Tracking the Elusive Gobbler

By T. Henry Camp | Monday, May 13, 2002

What do turkey hunters do during the off-season? They attend turkey hunting events!

Nowhere do more of these events take place than in the deep South. Fortunately, I was home in Georgia during winter term this year and attended two of these spectacles. For one who had just taken up the sport like myself, these events spurred my interest, and for the seasoned hunter, they entail more than enough to assuage any pangs of withdrawal. And now with turkey season upon us, my experiences have heightened my anticipation, enhanced my knowledge, and increased my appreciation of this most American bird.

My first jaunt came on the heels of a weekend visit to see a friend at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. These boys know their gobblers, so I was delighted when they invited me to accompany them one morning to the Turkey-RAMA. We made the brief drive north to Perry and the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Perry consists of the fairgrounds, a boulevard named for the powerful state legislator who brought the fairgrounds to town, but not much else. Enthusiastic locals waved us through the gates, where we parked in a semi-orderly fashion among thousands of glistening Chevy 2500s and Ford F-250s. The noise from the Flowmaster exhaust systems and the license plates advertising favorite NASCAR drivers overwhelmed my eyes and ears. I might as well have been at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

We entered the first building and found some outfitters, the Fish-A-RAMA, and other eclectic exhibits. Mothers and fathers snaked through the grid-like arrangement while the kids enthusiastically tested their luck by wetting a hook in the giant portable pool filled with catfish, largemouth bass, and bream. For the seasoned veterans, trophy-winning expert instructors gave sessions offering tips and techniques. In one corner of the room sat the official truck of the 'Mossy Oak Team.' The signature Mossy Oak camouflage pattern covered the entire exterior of this Super-Duty rig. Inside, custom camo-stained wood panelling replaces the passe. One can only pause and think of the hunts this beast has completed. Breathtaking.

Now to the real turkey hunting. We crossed a courtyard where several carnival type activities and concessions operate to amuse any non-hunters. Then we enter anothered of the nondescript warehouse structures. The near-deafening sound of hundreds of turkey calls bounced harshly off the cheap metal walls. 'Where's my shotgun when I need it? I've never heard so many turkeys in my life,' I exclaimed.

The discordant chirps, putts, and gobbles sounded like Mozart to these turkey hunters, but the instruments of this orchestra consisted of hand-made box calls, mouth calls, locator calls, and slate calls. Grown men excitedly jumped from one table to the next to hear slight variations in calls. As I walked by a bearded gentleman sitting on a stool, he lurched forward with eyes bulging, 'Whoo Whoo Whooooow!' shrieking from his owl locator call.

A few weeks after attending Turkey-RAMA, fate found me in eastern Georgia for a weekend. As I ate lunch along the Savannah River, an advertisement caught my eye. My afternoon plans would change as I took a pilgrimage across to Edgefield, South Carolina. In addition to boasting Strom Thurmond as its native son, Edgefield also houses the National Wild Turkey Federation headquarters.

The one hundred acre site consists of all of the Federation's offices, presses, and distribution. The Outdoor Education Center covers most of the actual space and demonstrates ecologically-sound food plots, nature trails, and turkeys. Back at the compound one sees a life-size bronze sculpture of three generations of hunters returning together from the hunt—a tribute to this wholesome, familial sport. Inside the main structure, a conference room hosts seminars, such as the national call-off that allows many of the best callers in the country to compete. Signature Wild Turkey Federation custom shotguns line the lodge type walls.

A wonderful museum also chronicles the history of all five species of North American wild turkey, including its spectacular comeback, a result of the efforts of the Federation and others. The highlight exhibit is the 'morning hunt simulation,' which begins in a darkened room that slowly comes to life as the sun rises, landscape appears, and wildlife stir.

This shrine to the wild turkey symbolizes one of the greatest partnerships between hunting and conservation. The numbers tell the story: The number of wild turkeys in North America had dwindled to about 1.3 million at its founding of the Federation in 1973. Now over 5.6 million of these birds strut across the land. The Federation has spent over $150 million on its conservation and re-habitation efforts. Simultaneously, its membership (consisting almost entirely of turkey hunters) has mushroomed from 1,300 to 390,000. From it hunter safety efforts to its habitat enhancement programs to its benevolent 'Wheelin' Sportsmen' club for the handicapped, this highly progressive organization proves that hunters truly do make the best environmentalists.

These events may have whetted my appetite more than they tided me over—for the sound of a gobbler at five A.M. as the mist rises over the Upper Valley remains the best way to experience the North American wild turkey. So purchase your license, find some gear, and head for the woods, because turkey season runs from May 3 through May 31 in the Granite State.

Still have questions? Contact Bait and Bullet at Dartmouth or consult www.nwtf.org for further information.

Tracking the Elusive Gobbler

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