I tried turkey hunting once. Attending a class given by Fish and Wildlife was encouraging; buying a full camo outfit, with mask, made me look the way I thought I should; hours of listening to instructional tapes and practice gave me confidence.
With a new shotgun and turkey loads, I was ready.
I'm not sure what happened. There were turkey in the area but my practiced hen calls must have been saying, "go away," or worse. I never saw a turkey.
My next move was to ask my friend Roy Keefer how he got started and became so proficient at the sport.
What follows is his answer:
'Turkey Fever'
If you're like me you've seen enough turkey hunts on television to last you a lifetime. They are hunted in virtually every state and every type of terrain but it all boils down to the same scenario. The hunter calls, the gobbler answers, struts in to the hunter and goes to gobbler heaven after realizing his mistake too late. And if that wasn't enough, the birds are on the ground when they are shot. Aren't birds supposed to be shot while they're flying? How can that be fun?
A couple of years ago, I decided I had to find out for myself what was so magical about turkey hunting that people become addicted to it. The only way to find out for myself was to go on a hunt. I convinced my wife that this would involve some extensive research involving a few turkey hunts so I could get the real experience.
"A few hunts," she asked. "Wouldn't one do?" Using my best salesmanship skills, I told her that one hunt wouldn't suffice. I might not get the "true" experience by going on just one hunt. She fell for it and I made my plans.
That spring we set off for Nebraska where we hunt whitetails each fall. The area is overrun with turkeys and so I figured this would be a good place to start my "research."
Wouldn't you know it; the weather was terrible, cold, wet and windy. Not the kind of weather you want for hunting anything. We decided we couldn't kill any turkeys in the motel so off we went.
We got the Double Bull blind set up and my guide began to work the box call. A chill went up and down my spine as he worked his magic on the call. I was beginning to get a little excited.
Soon a flock of turkeys began to work toward us. Now I was getting antsy as they fed and came closer. Finally they were close enough for a shot.
I was using my trusty Mathews compound bow and knew that soon we would be taking some hero pictures posing with my trophy tom. The arrow went straight and I saw feathers fly, I had my bird. At least I thought I had my bird.
Actually I only knocked a few feathers off his back. Despite the narrow miss, I was as excited as if I had just had an encounter with a trophy mule deer. After a few days of hunting there, we called it quits. I had shots and misses and began to think there was more to this turkey hunting that I had originally thought.
Next we journeyed to Kansas. A friend of mine, who is a game warden, lives there and he said that surely I could find some misguided turkey that was suicidal and might fall on one of my arrows. (I think the word must have gotten out about my misses in Nebraska.) My friend volunteered to be my guide and since he knew how to make the lovesick call of a hen turkey that was good enough for me.
We got set up in an area he said held a flock of turkeys. Soon after some persistent calling a flock appeared off in the distance heading our way. They approached the decoy but were reluctant to close the distance.
It was a longer shot than I wanted but I knew I could make it. The bow was back and the arrow was on its way - into the dirt. Another miss. But that wasn't the only miss of the day; I managed to do it again later that day.
The next morning found us set up in another blind and my friend worked his call. Suddenly a turkey head appeared a mere three yards from the blind. He had come in behind us silently and we hadn't seen him until he was on top of us.
The beard wasn't very long but I figured it was good enough for me and I released an arrow. Finally my luck changed. I had bagged a turkey! I was pumped with massive doses of adrenaline.
I hurried to my fallen trophy and was surprised to see that it was a bearded hen. My friend assured me bearded hens were legal game and relieved my anxiety about breaking a law in the presence of a game warden. In fact, he told me about ten percent of the turkeys in his area were bearded hens.
Well, the fire was lit; I was into this turkey hunting thing. I had succumbed to turkey fever. I knew I had started something that medicine couldn't cure. Since that spring I have hunted turkeys several times and have taken six turkeys with my bow.
My wife, Shelby, has even tried it and, of course, she has taken the biggest turkey killed by the Keefer clan. She shot one with a 10 5/8 inch beard. Spring has taken on a new meaning for me and offers some hunting in a period when I usually would be sitting in the house thinking about hunting in the fall.
I could go on about my other experiences hunting these feathered rascals, but I have to get back to my television, there's a turkey hunting show coming on and I don't want to miss it. See you in the woods.
Recipe of the Week
Here's one of my favorite turkey recipes shared by Roy Keefer's wife and hunting partner, Shelby. She is also an avid and accomplished world-class hunter, which I'm sure you'll be hearing more about.
This one would be equally welcomed at home, with candlelight, or in camp fresh from the Dutch Oven.
Shelby's Wild Turkey, Turkey
3 lbs. turkey slices; flour; 4 tbs. butter; 2 tbs. oil; 1/3 cup Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey; 1 pound morel mushrooms, cleaned and sliced; 4 cups heavy cream; 1 large egg yolk; 1 tsp. thyme; 1 tsp. tarragon; salt; black pepper; lemon juice to taste.
Dredge turkey in flour and brown lightly in butter and oil. Add bourbon and cook until almost evaporated, turning turkey occasionally. Add morels, lemon juice, cream and spices; cook, uncovered, until turkey is done. Boil down the sauce by half, and thicken by folding in egg yolk. Simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes; pour over turkey and serve with rice, and your favorite vegetable.
Updates
• If you enjoyed Roy's story, be assured I'll ask him to share others. He has hunted in 14 states and five provinces of Canada, as well as Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. He also has trophy animals listed in both the Pope & Young archery record book, and the Boon & Crocket rifle record book of big game.
A freelance writer, his articles have appeared in Bow Hunter Magazine, Black Powder Hunting, Safari Club Magazine, and many others. He has also been featured on many outdoor television shows. I'm proud to call him my friend and am sure you'll enjoy his contribution to this column.
• A hunting/firearms safety course will be held soon in Pahrump by certified instructor, Walt Rubio. For more information, give him a call at 537-0448.
With a new shotgun and turkey loads, I was ready.
I'm not sure what happened. There were turkey in the area but my practiced hen calls must have been saying, "go away," or worse. I never saw a turkey.
My next move was to ask my friend Roy Keefer how he got started and became so proficient at the sport.
What follows is his answer:
'Turkey Fever'
If you're like me you've seen enough turkey hunts on television to last you a lifetime. They are hunted in virtually every state and every type of terrain but it all boils down to the same scenario. The hunter calls, the gobbler answers, struts in to the hunter and goes to gobbler heaven after realizing his mistake too late. And if that wasn't enough, the birds are on the ground when they are shot. Aren't birds supposed to be shot while they're flying? How can that be fun?
A couple of years ago, I decided I had to find out for myself what was so magical about turkey hunting that people become addicted to it. The only way to find out for myself was to go on a hunt. I convinced my wife that this would involve some extensive research involving a few turkey hunts so I could get the real experience.
"A few hunts," she asked. "Wouldn't one do?" Using my best salesmanship skills, I told her that one hunt wouldn't suffice. I might not get the "true" experience by going on just one hunt. She fell for it and I made my plans.
That spring we set off for Nebraska where we hunt whitetails each fall. The area is overrun with turkeys and so I figured this would be a good place to start my "research."
Wouldn't you know it; the weather was terrible, cold, wet and windy. Not the kind of weather you want for hunting anything. We decided we couldn't kill any turkeys in the motel so off we went.
We got the Double Bull blind set up and my guide began to work the box call. A chill went up and down my spine as he worked his magic on the call. I was beginning to get a little excited.
Soon a flock of turkeys began to work toward us. Now I was getting antsy as they fed and came closer. Finally they were close enough for a shot.
I was using my trusty Mathews compound bow and knew that soon we would be taking some hero pictures posing with my trophy tom. The arrow went straight and I saw feathers fly, I had my bird. At least I thought I had my bird.
Actually I only knocked a few feathers off his back. Despite the narrow miss, I was as excited as if I had just had an encounter with a trophy mule deer. After a few days of hunting there, we called it quits. I had shots and misses and began to think there was more to this turkey hunting that I had originally thought.
Next we journeyed to Kansas. A friend of mine, who is a game warden, lives there and he said that surely I could find some misguided turkey that was suicidal and might fall on one of my arrows. (I think the word must have gotten out about my misses in Nebraska.) My friend volunteered to be my guide and since he knew how to make the lovesick call of a hen turkey that was good enough for me.
We got set up in an area he said held a flock of turkeys. Soon after some persistent calling a flock appeared off in the distance heading our way. They approached the decoy but were reluctant to close the distance.
It was a longer shot than I wanted but I knew I could make it. The bow was back and the arrow was on its way - into the dirt. Another miss. But that wasn't the only miss of the day; I managed to do it again later that day.
The next morning found us set up in another blind and my friend worked his call. Suddenly a turkey head appeared a mere three yards from the blind. He had come in behind us silently and we hadn't seen him until he was on top of us.
The beard wasn't very long but I figured it was good enough for me and I released an arrow. Finally my luck changed. I had bagged a turkey! I was pumped with massive doses of adrenaline.
I hurried to my fallen trophy and was surprised to see that it was a bearded hen. My friend assured me bearded hens were legal game and relieved my anxiety about breaking a law in the presence of a game warden. In fact, he told me about ten percent of the turkeys in his area were bearded hens.
Well, the fire was lit; I was into this turkey hunting thing. I had succumbed to turkey fever. I knew I had started something that medicine couldn't cure. Since that spring I have hunted turkeys several times and have taken six turkeys with my bow.
My wife, Shelby, has even tried it and, of course, she has taken the biggest turkey killed by the Keefer clan. She shot one with a 10 5/8 inch beard. Spring has taken on a new meaning for me and offers some hunting in a period when I usually would be sitting in the house thinking about hunting in the fall.
I could go on about my other experiences hunting these feathered rascals, but I have to get back to my television, there's a turkey hunting show coming on and I don't want to miss it. See you in the woods.
Recipe of the Week
Here's one of my favorite turkey recipes shared by Roy Keefer's wife and hunting partner, Shelby. She is also an avid and accomplished world-class hunter, which I'm sure you'll be hearing more about.
This one would be equally welcomed at home, with candlelight, or in camp fresh from the Dutch Oven.
Shelby's Wild Turkey, Turkey
3 lbs. turkey slices; flour; 4 tbs. butter; 2 tbs. oil; 1/3 cup Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey; 1 pound morel mushrooms, cleaned and sliced; 4 cups heavy cream; 1 large egg yolk; 1 tsp. thyme; 1 tsp. tarragon; salt; black pepper; lemon juice to taste.
Dredge turkey in flour and brown lightly in butter and oil. Add bourbon and cook until almost evaporated, turning turkey occasionally. Add morels, lemon juice, cream and spices; cook, uncovered, until turkey is done. Boil down the sauce by half, and thicken by folding in egg yolk. Simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes; pour over turkey and serve with rice, and your favorite vegetable.
Updates
• If you enjoyed Roy's story, be assured I'll ask him to share others. He has hunted in 14 states and five provinces of Canada, as well as Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. He also has trophy animals listed in both the Pope & Young archery record book, and the Boon & Crocket rifle record book of big game.
A freelance writer, his articles have appeared in Bow Hunter Magazine, Black Powder Hunting, Safari Club Magazine, and many others. He has also been featured on many outdoor television shows. I'm proud to call him my friend and am sure you'll enjoy his contribution to this column.
• A hunting/firearms safety course will be held soon in Pahrump by certified instructor, Walt Rubio. For more information, give him a call at 537-0448.