Turkey Season Preparation and other "Off-Season" Options

As we reluctantly say good bye to deer and duck season, it's time to start gearing up and looking forward to turkey season. In this post, we're going to talk about just that; preparing for turkey season, what sort of opportunities may be available, and any alternative options for those that are either unable to put in the time, or just don't turkey hunt.

  For those that don't already know, there are five different subspecies of wild turkey: the Osceola, the Eastern, the Rio Grande, the Merriam, and the Oscillated. Osceola's are the smaller of the bunch and are only located in South Florida, they look very similar to the Eastern which is much more widespread. The Eastern is perhaps the most common of the subspecies ranging all over the United States and even parts of Canada. Merriam's are located throughout the Rocky Mountains and tend to have beautiful white tips on their tail feathers, they are probably one of the more easily recognized subspecies. Rio's , as they're called have perhaps one of the more diverse habitats, ranging from the continental climate in Kansas, all the way down to the subtropical climate of South Texas and Mexico. Finally, the Oscillated, perhaps the most colorful yet definitely the strangest of the subspecies, it has multiple colors ranging from blueish purples, to aquamarine colored greens. The Oscillated turkey can only be found in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and is perhaps one of the more challenging birds to hunt.
  I myself am fairly new to turkey hunting, but I'm going to share as much as I can and hopefully something may stick and help you harvest that bird of a lifetime. First off, unlike deer and hogs, turkeys see in full color, so good concealment is a must, but even more so, their eyesight is nearly unparalleled so it is imperative that you remain motionless if possible. Today, there's been many successful hunter's that throw caution to the wind and crawl across a field behind a fan and end up having big Tom's come running to them. Honestly, I've never tried this but I would love to one day, this season my challenge is to take one with my bow and I think that's enough to hope for in itself.
 Setting up: If you plan to hunt out of a blind, I suggest you get it set out sooner than later and get it brushed in well, otherwise, find yourself a tree to sit against, grab some branches and conceal yourself. you want to put your decoys 15-30 yards away from you and off to the side from where you think the birds will come out, the reason why is to limit the chances of being spotted. I know many older toms get weary so a piece of fishing line tied to a decoy may add that little bit of stimulus needed to bring him in.
 Calling: One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is over-calling. Turkeys have a phenomenal ability to pinpoint the exact location of where the calls are coming from. If you start your yelping and get an instant gobble, settle in and get ready because he is most likely on his way. If you don't know where the birds are, a crow or owl call will work as a "locator call". Hit the call and listen for a gobble, then head towards him. If he's responding, I personally wouldn't hit the crow call more than three times before setting up. Purrs, clucks, cuts, and the classic yelp alone are really all you need to bring in that gobbler, so practice up and get ready for opening day.
 Opportunities: Unfortunately, we don't all have access to private land to hunt on, but luckily, there are plenty of options. Wildlife Management Areas provide many great opportunities, check online or with your local Wildlife office to find out where you can hunt and what your options are. You can also look into hiring an outfitter, without being able to put in the time to scout, this may be your best option, however, make sure you shop around and find out what fits your budget best. Finally, farmland, no matter where you are, I'm sure there's an agricultural field or ranch close by, you can always ask the land owner for permission. When you meet with him/her, make sure you're respectful, polite, and well dressed; even if they say no, leave a card or your contact information, and thank them for their time. You never know, they may change their mind later or give you a call once deer season comes around.

Other Off-Season Options
You can get a head start on your scouting for the next deer season, and potentially set yourself up for greater success by going shed-hunting, it gets you out in the woods and you never know you may find something you missed last season. You can also plant a food plot to provide a source of nutrients for your deer during the summer months when their antler growth is just beginning. Lay out minerals, supplements, and set up a feeder if need be. Companies like Advanced Wildlife Solutions, spend countless hours of research to provide us with products that get results. Who knows, you may see that buck you passed this season, and with proper nutrition and minerals, I guarantee he'll be even better next season.

Thank you for reading, I honestly can't tell y'all how much I appreciate the support. Please feel free to check out my Instagram and let me know what you think, what topic you would like to see next, ect.
Thank you again for your time, good luck this season, and God bless!

-Chris Johnson

"Under-promise and Over-deliver"

  If you've read my following posts, then you know that I'm currently in the process of following my dream to become a major name in the outdoor industry; and although I haven't "made it" yet, I would like to share with you what I've learned so far, what I hope to accomplish, and I'd like to overall help others trying to accomplish the same goal in anyway I can.

  First and foremost is to "stay true to yourself, and always under-promise and over-deliver", many successful people in the industry stand by this phrase, and for me, it really hit as a driving force to help accomplish my goal. You can't accomplish what you don't have the means to see through. What I mean by that, is don't claim that your going to advertise a company on TV, on your website, etc., when you don't even have a video camera, let alone your own show and website. When you become fortunate to have a company claim you as one of their own, that company has put it's faith in you, so don't make them regret their decision by poor representation. Also, once you have become a part of a company, it's probably best to delete that video you took of that wet t-shirt contest down in Key West. Why? Because no respectable company wants to be associated with reckless immaturity, so delete the red solo cup pics you took in high school, and be cautious of what you post throughout social media, because in today's day and age, nothing is private anymore.
  You have to remain professional in every aspect, that doesn't mean not to have fun, but be aware that you are now perceived as a representative of that company, so how you act can have either a positive or negative impact on your relationship with that company. As the title states, under-promise and over-deliver.
  When I was first beginning to get picked up by companies, I didn't have this blog, any sort of private land, website, magazine, or any connections in the industry; all I had was a decent camera, a Facebook, an Instagram, and a passion for the outdoors, that's it. Luckily for me, all they wanted from me was to take some pictures for them to use, and spread the word about their website, so that's what I did, as payment, I got free merchandise and publicity which in my opinion was way more than I thought I deserved, not that I did a bad job, but it seemed like such a minuscule thing to me, but that kick-start from my photos helped launch that company into becoming one of the most recognized brands in Florida (The Local Brand). Another company (Down To Hunt Apparel) approached me and asked me to do the same thing for them, so I did, both companies were apparel companies, but they targeted different styles, so there was no competition between them. When I got picked up by Advanced Wildlife Solutions (4sWildlife), they gave me a list of guidelines to follow, and what they expected from me, on the list was exclusive use of their products, meaning I wasn't able to use competitors products or become a representative of a competing company. I was listed as a "Promotional Staff" member for Camoed Obsessions under the premise of representing their new scent line, as soon as I agreed, they launched a new product that would make them a competitor for 4sWildlife, so I dropped them. The reason behind my decision was simple, 4sWildlife was a major company that had shown me the most respect and believed in me before I became associated with other companies, they trusted me, and there was no way I was about to violate that trust. As I write this, I still don't think either company knows that I did what I did, Camoed Obsessions seemed to label anyone and everyone as "Pro-Staff" so I don't think they even noticed I left, but I made a promise to 4sWildlife, and I kept it, I stayed true to my word, and in this industry, that means more than anything.

  If you're truly wanting to get into this industry, I highly suggest getting yourself a copy of "Hunting Dream Jobs" by Brenda Potts and Allie Armstrong. It is a phenomenal book and an absolutely invaluable tool to help you better comprehend and understand what those who have already made it in the industry have accomplished to get them to where they are today.

This link below will take you to another article on this topic written by Stephanie Mallory and the folks over at Realtree, it gives you just a little insight on what it takes to get started and what a job in the industry entails.
http://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/articles/how-to-get-a-job-in-the-outdoor-industry

I hope this helped, and I can promise that as I continue to grow in this industry, I will continue to share with y'all my experiences and any lessons I've learned. Thank you for reading, and God Bless!

-Chris Johnson

Welcome to Johnson Outdoors

 I apologize for the delay in the introduction, I tend to get ahead of myself at times. My name is Chris Johnson, and the main reason for this blog is to provide you with tips, tricks, stories, and whatever else seems to come to my mind pertaining to the outdoors and hunting. It's been a dream of mine to make a major name for myself in the outdoor industry, and that's what I aim to do. However, I know the challenges are going to be difficult, and trying to juggle my dream and my career are going to be near impossible, but with the support I've been getting from my friends and family, and a few influential people I've met along the way, I don't see how I can fail.

  I've been fortunate enough to grow up in sunny South Florida, where you can wake up early in the morning, go kill a limit of ducks, hook up the boat, throw out a live bait, and catch a sailfish around midday, and still be able to make it back out to the woods to harvest a hog. Now, obviously that's a bit extreme, but you get my point. I've been fishing since I could hold my Batman fishing rod, and according to my parents, I've been chasing bucks since I was in diapers, (but that's a story for another time). I went on my first hunt and watched my dad kill a hog and a spike when I was six, killed my first deer when I was eight, and I have been catching kingfish and dolphin for longer than I care to remember. At eighteen, I graduated high school in 2009 and joined the United States Coast Guard; I've been in for over six years and don't intend to get out for another fourteen.

  This past year, I made the decision that I needed to go out and actually do something if I was going to ever follow my dream, so I did. I emailed countless companies, and applied from multiple Pro-Staff positions. In most cases it came down to, I didn't have TV show, magazine, or private land for them to utilize, so they kicked me aside (if they even responded at all). Through support from my friends and family, I kept on trying, determined I was going to follow my dream. Finally, I had gotten word of an up and coming clothing and apparel brand that was starting to make a name for themselves, The Local Brand. I emailed them and asked if they were planing on starting a Pro-Staff and if so, did they have any positions open. I got a response! They wrote me back and saying "Absolutely!" After talking with the owner for a good while, I found out that I had went to school with his younger brother, and that the younger brother had vouched for me before I even sent the email! With my first official sponsor, and place on a Pro-Staff team, I began to take photos with my camera, using them as a catalyst to draw attention to the brand I now represented. I began to act in a more professional manner, this drew the attention of another up and coming apparel company, Down To Hunt Outdoor Apparel. They asked me if I was interested in joining their team, without hesitation I said yes. Not even a week later I gained the attention of my first well established company, Advanced Wildlife Solutions (4sWildlife). They had seen how I had implemented a mineral site on my hunting lease and asked if I would be interested in the Pro-Staff program; I, of course, answered with a resounding "Yes!" With three companies calling me their own, I began to use their products, I told my friends, and their friends, and honestly just about anyone who would listen about these awesome companies and their products. Then something unexpected happened! Florida Camo, a company I had tried to join before (and gotten no response) asked me if I was still interested in becoming a member of their Pro-Staff, as you can guess my answer was another resounding, yes! I began deleting old stupid pictures I had posted in the past, and began to network with other hunters in other states, hunters that had already began to make a name for themselves in the industry that I so desperately want to be apart of. It ended up helping my out majorly. I learned videography tricks from Chad Parker of Crazy On Outdoors, I learned about maintaining professionalism, and thanks to Lauren Murrell and Mike Massey of The Outsiders TV, I was afforded the opportunity to apply for a Field-Staff position with Dead Ringer Hunting, and I was accepted!

  Some wouldn't see these small goals as a victory because I still haven't "made it", but to me, I've accomplished way more than I ever dreamed possible a year and a half ago, and I don't have any intentions of stopping. That's the main driving force behind this blog, I want to share my journey with you, I want to keep meeting new people in the industry, and if/when I'm fortunate enough to "make it", I want to be able to help others do the same thing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog, if you'd like to checkout any of these amazing companies I've mentioned and their products, their websites are listed below. Again, thank you so much for your support, good luck on the rest of your hunting season, and God bless!

-Chris Johnson



Dead Ringer Hunting
www.deadringerhunting.com

Advanced Wildlife Solutions
www.4swildlife.com

The Local Brand
www.localbrandonly.com

Florida Camo
www.fl-camo.com

Down To Hunt Outdoor Apparel
www.downtohunt.com (website is currently down)

Public Land Hunting Ethics

  First and foremost, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this blog, I hope you will find the information helpful and applicable to wherever you live.

  It seems these days there is a lot of confusion, or perhaps just a lack of caring, on the proper ethics we as hunters need to follow on the public land areas we hunt. More and more often, I continue to hear stories of how someone has taken the time to scout out a new area before season, set up trail cameras, hung treestands, and cut shooting lanes, only to find out on opening day that there are three to four people hunting right on top of them. Whether its a lack of communication with our fellow hunters, or a lack of respect for the hard work someone has put in, I will never know. I can only hope that it comes with others simply not knowing any better.
 On one of the forums I'm apart of, I recently saw a question posed about what they should do when they come to a ribbon marker on a trail or in an area they intended on hunting. I was appalled to find out that the general consensus on the topic was to remove the ribbon, with the reasoning being "it's public land, there's too many markers, who cares". Fact of the matter is that ribbon markers alone can have multiple reasons for why they're there; whether it's for marking a trail to a treestand, marking a tree for a logging company, marking a property boundary, the uses are endless. Personally, I leave the marker alone, not everyone knows their way around the woods, so to remove what may possibly be the only way they know how to get in and out, you've basically caused them to get lost; all because "it's public land". If there's a marker where you intended to hunt, then by all means, leave the marker alone, and continue on your way to the area you want to hunt, if someone is already there, then quietly back out, and go to another area. There's no reason to ruin someone else's hunt, simply because they got up earlier than you did.
  When I was just starting out hunting public land, I ended up learning this lesson the hard way. I had done my scouting, sat a few areas where there was an abundance of sign, and set up my dad's aluminum Amacker climber on a tree where I was certain I was going to see some action. After a few days of hunting that area, I had a group of hogs come in about a hundred yards out, so the next morning, I moved out 100 yards to the area where I had seen them. I hunted that afternoon and left the stand out there to return the following days after work. As soon as I got to where I was going to hunt, I realized, my stand wasn't there! I looked up and down on every tree, praying I was off on where I thought I was, and then I saw it. On the tree I had my climber on, there were the teeth marks from where I had climbed up and down, and there on the ground were tire tracks running right to that tree. Someone had stolen my stand.
I learned a valuable lesson that day, always lock up your treestands when leaving them on public land. I know that times have certainly changed, words like honor and integrity, qualities that were once a major part of how we lived our lives have become very hard to come by; but that's the world we live in. If you come across a treestand in the woods, just leave it be. Don't get me wrong, I've been guilty of climbing up in someone's stand just to see what they look at, but afterwards, I climb down and move on. This has also been a topic of discussion on many forums across the internet, on whether or not it is ethical to hunt another person's treestand. Personally, I leave the stand alone unless I have talked with the owner of the treestand and he/she has given me specific permission to hunt it. Something you may want to think about doing, leave your name and number on the stand, that way if someone were to find it, they have the option to call and ask your permission to hunt it. Now, I know that isn't the most popular choice, but it is an option; and in my opinion, it's better than either a.) walking out to your stand just to find someone sitting in it, or b.) finding out someone tampered with or moved your stand.

  Now that I've covered a few deer/hog hunting ethics as pertaining to treestands and marking "secret spots", lets talk about duck hunting.
I'm new to the duck hunting world myself, but in this short amount of time, I have learned so much about proper ethics and I feel the need to share them here as well.
When you take a shot, you want to make sure that it will be the best possible shot you can make. That's why its imperative that you don't "Skybust". What is skybusting? It's where you take "pot-shots" at ducks that are flying too high and/or out of range. Most shotguns shoot 50 yards or less, so you owe it to yourself and the game you pursue, not to take these type of shots. Best case scenario is that you'll miss and scare away any birds that may have come in to your decoys, worst case, you hit and wound one, just to have it fall hundreds of yards away from you to where you will never be able to recover it. Plainly stated, don't do it.
  Decoys; if you are not apart of the group that set out the decoys, don't hunt near them! I've heard countless veteran duck hunters complain about someone using their decoys to shoot at birds that otherwise would've been theirs. It's simple, you didn't buy them, you didn't set them out, you don't hunt over them. While we're on the topic, say you weren't paying attention and a couple ducks landed in the decoys; nothing wrong with that at all, in fact, take pride in the effectiveness of your setup, but please, don't shoot the decoys just to get the duck. Nowadays a dozen decoys can run anywhere from sixty to well over a hundred dollars, one bird isn't worth it, just walk out and flush them up, and take your shot once they're clear of the decoys, it gives the duck a better chance and it's the more ethical way to duck hunt.
One major question that gets disputed over is, "who gets to shoot first?" I've ran into a few of these situations myself and after asking around, I have general sense of what's considered proper. Whoever spotted the duck first and has the best shot gets first shot with the others being as a follow up. If the duck lands, then it's whoever gets up to flush the duck that gets the first shot. Personally, when I'm among friends, it's whoever has the best shot and is fast on the trigger, it makes it more fun and all in all seems to be fairly effective.
I've also heard story after story of "stolen birds", where two people shot at the same duck and once it hits the water, it's a dispute over who's bird it is. No duck is worth a friendship, if you truly know deep down, that it is without a doubt your duck, then claim it, otherwise, let the other person have it. The way I see it, that's one less duck they can legally kill and as you begin to approach your limit, they will ultimately be sitting out before you do. There will always be more ducks, there will always be more hunts, don't let something small and petty ruin a friendship.

In closing, I just want to thank you for reading this post, I hope it was helpful or at the very least entertaining, thank you so much for your support and good luck on the rest of your hunting season!

-Chris Johnson