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Turkey hunting obsession grows with upcoming season opener
Steve Merlo
Bakersfield Californian
March 19, 2003
One of my favorite passions is calling springtime wild turkeys into easy shotgun range. With the season beginning in just a few weeks, I've already broken out the decoys, camouflaged clothing, calls and souped-up shells in anticipation of the event.
Every minute that passes until opening day is full of memories of past hunts for the bird that should have been our national emblem. Big, smart, wily and hard to bring into range, the bearded birds epitomize upland hunting at its best.
One hunt I remember well was several years ago near lower Cedar Creek, when Rocky Lacertoso and I set up a makeshift blind near a big gobbler's roost.
After making a series of plaintiff hen calls to attract the big Tom, we shut up and waited for nearly an hour before the bird arrived.
When it finally did, the gobbler immediately spotted our single Jake and lone hen decoy and closed in on the younger male with a fiery, wild look in its eyes. Fifteen yards away, spitting loudly, fanning its tail and showing absolute murder in its eyes, the jealous Tom sidled up to the fake Jake to drive him away from his property. Rocky promptly put the 23-pound Tom down with a load of sixes and ended the splendid hunt.
Two years ago, I talked my once-non-hunting wife Candy into tagging along on another turkey venture into the same area. After hearing several gobbles in the distance, I began a long series of calls to attract one into range. Within minutes, Candy nudged me and said, "There's one! He's sitting on that big rock."
All I could see was a big, fluffed-up, male Valley Quail 100 yards away calling from the only rock I could see. Although he wasn't a turkey, I quickly realized that she had never before set her eyes on a Tom and didn't know how big they actually were. The much-larger-than-average quail had understandably fooled her.
Five minutes later though, a gobbler called from the same direction. I yelped a couple times and the fanned-out bird appeared atop the very same rock once occupied by the quail. One can well imagine the look of surprise on Candy's face when it did, dwarfing the now tiny quail by a multiple of 25.
With sunlight beaming directly on the great bird, his red, white and blue waddled head contrasting with the golden hues of his feathers, the bird stood out like only a 22-pound gobbler can.
I called again and the bird approached our blind, but four hens soon joined the amorous male. The Tom, now torn between 'four-hens-in-the-hand' or just 'one-in-the-bushes,' as the old saying goes, decided to get greedy and go for all five. Herding and pushing the four females ahead of him like a sheep dog working a flock, the gobbler made his way into good range.
The turkey's 11-inch beard adorns my game room to this day, and I am grateful that the bird's striking pose on the rocks is probably responsible for my wife's newly-found passion for hunting.
10th National Wild Turkey Federation banquet on tap
The Bakersfield Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its 10th annual conservation banquet this at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The very popular event will feature adult beverages, a barbecue steak dinner, a giant raffle and both a live and silent auction for a wide variety of outdoor gear. Prizes include quality firearms, state-of-the-art hunting equipment and collectable wildlife artwork.
Each year, the dinner highlights the activities of the Bakersfield Chapter of the NWTF. Known as the number one chapter in the United States for its unparalleled donations and support for wild turkey propagation and gun ownership rights, the local branch has long spearheaded local and national sportsmen's concerns.
The Bakersfield Chapter, under the leadership of Madam President Terri Gievet, has received many first place national accolades and awards for its continued service towards both wildlife conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage. The annual event, one of several other "can't miss" functions like Sportsman's Night or the Tulare Basin Wetlands Association banquet, needs to be whole-heartedly supported by the outdoor fraternity.
While the event is close to a sell-out for this fun occasion, sponsor and table patron memberships, along with a few individual tickets, can still be purchased.
Contact Darrell Francis at 325-9205, Gene Krause at 589-0778 or Charles Kirk at 664-6971 for more information .
Steve Merlo
Bakersfield Californian
March 19, 2003
One of my favorite passions is calling springtime wild turkeys into easy shotgun range. With the season beginning in just a few weeks, I've already broken out the decoys, camouflaged clothing, calls and souped-up shells in anticipation of the event.
Every minute that passes until opening day is full of memories of past hunts for the bird that should have been our national emblem. Big, smart, wily and hard to bring into range, the bearded birds epitomize upland hunting at its best.
One hunt I remember well was several years ago near lower Cedar Creek, when Rocky Lacertoso and I set up a makeshift blind near a big gobbler's roost.
After making a series of plaintiff hen calls to attract the big Tom, we shut up and waited for nearly an hour before the bird arrived.
When it finally did, the gobbler immediately spotted our single Jake and lone hen decoy and closed in on the younger male with a fiery, wild look in its eyes. Fifteen yards away, spitting loudly, fanning its tail and showing absolute murder in its eyes, the jealous Tom sidled up to the fake Jake to drive him away from his property. Rocky promptly put the 23-pound Tom down with a load of sixes and ended the splendid hunt.
Two years ago, I talked my once-non-hunting wife Candy into tagging along on another turkey venture into the same area. After hearing several gobbles in the distance, I began a long series of calls to attract one into range. Within minutes, Candy nudged me and said, "There's one! He's sitting on that big rock."
All I could see was a big, fluffed-up, male Valley Quail 100 yards away calling from the only rock I could see. Although he wasn't a turkey, I quickly realized that she had never before set her eyes on a Tom and didn't know how big they actually were. The much-larger-than-average quail had understandably fooled her.
Five minutes later though, a gobbler called from the same direction. I yelped a couple times and the fanned-out bird appeared atop the very same rock once occupied by the quail. One can well imagine the look of surprise on Candy's face when it did, dwarfing the now tiny quail by a multiple of 25.
With sunlight beaming directly on the great bird, his red, white and blue waddled head contrasting with the golden hues of his feathers, the bird stood out like only a 22-pound gobbler can.
I called again and the bird approached our blind, but four hens soon joined the amorous male. The Tom, now torn between 'four-hens-in-the-hand' or just 'one-in-the-bushes,' as the old saying goes, decided to get greedy and go for all five. Herding and pushing the four females ahead of him like a sheep dog working a flock, the gobbler made his way into good range.
The turkey's 11-inch beard adorns my game room to this day, and I am grateful that the bird's striking pose on the rocks is probably responsible for my wife's newly-found passion for hunting.
10th National Wild Turkey Federation banquet on tap
The Bakersfield Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its 10th annual conservation banquet this at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The very popular event will feature adult beverages, a barbecue steak dinner, a giant raffle and both a live and silent auction for a wide variety of outdoor gear. Prizes include quality firearms, state-of-the-art hunting equipment and collectable wildlife artwork.
Each year, the dinner highlights the activities of the Bakersfield Chapter of the NWTF. Known as the number one chapter in the United States for its unparalleled donations and support for wild turkey propagation and gun ownership rights, the local branch has long spearheaded local and national sportsmen's concerns.
The Bakersfield Chapter, under the leadership of Madam President Terri Gievet, has received many first place national accolades and awards for its continued service towards both wildlife conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage. The annual event, one of several other "can't miss" functions like Sportsman's Night or the Tulare Basin Wetlands Association banquet, needs to be whole-heartedly supported by the outdoor fraternity.
While the event is close to a sell-out for this fun occasion, sponsor and table patron memberships, along with a few individual tickets, can still be purchased.
Contact Darrell Francis at 325-9205, Gene Krause at 589-0778 or Charles Kirk at 664-6971 for more information .
