New Jersey’s wild turkey hunting season just wrapped up May 28. I achieved moderate success, harvesting a 21-lb gobbler on the second day of the season back in April. After that, things went downhill – literally.

During the second (or third?) week of the New Jersey turkey hunting season, I saw some great turkey sign, and I set up in a good spot. Right after first light, a bald eagle attacked my turkey decoy, thinking it was a live bird!

As I continued hunting during the third week of the New Jersey turkey season, I hunted the morning after strong thunderstorms. I tried to drive over a land bridge, but the storms weakened the bridge! I almost slid into the creek! I backed out just in time!

During the fourth week of the New Jersey wild turkey season, turkeys were pretty hard to come by. When you can’t shoot things with your gun, use your camera. Here’s what I encountered while traversing the countryside one Saturday.

I was turkey hunting New Jersey Friday morning and used a photo-imprinted hen decoy. I set the lone decoy about 15 yards into a plowed field, and I set up on the tree line of the field’s edge. Around 5:45 AM, I saw a bald eagle flying toward me. The eagle passed over me, and I lost site of it. About 30 seconds later, the eagle swooped down and blasted my hen decoy!

I heard the sound of wings, the sound of the bird crashing into the decoy, and the sound of the inflatable decoy popping! I at first thought someone shot the decoy, until I saw the bird standing next to the deflated decoy dumbfounded. After collecting my wits, I tried to photograph the eagle with my iPhone, but all the only photo I managed to get was one of the eagle flying away.

The eagle stood next to the decoy for about 30 seconds, then flew to a nearby tree and screeched for 30 minutes.

I attached some images that show the talon marks (holes) in the decoy.

I am truly impressed with new technology used in decoy manufacturing. If that decoy fooled an eagle’s eyes, it should work very well on wild turkeys!

Here is my column from yesterday’s issue of The News Journal.

Call me paranoid, but I truly think every tick in the woods is singling me out to infect me with Lyme disease or some other hideous illness like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or tularemia.

As if the ticks I encounter while hunting aren’t enough, the mosquitoes, horse flies and chiggers only add to my torment.

With West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and who knows what else potentially lurking in the grotesque mouth parts of some of these blood- and skin-eating bugs, proper bug bite prevention is a crucial component of both warm-weather and cold-weather hunting.

To protect myself from these vampires of the woods, fields, and swamps, I first coat my hunting clothing (pants, shirt, jacket, hat, and socks) with a powerful Permethrin-based bug repellent, like Duranon.

Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that is widely used as a long-lasting insecticide, acaricide (tick and mite killer), and insect repellent. Unlike common bug repellents that are meant to be applied directly to the skin, permethrin-based repellent does not stick to skin. It is instead applied to exterior clothing where it dries and bonds to the clothing fibers. I spray my clothes outdoors and let the clothes dry overnight.

I’ve found that permethrin-based repellent is the most effective bug safeguard available, and it actually remains effective on unwashed clothing for several weeks. In case my word is not convincing enough, consider that the Department of Defense uses permethrin-based bug repellents and that several companies offer bug-repellent clothing that is manufactured with permethrin-treated fabrics.

While the permethrin treatment is effective, I take further precautions against bugs. I usually wear tall rubber boots and tuck my pants legs into them. If I anticipate long walks that necessitate wearing shorter leather hunting boots, I will tuck my pants legs into my socks and “blouse” my pants over the boots to make it that much more difficult for ticks and chiggers to crawl up my legs.

It’s improbable that ticks will be able to traverse my permethrin-coated clothes, but it is only a matter of time before mosquitoes and biting flies find unprotected skin.

As an added means of protection, I apply a DEET-based bug repellent to any exposed areas, which are typically my hands, face, ears, and neck. Rather than applying the repellent directly to my face, I spray it on my hands and manually rub it in so that I avoid contact with my eyes.

I am also careful about allowing hunting gear to touch any bug repellent until it is dry. On more than one occasion, bug repellents have eaten away finishes from eyeglasses and from binoculars and range finders that I wore around my neck.

Although bugs are more prevalent in the late spring, summer and early fall, precautions must also be taken during the winter.

Some species of ticks, for example, can be active on mild winter days, especially when temperatures exceed 40 degrees.

Congratulations to Coleby Etheron (12) who harvested this impressive 5-beard, 21-pound turkey on New Jersey’s youth day last Saturday!

Beautiful!

Thanks to my friend Rob who invited me on a New Jersey turkey hunt, I harvested this nice gobbler at 6:50 AM on Tuesday, April 27 (week A of New Jersey’s wild turkey season). The tom weighed nearly 21 pounds (20 pounds, 14 ounces) and had a 10-inch beard. One spur was an 1 1/4 inch; the other was 7/8-inch.

Rob and I actually saw this same longbeard strutting in a pasture field at the edge of a woods on Monday morning. We tried to call him in Monday, but he was already with two hens. He had no interest in our calls.

On Tuesday, we set up in the corner of the same pasture before dawn. Just before 6:00 AM, we heard some tree yelps close and some gobbles farther back in the woods. Within a few minutes, we heard some birds fly down, and we had a hen walk in front of us into the field. She pecked around for about 20 minutes, and walked away.

While Rob and I fought the urge to fall asleep, the first hen came back in front of us. We heard some other hens in the woods, and we heard a couple gobbles coming closer. Around 6:45, one hen came out of the woods to the field. Rob said that it should be only a matter of minutes before the big boy shows up. The hen was followed by another, and then a jake or bearded hen stepped out. With my attention focused on the woods in anticipation of the gobbler walking out, I didn’t have time to really focus on that third bird. It’s a good thing. Within about 30 seconds, I saw a red and blue head pop over the hill in the woods that led to the field.

I was thinking the gobbler would follow the same path as the hens and step right into the field, but he hesitated for a few seconds. I had the sites of my Remington 1187 on him, and I heard Rob say, “Shoot!” Not waiting for him to step into the field, I hammered him at about 30-35 yards at 6:50 AM. Only his head was visible over the hill and through the trees, but I knew he dropped instantly.

Rob and I sprinted from the blind, and Rob snatched the big fella up. The Remington 3-inch magnum turkey load hit true, placing a good concentration of pellets in his head and neck. He was done.

After taking some photos, I thanked Rob for the opportunity to hunt with him. He knowledge of the New Jersey eastern wild turkeys and the hunting areas was phenomenal.

Thinking I may get a full mount of this bird, a taxidermist friend helped me skin the gobbler out last night. The full skin is in my freezer, while I plan my next hunts.

I plan to hunt each week of the New Jersey season, so I will post updates.

There is no time like the present.

Now is the best time to buy your copy of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting.

First, if you order Hunting The First State through my web site (www.huntingthefirststate.com) by 11:59 PM on May 1, 2010 you can save on shipping costs. That’s right. Enter code FREEMAIL305 at checkout and receive $3.99 (the cost of shipping a single book) towards your final shipping cost.

Second, time is running out to get a copy of the first edition of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting. The second edition will be hitting the bookstores this fall, so be sure to get a first edition before it’s too late.

Remember, if ordering through www.huntingthefirststate.com, enter code FREEMAIL305 at checkout to receive $3.99 (the cost of shipping a single book) towards your final shipping cost. This offer is only good through www.huntingthefirststate.com and www.lulu.com, and the offer expires 11:59 PM on May 1, 2010.

From my recent article for The News Journal.

Hunter "Turkey Tom" Morganstern with a nice longbeard taken with a bow

Spring brings warm weather, new growth, yard work and the start of the Phillies quest for another trip to the World Series.

Spring also brings wild turkey hunting.

The increased number of Delaware turkey hunters undoubtedly means that more first-time turkey hunters are opting to hunt the large, intelligent (and tasty) birds. Before heading to the turkey woods however, it is important to practice with the shotgun, muzzleloader or bow that you will be hunting with.

For shotguns and muzzleloaders, a properly placed shot at a turkey is on the head and neck area. It is important to use a choke tube that holds the shot pattern close together at the various ranges where you will be shooting the turkeys. Specially designed choke tubes are manufactured specifically for turkey hunting, but adequate sighting-in is crucial.

Practice shooting at turkey head/neck targets (available for purchase from gun and sporting goods shops and free on the Internet) at different distances and with different shells or loads. Your shot pattern will change based upon the distance and load, so carefully check your targets to ensure there are enough pellets in the kill zone. Although frequently overlooked, be sure to take a few shots at close range. You may be surprised to see that your pellets miss the kill zone completely when shooting at close targets.

To increase your chances of success, consider enhancing your standard shotgun or muzzleloader sights by adding fiber-optic or holographic sights that enable you to draw a bead on a turkey more quickly and accurately.

If you are up for the challenge of bow hunting wild turkeys, I can’t stress enough the importance of practice. Turkeys present much smaller areas for successful shot placement when compared with the vital organ areas of large animals like deer, and their keen vision makes it extremely difficult to draw a bowstring when turkeys are in range.

When hunting turkeys with a bow, optimal shot placement is the turkey’s wing butt, hip joint, heart, neck, or head — all extremely small targets. Pinpoint accuracy is key. Many successful bow hunters use mechanical broadheads for hunting turkeys because of their accuracy and wide cutting diameters. The extra cutting diameter allows a little forgiveness for a shot that is a bit off the mark. As an alternative, consider broadhead designs with long, fixed blades that extend perpendicular from the shaft and are designed for shooting at a turkey’s neck.

Whether using a gun or bow for turkey hunting, make your practice mimic as closely as possible actual hunting conditions. Since most turkey shooting is done from a seated position, practice shooting while sitting on your rear-end and while kneeling. If you will be hunting from a blind, practice shooting from your blind at multiple distances and angles. Since sleeves, hats, gloves, masks, glasses, and other necessary turkey hunting items can affect your shooting, be sure to take some practice shots wearing your turkey hunting attire.

DEL. TURKEY HUNTING INFORMATION

DELAWARE 2010 SPRING WILD TURKEY HUNTING SEASON:

April 10, 2010 to April 30, 2010. Private land hunters may hunt all 18 days of the season. Public land permits can only be used on the property for which they are issued.

TURKEY HUNTING HOURS:

Half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.

LEGAL BIRDS AND BAG LIMIT:

Bearded birds only. Bag limit is one turkey per year.

DELAWARE TURKEY CHECKING:

All turkeys must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day the bird is killed.

DELAWARE TURKEY CHECK STATIONS:

Ommelanden Hunter Education Center, Woodland Beach Wildlife Check Station, Little Creek Wildlife Area Check Station, Williamsville Store, LP Sports Center, Wildlife Recreations, Rattle and Reel Sporting Center, Hook’ em & Cook’ em, Nanticoke Wildlife Area Headquarters

MORE INFO:

Division of Fish & Wildlife or 302-735-3600

Annual youth/non-ambulatory disabled turkey hunt set for April 3

Prior to the opening of the regular 2010 spring turkey season, youth ages 10-15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 3 on private lands statewide only.

Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older who is licensed to hunt in Delaware, and who has taken a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class. Adult companions may not possess a firearm during the hunt.

Hunters aged 13, 14 and 15 must have a valid Delaware junior hunting license and must have completed a hunter education course and a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class.

As with the regular turkey hunting season, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Bag limit is one bearded bird per year, and all birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station.

The regular spring turkey hunting season opens on Saturday, April 10 and runs through Friday, April 30.

For more information, please call Ken Reynolds, Wildlife Section, at 302-735-3600, or visit www.fw.delaware.gov

Here’s information from today’s Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control press release.

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife announces
turkey check stations for the 2010 spring season

The 2010 Delaware spring turkey hunting season opens Thursday, April 10 and runs through Friday, April 30. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Hunters are reminded that all birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station.

Prior to the regular season opener, youth ages 10-15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 3 on private lands statewide. Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older.

Check stations for 2010 will be available at the following locations:

New Castle County

Ommelanden Hunter Education Center

Route 9, River Road, just north of Federal Lane, New Castle

302-323?5333

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Kent County

Woodland Beach Wildlife Check Station

Route 9, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, just north of intersection with Route 6

302-653?4802

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Little Creek Wildlife Area Check Station

Route 9, Bayside Drive just south of the town of Little Creek

302-739?4610

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Williamsville Store

3544 Williamsville Road, at intersection of Deep Grass Lane, Houston

302-422?4455

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Sussex County

LP Sports Center

1 East Street, Spartan Plaza, Harrington

302-398?6373

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Wildlife Recreations

2722 Tharp Road, Seaford

302-629-4524

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Rattle and Reel Sporting Center

Leisure Retail Center, Longneck Road, Longneck

302-945?9525

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Hook’em & Cook’em

3 York Beach Mall, Route 1, South Bethany Beach

302-539?6243

Hours: 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Nanticoke Wildlife Area Headquarters

4871 Old Sharptown Road, Laurel

302-381?9842 or 302?650?8449, Monday – Friday

On Saturday, call number posted on office door

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

For more information, please call Ken Reynolds, Wildlife Section, at 302-735-3600, or visit www.fw.delaware.gov.