March 1, 2017

Finding Somewhere to Hunt on 2017’s Opening Day

TGroves_day3_hdr

I’d identified a place last year, made a note of it and marked the spot where I saw a turkey run across the road on one of my scouting trips before opening day. I’d never heard a turkey gobble in this place, never had seen one there and never had spotted a vehicle parked in this location. But I watched a turkey cross the road there, and I was very amazed. Previously I’d never seen any reason to hunt there.

However, I knew the turkey I saw wasn’t a mirage. The next morning was the opening day of the season. When I parked on the side of the road, the turkeys in that region were already gobbling no more than 100 yards from my truck. I only took one turkey out of that spot because in Maryland you only can take two turkeys in the spring, if you don’t take a turkey in the fall.

On the morning of 2016 that I took my gobbler, I called in six gobblers, harvested one and left five. I called in one turkey for another hunter with me, and he bagged his gobbler. Now the good news about that spot was that I knew no other hunter had seen my truck, since I hadn’t heard anyone’s vehicle coming down the road. I wasn’t concerned about leaving those other gobblers to hunt this year (2017). I went into that area a week ago, in February, 2017, looking for sheds and spooked a flock of turkeys, with four jakes and two longbeards in it. I feel confident I can go to that location on opening morning, 2017, take a tom and get out of there before anyone spots my truck.

Day 2: Picking a Place for an Opening Morning Public Land Hunt

Tomorrow: Hunting the 1,000 Yard Toms

Remembering J.J. Kent, Mossy Oak ProStaffer

J.J. Kent has been a member of the Mossy Oak ProStaff since 2011. We are saddened that his life ended much too soon. The week of his passing, we posted a blog series about him and his many hunting endeavors. We will always appreciate J.J.'s passion and dedication to the outdoors. We know he affected many lives for the outdoors and truly loved hunting and guiding hunters.

Small Game, Waterfowl, Mossy Oak

Latest Content

Duck Hunting Rice Fields in Arkansas: The Rich History and Modern Strategies

Although mallards had been descending on the bottomland hardwoods, bayous, and swamps of Arkansas long before the 20th century, the legend of duck hunting in the natural states tends to coincide with the advent of rice farming.

Waterfowl, Mossy Oak Companions, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers

Toxey Haas's Tips for Brushing in a Duck Blind

Toxey Haas loves to hunt ducks. In these videos, he takes us through his essential kit for brushing in and repairing a duck blind as well as how he prepares his duck blinds every year.

Waterfowl, How-To

Mossy Oak's Woodsman Series is Back

The Mossy Oak Woodsman Series is Back. Rooted in everything core hunters expected from us in the early days, the Woodsman collection is thoughtfully designed, constructed with quality materials, quiet fabrics, sturdy stitching and of course, our timeless camouflage patterns. We're proud to celebrate the core of hunting, woodsmanship, and with seasonal collections on the horizon, we're excited to open the archives, add a few things and re-introduce these classic designs. The Mossy Oak Woodsman

Turkey, Big Game, Small Game, Deer, Waterfowl, Predator, Conservation, Land Management, Gear, Mossy Oak

From the Archive: Deer Calling Tips from the Pros

Originally published in the 1994 Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine, this article talks to professionals like Will Primos on calling in deer.

Deer

How a Fistful of Dirt Started a Revolution

"That day was the beginning of a revolution in hunter concealment. It was the beginning of Mossy Oak, America's most effective concealment system."

Turkey, Deer

From the Archive: Ask the Pros! Mossy Oak Experts Answer Key Questions

"Pay attention as Mossy Oak Pro Staffers Will Walker, Mark Drury, Mike Fine and Stan Oakes--archery hunting's A Team--delve deep into the sport for insight and info that only they can provide."

Deer, Bow

From the Archives: Tune-Up Clinic

Originally published in the 1994 edition of Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine, this article discusses how to make sure your bowhunting set up is perfect come season.

Big Game, Deer, Bow

From the Archives: Bob Dixon and Steve Burnett on the Art of Mix and Matching Camo

By Terry Madewell, originally published in the 1994 edition of Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine As big whitetail bucks are inclined to do, this one had done the unexpected. I'd studied this buck's pattern for a couple of weeks, being extremely careful not to leave any scent in the wrong places. I'd selected a stand site where the dense underbrush funneled into a 40-yard-wide strip. I was sure this was where he would walk and I

Turkey, Big Game, Deer, Waterfowl, Predator, How-To

Fall Foraging: Nuts, Mushrooms, and Fruit

Check out Mossy Oak's foraging mushrooms, nuts and fruit post and learn why fall is the easiest time to forage for Beka Garris.

How-To, Ingredient Wild

How to Use onX to Map Out Your Rut Hunting Plans

Here’s a look at how to use onX Hunt to map out your rut hunting plans in the weeks ahead.

Deer, Land Management, How-To

Field Judging Black Bears

Ask any experienced hunter and they’ll tell you that black bears are among the most difficult big game animals to field judge. Part of that is because they’re far less common than deer, so hunters just don’t get much experience seeing them. And part is just the nature of the beast. Any large, black carnivorous animal will look big, especially if you don’t have something for scale nearby.

Big Game, How-To

Black Bear Season Primer

Hunting tactics can be broken down into several schools of thought. Here's a 101-style overview on what to expect this fall if you're bear hunting for the first time.

Big Game, How-To

Explore All Posts