Feathered Friends - Favorite Spring Trail Cam Pics

A collection of our favorite Browning Trail Camera pictures from Spring 2016!

#BrowningCameras #YouveGotToSeeThis

#BrowningCameras #SpecOps #BoneyardSeed

#BrowningCameras #SpecOps #BoneyardSeed

#BrowningCameras #SpecOps

#BrowningCameras #ReconForce

#BrowningCameras #ReconForce

#BrowningCameras #ReconForce

#BrowningCameras #ReconForce

Muck Boot Company - Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots - Product Review

By Andrea Haas

One of the most important items a hunter should have is a good, quality pair of boots. I can think of a few times that not having the right pair of boots for the hunting conditions sent me home early from a hunt, or at least caused a lot of unnecessary discomfort. Rain, snow, wind, and temperature are all things that we cannot control, but having the right pair of boots can help us deal with these elements and stay in the field longer and more comfortably. 

This turkey season I tried the new Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots by Muck Boot Company. I have always been a big fan of Muck Boots and was excited to put these to the test this spring. Below are my results.

Performance In The Field

-WATERPROOF-

Spring is known for being wet and rainy and this turkey season was no different. The Pursuit Stealth boots are 100% waterproof and kept my feet nice and dry. 

-TRACTION-

The outsole features "agressive gripping" and I could not agree more with those terms. While walking through the woods trying to sneak up on birds, the last thing I need is to slip and fall. I will say, this does happen to me a lot due to the amount of flat shelf rocks we have on our property, and possibly because I'm a little less than graceful. Add some rain into the mix and those rocks can get extremely slick. Thankfully this was not a problem for me this spring.

"Aggressive Gripping" Outsole

-COMFORT-

They fit great and were very comfortable. The angled topline and flexible notches (highlighted in pink) make them easy to move in, which is perfect for spot-and-stalk turkey hunting. I had to crawl on my stomach a couple times to sneak up on a group of turkeys without being seen and these got a big thumbs up from me! 

-TEMPERATURE REGULATION-

The Pursuit Stealth boots have a lining of Neoprene and fleece to keep your feet warm during cold hunts, but I found they worked great to keep my feet cool in the warmer weather too, thanks to the ETC Sockliner that reduces heat buildup. 

Features 

• Insulation: 5mm of Neoprene with Fleece Lining

• Upper: Spandura® with Optimal Flex Points highlighted in Pink

• Camo: Realtree® APG

• Outsole: Aggressive Gripping

• Insole: Etc® Sockliner

• Height 12”

• Weight 4 lbs

Sizing & Fit

In my every day shoes I normally wear a 6.5 to 7. In my other Muck Boots I have always worn a 7 and that is what I ordered in the Pursuit Stealth boots. They fit great and I actually preferred how these boots fit compared to my other Muck Boots, the Woody Max. While I love my Woody Max boots as well, I liked the fit of the Pursuit Stealth boots better because they were not as tight on the tops of my feet, making them more comfortable and easy to move in. 

Price and Options

The Pursuit Stealth boots retail for $209.99 and are available in women's sizes 5 to 11.

They are available in Realtree APG and Realtree APC (pink)

Overall I was very happy with how well these boots performed. They were comfortable, easy to move in, and had great traction and thermal regulation, which is exactly what I needed for spring turkey hunting. They are engineered for warmth as well, which will be great for deer hunting this fall and winter. I highly recommend the Pursuit Stealth boots to any female hunter, as they were a game changer for me. Like I said before, we can't control the elements, but having the right hunting gear can help us withstand them.

For more information, head to www.MuckBootCompany.com 

Turkeys - 1, Me - 0

By Andrea Haas

While out turkey hunting this past weekend I called in 2 very nice toms and came SO close to harvesting one of them. I couldn't help but think of how successful that hunt was, despite of the fact that I didn't give one a ride home in the back of my truck. It's so easy to get down and kick yourself when a hunt doesn't go as planned. When this happens (which is quite often), I think it's best to just learn from it and apply what you've learned to your next hunt.

Saturday morning I got to my hunting property well before sunrise and setup in the woods within 100 yards of where I knew the turkeys were roosted. I called a couple times as the sun was coming up and the sky started to turn pink. They answered me, so I shut up for a while until I knew they flew down.

Once they flew down they followed a hen, which I definitely couldn't compete with, and went into our field planted in Boneyard Seed clover and chicory. I snuck down to the edge of the woods and watched them strut around for well over an hour and waited, hoping once the hen left that I'd be able to call them in. 

The hen finally left so I started calling again. Both of the Toms answered and started looking around for a hen. I tried getting my hen decoy setup earlier, but the ground was so rocky that I wasn't able to get the stake far enough in the ground to keep the decoy from falling over. Unfortunately that hen decoy being set up would probably have sealed the deal on this hunt.

#ProisHunting #MuckBoots #AvianDecoys #EvoOutdoors #FirstLite

Both of the Toms made their way to the opening in the woods leading them right where I needed them to be, but they got spooky without seeing a hen and turned around, just a few steps shy of where I would have had a clear shot.

As luck would have it, I wasn't able to harvest a turkey that morning, but I was just as excited as I would've been if I had gotten a shot at one. I did bring home some pretty great memories from my solo hunt, learned a few lessons, and went home feeling like a million bucks, ready to try again.That, in my book, was a successful hunt!

Turkey Hunting Tips & Tactics

By Kinsey Edmunds, Huntress View Team Member

 

Throughout the years, turkeys have become one of my favorite things to hunt after! I love being in the woods surrounded by new living things, (except snakes) and how fresh the woods smell as everything is turning green again. The sound of the first thunder chicken literally gets me so fired up, I’m like a giddy little kid waiting to unwrap a present! I’ve been turkey hunting for many years, and each hunt is never the same. That is one thing I love! Each time is a new chance to learn in a different scenario. 

If you are new to turkey hunting, you are seriously going to love it! If you already have been and are hooked, than you can probably relate to what I said about being giddy like a little kid the first time you hear the turkeys light up! I want to share with you some of the tips I have learned from personal hunting experiences, and tips that my friends have shared with me along the way that I have found to be very helpful! I still have so much to learn, but that’s the fun part!

Decoys: 

• Evaluate the time of year you are hunting and figure out what stage the turkeys are in. Are they still joined with their winter flocks? Are they henned up? Are the hens on their nest? Once you figure out what stage the turkeys are in then you can have a better understanding of how you should get set up.

• The type of decoying you can do can vary throughout the season. Think about your location. If you have a good backdrop and good cover in your surrounding area, you may not need decoys. Watch how much you are calling, and let that turkey come in and look for you.

• If you are in a taller grassy area, it might be best to use a lookout decoy so it is easier for the gobbler to see. If you are in open timber, one or two hens would work good so he has something to visually see when he hears your calling. The same could work if you are sitting on the edge of an open field. In this scenario you could also use a jake and one/two hens. 

                                                        

• Putting your decoys out front to the left or right of where you are sitting, will help lessen your chances of being seen if the turkeys are coming in directly in front of you. If you think they will be coming in at an angle, make sure you set up to where it is easiest for you to make a clear shot.

• Later in the season, depending on your location, you can try using a laydown hen and a lookout hen when calling. The look out hen shows confidence, and once they lay eyes on the laydown hen, it will help attract them to come in to breed.

Calling:

• First of all, be patient, sometimes it happens quick but other times it takes a little bit to get the gobbler to come in. Don't lose hope!

• When you first hear a gobbler and you are calling back to him, pay attention to him and what he seems to react to. Does he like the aggressive yelping, or does he respond better to a softer purr? No turkeys are the same. Try and mimic what they are doing. 

• If you have been talking with the gobbler and he is sounding closer, or you can physically see him making his way to you, let up on the calling and make him come to you. You have gotten his attention, so now allow him to come and find you. 

Beginners:

• This may be a given, but if you’ve never been around turkeys you probably don’t know just how good they can see, so STAY STILL. I read once, if you can see the turkey, he can see you much, much better. Good to remember. Make sure to wear some type of mask or face paint to hide your face.

• If you are calling and the turkeys responded to you but then stopped, don’t get discouraged. That could mean they are coming in.

• If you are trying to locate the birds on a windy day and need a louder sound, box calls are a great way to get the sound reach you might need. 

• If the turkey(s) is at your decoy set up, and you need to adjust your gun or pull back your bow, move when the turkey’s back is facing you. 

Rita's WITO Spring Turkey Hunt

By Rita Cook, Huntress View ProStaff

I have only been hunting a few short years, so I am always looking for new and

exciting groups or events to participate in. It is a great way to meet fellow huntresses, 

gain knowledge, share experiences, and its just plain fun!! One of the groups that I have 

been lucky enough to participate in is the Central VA Chapter of the National Wildlife 

Turkey Federation (NWTF) –Women in the Outdoors (WITO) group. They hosted an 

event last August where they showed ladies how to shoot a crossbow, skeet shoot, and fly 

fish. It was a wonderful time! I had never shot a crossbow or fly fished, so I definitely 

learned something, but more than that I made some great friends. 

On April 25th, 2015 the Central VA Chapter of the NWTF hosted the first ever 

WITO Spring Turkey Hunt. Entries were collected and six women were picked to 

participate; I was one of the lucky winners! We had a “meet and greet” on Friday where 

we enjoyed a catered dinner and we got to meet our guides and the fellow huntresses. We 

patterned our guns and had a good time talking about our experiences. Most of the 

women had never been on a turkey hunt before and the excitement was electrifying. After 

dinner we were dispersed from that location to accommodations that were closer to our 

hunting destinations. I stayed with my guide and two other huntresses. We had a blast 

getting to know each other and talking about our upcoming hunts. 

We were up bright and early Saturday morning and we each went on our guided 

hunt with an experienced hunter or huntress. My guide was Emily Beasley and she 

delivered an amazing hunt!  I didn’t bag a turkey but I heard plenty of gobbling and I was 

able to see so many turkeys. We had a hen fly across the river to come talk to us, and a 

gobbler strutting in a field at 60 yards.  Emily gave me pointers and advice throughout 

the hunt. 

After the hunts, we all met back at the original location for another great meal and 

awesome conversations. We all shared our exciting stories, with noises and animations of 

course.  None of us were able to get a turkey, but we were anything but disappointed. We 

were each given an engraved box call and a copy of “Beginning Turkey Hunting”. We all 

shared something really special that day and we have memories that will last a lifetime. I 

learned a lot about hunting and a lot about myself.

Turkey Hunting Gear & Apparel for Women

By Andrea Haas
Revised 3/01/16

Photo of Huntress View team member Samantha Andrews

Turkey season is fast approaching so if you haven't begun shopping for your turkey hunting gear, now's a great time! The following is gear & apparel that I have used & recommend for spring turkey hunting. I don't feel you need to run out & buy each item on this list, but at the very least I recommend a turkey vest, something to cover your face (whether it be paint or a face mask), and some camo pants & top so you don't get busted!


1) Headwear

-Prois Cap-

-Elastic Hairbands-

by EvoOutdoors 

These work great as headbands to keep your hair out of your face, or can double as a hair-tie to pull your hair back into a ponytail. I carry these in my hunting pack year round.

2) Face Paint

-Fire-Field Face Paint-

Easy to apply, easy to remove and NO glare. It's a great alternative to a face mask, that tends to just get in the way.

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

3) Shirts & Jackets

-Prois Ultra Backcountry Long Sleeve Shirt-

Made of polyester wicking fabric & has pockets on the back of the shirt across the lumbar 

region that are perfect for holding calls, gloves & other hunting gear!

               

Front

Back

-Prois Galleann Rain Jacket-

It always rains on me in turkey season. Never fails! The new Galleann Rain gear from Prois is waterproof, breathable AND it packs down into its own pack, so it's very easy to haul it around with you in case it rains. Below is a picture of the jacket, but they also have Galleann Rain Pants. 

4) Vest

-RedHead For Her Camo Turkey Vest-

available at Bass Pro

This vest fits me perfectly & has all the same features as a men's turkey vest. There's lots of pockets & compartment space to hold a variety of calls. It has a fold-out seat built into it. Just fold the seat out & use the back of the vest as support for your back. 

The back has plenty of room to carry your decoys.

Front

Back

5) Pants

-Prois Pro-Edition Pants-

Light weight & easy to move in. Knee pleats added to enhance movement & comfort while sitting, squatting or stalking. 

Waistline has elastic stretch to the sides & also includes beling & tab buckles so you get a perfect fit.

6) Footwear

-Mountain Athlete Crew Sock by FirstLite-

available at EvoOutdoors 

Midweight

Made of Merino Wool, featuring nylon/spandex on the outside

-SHE Outdoor Avila Mid Rubber Hunting Boot-

available at Bass Pro $79.99

100% Waterproof with vulcanized rubber construction

These boots are very comfortable & easy to move in. I've found them great for active hunts.

7) Turkey Calls

-Huntress View Pink Laminate Pot Call-

by Solo Mountain Game Calls

Slate Over Glass

or

Glass Over Glass

Glass Over Glass

Slate Over Glass

-Push Button Cedar Box Call-
by Adventure Game Calls

If you're looking for a call that's easy to master, you have found it right here! It's so easy to use & it sounds great. The design allows it to easily be mounted to any shotgun, which is great to minimize movement. 

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

8) Decoys

-Avian X LCD Decoys-

available at Bass Pro

We highly recommend any of the Avian Decoys. They are the most realistic looking decoy, in my opinion. They body of the decoys collapse so they are easy to carry in your vest, but are also easy to re-inflate quickly to set them up. Team member Heidi Swonger had great luck with them this past spring!

Andrea's 2013 Turkey Hunt

Opening day of 2013 turkey season in Missouri had finally come. On this hunt I let my friend Nikki tag along with me, her first ever turkey hunt! (Yes our husbands stayed home in bed!) We got all of our gear together & headed to my hunting property down the road.

The sun was starting to come up by the time we made it to our property & turkeys were gobbling all around us so we hurried to get to the blind. My blind was set up on the edge of a small pocket field in the woods that the turkeys usually fly into off of the roost. As soon as we got set up 2 jakes flew down in front of us. I let them walk & once they were out of sight I got my hen decoy set up about 20 yards in front of the blind.

 

I started calling & the toms answered immediately. We could hear them all around us but only one got closer & closer each time I called. Finally I look to my left and am able to see the tom making his way towards the decoy, drumming and spitting the whole way. I got my shotgun ready & just waited until he came close enough to shoot. Once I did Nikki and I both jumped up & down and did a little happy dance (I admit this was a total “girl” moment). 

I was so excited & actually a little surprised that I was able to call in such a nice tom. (He was 22 lbs and had 11.5” beard, 1 ¼” spurs). This was my first time turkey hunting that I did 100% of the calling and I really didn’t have much confidence in my turkey calling skills. It made me even happier that Nikki got to have that experience on her first ever turkey hunt. Even though she didn’t do the shooting she was just as excited as I was! The Missouri turkey season opens this year on April 21^st and I can’t wait to take Nikki along with me again! 

-Andrea Haas

Primos Bombshell Turkey Call Review

In the past I was always a little hesitant to get into turkey hunting. There are so many different calls and I didn't feel confident that I would be able to call one in. I have used slate calls to successfully call in turkeys but I was so excited when I found the Bombshell by Primos. It is by far the easiest and best sounding call that I have used. It is a push/pull hen turkey call that yelps, cuts, and purrs just by pushing or tapping the rail. Push the rail to yelp, tap it to cut, and slowly press the rail to purr. The pitch can be adjusted easily to make it sound higher or raspier. Also, the rail can be locked into place so it doesn't make noise while walking. The call can be mounted to your shotgun for ease of use and to minimize movement. This call is perfect for beginner or experienced turkey hunters! I called this nice tom within 20 yards this spring using the Bombshell!