On Your Next Turkey Hunt…

Posted on May 8, 2013 by HavalonKnives

by Steve Sorensen

Remember these 9 indispensable essentials.

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One more thing to take turkey hunting is a sharp eye. You’ll see lots of wonderful things if you do. (Photo by Steve Sorensen)

Aside from the calls and decoys that are obvious things you need, what are your turkey hunting staples? I’m not talking those little wires that hold papers together. I’m talking about some key things many hunters might not think of.  What’s essential might vary a little for each hunter, but as for me, I don’t go into the woods without these nine things, some of which you might not associate with turkey hunting.

  • 1.      A camera. Pictures are important to me as an outdoor communicator, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed in the pictures I’ve taken. Even if all you do is show your pictures to your friends, you need a camera, too. They’ll be more impressed with a good photo of a small bird than a bad photo of a big one.
  • 2.      Camera mount. To hold the camera steady you can haul a tripod to the woods with you, or something smaller. An Internet search will show you lots of camera mounts, or give you some ideas on how to make one for yourself.
  • 3.      A seat pad or stool. Something to sit on is a must. It can be a nuisance to carry, but I can’t tolerate sitting on a rock or a root for as long as I used to. It makes me a lot more patient, and patience has killed more gobblers than anything else. Keep in mind that you need one that isn’t too confining. In my opinion, a low folding stool makes it a little easier to turn your body for a shot than other kinds.
stool enabled me to get this turkey 336x448

If it hadn’t been for the low stool I was sitting on, I couldn’t have shot this gobbler. It was at my extreme right, and the seat helped me twist far enough to make the shot.
(Photo by Steve Sorensen)

4.      Tissue paper. The obvious use isn’t the only use. Those little plastic packs fit easily in a pocket, and when you get a gobbler (think positive, not if), use it to wipe blood from it before your photo session. If you fall down and get your hands muddy (as I did yesterday), it’s perfect for wiping the mud off your hands and your gun. And if you happen to get a minor cut or scrape, it’s a relatively clean way of wiping blood away. It’s biodegradable, so tuck it under a log or rock where Mother Nature can put it through her recycling program.

  • 5.      A flashlight isn’t always necessary for a turkey hunter, but when you need one you better have one. When heading into the woods darkness is your friend – until you get tangled up while crossing a barbed wire fence or drop your shotgun shells on the ground. That’s when you’ll be glad you have a flashlight. Expensive hi-tech models are nice, but most turkey hunters need only a cheap one. A green or red lens is a plus – it’s less likely to spook game. I throw a dozen or so wraps of duct tape around mine, just in case I need it.

6.      A drink is absolutely essential. I carry a couple of those drink boxes mothers put into kids’ lunches. They’re cheap, the empties fold up to almost nothing, and they satisfy my thirst while giving me the quick energy boost I need.

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You won’t find a better knife for turkey hunting than the Havalon Torch, in Light Copper. Plus, it’s the most photogenic knife against a turkey’s tailfan! (Photo by Steve Sorensen)

7.      Pruning shears. I use them at least half the time I sit down to call a turkey. It will make too much noise if you snap off the sapling or piece of brush that might interfere with the gobbler’s likely approach. My pruners make short, quiet work of it.

  • 8.      Safety pins. I carry several safety pins. I use them all the time to secure a dangling strap, to pin lanyards to my vest (I don’t like draping them around my neck), or to make minor repairs. And they’re the best way I’ve found to attach my tag to a gobbler’s leg,

9.      A proper knife. What would Crocodile Dundee think about the Havalon Torch? I think he’d say, “Now, THAT’S a knife!” I carry the Light Copper version. It’s bright enough to find it if I drop it in the leaves, the 20% thicker blade is great on turkeys because it’s not always easy to see what you’re doing, and it will look great against the bronze feathers of that big gobbler when you take that top quality photo of your big bird. (Send it to Havalon!)

If you try to carry everything the magazines advertise, you’ll need a wheelbarrow, but these things take up very little room, and I’d miss them on any hunt.

***

hunter outdoor writer steve sorensenAbout Steve Sorensen

Outdoor writer and speaker Steve Sorensen writes an award-winning newspaper column called “The Everyday Hunter®,” and he is the editor of the Havalon Sportsman’s Post. He also publishes articles in Deer & Deer Hunting, North American Whitetail, and many other top magazines across the USA. Invite Steve to speak at your next sportsman’s event, and follow him at www.EverydayHunter.com.

For more articles on turkey hunting, click here.

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Press Release: Steve Sorensen Wins “Best Magazine Feature”

Posted on May 7, 2013 by HavalonKnives

We want to congratulate our contributing editor Steve Sorensen on his recent award for “Best Magazine Feature”. The Havalon Team has enjoyed working with Steve, and look forward to more exciting
hunting adventures in the coming seasons.

May 6, 2013

Steve Sorensen, editor of the Havalon Sportsman’s Post, was an award winner at the annual Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association Conference on May 4, held in Franklin, PA. Sorensen received the Association’s award for an article called “The Deer Scrape and Old Spice,” which appeared in the September 2012 issue of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine. Outgoing President Richard Faler presented the award.

One of Sorensen’s contributions to the Havalon Sportsman’s Post was on the same topic as the award-winning article, and was entitled “How to Take Inventory of the Bucks in Your Area.”

Sorensen writes a newspaper column called The Everyday Hunter® (three-time winner of “Best Newspaper Column” from the POWA) which is featured in the Warren Times Observer (Warren, PA) and the Forest Press (Tionesta, PA). He is also a field editor for Bear Hunters Online, freelances for many magazines, and speaks frequently at sportsman’s events.

Franklin POWA 11

Steve Sorensen (right) receiving the “Best Magazine Feature”
from Richard Faler, President of the Pennsylvania
Outdoor Writers Association.

****

Click here to read the official Press Release.

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4 Rules for What Goes Into Your Turkey Vest

Posted on May 3, 2013 by HavalonKnives

By Steve Sorensen

It’s not the gear that makes the turkey hunter.

Most turkey hunters love gadgets. The proof is in the hunting magazines. Some of the stuff advertised there makes sense and some of it doesn’t. Lots of it gets purchased, and many thingamajigs ride around in a turkey hunter’s vest until they’re proven to be of little value.

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Woodsmanship (or in this case the woodsWOMANship) that fills a hunter’s head is more important than what’s in her vest. (Steve Sorensen photo)

Gear is good, but despite what all the gear reviews might lead you to think, it doesn’t take a vest full of stuff to kill a turkey. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not discounting the effectiveness of some of it, because if any segment of our economy shows the resourcefulness and entrepreneurial nature of Americans, it’s the hunting industry. What I am saying is, that it’s not the gear that makes the turkey hunter.

With that in mind, here are four rules for what goes into your turkey vest.

Rule Number 1: Success seldom depends on your gear.

American hunters have been killing turkeys since back when Native Americans were using a blade of grass to make sweet hen yelps. That’s real minimalism when it comes to turkey hunting gear. Even better, a few hunters can call them with their own voices. I can’t, so I need a call. You can get the job done with not much more than a call and a gun or a bow, so don’t get wrapped up in all the new gadgets. Some of them are put in front of your eyes because someone has a pretty good idea what will call money from the wallets of turkey hunters.

Rule Number 2: If it adds to safety, it’s good.

safety always comes first and last 448x336

When turkey hunting safety always comes first, and last. (Steve Sorensen photo)

How many items do you carry that make your hunt safer? Not many, I bet. Back when Native Americans were shooting stone broadheads at turkeys, they didn’t worry about another hunter filling their face with a 3½” load of number 5 shot. Obviously, times have changed. You need to think about safety first, even before calls, even before your shotgun, even before your camo. Do you have some way to alert hunters to your presence? Carry an orange hat to wear when camo is a disadvantage to your safety. If you see a hunter, cautiously pull it out and wave it. Don’t whistle at him – shout words if you can. A loud and clear “Over here” or “Hello” works well. Wear your orange hat on your way out of the woods. Pin an orange piece of cloth to the back of your hunting vest. Don’t just make sure you can be seen – make sure you can be seen as a hunter. A corollary to this rule is that if it diminishes your safety, it’s bad. Leave it home.

Rule Number 3: If it keeps you organized, it’s good.

all you need is a shotgun and a call 336x448

When things come right down to the bare basics, all you need is a shotgun and a call.
(Steve Sorensen photo)

That’s why you need a turkey vest with enough pockets to keep your stuff where you can find it, when you need it. This lets you make fast decisions. It makes you efficient when you need to get up and move. It reduces the commotion you make when a hot gobbler is on his way to you. It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: slow decisions, inefficiency, and commotion all cost you turkeys. Being well-organized is the antidote.

Rule Number 4: Carry the staples.

Yes, the staples. I’m not talking about those tiny metal wires that fasten papers together. Another definition of “staple” is “a main or important element of something.” In this case, that “something” is turkey hunting. Beyond the basics of your weapon, some camo and a turkey hunting vest, you need a few staples.

The staples might not be what you think. Your calls don’t qualify. Yes, you need them – that goes without saying. A face mask and gloves are other obvious needs. Decoys don’t qualify – especially in cases where they might diminish your safety. The staples might be different for everyone, but you need ’em – because they can save a hunt. And they’re so basic that brands hardly matter. Stay tuned – next time I’ll tell you what my staples are.

***

hunter outdoor writer steve sorensenAbout Steve Sorensen

Outdoor writer and speaker Steve Sorensen writes an award-winning newspaper column called “The Everyday Hunter®,” and he is the editor of the Havalon Sportsman’s Post. He also publishes articles in Deer & Deer Hunting, North American Whitetail, and many other top magazines across the USA. Invite Steve to speak at your next sportsman’s event, and follow him at www.EverydayHunter.com.

For more articles on turkey hunting, click here.

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Trout: 4 Secrets to Catching Trout in Cold Water

Posted on April 30, 2013 by HavalonKnives

By Mike Bleech

When Snow Melt, Chills the Creeks. 

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In early spring, this small stream may still have snow in its headwaters. (Photo by Mike Bleech)

It was the kind of adventure that is best done when you are a kid. Pop-up camper trailers were a new thing, and I had never seen one before I camped in one with three old-timers. One guy worked for the gas company that owned the land where we would fish, and he had a key. That meant other trout anglers would have to get up early and walk an hour to get to fish, where we could just wake up and start fishing.

That was also a time when weather forecasts were less reliable than they are now, so it came as a complete surprise when we woke up on the opening day of trout season greeted by 10 inches of heavy snow. The air temperature was chilly at daybreak, but it rose while we fished, and the frigid snow melt run-off quickly filled the small creek. Fishing was terrible. The first few hours passed and I never caught a single trout, nor did anyone else I talked with, until late in the morning.

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A salted minnow might not look very appealing to a human, but to brook trout they are a very attractive meal, and deadly in cold water. (Photo by Mike Bleech)

#1 – One of My First
Fishing Lessons
To this day, I’m thankful for this good fishing lesson… I watched one fisherman catch several trout in short order. Fortunately, he was kind enough to share his secret with a kid. He showed me how to string salted minnows on a wire harness with a split, double hook. After demonstrating the rigging, he gave me a harness and several minnows. By the time I returned to camp for lunch I was proudly carrying a limit of trout. Three old-timers were pleasantly surprised to see that the kid had out-fished them.

The stream we fished that long-ago day had been stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. All the trout I caught, and all that were caught by the gentleman who shared his secret with me, were brookies. The obvious lesson in this is that minnows are excellent bait for brook trout in frigid water, a truth I have confirmed many times since.

#2 – Remember, Trout are Cold Water Fish
Cold water conditions lower the spirits of many trout anglers who assume trout will not hit in cold water. This makes absolutely no sense because trout are classed as cold water fish and will strike readily under ice. However, trout do behave differently in frigid water than they do in warmer water. Baits or lures should be presented slowly and close to the bottom. That gives trout plenty of time to examine your offering, to see it and to smell it. It makes sense to add some sort of bait, or scent, to lures.

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If the water is warm enough to flow, it is warm enough for brook trout to be active. Never let cold water be your reason for not fishing. (Photo by Mike Bleech)

#3 – Use a Fat, Slow,
Spinner Blade
One time-tested cold water lure/bait combo is a spinner tipped with a maggot. Avoid the temptation to use a slender willow leaf spinner blade – although it’s easier to keep spinners of this type deep. Instead, use a spinner with a Colorado blade. The nearly round Colorado blade spins at a much slower speed than the willow leaf style, making it perfect for cold water presentation.

With this special presentation, the spinner is not actually retrieved, but instead it is held steady in the current where the spinning blade catches the eyes of trout, and the maggot tells its acute sense of smell that this is something good to eat. Manipulating the rod tip will move the lure back and forth across the stream, a very accurate presentation

This presentation can be used all through trout season for getting your offering into tight places where there is no room to cast. Slowly let out line, which makes the lure slip downstream into those tight spots. You will be fishing in places where no one else can.

#4 – Go for Brightness in Cold Water
Brighter treble hook dressing is generally best in cold water. One of my long-time favorite spinners has a gold, Colorado blade and bright orange or yellow dressing on the hook.

Many things we encounter while fishing are difficult to explain. The explanations anglers try to come up with are often wrong, which does nothing but cause problems. Simply accepting things as you learn, with the optimistic faith of a child, will not lead you astray. The preference trout have for bright or shiny colors when the water is cold fits this line of thinking is. The “why” matters not in the least. What matters is that you will catch trout when few others do. When you do, try to find a kid – and share your secret with him.

***

About Mike Bleech

mike-bleech-outdoor-writerMike Bleech has been a full-time freelance writer/photographer since 1980 with more than 5,000 articles published in more than 100 publications. He is the outdoors columnist for the Erie Times-News and the Warren Times Observer. Over the years he has become an expert at hunting the Allegheny National Forest and other public lands, and an accomplished trout fisherman.

 

For more articles on trout fishing, click here.

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Must-Have Lures for the Trout Season Opener

Posted on April 23, 2013 by HavalonKnives

By Darl Black

4 Trout Lures That Do It All!

The spring trout opener is a rite of passage for anglers, signaling an end to winter and the start of a new fishing season. In Pennsylvania the first day of trout season is probably only second to the opening day of deer season in terms of participation numbers. It’s pretty much the same in every state with a trout program – if the state fisheries agency stocks a stream, fishermen will come.

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Rather than live bait or prepared bait, give artificial lures a try during the spring trout opener.

Anglers generally face less than perfect stream conditions in the early season. Spring rains generate strong flows and roiled water. Fly fishing is a hit-and-miss proposition in the early season with hatches disrupted by high, cold water.

Many fishermen believe they must rely on live bait options such as red worms, nightcrawlers and minnows, or jars of cured salmon eggs. Or even flavored paste bait – but paste bait is messy and live bait troublesome to carry. Another negative – the ongoing costs associated with continually buying a fresh supply.

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Four basic types of artificial lures produce well in the early season: spinners, small spoons, downsized long minnow plugs and ultra-light small hair/feather jigs.

Artificial Lures Are Often Overlooked
On the other hand, consider artificial lures. Don’t believe the old wives tales about stocked trout not hitting artificial bait unless they look like the pellet feed used in hatcheries. I’ve never caught a fish on a “pellet” but I have caught a lot of stocked trout on lures – in both high and low water situations.

Lures can be easily carried in a small utility case stored in your vehicle along with a rod, providing an individual the opportunity to dabble in a trout stream on the way home from work or whenever he has a few spare minutes. Compared to a couple dozen nightcrawlers, you can always have artificial baits and they’ll last indefinitely.

The iconic image of a trout rising for a hatching insect is certainly true. All species of trout feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects – but they also eat small fish. The small fish in trout streams include minnows, emerald shiners, dace and sculpin.

Lure choices should be representative of forage size available in typical trout streams, which translates to 2″ to 3″ slender minnow-like prey. If fishing larger waters (i.e. small rivers), you will want to include slightly larger profile baits.

Don’t Leave Home Without These Trout Lures

  1. Straight Shaft-Spinners: Spinners are classic stream trout lures. Most anglers carry silver or gold blade spinners in size #00, #0 and #1. For really dingy water, I always have a larger, bold-colored one. On the other hand, be ready for an exceptionally clear water stream. In that case I suggest breaking out a dark blade, like the Mepps Black Fury, because too much flash can spook trout. To reduce line twist, be sure to attach a spinner to the line with a small ball-bearing swivel or beaded chain swivel. Spinners generally produce best in faster moving water such as ripple areas. Cast a spinner perpendicular to the flow and retrieve slowly but steadily as the current sweeps it downstream.

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    Minnow plugs are very effective for larger trout.

  2. Wobbling Spoons: Here is a lure not routinely found in a trout angler’s pack: the small wobbling spoon. I’m referring to models about 1″ to 1½” long weighing 1/8 to 3/16-ounce. As minnow imitators, small spoons have a place in trout streams – that place is the deeper, stronger runs. The revolving blades of spinners tend to lift the bait; unless additional weight is added, spinners may not reach the bottom in deep, moving-water holes. But a compact wobbling spoon will get down and stay down – even when the stream is running high. Fish spoons with a slow rolling retrieve.
  3. Long Minnow Plugs: Nothing says minnow like a 2″ to 4″ long minnow plug. In my experience, minnow plugs catch bigger trout. It’s a good idea to have all three types: floating, suspending and sinking models. The floating model can be slowly retrieved through extremely shallow water, while a sinking model can be slowly retrieved in deeper pools. However, I find a suspending model to be the most useful. With a suspending model, the retrieval can be stopped periodically and the plug will simply hang in the water just like a real minnow. You can also utilize a jerk-pause injured minnow presentation, often energizing a trout into striking. Suspending models are available, or turn a floating model into a suspending model by using weighted adhesive Storm SuspenDots to fine-tune your suspending lure quickly and easily.

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    Marabou jigs are representative of small minnows.

  4. Hair/Feather Jigs: Normally, hand-tied hair/feather jigs are associated with crappie or larger gamefish rather than trout – unless, of course you are a steelhead angler. I admit it was exposure to steelhead fishing that got me thinking about small hair jigs for stocked trout. Once wet, marabou plume or rabbit fur compresses into a streamline lure with perfect minnow movements when fished with a slow swimming retrieve.  A 1/16-ounce jig can be easily fished on ultra-light rod, while lighter weight ones may be fished with a float as steelhead anglers do.

Having these four basic lures, with color and size variations, means you’ll be prepared for just about anything on the trout opener, or any day.

***

Darl Black iconAbout Darl Black

A lifelong freshwater angler and veteran writer and photographer, Darl tackles a wide variety of fishing related stories for print publications and websites. Of all fishing, angling for smallmouth bass is his favorite pastime. He may be reached for assignment at darlblack@windstream.net.

 

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