Hunting Archery Duck Deer

HS Pro Staffer gives advice for new turkey hunter Alex Rutledge knows turkeys — and we’re not talking about butterballs.
Growing up in the Missouri Ozarks, Rutledge learned the finer points of wild turkey hunting from his father and honed them over the years chasing the wily bird with his four brothers.

“I started tagging along on hunts when I was five years old,” said Rutledge, 40, a full-time pro staffer and product developer for Hunter Specialties. “I learned a lot in those earlier days from carefully observing what was going on during the hunt. I took it seriously, and it helped me, once I started hunting turkeys on my own.”
Rutledge, who has hunted turkeys in more than 20 states, also runs a turkey hunting camp each year, specializing in hunts for beginners.
“We’ll teach you more in three days than you can learn on your own in three years,” said Rutledge. “We see a lot of fathers and sons coming here. I like teaching turkey hunting to anyone, but I really enjoy helping young kids just getting started.”
But how do you get started? That’s a good question, and one I asked Rutledge. Below are a handful of Rutledge’s secrets for beginning turkey hunters.
Find a mentor. Rutledge said newcomers to turkey hunting can benefit greatly by the collective wisdom of a veteran turkey hunter. “I would start by joining the National Wild Turkey Federation, because there are many good people in that organization who love to help beginners,” said Rutledge.
“Draw on their experience. Ask them if they’ll take you hunting. By finding a mentor, you’ll learn quickly and more easily. I guarantee you’ll benefit from the experience.”
Educational materials. Rutledge recommends new hunters utilize instructional materials (videos, books, etc.) to enhance overall turkey-hunting knowledge.
“Today you can learn more about calling and turkey hunting in general by using DVDs and videos than you ever could in the past,” said Rutledge. “There’s a ton of instructional materials out there, if you’re willing to take the time to look. I say use them all. They’re very helpful, especially for beginners.”
Hunter Specialties (www. hunterspec.com) has a library of international turkey-hunting videos to help hunters of all skill level.
In addition, read all the magazines and books you can about the sport.
“What you want to do is build yourself a database of information about turkey hunting,” said Rutledge. “At the end of the day, the more you learn, the better off you’ll be in the field.”
Besides, he said, it is fun putting theory into practice.
Seminars. Rutledge says there are few places in the country today that do not offer turkey-hunting seminars — and he’s right. Such seminars are yet another way to learn some quick tips about turkey hunting. “Most of the seminars I know of are free,” said Rutledge. “You’d be crazy not to take advantage of them.”
Turkey calling. Rutledge says new hunters would be well served by learning how to use as many turkey calls (box, slate, diaphragms, etc.) as possible. “I’m always asked what the best turkey calls are to use,” said Rutledge. “Well, the best call is the one that brings in a turkey on that particular day. That’s why I carry an assortment of calls every time I go hunting. The more calls you have and know how to use, the better your chances are for calling in a turkey on the day you decide to hunt.”
Rutledge recommends that beginning turkey hunters try Hunter’s Specialties’ Push Button Yelper 2, one of the most user-friendly and effective calls on the market today. “If you can a push a button, you can successfully use this call,” said Rutledge. “After you have a little more experience with the sport, then I recommend you start to use a diaphragm call. It leaves your hands free to hold your gun or bow when a turkey comes in close. Turkeys have great eyesight, so anytime you can limit movement, you’ll have more success.”
In the end, Rutledge said, skilled turkey callers aren’t born — they’re made. “You have to practice calling,” he said. “It’s like any other sport, the more you practice, the better off you’ll be, and the more success you’ll have.
Safety. Safety is the most important aspect of the hunt, especially for beginners. “Turkey hunting is a safe sport, but mistakes can be made,” Rutledge said. “That’s why I recommend that beginners start out hunting with a mentor. A mentor can teach you the finer points of hunting safety.”
Rutledge also recommends taking a turkey-hunting instructional course, offered each spring by many state wildlife agencies and the National Wild Turkey Federation, www.nwtf.org. “Like I always say, safety is the most important thing to remember about the hunt,” said Rutledge. “I can’t stress that fact enough.”
To purchase additional turkey-hunting videos, see www.winkelman.com.
Babe Winkelman is a nationally known outdoorsman who has been teaching people to fish and hunt for 25 years. Watch his award-winning “Good Fishing” television show on WGN-TV, Fox Sports Net, The Men’s Channel, Great American Country Network and The Sportsman’s Channel. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times.

Outdoors with Babe Winkelman
Babe Winkelman
The Pilot-Independent

For more information on this subject, check out these resources:
• National Wild Turkey Federation