Book
PR Book Release: ReaperCide- Fatalism Defined by Mike Joyner
Joyner Outdoor Media Proudly Announces the Book Release of ReaperCide- Fatalism Defined by Mike Joyner
Cortland, NEW YORK – Joyner Outdoor Media announces the Joyner Outdoor Media Proudly Announces the Book Release of ReaperCide- Fatalism Defined by Mike Joyner
The author’s latest book release dives straight in, headlong into the discussion of the controversial subject of reaping, fanning, and stalking wild turkeys. The author makes a sound and well-reasoned case against the methods that are currently banned in eight states during spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons. It is currently available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle.
Publisher’s Summary – It is a grand experience roosting a gobbler, having an ideal setup, calling him in strutting, and outsmarting the bird for one last time. There are folks that promote fanning and reaping to be just as alluring as the old ways.
ReaperCide, Fatalism Defined- focuses on the discussion of common sense hunting safety, covering the shooter’s responsibility, the compromised actions of those who use these methods, and the plausibility of mistaken-for-game incidents. A case is made for not standing in line for a Darwin Award participation trophy.
When it comes to hunting safety, we do not apologize. Hunting methods and personal ethics may vary among us, but it is reasonable to assert common ground in these matters. We have a legal, and moral obligation to ourselves and our fellow hunters to return home safe from a grand day afield in the turkey woods.
Hardcover, paperback books, and Kindle – available now on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTQH91XT
Joyner can be made available for media requests by emailing: info@joynerourdoormedia.com
For further information on the author: www.mikejoyner.com
-MJ
© 2024 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
BOOK PROJECTS- 2024 UPDATE
Book Project Update-The following two projects have been long-term works in progress and very different efforts than the storybooks that I write one chapter at a time, at random throughout the years. Some just appear to be at random as a eureka moments once enough material is collected, and put aside to publish without any particular schedule. As these two large projects require large swaths of time to keep it all straight, with far too many moving parts, it is a much slower workflow.
D.D. Adams- Evolutionary Turkey Call Pioneer, a long-awaited title. scheduled to be released this past summer had been pushed back after a snafu in source material permissions. Regrouped on pictures and may have to do one more photo shoot to fill a few gaps. Expect editing and finishing chapters through the winter. Aside from proof reading there will be a period of review for any gaps.
Empire State Limb Hangers– New York Wild Turkey Records, another long-awaited title, is on track for this year. Weekly progress on this. The entire database has been gone through and grown the records two fold. The project expanded dramatically. All data is up to date and locked down as of July 2023. All but a last push on interviews and finalizing each story included in the book. Those that have responded with interest of inclusion will be interviewed.
Books Scheduled For Release:
ReaperCide, Fatalism Defined– tackles a controversial topic and includes musings collected for some time. Will be released 2/13/24. This was a formatting effort as it is a collection of commentary over the past decade. Much like the Random Musings series and a few other titles that will spring up unscheduled, it is mostly consolidating prior musings with a little polish and organizing.
Books in print:
Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter 1.2 version, available online at Amazon and other online book store in paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. Hills Of Truxton
Tales from the Turkey Woods: Mornings of My Better Days 1.2 version, available online at Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. Tales From The Turkey Woods
Grand Days in the Turkey Woods is available online at Amazon and other online book stores in Hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. Grand Days In The Turkey Woods Hardcovers w/dustjacket can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Days-Turkey-Woods-Joyner/dp/1495125475
Ten To Life- Delirium Tales Of A Covid-19 Survivor is available online at Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B3LP45XD/
A Walk In The Turkey Woods- Wandering Thoughts and Revelations, is available online at Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle format. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW36MGN9
An audiobook is currently in production with a 2024 release anticipated.
Random Musings- Of The Left Hemisphere, is available online at Amazon and other online book stores in Hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. https://www.amazon.com/Random-Musings-Left-Hemisphere-Joyner-ebook/dp/B0C2WMQNHH
Random² Musings:-A Left Hemisphere Continuum, is available online at Amazon and other online book stores in Hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle format. https://www.amazon.com/Random%C2%B2-Musings-Left-Hemisphere-Continuum-ebook/dp/B0CK4WH86B
Personal Hunting Journals Collection. nine journals total in the collection, and tailored to your favored seasons. All journals are available for $7.59 on Amazon
For a consolidated set of links to purchase on Amazon, click on: https://www.joyneroutdoorme dia.com/journals_promo.html.
Future Projects:
Tales from The Roost, Roost ‘n Time Tales– Another turkey hunting stories book is likely to come out in the late summer of 2024 and depends on a number of things being completed prior to coming together. I rough draft stories each season, so it is not absolute in the schedule. As a fourth storybook, it may be one of the last of those efforts. The seasons and memories have been so inspirational which continues to drive these titles.
Random3 Musings:-A Left Hemisphere Continuum, last installment of random social media commentary, mostly conservative view points, some humor, and of course hunting themed commentary.
Old Turkey Tree, Stories From The Turkey Woods– will be a collection of my favorites from each storybook title and a full-color edition will be offered in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and kindle. That will come sometime after Roost ‘n Time Tales is published.
A wild turkey cookbook is a slow cooker, a work in progress, a joint project with Lee Joyner and will come out whenever I get to road-testing my hazardous culinary skills. If I survive that experiment, it will happen…
There are more slow-rolling book projects that pique my interest in pursuing, and I add bits and pieces to each project folder as they fit or strike me to capture at the moment. There are a few novel project ideas if I ever get to it.
Websites: A redesign of the Joyner Outdoor Media website is active, integrating all the published book websites, lists current projects and future projects (mostly novels) in planning stages. the home base at turkey-talk.com is up and running, and will solicit advertising to make the indulgence self-sufficient when that final section is done.
-MJ
© 2024 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
A New Collection of Outdoor Journals
The initial collection is live and available on Amazon. The collection may grow based on demand. A nicely sized day journal for the Hunter or Huntress who desires to record each day afield. grouped as a details page, two lined notes pages, and a blank page to draw, doodle, or affix a photograph. there are thirty sets to cover your season afield or possibly several seasons depending on whether a daily participant, or a weekend warrior.
Recommended to be carried in a waterproof pouch. A fantastic tool for organizing your capture of a grand day in the outdoors!
In capturing your daily excursions in the great outdoors, there is no set rule, just write down what are your unique observations of your surroundings, and the events of your time there while afield.
Nine journals total in the collection, and tailored to your favored seasons. All journals are available for $7.59 on Amazon
The following are direct links
Turkey Woods Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/twj.html
Turkey Doggin’ Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/tdj.html
Whitetail Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/wtj.html
Elk Hunter Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/ehj.html
Upland Game Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/ugj.html
Fishing Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/fj.html
Waterfowler’s Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/wfj.html
Predator Hunter Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/phj.html
Trapper’s Journal https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/tj.html
For a consolidated set of links to purchase on Amazon, click on: https://www.joyneroutdoorme dia.com/journals_promo.html.
Turkey Hunter Privacy Primer
While working through hunter stories and interviews in both book projects (D.D. Adams, Empire Limb Hangers,) I comb through the details, mindful of what is useful in telling the stories, story of the hunt vs what might be a privacy issue or reveal too much information. What I hope to convey is some useful tips that you may find helpful.
Privacy issues arise from those looking to move in on our honey holes, either to thwart future hunting efforts or those underway in current season. It may be of those wanting in on great hunting or a big gobbler on your hunting grounds they found out about, the lesser human traits of jealousy, or just a rotten SOB. Over the years I’ve learned of or experienced more than a few instances of it. Other issues come by way of hunter harassment by non hunters or anti-hunters and being deluged with aggressive online marketing that looks at every detail you might disclose or mouse click you make.
Just as we track movements and location of deer and turkey for example, we are also tracked by others in our movements and locations where suspected trophy pursuits take place. There are several tactics we can employ to mitigate this.
Total data blackout- No Disclosure, No Online Postings, Only what is legally required for tagging. Cell Phone only powered on during an emergency.
Diversionary Actions, as executed by astute fishermen- GPS coordinates freely published as decoy coordinates with no discernable displacement or pattern. Post pictures with replaced backgrounds or pics taken on vacation where you never fish or hunt. Take lots of suitable pics in parks, public lands. Ever take a hero pic on your buddies hunting spot to mess with them? Yep, the concept works. I know of hunters that leave at all different times in the morning or get picked up at different times to throw off those following or trying to pin point their hunting spots. Far too competitive in my opinion. Social media is ideal for setting out your logistical decoys.
One thing that many of us do is share their pics of the hunt. It is immediate and is all kinds of fun for story telling and smack talk. However, what some may not know is that a bulk of shared pics are taken with modern smart phones and very convenient. Unless you are diligent in your settings or understand metadata, EXIF exchange data, you are literally providing time , date, GPS coordinates, and all photo exposure settings. Game wardens know this, law enforcement, and your jealous followers may also know this. You can turn off location data on your phone for each photo app you may have, photo files can be stripped of the data on your laptop or desktop computer. Some social media platforms also strip the data. I routinely strip/delete the EXIF GPS data in my projects as I assume that nobody wants that disclosed without an intended purpose. Personally, disclosing a county or plus and minus a thousand acres on state game lands is accurate enough, although I might mix the names up 🙂
Although this reveal can be alarming if you hadn’t given any thought to it, it is an admission that for all the conveniences of modern communication that are beneficial there is some privacy that is directly given up for it, or eventually in the form of big data that is used to decern patterns and activities. It has been in recent years a useful tool in catching poachers, as law enforcement can use cell tower data to triangulate a particular cell phone, and it is even easier to narrow the investigation when in remote areas, during evening hours, and less activity.
What I have found common in the stories that I have captured in the Empire Limb Hangers project, is most successful hunters are careful in their movements and their disclosure of them. I hope this gives each of you pause to think of what you intend to share and what you hadn’t realized that you do.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Big Updates – NY Wild Turkey Records
Big Updates – NY Wild Turkey Records
2023 is a big year for changes in wild turkey records in the Empire State. While doing the annual due diligence review of records and finishing prep work for the upcoming book “Empire Limb Hangers, New York Wild Turkey Records 1st Edition” It is full of changes in the top echelons of several categories. The Typical score category saw a shake-up of the top five with the new spring season in Suffolk County. A new #4 record lasted an entire week before a new #1 record came along, pushing it back to #5. The significance is the impact of unseating records that have been held for twenty-four years, past the glory days of the mid-1990s and early 2000s
A current database of 1287 records suggests that there are many opportunities yet to find, confirm, and capture more record book gobblers in the great Empire State. Please review the links and advise of any corrections, and or new entries you may want to submit.
https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyrec.html https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyntrec.html
https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyiilrec.html
I will take a break from this to review hunter interviews for the book and to finish writing and retaking some photos for the D.D. Adams book which is next in the que. The turkey talk website is slowly being populated with all but a few sections to finish, the records section is now up and published with current data. The records section features top records, and links to the NWTF to help with registering your birds with them as the longest and consistent record system out there. There is a full introduction to an alternated view of the data in SBP Records with a spur-centric emphasis.
We strongly encourage you to support the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and TFT (Turkeys For Tomorrow) and to record your gobblers with the NWTF records system. The SBP system is a fun exercise and good for some smack talk at hunting camp. You can also submit your record directly.
Submissions submitted directly are accepted and approved as long as measuring conditions are met, can be verified, the hunt conducted legally and in keeping with fair chase. See measuring instructions at SBP Measure For the latest SBP Submission form: SBP Submission Form email completed forms or if you have any questions at: sbprecords@wildturkeyrecords.com We do not charge a fee for any method of submission. There is no membership offered or required. We do recommend that you donate to and support the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and or TFT (Turkeys For Tomorrow) as members or direct donations that benefit habitat work, research and legislative efforts concerning wildlife initiatives, conservation, and hunter issues.
Existing/New NWTF records are recognized as vetted and reviewed. When submitting your New York gobbler entry to the NWTF you may also email us at: sbprecords@wildturkeyrecords.com and let us know it has been submitted. It is important to note that the SBP Records is simply an alternate view of balanced data for those that wish to look at a spur centric view in evaluating older gobblers. The NWTF records formula has been providing a foundation for those balanced views for nearly fifty years.
For more information on the NWTF records system go to: NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) For the latest NWTF Submission Form: NWTF Record Submission Form
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Long Island Delivers a New Top Wild Turkey Record
With the inaugural fully open spring season this past May in Suffolk County, it was predicted by many of us in the turkey hunting community that gobblers tagged in Suffolk County would likely rachet the record books upward. It has not only moved the high water mark upward but delivered a new #1 Typical Score on May 10th. This follows another gobbler in the top five from this season- https://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2694
A fall season had been in place in Suffolk since 2009, along with a spring youth hunt that began in 2011. After much deliberation and observations of plentiful and healthy flocks on Long Island, the go-ahead for an open spring season hunt was green-lighted this past May. With hunting fall gobblers a more difficult endeavor in the fall season, having an open season in the spring was expected to yield even more impressive gobblers. It is a shift of preferences from fall to spring from over a century ago when fall season was the traditional season.
Christopher Tellone, a resident of Long Island, took his first ever wild turkey gobbler this spring and without question, a wild turkey gobbler of a lifetime. It may be his first turkey, but Christopher is no spring chicken in the woods or new to hunting. As a lifelong deer hunter, he employed many of his woodsmanship skills to help him bag the new top typical score gobbler in the Empire State. Chris, now known to his friends as “Long Spur,” tells the story of getting onto a flock of birds that morning with several gobblers courting hens. Although he is new to calling turkeys, he knew that the hens were not swayed by his calling and the gobblers were not leaving the hens they courted. After giving it ample time for the flock to come his way, he backed out to head to his truck. He spotted the flock several hundred yards in a field. Surmising where they would end up, he patiently made his way to position himself to where they would eventually cross. As the hens left the gobblers an hour later to head back to the woods, they crossed in front, and the gobblers would follow. Choosing the largest gobbler that lead the bachelor group, Chris made good on his shot.
Chris’s bird scoring 84.0000 NWTF-Score surpasses the previous record held for 24 years for the number one typical category taken by Robert Miller Jr. in 1999, with an 82.1600 NWTF-Score. The gobbler was weighed on a certified commercial scale and properly measured in accordance with NWTF guidelines. The gobbler weighed in at 28lbs, sporting 1.75” spurs on each leg, and swung a 10.5” beard.
The gobbler, currently recorded by the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation,) also shows the bird to rank #3 in the state for spurs, and #4 for weight.
Using the SBP method of scoring, the gobbler scores 182.0000 taking over the #2 ranking in New York.
NWTF Typical calculation = (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beard x2)
SBP Typical calculation = (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beard x4)
Congratulations on an impressive first gobbler and a new record!
https://your.nwtf.org/members/records/
https://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Pending #4 Typical Record NY Gobbler
After a recent query on social media several days ago, a pending new record book gobbler has been identified and it’s been suggested by many, including myself that with the inaugural spring season on Long Island this past May, that record book gobblers would likely come from there. The gobbler was hunted by Butch Janke from Long Island, in Suffolk County on public grounds on May 6th.
Butch’s gobbler weighed in at 26lbs even, on a state-certified scale, sporting 1-11/16” and 1-1/2” spurs, and a 10-3/8” beard, making the gobbler a record book entry for the typical category. The bird preliminary scores are as follows:
NWTF Typical 81.2500 (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beard x2)
SBP Typical 177.7500 (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beard x4)
Butch’s gobbler will be entered into the NWTF records once witnesses confirm. Two member witnesses are required as weight is over 22 lbs, and spurs are longer than 1-1/2″.
Preliminary stats, once finalized, the gobbler will be the fourth highest-scoring typical gobbler in New York State. Spurs will also tie with ten others recorded in the third-longest spur length in the empire state. Additionally, the gobbler ranks fifth in the SBP system calculation.
For others looking to record their gobbler, it is a good opportunity to point out that he used a certified weight scale, and took plenty of pictures in keeping with NWTF guidelines and those republished and supported by turkey-talk.com, Joyner Outdoor Media, and the Empire State Limb Hangers book project. Butch has agreed to participate in the book project, and I look forward to the interview and learning his story of the hunt firsthand.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
14 hours ETA for the last 2023 NY Turkey hunt
With one morning left, the fat lady is suiting up for the final curtain call. Whatever you have in your back pocket for the end of the 31-day wars may be, It’s go time for any last efforts.
What you have observed during the past 30 days comes down to any clues you have from the past week. In any late season advice, and one that I have adopted; I will generally play it old school. We do want to send the fat lady packing before show time. With exceptions noted, late season is about conservative tactics, having very recent sightings, and locations of birds willing to talk or at least show themselves.
It’s been a hard season in many areas, and the ocassional stories of hot action are what give us turkey chasers hope when the local action is non esixtent. Seeing far too many hens out at 6-7 a.m. and that would mean a second nesting is starting to take place or they haven’t been bred yet. Opinions will vary. As learned over many seasons, if you get within a gobbler’s comfort zone, his “bubble” you can get a welcomed response.
It has been a quiet season here in Cortland, and many hunters get antsy and move often, when a little patience would make for less wary birds. If you follow my musings you know I like my gobblers without an advanced education. If I can locate the dumbest gobbler in the county, I am all over it. The blessings of a kamikaze bird is a stroke of luck we seldom get to enjoy. With the reduced populations such encounters remain even more rare.
I’ll repeat most of this advice from prior posts- Confidence calling, feeding purrs, whips and whistles, light clucks, and very soft yelping if any. If you get a gobble in response to your calling, get ready as they may not gobble again and come in silent. It is good advice to assume a silent approach. Late season encounters often conclude in minutes not hours.
Woodsmanship also and assumed, plays a big roll in late season success, the scouting you did last June may yield the clue that puts you in close to where bachelor groups hang. When chasing hens no longer overrides their need to eat and replenish their fat reserves you’ll find them at likely food sources. All the scouting you did in March and April gives you a database of choice roosting trees, dusting bowls, and strutting areas. Most of the seasoned hunters I know actively scout as they hunt through May. Weeks old Intel has limited use as they are either moving to find receptive hens or hanging with other gobblers. If you can sight a gobbler going to roost you have a crucial clue for the morning. I normally would say listen for gobbling on the evening roost. Although others report some roosting success, I have experienced none of that in far too many seasons. I learned to roost birds decades ago,and still do.
Turkeys have been chased for four weeks and any mistake you make tomorrow will in most cases result in an unfilled tag. Attention to anything you wear or carry that makes an unnatural sound, the way you walk through the woods, calling too loudly, snapping twigs underfoot, are all under the scrutiny of a very wary birds.
Should you get a bird to gobble it should be noted that what you thought was two hundred yards in the woods three weeks ago is well under a hundred yards and closing. They often won’t gobble until very close, nearly in range the last week of the season, and if you aren’t focused and ready. You can add some BBQ sauce to your tag.
Hunt all the way to your spot, and all the way back to the truck, the entire hunt can turn around in seconds and the action can be fast and furious. Stay sharp, safe, and alert.
I may get out for a few hours before work, but I can’t say I’m pushing for more than watching another sunrise in the turkeywoods and with any luck have a conversation with my favorite game bird.
Best of luck the final morning of the season.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
I am starkly reminded
Today, I am starkly reminded of my blessings in this life once again while roaming in the great forest of the turkey woods.
Lee, my wife of nearly 23 years, had spotted a large spring flock of two dozen+ turkeys in a field just off our property an hour before roosting time last evening. The flock would head up into our place to fly up for the night. This was particularly good news as it has been some time seeing what used to be an expected scouting event each season not so long ago. I was working late, and it is our practice to always be looking for helpful clues for each other as we do hunt separately as well as a team, especially on opening days.
Lee would not be able to head out in the morning, and I could give it a few hours before heading into my office. Although I knew I would be within 150-200 yards of the known roosting trees on our place, I would not gain the slightest clue from the flock. No gobbling, no tree talk, no wing beats from fly-downs. For my efforts to get in long before daylight, I saw one hen glide out over a field and sail a half a mile down the hill. I was amazed at all this as it was a beautiful morning, the air was still, and as the turkeys were, the smaller creatures were also silent in their presence. Could not buy a gobble and had no idea where they went. Just the same, I was far more grateful for being there to witness the morning unfold in all its splendor.
Given this generous serving of solitude in the turkey woods, I had a lion’s share of these few hours before work to ponder and take it all in. 19 months earlier I had been in a coma, intubated, clinging to life by a thread, and given far less than Vegas odds to ever pull through. I had not forgotten being reduced to the bodily functions of a toddler which is an instant shot of humility. 61 years old at the time, it is a shock to the system and one’s psyche.
The weeks it took in recovery to even stand, much less walk, all the while tethered to an oxygen tank. There was no fall turkey season for me that year. I progressed enough to sit in a blind for deer season, eighty yards from our home the woods. Near the end of deer season, I could manage an ATV ride. Long walks were still far too much to ask for at the time. As one who espouses hunt all the way in and all the way back, it was a bit of a mental test to be limited this way. There were shot opportunities, but each one presented difficulty in long walks to retrieve. Not disappointed, as I was thrilled to be there. Each milestone in walking distance came with much effort, and I recall each in stark detail. Our place is in the hills of one of the seven valleys of Cortland, the northeastern leg. It is picturesque, one might claim breathtaking, and I do make that distinction. Point A to point B anywhere on our place involves a hill.
This morning in the cool, still air, of my own accord, I descended to a creek below our home and worked up the other side in the direction of my roosted quarry. Over the next three hours of the hunt, I covered a bit over a mile in hilly terrain, with no oxygen tank, in full confidence in going wherever I wanted to roam. Being given another chance at life, these moments are poignant, to be recognized how good it is to spend time in the turkey woods whether the gobblers participate in the chess match that day, or not.
In recent years and with the decline of the turkey population in our town and especially on our ranch consisting of 138 acres, I literally haven’t spring hunted our place in four seasons for a lack of sightings or any gobbling. I would check it in the fall, only to decline filling a tag on a minimal-sized flock. I recently checked my notes and surprised myself by realizing that I haven’t taken a bird off our place since 2013. Since that time, the hunts there have been an exercise of melancholy, and to see how the flocks were doing. With a large flock spotted and thought to be in play, it is exciting to hunt our own place as it was twenty-some years ago.
Forever grateful…
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Four Phases of a Turkey Hunt
-MJ
© 2023 Joyner Outdoor Media
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