I am going to take two steps forward and one back with this article. I know I just got done talking to you about the transition from hunting season to spring fishing. But, there is one last hunting opportunity here in Texas that comes at the same transitional time. Spring turkey season! I am not talking about shooting turkeys out of the deer blind in the winter. You all know the anxious feeling you get while waiting for a buck; the cold sets in, the sun is coming up fast and the deer are leaving the feeder but there is a few turkeys hanging around so naturally, one might take a leave.
Well, this is completely different. This is the time of year when the Rio Grande turkey is on full display. Toms will begin gobbling and strutting to attract a hen at the peak of mating season. If you haven’t had a chance to witness this, I will tell you, it’s an impressive thing to watch, but are not easy to approach! Turkeys have exceptional eye sight. With vision nearly 360 degrees, imaging over twice as sharp as humans and a reaction time that will certainly leave you behind. All this makes for a much more difficult hunt than most expect. The preferred hunting method by most hunters is by shotgun or bow. I am a shotgun hunter. Mainly because I like to increase my odds of success, but like most men, I enjoy the excitement of shooting.
Probably the most important part is the most obvious. Find an area where you know turkeys populate. Cover and concealment is crucial! Like I mentioned, they can and will see any movement you make. I prefer to hunt without a “pop up” blind, using only the natural landscape. Set up next to a tree or brushy area, grab some branches and make a hasty blind that looks somewhat natural but will conceal you as much as possible. Make sure to cover your face with paint or a camo mask. Now comes the fun part. I like to set out some turkey decoys to draw some good attention. Turkey calls have several good options. The box call, friction call, and the mouth diaphragm calls. For the beginner I recommend the box call but when you get more experienced, the diaphragm is the go-to. This will help free up both hands to be quicker on the shot as well as minimize your movement. Once you get more experienced it becomes a lot of fun to practice your calls and see how the turkeys react. When you start calling, sooner or later, they will start calling back at you to find your location. Soon, they will make their approach to the decoys and from there, the rest is up to you! If you manage to make a successful call and bag a Tom, congratulations! This is a great moment for a cigar and some bourbon neat. Pack it just in case.
My wife and I have the opinion that wild turkey meat is extremely underrated. Denise is the best wild game cook I know and if you’ve shared a meal at our home I am certain you will agree. She may not have ever written a recipe down but I like that about her, it’s all by and with her heart. Two of my family’s favorite recipes are Chicken Fried Turkey Breast and Turkey Leg Carnitas. She pairs the Chicken Fried Turkey Breast with mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans, and the magic ingredient is her homemade venison bone broth that she uses to make the most incredible gravy.
Wild turkey legs can be a challenge to cook and often get tossed because they tend to be tough when not cooked properly. We have experimented with them a few different ways, as we are determined to use ALL the parts of the turkey. Turkey Leg Carnitas with her homemade Pico and Guacamole is where it’s at! She slow cooks the turkey legs for over 12 hours so that all the tough connective tissues and cartilage breakdown resulting in the most delicious meat. She then drains the extra juices (saves them for dipping) and then heats up a cast iron to sear the meat to perfection until a little crispy. Top your favorite tortillas or tostada shells with a portion of the meat and add some Queso Fresco, homemade Guacamole, pico de gallo, squeeze a little lime juice and finish it off with some diced jalapenos and cilantro. We like to pair the Carnitas with homemade cream corn and sautéed Shishito Peppers, lightly salted with a squeeze of lime juice.
There are several options for taxidermy if you are interested. Some might just prefer to pull a few feathers out to stick in your straw or felt lid but it’s worth checking into your mounting options. This is an extremely beautiful bird! Reach out to Andrew Usher with 4:19 Taxidermy for some ideas 210-608-0875
If you are looking for an opportunity to hunt this bird but are unable to gain access to any land, don’t be discouraged. There are several outfitters that can help for a fee.
My personal friend and one of the most well-known waterfowl hunting guides in the South Texas area, Luke Bledsoe with Speck Ops Waterfowl can help you out! This is the most energetic guy in the business! You will leave ready to book your next trip which might be the Sandhill Crane or even the Speckled Belly goose. Look him up on Instagram @speck_ops or give him a ring 830-688-3641. Tell him Jed sent ya!
