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A Good Spring
Fans of the classic 1960s TV show "Batman" know that whenever the dynamic duo found themselves in hot water, there was always some gadget in their utility belts that helped them out of a bad situation. If you're a turkey hunter, your vest pretty much serves the same function, even though you are not hunting for the Joker or the Penguin—just for gobblers. Outfitted with essential hunting gear, a properly stocked turkey vest can not only help you out of some turkey-hunting dilemmas, it can also keep you safe this spring. Wade Bourne, host of "Advantage Outdoors" on the cable channel TNN, lent a few tips to Illinois turkey hunters for the upcoming season. "My philosophy is to use things that have worked before and not necessarily try different things," Bourne said. Bourne, a veteran turkey hunter with decades of experience, talked about the basic gear that he keeps in his vest: • Face mask—Bourne recommended a single-hole, form-fitting mask for most hunters. For those who have a problem with their glasses fogging up because of a mask, Bourne suggested using camouflage face paint or a head net over the glasses. • Calls—Bourne uses a wide variety of calls, including the diaphragm call, tube call, box call and friction call. He also carries a number of locator calls, such as the barred owl call, coyote call and crow call. Carrying a variety of calls ensures that the hunter will have something that will make the turkey respond.
Bourne commented further on tube calls.
"Turkeys don't hear this type of call very often. They are great in high-pressure hunting areas. "If you have trouble keeping the box call quiet in your vest, use a small square cut from a pot-scrubbing pad and a rubber band to silence the call," Bourne said. "And, don't forget the sandpaper and chalk for the friction calls." Bourne uses what he called a close-in call when the bird is within 100 yards. It's a small friction call that produces a barely audible yelp. "When turkeys are close, a subtle, quiet call will bring them nearer. A loud call will spook them or cause them to hang up," Bourne remarked.
• Gloves—Bourne cuts the thumb and forefinger off the gloves for tactile purposes. "I like to make sure I can feel the gun safety properly and find my calls quickly instead of fumbling around inside my vest," he said. • Binoculars—An important accessory for scouting areas and also for detecting turkeys at a distance without spooking them.
• Compass and map—Bourne uses a topographic map of his hunting area and a compass to plan his hunts, mark hunting spots and turkey roosting sites, and to navigate in unfamiliar territory.
• Decoys—Used to distract the turkey's eyes away from the hunter when the turkeys are coming toward the calling.
• Ammunition—Bourne noted the trend toward bigger gauge shotguns and larger 3 1/2-inch load, which he believes tempt hunters to take marginal shots at longer range and cripple birds. Bourne uses 3-inch shotgun load and prefers number 5-sized shot. "The essence of turkey hunting is the ability to call them in close and take a good shot," Bourne said. • Safety—Turkey vests should be outfitted with some type of blaze-orange safety flag and blaze-orange cover for the bird. The safety flag prevents the hunter from being mistaken for a turkey when entering the woods, and the game cover or bag allows the successful hunter to safely exit the woods with a prized gobbler. Outfit your turkey vest for success, and the next time a turkey puts you in a jam, you'll feel confident that your vest has something to outwit the wary torn turkey and get you safely out of the woods with your hard-earned bird. March 2002 15 |
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