Wild Turkey

Springtime often means turkey hunting, but that doesn’t mean coyotes get a free pass.

Almost 40 percent of the United States is thirsty, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with lack of rain and snow contributing to a mounting problem. The USDM, located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says approximately 38.4 percent of the country including Alaska, Hawaii and the Puerto Rico territory currently is affected by the ongoing drought. Seems difficult to imagine Alaska or Hawaii not having enough snow or rain, but parts of each state are having issues. Deer and other wildlife may be feeling the impacts of the drought gripping much of the United States. (Photo courtesy iStock) On the mainland, there's less rain and snow along the West Coast and parts of the western mountain ranges, and little rain in the Southwest and Southeast. All this presents potential problems with more wildfires like those last year in southern California and impacts on winter crops. The drought also can impact vegetation needed by wildlife, such as mast-producting trees and seed-bearing plants. Remember that whole "circle of life" thing from elementary school? That's in play here, too. Lack of water can reduce forage, which impacts big and small game, the latter of which can impact predators, and in areas where streams, creeks or smaller rivers dry up the animals begin roaming to search for water. Or they die. Maybe both. Drought also obviously affects aquatic creatures and fish, too. What does it matter? It matters a lot for economics and the environment in the country. More rain, or normal rain, would be the best scenario. How about deer, turkeys, predators and other wildlife? Deer in several states including Ohio, West Virginia, parts of eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee and others experienced some deaths from epizootic hemorrhagic disease last summer. It's a common disease in the whitetail world, and we usually see more of it in drought years. We haven't seen any other news about drought-related wildife problems yet but are monitoring the situation.

"It's hard to tell whether a turkey at a grave site is meant as a companion, a snack, or a status symbol, but any of those options elevate the turkey above an ordinary bird," says Aurelie Manin, an archaeologist at the University of York.

144 turkey loads through two barrels and four different choke tubes later, the new Mossberg 500 FLEX is ready to rock.

A late-season turkey hunt in the Centennial State provides this father-and-son duo with memories that will last a lifetime.

Public-land birds get savvy in a hurry. Check out these tips on how to make the best of your deek setup.

Sometimes it pays to break your own rules. In the case of this Texas turkey hunt, the toms were super vocal and the hens tight-lipped. So Bowhunting World editor Jace Bauserman called an audible.

Follow along as the author pursues his dreams of harvesting the elusive Osceola turkey and hitting a turkey-hunting grand slam.

Hunting Old Mexico on your own? Are you nuts??

Looking for a new turkey-hunting challenge? Try floating down a river.

How to keep a wary bird from leaving before it ever gets near your setup.

Wild turkeys are fascinating creatures. Here are 10 facts you may not know about Meleagris gallopavo.

Shooting a turkey should be so easy, but often it’s not.

Want a reasonably priced, high-success rate turkey hunt both you and your spouse can enjoy? This is the place.

Are you ready for turkey season? Learn how to best guide in gobblers this season from these three turkey-calling experts.

When bowhunting turkey, you’ll be more successful if you can understand their language.

Ten months prior to the author killing his biggest turkey in more than two decades of chasing Toms, he transformed a leftover food plot into a gobbler hangout.