Dont ignore late season hunting
While the earlier spring hunting seasons are the most attractive to turkey hunters, the later time slots can offer excellent hunting opportunities for the experienced hunter. Keep these tactics in mind during May's last call for action.
- Gobblers are moving over wider areas in mid-May as there are still mating chores to be done. Calling should be louder and more frequent.
- Avoid bottomlands that are now grown up with grass and weeds that allow birds to move about undetected. Instead, stick to the edges of woods where nearby crop fields or pastures offer good visibility.
- Expect shots to be a bit longer than usual as opportunities drop off somewhat. Pattern that shotgun and measure distances.
- Loosen up on bragging rights. That Jake you passed up during Period A might not have a foot-long beard, but it beats an empty pot.
- Lastly, the melodic crooning of a thousand songbirds are most prolific at early light, the trees are flush with bright green foliage and wildflowers wave smartly among the thick grasses all across the stunningly beautiful Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. It's all about being outdoors, enjoying the land, breathing in the fresh air - and, yes, feeling the anticipation of a king-sized gobbler storming in, just beyond your gun sights.
A pair of strong binoculars aid in the pursuit of the madcap activities going on all across the marsh. A great blue heron swoops down to vacuum up frogs and other water borne critters in the pond, and several sandhill cranes threaten to wake the dead as their throaty trilling echoes across the lowland habitat.
Friday, March 19, marks the first noted occurrence of a large gobbler going into full strut amongst a flock of wild turkeys on the southeast slope. The dazzling display of domination over his entourage brings to life thoughts of the upcoming spring turkey hunt.
Others report similar springtime action. Steve Grinder of Mt. Horeb recently observed four gobblers all vying for the attention of one hen. Either an elimination tournament bracket to be set up - or that young hen is going to be one busy girl.
The wild critters aren't the only ones to join the frenzy, however. License outlets were hopping with activity Monday as flocks of anxious turkey hunters waited at the door to get a jump on left over permits for Periods C-F in Zone One (Green, Grant, Lafayette, Iowa counties and points north).
Just less than 150,000 hunters had already received notice of winning an opportunity to purchase one of the approximate 226,000 tags available through the state's lottery system.
Only a handful of permits were left for the highly prized Period C beginning on April 28. Louie Lancaster, Argyle, sported a wide grin after capturing one of the last tags available for that time period.
Louie and his wife Carol, both recently retired, will take to the woods this spring.
"She doesn't want to shoot anything; she just likes to call them in," Louie explained.
An avid turkey hunter since the first-ever Wisconsin season, Louie now takes the term couch potato to new levels as he sits comfortably in a camouflaged easy chair placed strategically under an oak tree on his property south of Argyle.
Another eager hunter is Carlo Pasquino, who moved to the Blanchardville area recently from New York. As a first time turkey hunter, he was anxious to study up on the lore of the hunt and, if lucky, harvest a bird. He sought advice from Whitetail Valley Sports owner Rick Hendrickson on Monday.
In addition to setting him up with the necessary equipment, regulations and license, Hendrickson will serve as a guide on his first hunt. "I'm glad to do it," Hendrickson said. "I'd do it for anybody going out the first time."
There are still permits available over-the-counter in some zones, including 1,644 for Period D; 9,131 for Period E and 11,237 Period F in Zone One. Left over permits cost $10 for Wisconsin residents and can be purchased beginning Saturday. The spring turkey season opens April 14.
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
