Spring
Turkey Hunting
There
is just something about springtime that seems to rejuvenate the
soul. After months of cold, dreary days the weather suddenly
begins to warm. As March arrives, the cold, crisp nights give way
to the warming days. With each passing sunrise and sunset the days
grow longer. Trees begin to bud as another of nature's growing
cycles begins anew. And most importantly, for some of us, the
arrival of springtime is signaled deep in the woods by the gobble of the
wild turkey.
What a
wonderful time to be alive!
Deer
hunting is mighty popular here in Wilcox County, Alabama--a fun retreat
to the woods for many. But to a certain group, turkey hunting is
more like life and death.
Turkey
hunting has been likened to the greatest chess match of them all.
It's a match of wits between hunter and the hunted. It is very
addicting and anyone who partakes in the sport should do so with extreme
caution. For many a farm and business has been lost to turkey
hunting. There have been a few divorces too.
Once that
gobbler fools you one time, just one morning, you won't be able to get
it out of your conscience. You replay the hunt over and over in
your mind and wonder what could have been done differently. Did
you call too much? Did you call too little? Did he see
you? Did a real hen take him away? Or was this just not his
day to die?
Regardless, when dawn breaks the next morning there you are again deep
in the turkey woods awaiting his first gobble of the day. And when
it comes you move into action. You execute your tactics of the
initial set up and calling and the turkey plays his hand as well.
The anticipation builds as he grows closer, his gobbling so loud now
that you shudder with each roar he makes. Soon his bright blue and
red head appears through the green foliage. Your gun is up.
You don't flinch, less he bolt for the wide blue yonder.
And if he
comes within range you take him with a clean shot. You rejoice at
your good fortune but share a bit of regret that in order for you to be
successful you will never again match wits with this bird, and you
enjoyed every moment of it. Yet as you turn to leave you hear more
gobbles from nearby birds and know that many more await you in the days
ahead.
We live
this ritual for forty six days each and every spring. Here at
Wilcox Black Belt Hunting, we would love to guide you in pursuit of
America's Greatest Gamebird.
Wilcox
County, Alabama enjoys a great population of wild turkeys. No fall
turkey season exists in this county, and therefore, all hunting is
limited to the spring season. Rifles are not legal weapons
for taking wild turkeys and hunting over bait is not legal. Thanks to these and many other
conservation efforts, the wild turkey population continues to thrive for
all to enjoy.
Decoys are now legal for use beginning
with the spring 2005 season, making the odds of taking a mature gobbler
even better.
Our season begins on March
15 and extends through April
30. Our guides have decades of experience pursuing the wild turkey
and will make every effort to put you within range of a boss
gobbler.
For more information, please call or
send us an email.
