heavy fishing pressure but I have never seen a fish in a wild turkey.  Nor have I ever heard of it happening before, ever.  How is the world would a fish hook find its way into a wild turkey’s neck?

 

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

2013 Wisconsin Spring Turkey Final Harvest Numbers

June 4, 2013 by Charlie 1 Comment

Not all hunters stayed home during Wisconsin 2013 spring turkey season. Many of those who endured the historically cold and snowy weather were rewarded with gobblers.

Not all hunters stayed home during Wisconsin 2013 spring turkey season. Many of those who endured the historically cold and snowy weather were rewarded with gobblers.

Historic Cold & Snowy spring results in drop in turkey hunting success

Wisconsin Hunters experienced bad weather during early time periods

WDNR Press Release

MADISON – Turkey hunters ran into poor hunting conditions during the first half of the spring turkey hunting season, resulting in a preliminary registration total of 37,804 turkeys, which according to Department of Natural Resources officials is an 11 percent decrease from the spring 2012 turkey season.

Unseasonably cold weather persisted into May throughout the state, with deep snow in the north and rain, snow, and wind throughout the early season in the south.

“It really was an amazing contrast, weather-wise, from 2012’s hunt,” said Scott Walter, upland wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “Last year, we were snow-free statewide by opening day, with winter flocks broken up and hens initiating nests. This year, spring didn’t arrive until mid-season, and hunters had to deal with some challenging conditions, especially in the northern zones where many hunters had to don snowshoes to get in the woods after a turkey.”

Colder than normal spring is causing to turkeys to feed in groups.

Colder than normal spring is causing to turkeys to feed in groups.

According to Scott Walter, the poor weather likely reduced hunter effort and made harvesting a bird more challenging because gobblers were still tied to winter flocks of hens.

“Hunters simply won’t spend as much time in the woods in inclement weather. The persistent winter weather therefore presented a double obstacle for hunters, and is the major reason we saw a drop in harvest and success,” said Walter.

Zone 1 again produced the highest overall turkey harvest at 11,054 birds, followed by zones 3 and 2, where hunters registered 9,468 and 8,955 turkeys, respectively. The highest hunter success was in zone 2 with a preliminary success rate of 21 percent, followed by zones 1 and 3 at 18 percent, and zone 5 at 17 percent. Success rates were between 12 percent and 15 percent for zones 4, 6, and 7. Overall, the statewide success rate was 18 percent, compared with 21 percent last year.

Though harvest was down, the number of permits issued for this year’s hunt increased by 5 percent, from 201,984 to 211,307.

“The increase in permits is likely due to hunters purchasing more leftover permits for the later time periods to take

advantage of better hunting weather,” said Walter. “Harvest during the first two time periods was down 34 percent statewide compared to 2012, yet we actually harvested more total birds during the last four time periods this year.   It’s clear that hunters who were able to do so took advantage of over-the-counter permits to enjoy a later-season hunt with good weather conditions and turkeys that were finally engaged in normal breeding behavior.”

Telephone, online registration working well

This season was the second spring turkey hunt in which hunters could register turkeys through phone-line or online registration systems, first introduced with the fall 2011 turkey hunt and in place for all future spring and fall turkey seasons. No in-person registration will be available.

“Hunters seem to have transitioned to the new systems well,” said Krista McGinley, DNR assistant upland wildlife ecologist. “The majority of hunters have expressed satisfaction with the new systems, frequently citing their convenience. Quite a few hunters stated that they were able to register their turkey via cellphone right in the field.”

2013 fall season

Although the recent severe winter may have proven challenging for turkeys, biologists note there is reason for optimism regarding this fall’s hunt.

”We had a great hatch last year,” Walter said.  “There was a large cohort of jakes headed into this spring’s hunt.  With poor weather limiting hunter success this spring, hunters should see additional opportunity both this fall and next spring as these jakes mature into adult gobblers.”

However, the prolonged winter may have resulted in localized mortality, especially in the north.

“That’s something that’s very difficult to detect,” Walter added.  “We know prolonged severe winter weather can reduce survival in northern turkey populations, especially where agricultural foods are not available.  At this point, we haven’t heard solid evidence for any unusual mortality associated with the hard winter, but there are definitely folks who’ve been speculating about such an impact.”

A successful nesting and brood-rearing season propels turkey numbers upward. Generally speaking, dry conditions during June keep newly-hatched chicks from getting chilled and suffering from exposure, leading to good production in all upland game bird species, according to Walter.

“Things have been wet so far this year during the nesting season. However, most turkey nests hatch around the first of June in Wisconsin. Dry weather over the next month will help those chicks survive the critical first few weeks,” said Walter.

The fall 2013 wild turkey season will run from Sept. 14 through Nov. 21, with an extended season only in Turkey Management Zones 1 through 5, from Dec. 2 through Dec. 31. The deadline for applying for a fall permit through the lottery process is Aug. 1. Applications cost $3 and can be purchased through the Online Licensing Center, at license sales locations, or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4263).

The 2013 Fall Turkey and 2014 Spring Turkey regulations are included in the 2013 Wisconsin Small Game Hunting Regulations pamphlet, available on the hunting regulations page of the DNR website and in hard copy at DNR service centers and license vendors. For more information, visit wi.dnr.gov, search keyword “turkey.”

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

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

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

Are Turkeys Responding to Calls In Wisconsin Spring 2013?

April 17, 2013 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Turkeys and deer are having a tough time. Normal spring weather needs to arrive soon.

Turkeys and deer are having a tough time. Normal spring weather needs to arrive soon.

In West Central Wisconsin 2013 average spring temperatures have been running 15-20 degrees below normal with higher amounts of snow fall and rain.  Causing many spring turkey hunters to ask-

” Are the turkeys gobbling and responding to calls?”

It has almost become a cliché “the turkeys are always there doing what turkeys do.”  This is for the most part true but does little to reassure turkey hunters with upcoming valid tags as they look at weather forecasts predicting more of the same cold, rain, snow and wind.

A few more details are in order before answering definitively.

  • Reports from dedicated turkey hunters in northern unit 4 & 7  indicate turkeys are very hard to find in areas that have been traditionally good hunting early spring.  Keep in mind at this writing only season A has been completed.
  • In unit 2 large flocks of turkeys have been reported leading many hunters to believe the winter turkey flocks have not broken up yet. Reports say turkeys are responding to aggressive gobbler  calling. (challenging yelps, clucks and purrs)
  • Western unit 1 those hunter who ventured out in the wind, snow and rain have found scattered groups of turkeys which in some cases responded well to their calls.  However, they usually had more than one turkey come in, jakes being very numerous.
  • Unit 3 about the same reports as unit 1 but typically turkeys in unit 3 are further apart and scattered.

Generally hunting pressure so far has been very light, many hunters choosing to stay home rather than bear the uncomfortable weather.  Recently more late season OTC tags have been selling.  Apparently some are deciding to forego hunting early season and try later.    I have toured several public hunting areas in units 1,3 & 4 and found very few hunters or sign anyone had been there.

I hunted the morning of April 10 while a storm was moving through.  The turkeys were not vocal until I gave them reason to be vocal and then they responded very well to my calls with full throated chain gobbling.   I filled my tag before noon struck.

Colder than normal spring is causing to turkeys to feed in groups.

Colder than normal spring is causing to turkeys to feed in groups.

Because I am a total turkey addict and some would say nut I begin touring hunting areas.  During these tours it was rare to hear a gobble that was not initiated by my calling.  Where no one was hunting I moved through the areas mid day making turkey calls as I went.  Turkeys did respond to me and many started to come in.  So, I would say if you are in an area that holds turkeys and you call, they are responding.  At this time don’t be surprised if the turkeys don’t sound of to tell you where they are before you give them a reason.

Turkeys are answering calls in the spring of 2013

Turkeys are answering calls in the spring of 2013

Good hunting.

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

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