Archives for December 2017

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Before you head out on your turkey hunt this year, learn the different sounds turkeys make and what they all mean.

Turkey hunting is very exciting in that we get to try our best to fool a smart old Tom by imitating another turkey. There are tricks to the trade though, and it’s much more than dragging a pencil-looking thing across some slate and hoping for the best.

Turkeys make a range of sounds and each vocalization has a meaning behind it. Like turkeys, humans have sounds that we use in particular situations. In life, and in turkey hunting, if we were to use the wrong vocalization at the wrong time, it wouldn’t fit right with anyone in the area. You wouldn’t want to laugh during a funeral or sound angry when praising a child right? Same goes for turkey hunting. This is why it is important you understand each sound a turkey makes and what they all mean.

Below are the most common sounds turkeys make and what they all mean. Hopefully you hear these and distinguish their intentions during turkey hunting season. You’ll see more success if you do.

1. Yelp

The yelp is the most heard sound from turkeys and both male and female turkeys yelp. It sounds very similar to its name. When a turkey yelps, it is in a series of notes, mostly in a sequence from three to eight and gives other birds awareness of its location. It’s basically the “Hey everyone, I’m over here!”

It’s also the most used call when a hen is on the look for a tom, so learning this call as a hunter is vital. A tree yelp is a yelp often used by a roosted hen before she flies down as a way to let other turkeys know she is awake, looking for the first tom that gobbles and ready for action. A tree yelp is almost nearly just a softer yelp, but can be key to getting a gobbler off the roost to draw him in to your set up before he has a chance to move to another hen.

2. Cluck

The cluck is a call that is used both by gobblers and hens. When a gobbler is making a cluck, it’s usually an indication that “Hey there, I’m just here.” It will come in a slower cadence often times with other vocalizations like a yelp, or just by itself.

When a hen clucks, it holds a similar meaning as a tom and is often times in conjunction with feeding or just moving around the area. Often times a cluck can be confused with a putt and understanding the difference can mean dinner served or coming home empty handed.

3. Putt

Similar to a cluck, but a totally different meaning. Often times you will hear this in a fading sequence because it is usually when a turkey is running away from you saying, “Everyone run! Get Out of here, something dangerous is near!” Ever hear a deer blow at you in the woods? This is a very similar concept.

A putt is a slightly shorter sound than a cluck and often times in an excited cadence, especially when on high alert. If you take your lips and press them together and say “putt, putt, putt” you have nearly mastered the call.

4. Cutting

Cutting is a series of loud and fast clucks mixed in with some yelps. It is used when a hen is fired up. If a gobbler has gone silent, many times using this call will work to get a response. Be careful not to overdo it, however as sometimes a silent tom may just be around the corner and cutting may just be too much for him depending on the scenario.

My father used to describe cutting to me as a truck trying to start with a plugged fuel line. As the engine turns over it cuts in and out in a “ba-boom, ba-boom, boom, boom, ba-boom”. Cutting is very similar, but be careful to know the difference between cutting and putting because again, very similar sounding, two totally different meanings.

5. Purr

I like to think of the purr as someone who is humming a song or whistling as they go about their business. Usually it means the bird is contempt. You will mostly hear it with other birds while feeding and maintaining contact with one another.

If you hunt enough or watch enough turkey hunts, you may also hear a tom purr as a sign of aggression. This may occur while one gobbler is invading another gobblers area or as one moves in to try to force out another gobbler. If you have a good enough set up, you may be lucky enough to catch a gobbler purr his way in to attack your jake or tom decoy, which makes for a great and exciting hunt.

6. Cackle

Often times called the “Fly-Down Cackle,” this call is usually heard as a turkey leaves the roost and “flies-down” to the ground. Most turkeys will start with their tree yelp indicating their location. Then, when they are ready to leave the roost, they cackle. A cackle starts as quick clucks and cuts, and as it lands on the ground, the cadence slows down often moving into yelps.

Man times this is accompanied with the loud sound of the flapping of their wings as they fly down from their roost. If you are in the woods and hear the cackle, it is a good sign you got up early enough for the morning hunt.

7. Kee-kee and Kee-kee run

When I was a Jake member at 12 years old with the NWTF and entered into turkey calling competitions, this was my favorite call. Now granted, I never won a competition but it is among some of my favorite past time memories to be up on stage and holding true to my nickname given to me from my grandmother, “Little Turkey.”

The kee-kee run is pretty much just that: A little turkey. Often times this is used in the fall when a flock of turkeys have been separated and a young turkey is trying to yelp back to its mother. It’s an indication that the young turkey is lost and wants to be found.

The sound is a series of attempted yelps. High pitched “pee-pee-pee-pee-pee” sounds is the only way I can think to describe it. As a turkey gets an actual yelp out, the call becomes known as the kee-kee run. “Pee-pee-pee-pee-yelp-yelp”.

A good hunting strategy for the fall is to scare off and separate a flock of turkeys, set up and use the kee-kee run to imitate a lost bird to try to pull in the more mature hens and toms.

8. Gobble

Save the best for last. This is the sound you want to hear in the woods as a turkey hunter. This sound is an indication that a tom, or jake, is excited and wants a hen. It is used also to attract hens but also to deter other toms and jakes.

Jakes sometimes can fool you into thinking they are a tom when they gobble, however sometimes will yelp in response to your calling until they actually can gobble. If you haven’t heard a turkey gobble in the woods yet, prepare to hear a sound that recruits and retains more and more turkey hunters every year.

No matter if you are calling, hunting, or both, understanding the sounds turkeys make is vital in having a successful hunt. Take the time to listen to the sounds, distinguish their differences, and understand what each sound means.

If you are going to be calling this turkey hunting season, be sure to practice as much as possible, remember you wouldn’t want anyone laughing at your funeral.

NEXT: WHY FOOD PLOTS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR GROWING AND MANAGING DEER

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Check out this list of the 12 best Colorado trout fisheries.

Colorado has some of the best trout fishing destinations in the world. The state has scores of pristine mountain streams, lakes and rivers that are teeming with rainbows, browns and cutthroats. So, when you ask the question, “where’s the best places to fish for trout?” You’re likely to get a wide range of answers.

These 12 fisheries have all earned Gold Medal Trout Waters designations, the state’s top award for trout fisheries.

The state Deparmtment of Natural Resrouces issues the awards. Here’s the criteria, in their own words:

In order to receive a Gold Medal listing, a body of water must consistently support a minimum trout standing stock of 60 pounds per acre, as well as consistently support a minimum average of 12 quality trout – trout larger than 14 inches – per acre.

The streams, rivers and lakes on this list are some of the most beautiful places to fish, not only in Colorado, but in the world.

Click through the slideshow to view the 12 best Colorado trout fishing destinations.

Do you agree with the fisheries on this list? Which ones are your favorites? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section below. 

 

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At last, everything you need to know about cooking trout. Warning: these trout recipes may cause excess salivation.

Spring is a cherished time of year by many. Nature seems to reward us for our patience over the winter by delivering all sorts of wild edibles. And nothing goes better with foraged foods than stream trout.

There’s not much that can hold a candle to a dinner of freshly caught trout. And we have saved you the hassle of scouring the internet to find delicious recipes worthy of such a prized fish.

First things first, you’ll need to catch a trout. You can just use a spinning reel if that’s all you have, but once you try fly fishing and tie your own flies, you’ll be addicted. Though you can also use farm-raised fish for these trout recipes, part of the magic behind them is the story of sneaking up on these elusive predators lurking in deep pools.

Trout Basics

• Cleaning – Remove the entrails by slicing the belly from the anus up to the throat. Use an old toothbrush to clean the the blood from the vein along the backbone. Use cold running water to clean the fish thoroughly.
• Scaling – If it’s a really large trout, it may help to scale the fish. There’s no need to do so for smaller trout.
• Preparation – At this point, you can leave the fish as it is or remove the gills, head, or fins according to the recipe preparation. If you feel adventurous, you can even try butterflying the fish.
• Cooking – Don’t worry about the bones. Fish that is properly prepared will easily fall off the bones. Avoid over-handling the fish (flip only once) as the skin is delicate and the flesh may flake apart.

No matter how these 10 trout recipes below are organized, each one seems better than the last. We advise you to keep a napkin or bib nearby as you read, because they may cause drooling. Enjoy!

1. Whole Grilled Trout

One of the easiest trout recipes, and most visually impacting, is to grill a whole trout. Fish like trout are rich in good fats, and really absorb the flavor imparted from grilling.

Ingredients:

• Two 3/4 lb whole trouts, scaled, gutted and cleaned
• Butter or coconut oil
• 1 bunch fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1 bunch fresh dill
• Zest of one lemon
• 2 lemons, one sliced and the other halved
• Salt and pepper to taste

View Instructions

2. Trout with Fiddleheads, Morels, and Wild Onions

This recipe is perfect to put all your freshly gathered wild edibles to good use in a forager’s feast. This cooking method also produces very crispy skin if you leave it on. And let’s be serious, why wouldn’t you?

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound fiddleheads
• Salt
• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds trout fillets (or 1 small trout per person)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided
• 1 pound fresh morels, sliced into rings
• 1/2 pound ramps or other wild onions, or scallions
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 cup sorrel, cut into a chiffonade (optional)
• Black pepper
• Violets, for garnish (optional)

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3. Grilled Lime Trout

This method is heavy on the herbs and uses limes or oranges instead of the traditional lemon. Grilling the citrus fruits also complements the trout’s delicate flesh really well.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium trout
• Herbs of choice (thyme, oregano, dill, rosemary, etc.)
• Lemon, lime, or orange, sliced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic
• Salt and pepper

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4. Smoked Lake Trout

It’s almost impossible to beat a well-smoked piece of trout or salmon. While you can smoke stream trout, this method of butterflying is best reserved for the larger individuals. Maybe save it for a nice-sized lake trout between 5 and 15 pounds.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole lake trout, butterflied or kited
• 1/2 cup Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped spruce (or fir) tips, or fresh rosemary
• Grated zest of an orange or 2 lemons or limes (optional if using rosemary)

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5. Trout with Orange-Saffron Sauce

This is perhaps the most visually appealing presentation you can find for a thick-cut fillet of trout. The bright and bold colors complement the intense flavors and are perfect for a springtime meal.

Ingredients:

Orange-Saffron Sauce

• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• a healthy pinch of saffron, crumbled
• a healthy pinch of sugar
• 1 shallot, minced
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Greens and Fish

• 1 1/2 pounds tender greens, such as spinach or amaranth or lamb’s quarters
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegetable oil, divided
• a splash of water, maybe 3 tablespoons
• Grated zest of an orange
• Salt to taste
• 1 1/2 pounds trout or salmon fillets
• Sprigs of pea or vetch flowers, for garnish (optional)

View Instructions

6. Roasted Trout with Lemon and Herbs

A surprisingly simple dish to prepare, these whole trout absorb a lot of flavor from the garlic, onions, and fresh herbs.

Ingredients:

• 2 whole trout, 10-12 oz each, cleaned and gutted
• salt, pepper
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1-2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 small onion, very thinly sliced
• fresh dill and parsley

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7. Trout Omelet

Using fish in an omelet may seem a little strange. But it’s actually a perfect way to use up odd scraps from a larger trout you grilled or smoked the day prior.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 2 cups flaked, cooked steelhead or salmon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 minced green onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• About 1/2 cup grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese
• Butter to grease the ramekins
• 1 lemon

View Instructions

8. Roasted Trout with Potatoes and Asparagus

The baby potatoes and asparagus in this recipe work very well with the lemon and thyme-infused trout fillets.

Ingredients:

View Instructions

9. Fried Trout with Peas

This recipe utilizes the butterfly technique, dredging the trout in flour and treating it almost as a schnitzel. Serve it alongside peas and a lemon-butter sauce to make it complete.

Ingredients:

• 2 frying pan sized trout (butterflied, fillets or whole)
• Salt
• About 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup peas, fresh or thawed
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• Grated zest and juice of a lemon
• 2 tablespoons minced parsley
• Black pepper to taste

View Instructions

10. Salmon/Trout Candy

Traditionally this recipe is for salmon, but larger trout species will also work just fine. Smoking works very well with trout since they are very fatty fish and the smoke adheres to fat. Warning: they’re called candy for a reason. They won’t last long!

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds skin-on salmon/trout collars, bellies or fillets cut into 2-inch thick strips
• 1 pound kosher salt
• 1 pound brown sugar
• 1 cup maple syrup or birch syrup

View Instructions

Doesn’t matter which one you choose…how about you make all 10?

If you enjoyed these recipes, follow me on Twitter @rjlisson

NEXT: 5 UNUSUAL VENISON RECIPES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

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What happens when you shotgun a gobbler at five yards?

Well, this exploding turkey is the epic product of a great shot. (In a hurry? Skip to 2:40).

What happens when a young turkey comes strutting in and catches a shotgun blast at only five yards away? Check this out.

Ohio Outdoor Journal shared this video of a hunter who makes an epic close range turkey kill. Armed with a Remington 870 shotgun, and Undertaker Choke Tube and Winchester Supreme Turkey Loads this hunter made a perfect hit. The turkey appears to literally blow apart with feathers flying everywhere. 

Watch this video that puts our minds ready to hit the woods for spring turkey season. Are you ready?

NEXT: GRUNT TUBE CALLING WILD HOGS WITH HOGZOMBIES

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A Delaware duck hunter recently posted a photo of three dead grebes to Facebook asking for identification help. The responses do not fail to entertain!

In the public Facebook group Diver Ducks ONLY, an Al Lee posted a picture of three dead grebes on the deck of a boat. Al’s post titled, “Can someone tell me what these are? Thanks.” Not surprisingly, it was quickly removed.

Why was it removed, you ask?

In many states (if not all) the Grebe is illegal to shoot.

Furthermore, in many waterfowl circles, you’re ridiculed if you shoot first and ask for ID help later. Especially if you shoot a bird that’s not legal.

Al Lee might have learned this lesson the hard way. If Al is the shooter he risks a ticket (maybe 3) and he was trolled on Facebook, hard! Here’s a sample of some of the best comments!

“Toss your guns, gear and self dignity away – brutal…”

(The comment was simply a tag) “Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police”

“He better refinance that boat…he’s about to have some hefty fines and bye bye hunting license for a few years. Lol”

“THOSE ARE LEAVERS, leaver right there bud”

“Grebes are the best of eating byes… yee are all crazy… who cares he shot 3 of them… how many of you guys kills birds that your not aloud to kill… a goddam good lot of yee I’d say… if it flies it dies… eat em up byes”

(Reply to Above) “I speak newfaneese…. “Gentlemen, grebes are fine table fare, I strongly disagree. Why would one mind if he shot three of them. None of you have ever made a mistake? A large majority I’d wager. There’s the old adage “if it flies it dies” Grebes are a delicacy.”

“Somewhere, A game warden is touching himself while reading these comments...”

“Muhammad Al Lee….went 3 rounds with the grebes….Then got knocked out in the comments.”

“Someone tag him already. He’s missing out”

Don’t worry; there’s plenty more left for you to read.

While it’s fun reading these comments, it’s a valuable lesson. Don’t shoot a bird (or any animal) unless you know it is legal.

About the Author: Dominic Aiello is an avid hunter, angler, and wildlife policy expert. He is the President of the Oregon Outdoor Council, Cabela’s Prostaff, and Outdoor Writer. Follow his adventures on Instagram @daiello91 or Twitter @HunterInformant. 

NEXT: WATCH THIS HANDGUN DEER HUNT FROM THE HUNTER’S POINT OF VIEW

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These hardcore ice fisherman land some gigantic North Dakota bluegills.

With a major cold front sweeping the nation, lakes and ponds all across the country are quickly freezing up. For waterfowlers, this might not be the best, but ice fisherman are loving it.

See these fishermen land some giant bluegills in the North Dakota.

These guys look like they are having a fun finding the fish. The size of the bluegill is no joke either.

Ice fishing can be a great activity when it’s too cold to do everything else. Fix up the fishing hut and head to the lake!

NEXT: GIANT GROUPER ABSOLUTELY CRUSHES 4-FOOT SHARK

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Are you an OCDH? The only way to find out is right here!

I feel for the crazed deer hunter in all of us. The season never seems to get here, and never lasts long enough. Guys and gals like us always want more, and never seem to get enough. We think about it, read about it, and generally sleep dreaming about it.

Is it a disease? Is it curable? Nay my friends, it’s not even treatable! For the likes of us who live and breathe the hunt, there is no rhyme, no reason, and no rest for the weary deer hunter who is obsessed with the chase and compulsive about getting ready for it.

Herein lies the answers to all of your questions, the key one being how bad is the severity of your individual case. Take now, my brothers and sisters, the quiz that can help you to see the light at the end of the deer hunting tunnel and start yourself down the road towards the laughter and joy that comes from being afflicted by the fair chase.

Get ready to see yourselves in the mirror, you deer hunting maniacs!

Some of these may seem pretty simple and arbitrary towards the deer hunting community, but if you have a disease, you will see it clearly. I’ve assigned a system of one simple point for each of these heartwarming and heart wrenching maladies the we all have, with a few surprises along the way!

You are officially on your road to being an OCDH if you:

1. Ever put deer urine on your person.

2. Ever let somebody else put deer urine on your person.

3. Smell said deer urine before you use it. Oh, you’ve done it.

4. Thought about deer hunting while bass fishing.

5. Slowed down for a dead deer to see if it had antlers. Every. Single. Time.

6. Shower using scent free soap for a month straight before the season opener.

7. Wash your hunting clothes 10 times the day before.

8. Use ‘fresh earth’ cover scent deodorant.

9. Use oak tree dryer sheets on your hunting clothes.

10. Bag your clothes with cotton balls full of scent, including everything from doe in estrous to red fox urine. Yes, more urine.

11. Have more than five electronic gadgets in your bag.

 

12. Ever hung yourself by your tree harness to make sure it works.

13. If you look down the barrel to make sure its not blocked. (minus 10 if you don’t use a tool)

14. Sighted in more than 5 times before the season.

15. If you ever used You Tube to let loose buck grunts from your tree. (minus 10 if its illegal in your state or province)

16. Kissed an arrow or gunsight for luck.

17. Check the breach to make sure the gun’s loaded over and over.

18. Keep checking the safety over and over.

19. Put the binocs up to your face incessantly because they’re no good just dangling there.

20. Went to Bass Pro and only looked at hunting stuff.

21. Went to Bass Pro and found fishing stuff you thought would be good for deer hunting.

22. Have a piece of ShamWow to dry your scope. (It works great!)

23. Wipe your scope over and over even though its dry.

24. Clean your gun before you hunt, then worry about the smell.

25. Check the moon phases a year in advance.

26. Can’t decide what camo pattern to wear and have to ask your significant other.

27. Call in sick to go hunting.

28. Boss actually already knows you’ll be gone that day because he hunts too.

29. Vacation starts at the season opener.

30. You know the complete deer hunting show lineup on TV.

31. You’ve ‘liked’ more than 20 deer hunting pages on Facebook.

32. Your dating profile includes a picture of your biggest buck.

33. Never felt better after two hours of sleep the night before the opener.

34. You have more than 20 pictures of bucks on your phone.

35. You’re thinking about buying another chest freezer.

36. You’ve tagged deer in more than one state or province.

37. You think of deer hunting as going out for dinner.

38. You’ve made a hunting hunny-do list.

39. You’ve had to explain to someone what a ‘buttout’ tool is.

40. If you ever blew like a deer in a social situation.

41. If you ever grunted like a deer in a social situation.

42. If you’ve been in the woods long enough to have a bird land on you.

43. If you’ve been in the woods long enough to see every creature that exists there. (except deer of course)

44. If you’ve ever carved your initials or the number of times you’ve hunted from the tree that your using.

45. If you’ve snapped a twig in your yard and got pissed because you know that everything in the world must have heard that.

46. If you ever heard a twig snap in your yard and got excited.

47. If you ever war painted yourself.

48. If you cringe at the sound of your coat zipper, paper wrapper, or sandwich bag on a quiet day.

49. If you stopped using all forms of wrappers, and waxed your zipper.

50. If you ever warmed your hands with your freshly filled pee bottle. Yes you did.

51. If the only time you ever worry about your breath is deer season.

52. If you ever wondered if they make scent remover toilet paper.

53. If you think your baby’s sneezing sounds like a doe blowing.

54. If you ever tested your tree climber in your front yard.

55. If you left your tree climber in the yard and had a beer while sitting in it.

56. If you ever thought about naming your son Cabela.

There’s a saying that I used back in my construction days when guys started trash talking: “Ain’t nobody would ever say it that didn’t do it.” Guilty as charged!

Total points: 56 and feel free to check my math on that, with a possible minus 20 for bad behavior.

0-14: Youth hunters are people too.

15-28: Still a little wet behind the ears, rookie.

29-42: Have you thought about getting this looked at?

43-56: Congratulations! You are in serious need of psychiatric help. May I go deer hunting with you?

Feel free to tag your best hunting buddy and add to this list!

NEXT: 20 THINGS OTHER DEER HUNTERS DO THAT DRIVE US NUTS

WATCH

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