Author: mookyj
Book Projects- Heading Into 2023 Update
Things at Joyner Outdoor Media remain busy these days, Still recovering from a near-fatal Covid experience in August/September 2021, and an emergency open surgery four weeks ago, things have changed yet again. Several long-term projects will finally be completed by this year and next spring, and a few unusual and different ones to be released in the future that will surprise you as well.
D.D. Adams- Evolutionary Turkey Call Pioneer, a long-awaited title. scheduled to be released this past summer has been pushed back. Lots of pictures in a large format book, and currently going thru thirty hours of interviews that have been transcribed. Plans are to release on Amazon and other online book stores in hard cover, paperback, kindle and something special for collectors while keeping it manageable on the wallet.
Empire State Limb Hangers– New York Wild Turkey Records, another long-awaited title, is pushed back. Still seeking those eligible to interview for the project, but a cutoff will occur once I nail down a release date. Plans are to release on Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, and paperback formats.
Books in print:
Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Hills Of Truxton
A 1.2 version is coming later this Fall in 2022 with a new cover, a few updated pictures, and the typical text corrections and small edits in the effort to follow in some semblance of the Queen’s English. A hardcover w/ dust cover will also follow in the 2.0 version, The laminated hardcover 1.0 edition is no longer available. An audiobook is being considered a 2023 release to coincide with the 2.0 update.
Tales from the Turkey Woods: Mornings of My Better Days is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Tales From The Turkey Woods
A 1.2 version is coming later this Fall in 2022 with a new cover, a few updated pictures, and the typical text corrections and small edits as with my first title. A hardcover w/ dust cover will also follow in the 2.0 version Release of 2.0 will be announced later this fall. An audiobook is being considered a 2023 release to coincide with the 2.0 update.
Grand Days in the Turkey Woods is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in paperback, and kindle format. Grand Days In The Turkey Woods Hardcovers can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Days-Turkey-Woods-Joyner/dp/1495125475 An audiobook is being considered for a 2023 release.
Ten To Life- Delirium Tales Of A Covid-19 Survivor is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, paperback, and kindle format. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B3LP45XD/ An audiobook is currently being narrated by Tim Carper and will come out later this fall.
A Walk In The Turkey Woods- Wandering Thoughts and Revelations, the brand new release on 2/27/23 is currently available online at Amazon and other online book stores in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. An audiobook is currently in production with a spring 2023 release anticipated. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW36MGN9
Future Projects:
Roost ‘n Time Tales– Another turkey hunting stories book is likely to come out in 2023 or 2024 and that depends on a number of things 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.
Old Turkey Tree– will be a collection of my favorites from each storybook title and will be offered in a hardcover, full-color edition. That will come sometime after Roost ‘n Time Tales is published.
A wild turkey cookbook is a slow cooker, a work in progress, 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 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: On top of all that, a redesign of the Joyner Outdoor Media website is planned, It will integrate all the existing published books and will introduce each new book as it is released or slated for a release date. the home base at turkey-talk.com will also be completed and will solicit advertising to make the indulgence self-sufficient.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Do We Recognize Ourselves, Our Country 21 years later, Post 9/11?
There was a 9/12 that our voter party card did not matter, white privilege did not matter, struggles of the races did not matter. We did not need diversity training, or reparations to understand in our hearts and our guts that we are Americans. This week our president in office declared half of the country in the goulish Neo Nazi period correct backdrop as extreme, violent, and a most undesirable segment of America. A self-projecting fascist, drunk in the despicable art of propaganda, in my view. It is something I never expected to see in my lifetime from the highest office in the land. In all irony of a most distasteful, insulting and unbecoming display of hyperbolic partisan politics, the use of the term MAGA, Ultra MAGA is somehow un-American. Those that have a problem with “Make America Great Again” have lost their way and for the most dishonorable intentions. Orange Man Bad has huge equity in rent-free space of the craniums of these deranged folks. MAGA would have resonated just as well on 9/12/2001.
We demonstrate daily that we can easily be pitted against each other, at will, for political aims. I submit to each of you, that we can just as easily rally for each other, and have each other’s backs as we did 21 years ago. We can demonstrate what is awesome about us, our country. In doing so, we honor those innocent victims of 9/11 and those fallen who have served us. They deserve better, we deserve better. from each other.
What was made clear to me in my near death experience last year and again last week, is that we know enough to seek forgiveness for our major offensives. What we, you and I fail to do enough of, is to seize the smaller opportunities of moments of kindness, to forgive more easily. We can impact the lives of others in the most profound ways through the accumulation of small acts of kindness. The big things are obvious and easy. It is the daily implementation of it when we are off our game, don’t feel well, or are pissed off at the news. Speaking for myself, I still have a bit of work to do there…
For those of you that are polar opposite to my conservative thoughts, I can still toast to our mutual betterment in life with us being of the same great America that we love, warts and all.
I have not forgotten:
The memories and the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect bluebird day in September.
The near-perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror-filled minutes, hours yet for others.
In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments of all those lost.
That we came together as Americans. We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.
Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.
Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.
Those who survived only succumbed to it days, months, and years later.
That we are all equal by way of our maker
This is republished each year as I find it so important to include:
On each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm
As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels, I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.
Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on random acts of kindness.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
DEC Finalizes ’22-’23 Wild Turkey Regulations
DEC Finalizes Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations for 2022-2023 seasons. The anticipated changes to open a spring season on Long Island and update shot size changes to include the #9 shot have been approved. Both are long-awaited changes. If you spend any time out on Long Island you will quickly learn they are long overdue for a spring season. One of the few areas of the state not seeing a decline. The shot size change accommodates the popular TSS formulations that are a game changer for small bore shotguns albeit expensive and overdone in traditional 10 and 12-gauge offerings. It will make a huge difference in the performance of your 20-28 gauge and 410 blunderbusses.
From the NYSDEC:
DEC Finalizes Regulations to Expand, Improve Wild Turkey Hunting
Changes Create a New Hunting Opportunity on Long Island and Modernize Hunting Regulations
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced changes to wild turkey hunting regulations that will provide hunters additional hunting opportunities. The finalized regulation establishes a spring turkey season in Suffolk County in 2023, with a season limit of one bearded bird, and makes #9 shot legal for hunting turkeys statewide during the fall and spring seasons.
“Wild turkeys are a conservation success story in New York and across the United States,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Thanks to DEC’s careful management and restoration programs and the work of our conservation partners since the 1960s, sizable populations of turkeys can now be found in every region of the state. This new regulation will increase opportunities for New York turkey hunters and supports ongoing effective management of this game bird.”
Since the 1990s, the turkey population on Long Island has grown to more than 3,000 birds. In 2009, modern turkey hunting on Long Island began with a five-day fall season and a one-bird bag limit. After DEC established this season and later a two-day, youth-only spring season, area turkey populations continued to increase. Current turkey populations support additional hunting opportunities in the form of a spring season from May 1 through 31, with a bag limit of one bearded bird.
For most turkey hunters, the new spring 2023 season will be the first spring turkey hunting opportunity on Long Island. Spring turkey hunting on Long Island will begin in May 2023 in Suffolk County, Wildlife Management Unit 1C.
In addition, following a public comment period earlier this year, DEC is modernizing statewide turkey hunting regulations by changing the minimum shot size from #8 to #9 for turkey hunting statewide. The change was necessitated by advances in shotshell technology. Previously, shot sizes smaller than #8 (larger number indicates smaller size) were prohibited because they lacked the kinetic energy downrange to humanely harvest a turkey. Modern shotshells use heavier metals such as tungsten alloy, tungsten-iron, or bismuth, maintain enough energy to humanely harvest a turkey, and perform as well or better than many traditional turkey loads. Changes to shot size restrictions apply to both fall and spring seasons and go into effect on Sept. 1, 2022.
For more information about turkey hunting, visit DEC’s website.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
A Day With the New Region 9 Director @ Walleye Mecca Destination- Dunkirk, NY
One can easily state any and all ports of access to Lake Erie as the walleye capital of the world. You would be correct, just as the counter declarations of each of your fishing partners. Rather than debate the issue, I’ll lead us into the declaration of Dunkirk as a “must experience” port of launch and a favored choice to pursue a grand fishing experience on Lake Erie. As reported in recent years by myself and the legions of the outdoor media, 2022 walleye season on Lake Erie is consistent with all the observations and claims as a “Walleye Mecca” of prior years. Yes, folks, it’s that good!
This year’s VIP Fish Day, held annually every August, would great us with the mixed clouds, moderate temperatures, and the calmest waters I have ever experienced on the great lake. This year’s event was coordinated by Jim and Diane Steel of the Innovative Outdoors team. A well-organized and super friendly event. Lots of familiar faces and many new ones. The event pairs Charter Captains with outdoor writers, local legislators, business leaders, and members of the NYSDEC Fisheries group. The group of outdoor writers present would hail from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Rhode Island and New York.
Our trip out into the harbor was inspirational for all its beauty and the lake’s calmness. We would be heading out to 60′ – 90′ depths to troll for walleyes that had been, in recent days, hanging near the bottom. Just 30 minutes into setting up the lines, we were already into fish as we started our first trolling run. Although we ran a pattern of depths, those we had out deep with dipsy divers and worm spinner jigs made it happen. The fish-catching started off with Julie landing the first walleye. We both would catch our limit for the day and release others back to the lake. To this day, in my humble opinion, walleye is one of the best fish to eat and is a welcomed treat in our home.
The fishing was fantastic, and the conversation during our trip was even better! Julie comes into her new role as Region 9 Director with an impressive resume. She is as passionate about the resource as any of us. Julie is incredibly excited about the outlook for Lake Sturgeon, which is making significant progress in the North American conservation story. Having a Director that is hands-on and very comfortable with fishing tackle is a good thing for us sportsmen. As I have, you’ll find her very approachable, friendly and knowledgeable. I would also learn that Hans is just as passionate about fishing for muskies and very involved as a board member of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association. I can tell you Hans runs an efficient setup and is directly dialed in on walleyes. I can easily envision how he takes his ‘A’ game to muskies. I found Hans to be a great boat captain and super friendly. They are genuinely great people to enjoy time out on the water with. We would discuss many topics concerning the fisheries, future development, and the current issues with proposed windmills. In a few hours on a beautiful morning, all the essential goals of the VIP event were being met on a 21′ boat. The future for Eastern Lake Erie has a bright future, in my view.
The event concluded with a great lunch at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club. As in the past, we got updates on issues concerning the lake, the latest research, and the fishery outlook.
It is a beautiful format to promote not only the great fishery and recreational opportunities of the area but also puts the significant stakeholders together in the same room, the same boat, to further the communication needed for developing the resource. The event is fully supported by the following organizations: Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Erie County Fisheries Advisory Board and the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association.
https://www3.erie.gov/environment/fisheries-advisory-board
www.easternlakeeriecharters.com
www.buffaloharboroutfitters.com
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
#Buffalo Harbor Outfitters, #Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, #Diane Steel, #Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, #Hans Mann, #Innovative Outdoors, #Jim Steel, #Julie Barrett O’Neill, #Northern Chautauqua County Conservation Club, #Warrior Boats
NY Counties Est. Wild Turkey Harvest Reports
In further examination of NY State wide harvest reports, https://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2368 we’ll look at this by the county-wide macro, all the way back before the observable peaks and what is considered by many to be the heyday of turkeys in nearly every place you might look for them. I ask that you consider this carefully from the larger view, rather than looking at widely varying micro-ecosystems. There is a list of precepts, assumptions, and points to make to take notice of and pay heed to before coming to any conclusions. In comparision to the state wide view, pay particular attention to the numbers as the lower estimated numbers appear to vary widely and can be attributed to many factors that tend to null each other out in a larger, macro scale.
Source data used:
The data from 1999 thru 2021 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links. Currently, active published links only go back to 2012.
NYSDEC data from 2006 thru 2021 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
NYSDEC data from 1999 thru 2005 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
The data from 1990 thru 1998 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links.
Precepts:
- All data used to create this is from NYSDEC published reports. All comments made here are not as a representative or authority of the NYSDEC or reviewed. Corrections, and or clarifications are sincerely welcomed to make this as accurate as feasibly possible.
- Estimation factors applied to reported harvest numbers are targeted to realistically represent poaching estimates, harvest reporting participation, and other factors identified by the NYSDEC.
- This is a sub-macro county-wide view. Anecdotally, each of us can cite absolute conclusions from our honey holes, the trash talk at the diners, conversations at the trail heads, etc. Managing the wildlife resource by region is the current method.
- Very few of us hunt more than a few counties any given season and even less are afield throughout the entire year. The extenuating factors to list by towns. public game lands, much less by individual parcels, tracts of land are too many, too varied to digest well enough to rationally get a handle of the widespread landscape of decline.
- The factors derived by the years 1999 through 2005 were averaged out by county and applied to estimate numbers for 1990 thru 1998. NYSDEC has not provided or published factors for these years. The peak factor numbers were not used in my calculations so as to not overstate the peak years. If such factoring data exists it would be much preferred
Observations:
- As the peak years are based only on derived averaged factoring, (1999-2005 Spring Season) it is a conservative estimate that the population is now roughly 20-25% of the peak population year. Some individual counties at first glance appear to be further declined. It will require correlation with license sales in those counties to validate that. What is sustainable year to year is not submitted or asserted here. It is far more complex than the harvest data thus far can suggest.
- The factoring spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 2.65 to 7.40.
- The average spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 4.06 to 5.71.
- The averaged factor among all NY counties = 4.57 (1999-2005 Spring Seasons)
- Translation- for every harvest reported. 3.57 turkeys across the Empire State were not reported or taken illegally. It is unclear as to what percentages or other contributors.
Comments:
I invite the NYDEC to comment to participate in communicating to New York Sportsmen as to what goes into the statistical modeling and factoring of yearly game harvest number estimates.
I will conclude by asking each of you to view this as trending data, not absolute. Hopefully, the folks at the NYSDEC will provide much more clarity to this and further explain the modeling and factoring that makes this a monitoring tool for the wild turkey resource we are so passionate about.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Estimated Wild Turkey Harvest Reports NY
With the ongoing concerns about the observable decline of wild turkey populations in the great Empire State, it is a timely exercise to take a look at the estimated harvest numbers. We’ll look at this by the statewide macro, all the way back before the observable peaks and what is considered by many to be the heyday of turkeys in nearly every place you might look for them. As a geeky engineer personality, I follow such statistics concerning our favored nemesis, including measurable trophy records. I ask that you consider this carefully from the macro view, as estimations rely on statistical modeling that bears true overall from large volumes of data rather than looking at widely varying micro-ecosystems. Before I dive into this further there is a list of precepts, assumptions, and points to make to take notice of and pay heed to before coming to any conclusions. The current topic of population decline is an emotional and often heated discussion full of finger-pointing and rife with blame and quick fixes. The purpose of this is to show how severe the decline is estimated to be.
Source data used:
The data from 1999 thru 2021 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links. Currently, active published links only go back to 2012.
NYSDEC data from 2006 thru 2021 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
NYSDEC data from 1999 thru 2005 is estimated harvest data.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html 2008 version published spring harvest data included both reported harvest and estimated harvest for 1999 thru 2005 no such comparison for the fall harvest is found in the search.
The data from 1990 thru 1998 is sourced from NYSDEC webpages https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html, https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30412.html Both pages are captured from previously published versions of the same links.
Precepts:
- All data used to create this is from NYSDEC published reports. All comments made here are not as a representative or authority of the NYSDEC or reviewed. Corrections, and or clarifications are sincerely welcomed to make this as accurate as feasibly possible.
- Estimation factors applied to reported harvest numbers are targeted to realistically represent poaching estimates, harvest reporting participation, and other factors identified by the NYSDEC. I would invite them to comment on what is involved in reaching estimation factors applied to each county.
- This is a macro statewide view. Anecdotally, each of us can cite absolute conclusions from our honey holes, the trash talk at the diners, conversations at the trail heads, etc. Managing the wildlife resource by region is the current method.
- Very few of us hunt more than a few counties any given season and even less are afield throughout the entire year. The extenuating factors to list by county much less by individual parcels, tracts of land are too many, too varied to digest well enough to rationally get a handle of the widespread landscape of decline. Such studies on micro ecosystems would take decades to complete and reach any consensus or actionable conclusions.
- The factors derived by the years 1999 through 2005 were averaged out by county and applied to estimate numbers for 1990 thru 1998. NYSDEC has not provided or published factors for these years. The peak factor numbers were not used in my calculations so as to not overstate the peak years. If such factoring data exists it would be much preferred
Observations:
- As the peak years are based only on derived averaged factoring, (1999-2005 Spring Season) it is a conservative estimate that the population is now roughly 20-25% of the peak population year. Some individual counties at first glance appear to be further declined. It will require correlation with license sales in those counties to validate that. What is sustainable year to year is not submitted or asserted here. It is far more complex than the harvest data thus far can suggest.
- The factoring spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 2.65 to 7.40.
- The average spread among all NY counties (1999-2005 Spring Seasons) ranges from 4.06 to 5.71.
- The averaged factor among all NY counties = 4.57 (1999-2005 Spring Seasons)
- Translation- for every harvest reported. 3.57 turkeys across the Empire State were not reported or taken illegally. It is unclear as to what percentages or other contributors.
Comments:
I invite the NYDEC to comment to participate in communicating to New York Sportsmen as to what goes into the statistical modeling and factoring of yearly game harvest number estimates. Poaching of course is already illegal, over-harvest, etc. One thing each of us can control and improve as a group is the harvest reporting participation. 90-100% is possible. I can recall from NYSDEC -NY NWTF meetings during the change over from raw harvest data reporting to estimated harvest reporting, how low the harvest reporting participation was thought to be. I am a big fan of removing as much guessing as possible to improve the statistical modeling. With the population severely declining, how well does it bode to turn a blind eye to those we know that pile up a half dozen gobblers season after season before filling the first tag? It is not the primary reason for the decline but a contributing factor and hinders the ability to accurately model population trends, or stability.
We can do better. If we are to get a handle on the low-hanging fruit of root causes causing the population to decline, we need to get past this, what we can directly, and immediately control. This is a friendly reminder that as sportsmen, we do not require a state agency to self-regulate our own actions. I won’t implore that any of you adopt my personal ethics, but I would ask each of you to give pause/reservation to squeezing the trigger at your favored stomping grounds where you now only see one or two birds whereas you use to see fifteen or twenty in the spring. In far too many locations across the state, we make that choice on what may be the last remaining turkeys, in the field, on the hill. It may be some time to see them rebound, and there are too many places on my list that I’ll check on, but I am no longer willing to fill a tag there. This includes my own property. It is a most disheartening thing.
I will conclude by asking each of you to view this as trending data, not absolute, and is in a broad view of the entire New York wild turkey population. Hopefully, the folks at the NYSDEC will provide much more clarity to this and further explain the modeling and factoring that makes this a monitoring tool for the wild turkey resource we are so passionate about.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Fanning & Reaping, Banned In Seven States
If you engage the fanning/reaping technique, you want to check up-to-date state regulations where you’ll be hunting next season. You’ll find that I repeat prior musings in part or in whole that are worthy of repeating from past reports on the method. Tennessee has now adopted a ban against Fanning on WMA’s https://www.tn.gov/twra/news/2022/6/3/fish-and-wildlife-commission-sets-hunting-and-fishing-seasons.html
Seven states have an outright ban on the practice. Nearly half of all US states either ban or strongly warn against stalking which encompasses fanning and reaping methods. The states are listed at the end of this. The NWTF and hunter safety education curriculums promote hunter safety in their published materials in all states which cautions specifically against the practice of stalking (fanning/reaping.) The list is based on the premise of what is officially published. For calling it out, it is a valid criticism of foreseeable risks.
It is understandable that proponents see it as exciting and just the thing to try for gobblers that won’t leave a field, and won’t budge off of a ridge. I won’t deny how much adrenaline is experienced, it has to be a thrilling experience as reported.
On the flip side, it is perfectly ok for the gobbler to win the skirmish.
Most of the paces I often hunt would present a risk without justification for using this method. Having said that, this does not apply in other locales where turkeys are hunted in different parts of the country. This is not a safety concern in open prairies, wide-open mature forests, and large tracts of plowed farm fields. Exceptions of wide-open terrain without rifles of course are noted.
There are recorded incidents that specifically report fanning/reaping/stalking, and it is my hope that it remains only a few. It is a grey area as the reporting is sparse and critical details are left out far too often. Many of the hunting incident reports site use of decoys, but not the manner used. I’ll make no assumption as I know of incidents where staked decoys were shot at, decoys shot at while sticking out the back of a turkey vest. Several seasons ago, a hen decoy sticking out of a turkey vest was shot with a crossbow at 8 yards. Lucky in that the errant hunter missed but struck the victim in the forearm. Trust me, it is a horrific wound.
Our hunting communities have gotten as polarized as national politics, it is disappointing, but not unexpected. I’ll not apologize for common sense, nor put respect and courtesy on the back burner in order to kill a gobbler that is giving me fits. Turkey hunting is life to a point…
As a fraternity of turkey hunters, we abide by the ideal that any and all turkey hunting incidents are 100% preventable and that one is far too many. 2022 was not a spotless record. To my knowledge, none that have been reported involve this method this season. I can assure you that I am more than fine with that idea. Zero incidents are the acceptable number in any season.
List of States, Provinces
In a review on the various DNR’s, DEC’s, DWR’s etc, the following States enacted a ban on the practice of stalking, fanning, reaping, and specifically stated in their turkey hunting regulations:
Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
South Carolina (WMA’s only), Rhode Island, Tennesse (WMA’s only)
The following States, and one Canadian Province issue a statement of caution specifically in their hunting regs and or species-specific guides against the practice of stalking as a matter of safety:
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho
Kentucky (specifically fanning/reaping), Maine, Maryland, Missouri.
New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon.
Ontario, Canada. Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
There may be more that publish separately as safe hunting tips, and hunting education courses. For my research, I used the published hunting regulations for each state or province. I will edit the list as others become known.
-MJ
© 2022
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
2022 Curtain Call NY Spring Turkey Season
Whatever grandiose plans you may have, the moment of truth has a shelf life of five hours and forty six minutes. Not that anyone is counting…
Apply what you have learned during the course of the past week, better yet with such little time to get it done, pinpointed gobbling or direct line of sight is the best tactile data. Make no mistakes,, add in a dose of good fortune and you’ll send the fat lady packing before show time. With exceptions noted, your choices will make or break the deal.
With a full green up and a depressingly suppressed population of wild turkeys, you are rolling the dice running spot to spot. If you know they are in a piece of woods, work it slowly and methodically. If you follow my musings you know I like my gobblers without an advanced education and dumb as a rock. Best advice-no short courses in hunter tactics and maneuvers.
You are appealing to social gatherings of less than forty yards for turkeys. Confidence calling, feeding purrs, whips and whistles light clucks, and very soft yelping. If one drowns out your call with a more than insistent gobble, get ready as they may not gobble again and come in silent. Late season encounters often conclude in minutes not hours. In recent years I’ve tagged three dandy gobblers with less than two hours left for the season. It can be done, stick with it. As I type this, three gobbles on the roost, and not sure which county he was gobbling from.
If you do get a hen that challenges you, match her and if she goes all in, add one more note, it either escalates quickly or whimpers out. Girlfriend mouthing off gets the boyfriend in trouble far more often than not.
Turkeys have been chased for four weeks and any mistake you make will in most cases result in a hasty exit. Attention to details on 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 subject to the scrutiny of a very wary bird. It is this scrutiny that amplifies what you can employ to your advantage. Using your fingers to imitate scratching for food in the leaves, using the brim of your hat to imitate a hen stretching her wings and scratching it on the tree bark is a far more effective call than you might first think.
Should you get a bird to gobble it should be noted that what you thought was two hundred yards 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 may miss the opportunity.
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.
Best of luck the final remaining hours of the season. Now if I can get this lady off my damn shoulder…
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
This Old Turkey Hunter Remembers
A bit of a melancholy kind of Memorial Day as we remember those fallen while engaged in battle, in service to our country. I am fortunate for those family members that have served, eventually came home to continue life onward with us, beyond service to our country. Each time my father returned home from a tour at sea I was too young to know or worry. He was our hero and assumed he always would. We are grateful that was the case.
We honor them on Veterans Day although it is today that we think of them also as they are our living heroes among us. Not to take away from the intent or deep meaning of this day of remembrance. The sacrifice of one’s life in service to us is a profound act that we honor today.
As a day of reflection I also reflect on a spring season of allowing me to get out and hunt which came perilously close to never happening again after a near fatal experience with Covid late summer last year. It is humbling to know that these heroes sacrificed their tomorrow’s of such days afield, time with family, and leaves me grateful to have had the time as I have had. Something very special after having so many memorable seasons over three decades in the turkey woods.
The turkey woods are by declaration my sanctuary, my church where I ponder my thoughts, engage in deep consolation with my maker. With the good fortune to do so this spring, I find my bearings, and return home grounded and in appreciation for so many things, and for so much that has been done for me and my fellow countrymen.
It is fitting for this old turkey hunter to reflect, to honor, and remember these fallen heroes on Memorial Day as it is not forgotten that all that I have come to love and enjoy came at a price that has been paid in full for our way of living.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Fanning Reaper Bullies
Had a few comments made to me today and like clockwork repeated each time I visit this topic of Fanning, Reaping, and Stalking. I have revised a Facebook post from some years ago-
In as much accusatory tone as one might muster, apparently, I’m elitist, that I believe I am better than other hunters, and I blast those that don’t hunt as I do or see it my way. I have been told these things directly and accused of actually being an Anti-Hunter…
Sacrilegious… Fighting words… Cash Me Outside …
Seriously, please indulge me for a few moments while I shed a tear in this profound tragedy.
Delete and block are the modern tools in social media that have replaced a black eye and a sore jaw that one got for uncivil dialog back in my youth. Back then, you got real physical feedback for engaging your mouth before putting your grey matter in first gear. I digress…
To be crystal clear, we are talking about the practice of reaping, fanning, and stalking in the rolling, high grass, heavily wooded hunting grounds. This is not a point of concern in open prairies, wide-open mature forests, and large tracts of plowed farm fields in states where rifles are not legal in turkey seasons. I state this for the peanut gallery as otherwise, the village idiot could figure this out. I have friends who do this in very open areas, where the risks of incidents are not a factor. My criticism is directed at circumstances that present undue risk and defy common sense.
I am of critical opinion of those that choose to engage in risky methods in inappropriate settings in the turkey woods, potentially at others’ expense. No apologies, none forthcoming. We are expected to speak up when one displays unsafe gun handling, and engages in methods of undue risk. Is common sense no longer common? The common-sense principles used to promote defensive driving similarly apply very well to hunting. Ask any hunting safety instructor.
Turkey hunting has its inherent risks as in any form of hunting (arguably, factually low,) but why add undue risk? I do not wear antlers on my head or a deer suit during deer season. I am confident my life insurance company would cancel my policy if they were to find out I was rolling the dice on opening day with a nice set of booners on my head. Would a judge dismiss the case should I be shot for wearing a deer costume out in the woods for the opener? I guess yes. I’ll also guess the same when you crawl across a rolling meadow with a real fan and full-color neck and head decoy mounted to your gun barrel. Is the shooter to blame, you bet, are you the reaper to blame, you bet. The most incompetent lawyer across the land would get that thrown out of court. BTW not getting shot is the point.
My take? I hit a nerve and upset my counter-opinioned hunter to the point of a triggered, uncivil response. This is all over the continual debate over Fanning, Reaping, and Stalking wild turkeys. I do not stand alone in my view, nearly half of the state DNRs, DECs have explicit language, and safety information not recommending stalking wild turkeys in any manner. Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina (WMA’s only), and Rhode Island have outright deemed it illegal to use Fanning/Reaping Methods or engage in stalking turkeys.
The following States, and one Canadian Province issue a statement of caution specifically in their hunting regs and or species-specific guides against the practice of stalking as a matter of safety: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky (specifically fanning/reaping), Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Ontario-Canada. Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Despite the unfortunate shootings of two hunters while fanning in 2017, on private land together with a third, or that in 2013, a fellow turkey hunter suffered fatal injuries from these practices, we have the kill gobblers at all cost crowd claiming folks like me and others are full of it, have no proof, safer than driving, Indians did it, elitists telling us how to hunt and the foolishness goes on and on. There are other incidents that cannot be included at this time as the reporting is vague and one cannot separate decoy use from the topic at hand. Truthfully If I never again found cause to report a hunting incident it would be a great thing.
Me an Anti? Not in this lifetime. I personally don’t care if you choose other ways, or strategies other than what I might choose. Hunters make different approaches work however best it suits them. When it comes to doing things that presents a plausible incident scenario, I will speak out. Having regard for others, and some sense of logical reasoning, my viewpoint is not arrived at lightly or just to see what I might stir up.
The efficiency of the method is not in dispute, nor is the thrill of the experience. It is called reaping for a reason. It can get the job done. Snap shooting while the gobbler is trying to achieve Mach 2 in any direction but yours makes for very hurried, haphazard shots. Some of the youtube videos show this in cringe-worthy gun-handling footage. Throw into this entire mix, you have rifles legal in some states, shotguns pushing up to the 100-yard mark, actually taxidermy or dried fans for more “realism”, and my less than favorite, “I only do it on private land” as we all know those $50-$100 fines all but ensures peace, tranquility, and the ultimate of privacy on our own lands or private lands of others. The arguments for fanning and reaping are that foolhardy.
To round out my observation and comments on a revisit to this foray, do I think I am better than other hunters? I have my doubts as I remain a hopeless member of the tenth legion and I have plenty of lumps and scars from living through difficult periods, events of great loss, and “it’s reality time” moments in my past six decades. In short, hell no. Before I hoist that gobbler over my shoulder, it is pure adrenaline, heart in my throat moment up until he shows up. 30 years later it is every bit as good as my very first turkey hunt. I assume that most of you as fellow hunters have a similar experience. I sincerely hope that you do. I do enjoy other successful hunter’s postings. It pleases me as I know I will get out there as well. So no, I feel akin to my fellow hunters and enjoy as they do, not from a lofty better than thou view. I’ll be just as happy to see your hero pics. Your stories I like even better.
As long as we stay silent, afraid to “ruffle feathers” or hurt our collective reaper/fanning feelings (for some) We allow this promotion (or lack of opinion in fear of) to give a black eye to our great pastime.
Truly yours-
Not Afraid
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
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