Lessons from the turkey woods 2012

So, the end of turkey has come and gone.  Kevin's turkey was the only one brought out of the turkey woods this season.  Since we don't have a fall season, we'll have to wait until next year to try to outsmart Big Tom. 

Here are a few things we learned this year:

1.  I love my ThermaCell.  It works.

2.  I love my ghillie cape.  It works.  My Dad said I all but disappeared across the creek from him with it on.

3.  You have to get out in the open areas early in the afternoon and wait.  Otherwise, you may need to get back in the woods between where they are and their roost.

4.  Morning hunts may be more productive because you can hear them talking off the roost.  Might be able to call them in with a little more success.  This one is hard for me.  I'm a night owl and don't do mornings!  BUT, turkey is my favorite season, so I'll be able to force myself into this thinking next season.  Can't let DH show me up next year!

5.  Turkeys don't like pop up tents.  We've never had success with this method.  We see it on the hunting shows all the time, but we've never been able to see much from a tent.  I feel like I move around more to try to see from all of the angles, and I'm hunched down to look out of the window.  My chairs must be too tall for the hut I'm in, but overall, we don't tend to like these things.  Their material is loud, too.  That's a no-no in our woods.

6.  Camo covered turkey guns are a nice thing to have.  I feel like they help you stay hidden.  My Remington 870 is just more noticeable in the woods.  Probably just my impression, but I like my Dad's camo Mossberg 20 gauge (that I think is now mine) even if it is just for my piece of mind.  My husband even covered his Remington 12 gauge with camo web tape (I know it as vet wrap, like they use for wrapping horses' legs - it sticks to itself, not the gun) to conceal it.

7.  A quality turkey seat is still hard on the tail bone.  For those of us with back issues, I haven't yet been able to find a really comfortable way to sit in the woods for long periods of time.  If I do, I'll blog about it.

I'll post a picture of the turkey vest I made for my young'uns when I get it 100% complete.  It is now 99% complete.  When they tried it on, I realized we need a front closure of some sort, so I still need to add that.

Well, that's all for now!
Now, get out and scout for deer season!  It'll be here before you know it!

Sunday Shooting

Sunday Shooting Fun

I wasn't quite sure what to call this blog post, but since it is about my family going out back into the yard and practicing our shooting, I'll stick with Sunday Shooting.  I've got some photos to share.  This is about 2 weeks ago.  Obviously, I'm behind on my blog posts.
Since then, i have finished my almost 3 week notice at my job and have been home for 3 days now, not counting the weekend.  But, it can't be that easy, right?  Since then I've also gotten sick.  I almost never get sick.  Boasted about how all of the folks at work got sick regularly and I always escaped.  My kids got sick. Not me!  My husband, too.  Not me!  I was so proud of my immune system.  Well, that's when you fall.  Pride always does it.  I'm sick.  Sore throat. Really sore throat.  Stuffy and runny nose. Mild chest congestion.  Just generally, ick.  Well, I am trying to salvage my day, so instead of waiting to post on my new schedule I have for myself, I decided to knock one out.  I'm sitting down, right?  Should be minimally taxing and then I can figure out if I need to lay down again or do something else before the ducklings get home.

DD2 with Marlin .22 bolt action rifle.  

Well, anyhow, enough of that update.  On Sunday, we like to make it a family fun day type of environment, with low stress.  We end up doing chores a lot of times because we are so busy.  But, lately we are trying harder to keep the chores on a Sunday to a minimum.  We have wound up outside a few times, practicing shooting.  It is a fun and relaxing family activity that we enjoy, so why not?  I don't think God would have an issue with that.
We have DD2 wanting to be a SWAT team member or Sniper, so I guess we need to practice, huh?  She has a long way to go, but she seems to be a natural shooter.  She does surprisingly well most times we practice.  She enjoys it and we encourage it.  Not for her to be a killer, mind you, just to practice, start competing and developing this interest.  We like to be supportive.  Besides, shouldn't daughters be strong and independent?  My daughter, should she ever get lost in the woods, would survive.  We keep working on all of their skills and knowledge to teach them independence, including in the woods, DH's favorite place.  We want them to know where their food comes from and how and be confident to ward off unwanted attention, be it man or bear!

Teach your daughters to hunt.

We firmly believe in teaching your daughter to hunt just as much as your son.  Besides, we have no sons!  My girls enjoy this as one-on-one time with their parents and get excited to go out in the woods with us.  We love hunting with the girls.

DH practicing w/ Bersa 9mm Thunder 9, one of the first models

Here is DH practicing with his gun.  I like this gun.  It is dead on for me, but we needed to adjust the rear sight to suit DH's shooting style.  More on that in another post.

Adult target post-practice.

Bragging time.  See those 4 holes on the left of the bullseye?  My DH's 9mm.  Now, see the one outside at 11 o'clock, then two more at 1 and 2 o'clock, then 3 in the bull, with one just at 7 o'clock?  Mine.  Dialing it closer and closer with my .40 S&W Glock 27.  I love my gun.  I'm deadly with my gun.  I'm happy with my gun.  :)  I'll review it later & my DH's for interested parties.