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Turkey
Turkey Talk: Is There Really Such A Thing As Overcalling?
The turkey world is pretty relaxed compared to the whitetail arena. People just don’t get as worked up about differences of opinions and tactics when it comes to longbeards. Turkey hunters are like the folks at a concert who sway to the music in unison, gently brushing shoulders, while holding their...
Tony J. Peterson
May 3, 2023
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Turkey
How to Make a Turkey Tail Fan
This turkey season, keep more than the breasts and legs. With a few household items, you can turn the tail into a decoration for your house or a decoy to use in upcoming turkey seasons. All you need is a big enough piece of cardboard, salt (or borax), a knife, some push pins, and time.
Janis Putelis
Apr 6, 2023
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Turkey
Turkey Vocalizations No One Cares About, But They Should
During my formative years of turkey hunting, it was common advice to yelp softly three times and then shut the hell up. I don’t know why this was the standard, but it was. It clearly didn’t originate from hunters who spent lots of time in close proximity to wild hens.
The ladies are vocal, but they...
Tony J. Peterson
Apr 5, 2023
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Turkey Hunting Tactics
Turkey
How to Kill a Tom Off the Roost
More turkeys are killed during the first hour of daylight than any other one-hour period during turkey season. This was true last season and it will hold true as this season plays out. It’ll be true again next year and the one after that, too.
This isn’t coincidence. Rather, the first legal hour of...
Andrew Johnson
Apr 7, 2020
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Turkey
The 6 Turkey Vocalizations You Need to Know
Biologists have confirmed that wild turkeys have at least 29 different calls or vocalizations, ranking them among the most vocal of birds. And perhaps the most appealing aspect of turkey hunting is engaging in a conversation with a cooperative tom as it thunders toward your setup. As a good friend...
Andrew Johnson
Mar 27, 2020
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Turkey
How to Find the Dumbest Tom in the Woods
Frustrated turkey hunters often talk about the need to find unpressured birds, with optimism that these animals will be easier to pattern or deceive. On public lands, or highly pressured private ground, finding these places can be easier said than done. During your continued search for the...
Dylan Tramp
Mar 31, 2021
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Turkey
A Guide to Hunting Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys are the big game of the small game world. Weighing upwards of 25 pounds, a mature bird is capable of supplying multiple meals for even a large family.
While many states have fall turkey hunting seasons, hunting for these birds is generally regarded as a spring activity. April or May...
Steven Rinella
Dec 4, 2018
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Turkey
How to Turkey Hunt in Big Woods
If you take away agriculture from turkey hunting, it starts to feel like chasing whitetails in big woods. Low game densities, sparse sign, and endless cover all conspire to make the process more challenging than typical turkey hunts. But big woods toms are available for the taking. Like their...
Tony J. Peterson
Mar 30, 2020
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Turkey
3 Common Mistakes Turkey Hunters Make
Sunrises, ticks, and mistakes are all parts of turkey hunting. Some days the planets align and we can sling a dead turkey over our shoulder regardless of how many errors we made. But most other days we leave the woods frustrated and empty-handed.
Sometimes it’s because the turkeys simply didn’t want...
Andrew Johnson
Apr 21, 2021
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Turkey Hunting Gear
Firearms
4 Best Turkey Shotguns for Beginners
Dedicated turkey shotguns did not become popular until the early 2000s. At the time, turkey populations were booming—there were an estimated 7 million birds inhabiting the U.S. and Canada—which ushered in a new era of optics-ready, short-barreled shotguns that catered to turkey hunters.
Truthfully...
Joe Genzel
May 17, 2023
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Turkey
How to Choose the Right Turkey Load
There was a time when all my turkey, small game, waterfowl and upland shot shells were 2 ¾-inch, #6 lead, 12-gauge field loads. Since then, shotgun loads for all game species, including wild turkeys, have come a long way. These days, turkey loads come in a vast array of configurations, many of which...
Brody Henderson
Mar 12, 2020
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Turkey
3 Turkey Calls Every Hunter Should Own
Many turkey hunters are gear junkies and I’m no exception. Each spring I overload my vest with an assortment of turkey calls—knowing full well that many won’t see the light of day until I unpack after the season closes.
Fact is, I just checked my vest, and here’s the tally: 13 mouth calls, two box...
Andrew Johnson
Apr 23, 2020
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Turkey
3 Never-Fail Turkey Decoy Setups
If you want to increase your decoy effectiveness this spring, consider what the real turkeys are doing. A 30,000-foot-view explanation is that flocks start out as big as they’ll be all season and shrink to smaller groups as spring progresses.
This means that multiple decoys are a solid choice on Day...
Tony J. Peterson
Apr 10, 2020
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Firearms
Video: Red Dot Turkey Sights in Jani’s Gear Shed
Hunting turkeys is my number-one favorite pursuit in the woods. While elk or bighorn sheep hunts obviously represent some pinnacle of the hunting experience, they also involve a ton of effort and stress. Not so much with gobblers. In the spring season, the weather is nice, the country gentle...
Janis Putelis
Mar 3, 2022
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Turkey Processing
Turkey Hunting Videos
18:15
Cal In the Field S04 E01 Apr 11, 2023
Florida Turkey Hunting
Cal heads to Tall Timbers in the Florida Panhandle to hunt Eastern’s and learn more about the benefits of fire. Fire has been a tool used by hunters for thousands of years, and only recently have people begun to fear the flame. But in Northern Florida, land managers along with annual lightning...
Ryan Callaghan
Apr 11, 2023
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21:16
MeatEater S04 E09 Mar 6, 2014
Spring Break: Florida Osceola Turkey
Steven Rinella and his friend and wild turkey specialist, Robert Abernathy, head to southern Florida to hunt Osceola gobblers. Steve hopes to finish off his Royal Turkey Slam, achieved by bagging all five subspecies of the American wild turkey—a quest that's been a decade in the making. These two...
Steven Rinella
Mar 6, 2014
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27:04
MeatEater S11 E04 Nov 16, 2022
New Mexico Turkey
Steve and Karl Malcolm explore the Gila Wilderness while hunting for wild turkeys.
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Steven Rinella
Nov 16, 2022
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27:16
On The Hunt S01 E06 Jun 7, 2022
California Turkey Hunting with Rue Mapp
On this episode, Janis is joined by his friend Rue Mapp, Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, for an early season turkey hunt in California. Rue takes Janis to her old childhood stomping grounds for an opportunity to see where it all began and what inspired her to live a life of outdoor adventures.
Janis Putelis
Jun 7, 2022
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22:59
On The Hunt S01 E02 May 10, 2022
Spring Turkey Hunting in Wisconsin
Janis heads to his family's place in search of spring gobblers with his good friend and hunting mentor Jimmy Miller. The warmer temperatures make calling in turkeys difficult, but Janis and Jimmy adjust their strategy and are able to get a couple of Jakes and Toms back to the cooler.
Janis Putelis
May 10, 2022
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30:46
MeatEater S10 E08 Feb 2, 2022
South Carolina Turkeys
Conservationist Robert Abernethy takes Steve to some of his prime South Carolina turkey spots.
Steven Rinella
Feb 2, 2022
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Turkey Recipes
Recipes
Turkey Schnitzel
(4)
I discovered turkey schnitzel while filming a backcountry turkey hunt in Montana. Our cameraman and director, Mo Fallon, took a look at our supplies, which included a dead turkey, salt, panko breadcrumbs, oil, and a lemon. He hatched a plan. We sliced the turkey breasts into thick slabs and then...
Steven Rinella
Jan 2, 2023
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Recipes
Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
(3)
As an upland hunter, my favorite Thanksgiving tradition is to roast a couple whole pheasants. But before the pie is even served, I’m already thinking about how I’ll use the remaining scraps of meat. Whether you have pheasant, turkey, or some other white meat poultry on the table this year, you’ll be...
Danielle Prewett
Nov 23, 2020
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Recipes
Copycat Chick-fil-A Turkey Nuggets
(4)
This recipe captures everything I love about joints like Chick-fil-A: comfort food that’s easy to make and full of flavor. I marinate the wild turkey nuggets in pickle juice before frying, then dip them in a copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. This dish will have every deer across the county saying, “EAT-MOR...
Danielle Prewett
May 4, 2020
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Recipes
Fresh Turkey Breakfast Sausage with Sage Recipe
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The flavors of wild turkey and sage complement each other perfectly, especially when combined in a spicy breakfast sausage. This mixture can be stuffed into lamb casings to make breakfast-sized links, but I prefer to leave mine bulk and then form it into small patties that are easy to fry next to a...
Steven Rinella
Nov 21, 2018
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Recipes
Buffalo Turkey Sandwiches
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It’s damn hard to beat a crispy buffalo turkey sandwich. Like poutine or a Sloppy Joe pizza, this dish is where wild game intersects bar food perfection. Brined in buttermilk and fried until golden brown, I’m convinced that pairing this pub grub with a cold drink is the best way to celebrate a dead...
Danielle Prewett
Apr 20, 2020
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Recipes
Orange-Clove Smoked Wild Turkey
(1)
If you’re successful in your wild turkey hunting pursuits, this is a recipe not to miss. This smoker recipe is the ideal savory and sweet combination. Smokey and sweetness combined with the savory roasted vegetables.
A crowd pleaser for spring or turkey hunting success alike.
Originally Published on...
Steven Rinella
Apr 15, 2018
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Recipes
Turkey Katsu
(3)
I can't think of a better first meal after a successful turkey hunt than fried breast. This katsu recipe is based on a Japanese fried cutlet dish with a light, crunchy crust. I hammer the meat thin to tenderize it while also cutting down on the cook time. Less time in the fryer keeps the turkey...
Wade Truong
Apr 8, 2021
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Recipes
Turkey Egg Rolls
(0)
Turkey season is upon us, and that means droves of hunters across the country are getting ready to harvest some of nature’s “other white meat.” These big birds yield a lot of great meat, but many folks are left questioning what to do with the legs. Wild turkey legs are very tough and full of tendons...
Michael Vialpando
Apr 12, 2021
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Turkey Podcasts
The MeatEater Podcast
Ep. 104: Turks!
Las Vegas, NV- Steven Rinella talks with Becky Humphries of the National Wild Turkey Federation, First Lite's Ryan Callaghan, along with Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew.Subjects discussed: The National Wild Turkey Federation; defining turkey habitat; the Lacey Act of 1900 and playing by the...
Steven Rinella
Feb 19, 2018
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Wired To Hunt
Wired To Hunt Podcast #211: Answering Your Spring Turkey Questions
Today on the show Spencer Neuharth, Dan Johnson and I celebrate spring turkey hunting season by sharing a few of our latest turkey exploits and answering listener-submitted turkey hunting questions. To listen to the podcast, click the Play button in...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Mark Kenyon
Apr 26, 2018
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Wired To Hunt
Ep. 274: Turkey Hunting Roundtable
Today on the show I’m joined by Ben O’Brien, Tony Peterson and Spencer Neuharth to debate all things turkey hunting – including calling advice, decoy set-ups, weather impacts and more. Subjects Discussed What’s the story on Ben O’Brien’s turkey tour...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Mark Kenyon
Apr 4, 2019
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The MeatEater Podcast
Ep. 262: The Jake Brake
Steven Rinella talks with Jason Phelps, Dirk Dirham, Seth Morris, Phil Taylor, Corinne Schneider, and Janis Putelis.Topics discussed: Chester The Investor makes a solid plan on a walleye boat; how skepticism is the chastity of the intellect; reconsidering the use of a sous vide wand to warm up your...
Steven Rinella
Mar 1, 2021
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