Hunting Archery Duck Deer

Preparation important for short turkey season - The spring turkey hunting season opens April 24 and will close on May 6 in Zones 11 and 12 and on May 20 in Zones 1-10 and 13.

During pre-season scouting trips, it’s apparent that the mating season began early this year due to the warm winter, as toms already were gathering their harems of hens more than two weeks ago. Last Sunday, while scouting an area of Westport, I observed, for the first time in the wild, a tom mounting a hen.

This early season could affect the hunt one way or the other. If the hens have all been bred and laid their clutches of eggs before opening day or shortly thereafter, the toms could be easier to call in. Normally, during mating season, it’s difficult to call a tom away from hens because he won’t risk having them run off by another tom or a lesser jake. But with the early season this spring, that boss gobbler may just “come a runnin’” when he hears a lonesome hen that needs tending to.

It could backfire however, and if all the hens have been bred, that big tom you’ve been watching could be cruising a different area looking for straggler hens come opening day and you may not see him again.
One piece of new equipment I picked up this spring that looks promising is Quaker Boy’s Hurricane chalk-less box call. It looks like a traditional paddle-style box call, but there’s a special finish on the paddle that eliminates the need to chalk it. And unlike the regular box call that won’t work in the rain, this new chalk-less call works when wet.

It has a realistic sound and you can duplicate the lower tone of an old hen and the higher-pitched tone of a young hen, depending on where you hold the paddle.

There are other companies now producing chalk-less box calls as well as Quaker Boy. I’ll be using mine on opening day, rain or shine.

This spring, I also was impressed by Heavi-Shot turkey loads, which patterned tighter, with less flyers, than premium copper-plated lead shot turkey loads. Legal shot sizes for turkey are No. 4, 5 and 6. Everybody has their preference and every gun patterns differently with different loads, but whether I’m using my muzzleloading shotgun or my 12-gauge double gun, I like No. 5’s. This size is a tradeoff between the other two. You get more pellets than the larger No. 4’s, and they are harder hitting with more energy at longer ranges than the smaller No. 6’s.

Before the season starts, don’t forget to put your green safety sticker on your shotgun. And put your turkey permit in your wallet and a pen in your pocket. Turkeys must be tagged immediately and taken to a check station within 48 hours. The limit is two bearded turkeys in the spring (only one per day) or one bearded turkey in the spring and one turkey of either sex in the fall. Spring hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to noon. Electronic calls, dogs, bait and driving are prohibited.
Keep in mind some basic turkey-hunting safety rules for a safe season. Be sure of your target and what is beyond before you pull the trigger. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Set up against a tree that’s at least as wide as your shoulders. Never stalk a turkey — call it to you. Don’t wear red, white or blue — the colors of a tom’s head. Don’t hide so well that you can’t see what’s going on around you.

Be extremely careful using turkey decoys. Whistle or shout to alert approaching hunters of your position. Never wave or stand up. Never sneak in on a turkey or use a gobbler call near other hunters. Never crowd another hunter working a bird. Never shoot at sound or movement. Use a flashlight when walking in the dark. Be aware of turkey “fever” and its prevention. Disregard peer pressure to bag a bird. Don’t assume you are the only hunter in the area. Be certain of a companion’s location.
The Otis Controlled Turkey Hunt will be held on the Mass. Military Reservation from April 24-28 and May 1-5.

There is no pre-registration this year, but hunters are required to check in with security at the Otis Fish and Game Club, off the Route 28 Rotary in Bourne, as in previous years. The club also is a turkey check station.

Other area turkey check stations include: Freetown State Forest Headquarters, Slab Bridge Rd. in Freetown, daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ritchie’s Sporting Supply, 217 Mouse Mill Rd. in Westport, Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Sun. and Wed.; Reedy’s Archery Shop, 31 Center St. in Middleboro, Mon.-Thurs. noon-9 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Red Top Bait and Tackle, 265 Main St. in Buzzards Bay, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; MassWildlife Southeast District Office, 195 Bournedale Rd., Buzzards Bay, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sat. and Sun.
MARC FOLCO Open Season