Sportsmen's Empire - Turkey Hunting

On this episode of the how to hunt turkey podcast, I discuss some of my thoughts and memories of turkey encounters while deer hunting. I mention how I always seem to see the biggest gobblers in the fall, how turkeys spot you so easily in the tree stand and what I've learned about how much noise a flock of turkeys can make. I also tell the story of watching a deer chase turkeys around and I mention some things to look for and try if you decide to turkey hunt in the fall. I also dive into the conservation implications and ethics of fall hunting and the benefits of bringing a turkey call with you deer hunting.

On This episode of the How to Hunt Turkeys Podcast Paul Campbell makes a guest hosting appearance. Jase and his family are spending time this week celebrating a HUGE life accomplishment and asked Paul to stop by and say hi! The guest of the show is Mr. Hunt Club, Phillip Cullpepper Jr. making his second appearance on the H2HT show. Paul and Phillip talk about mindset before, during and after the turkey hunting season, and how to stay motivated. They also discuss the boring topic of bow hunting Whitetails....Just kidding that's not boring! It was great to be back for an episode!!!

In this episode of the How to Hunt Turkey podcast, I discuss six golden rules of turkey hunting. I share some personal stories and experiences related to each rule that will hopefully provide valuable insights and tips for turkey hunters. The rules include not stocking straight at turkeys, having a good shot sequence, paying attention to all turkey behavior, looking for sign and scouting, getting gear organized, and learning calls. These rules apply not only to turkey hunting but also to deer hunting and other outdoor pursuits.

On this episode, Jase Greer and Nick Otto discuss various ways to prepare and cook wild turkey. They cover topics such as plucking vs skinning the bird, gutting techniques, and utilizing the organs. They also explore cooking methods for the legs and thighs, including slow cooking and sous vide. The conversation provides practical tips and ideas for making the most out of a wild turkey harvest. They also discuss the versatility of turkey meat, batch cooking, making stock, and cooking turkey breasts. Nick shares his expertise on butchering and cooking wild game, emphasizing the importance of using every part of the animal and making the most out of the harvest. The conversation is filled with practical tips and insights for hunters and home cooks.

In this episode, I share the story of the last time I shot a Jake during turkey season. I also reflect on my journey as a turkey hunter and the lessons I have learned along the way. I talk about the importance of living in the moment and not judging a season based on a small sample size. I also discuss my experience with buying a new shotgun, the importance of knowing how your shotgun shoots and being confident in your pattern. I also recap getting permission to hunt a new piece of land, how hard that can be and how amazing it is to get new land to hunt. I had a great time reliving the highs and lows of these turkey hunts and the great memories I have from that season! It's a great reminder that hunting is more than the goal, it's about the memories and experiences we would never get doing anything else!

This week we are continuing our mini series telling the stories that happened to our guests after they were on the podcast. I am joined by Damien Nissley as he shares a story about his spring turkey that involved trying to stalk up on a turkey, and eventually having to call the turkey away from his own decoy! I also share a few stories of mine from the past about a variety of hunts. For instance there was the time I tried to out call a couple of hens to get a strutting gobbler to my decoy, only to later learn that my decoy was probably facing the wrong way. Or the time I was unprepared for a Tom to come in so fast and I didn't have my gun up so I ended up missing the bird three times instead. I also talk about the time I woke up from a nap to find three toms about 100 yards away and how I tried to sneak up on them. On top of all that I recap one of my Canadian fishing trips from this year where, one at a time, every motor on the boat stopped working and we had to paddle to shore. With turkey season far in the rearview mirror I find that the best thing to do is to reminisce on past hunts and plan for the future. So I hope that wherever you are or whatever you're up to you can take a trip down memory lane along with me and Damien this week!

Today I am breaking down some of the best tips given on the podcast this past spring but with a twist. I'm going to be applying them to deer hunting as well as turkey hunting. Now I know they are different beasts for sure, but that doesn't mean that they don't overlap. I start off talking about some of the things I love about turkey hunting that you don't get away with as easily with deer hunting, such as, scent controll is not a problem, getting to move around a lot is great, and calling and listening for calling really adds an interactive aspect that you don't always deer when hunting deer. Of course there are so many things deer hunting has taught me that help me as a turkey hunter such as, reading an animals body language, looking for sign and how to be patient. So in this episode I break down a ton of important things I've learned this turkey season that I'm going to be using this turkey season. I'm going to be using more realism in my calling. I'm also going to be positioning myself differently for my calling sequences. I'm going to be working on my mindset, putting the time in that I need to to be successful and not only that but keeping my mind sharp as well. I'll be working on patience, mastering target panic and being generous with my hunting season. I absolutely plan to check out some public land and I'm going to be going after new permissions as well. It seems there is no shortage of Turkey tactics for deer hunting and if we continue to lock in these ideas throughout all hunting disciplines were well on our way to being a better hunter!

On this episode I am joined again by Paul Campbell and he shares the story of a beautiful Merriam's turkey hunt he went on this season. This is the first instalment of a sort of mini series I am doing where I get a chance to catch up with all the turkey hunting masters I have gotten to talk with this season and I get to hear the stories I missed out on because they happened after I interviewed them. This story has it all. Friendship, unexpected hunts, brand new calls calling in fired up Tom's, and a whole lot more. You'll hear how Paul had a chance at a Merriam's turkey only to send a shot over his head and watch the turkey fly down a cliff. You'll hear how Paul was able to overcome the urge to follow the turkey right off the cliff and capitalize on a later encounter. In the pre show I talk briefly about my recent trip to Canada and how I got a chance to walleye fish on lake Erie. One thing is for sure. There is nothing like the story of a great turkey hunt to help me through the doldrums of the off season and to help me through until the spring time revives the woods once again. Until then we have these awesome memories of spring thunder, friends and experiences. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it!

This week I'm joined by my dad, John Greer for a walk down memory lane, discussing past hunting stories. My dad didn't do a ton of turkey hunting growing up so we learned a lot together and always enjoy our time in the turkey woods. Dad also shares a story from his early turkey hunting days that really puts some things into perspective.

Topics include: Hunter safety, learning to turkey hunt, mistaking crow sounds for turkeys, Canadian Geese chasing gobblers, calling turkeys across a creek and how easily a turkey can hide in an open field.

Returning to the podcast this week is none other than Frank Alan Stie. Fresh off a 5 state turkey tour and riding high off the release of his new book "From Blue Ridge Mountain Boy To Sooner Slayer: A Perspective on Hunting, Fishing, Family and Friends" we have a fantastic conversation that covers a multitude of topics. With as much experience hunting turkeys and living life as Alan has, you never know what nuggets of wisdom you'll hear!

Topics Include: Using gobbling jakes to call in Toms, Hunting college educated birds in Mississippi and Virginia, Hunting too hard, Falling in the mud, Mixing briar patches and inflatable decoys.