Tricks of the Trade

EDITOR'S NOTE: Two of the fastest-growing sports in America today -- turkey hunting and black-powder hunting -- add a new dimension to both these sports. Combining these two sports also tests the mettle of the hunter more since he must be very precise, give forethought to the sport and employ all his woodsmanship skills for success. Black-powder hunting for turkeys also provides an added challenge and makes the trophy far more valuable and more exciting to hunt than when you utilize conventional weapons.

Turkey hunting by its very nature is a difficult sport. The birds often can be hard to find, difficult to call and practically impossible to get in close enough for a shot. Here's some tricks of the trade to help you be more successful.

Reducing Misfires -- One of the worst things that ever can happen to a turkey hunter who uses black powder is to find a gobbling bird, call that turkey up, have him within range, squeeze the trigger and have a misfire. However, you can reduce the chances of a misfire. Before you go out in the morning, after loading your black-powder gun, remove the nipple. and pour a few grains of powder down the nipple hole. Then take your nipple pick, and clean the nipple one more time to make sure you have a clear channel for the fire from the cap to go down the nipple and ignite the powder. Next place a small plastic ring called a cap guard over the cap, which secures the cap to the nipple.

Understanding Your Effective Range With Black Powder -- When calling up a turkey you plan to take with a conventional shotgun, you'll usually think your maximum effective range, even with a 3-inch magnum 12-gauge, is 35 yards. However, most turkey hunters won't take their shots unless they see birds at 30 yards or less. Many black-powder turkey hunters like to apply this same extra 5-yard-measuring device.

Even if a hunter knows he's deadly effective at 30 yards with his black-powder gun, he will prefer the turkey to be at 25 yards or less. You also don't want to try to bag birds with a black-powder gun at too close a range, for instance 12 yards. The pattern on your shotgun won't have the opportunity to spread out as much at that close range.

Always wait for a clean shot on the head and neck area. If the turkey doesn't present that clean shot, then don't take a shot. But, remember, if you're waiting for a perfect shot, many times the turkey will see you and run off before you get that perfect shot. Once the gobbler is within that 25 yards where you've decided to take him, then take the shot when he sticks his head up and presents a shot.

Realizing The Precision and Thought Involved In Black-Powder Turkey Hunting -- Black-powder hunting for gobblers isn't that much different from conventional shotgun hunting for turkeys. The primary differences include:

* you must formulate your own shot.
* more chances exist that something can go wrong.
* you usually have to let the bird get closer than you do with a conventional shotgun.
* you have to be able to solve the problem of cocking the hammer.
* you have to be conscious of keeping your powder dry.
* you must have a checklist you go through every morning before you hunt: are you loading properly; do you have the right amount of powder; have you seated the shot cup properly; have you put in the proper amount of shot; have you put in the overshot patch; have you cleaned the nipple and added additional powder; have you put on the nipple protector; have you put on the barrel protector; have you got speedloaders on hand loaded with the proper amount of shot and powder; do you have extra caps; do you have extra shot cups and patches; do you have your possibles tool; do you have the accessories you need in the field if something goes wrong with your gun?

Often you may be the only black-powder hunter present in your turkey camp. Usually the other hunters will start telling you why you won't be successful taking a turkey with a black-powder gun. However, if you're fortunate enough to bag a bird with your black-powder gun, then many of those same skeptics may decide to take up the challenge of trying to bag a bird with black powder.

To learn more about CVA's black-powder guns, call (770) 449-4687; email info@cva.com; or, see the catalogue online.

To learn more about hunting turkeys, go to Night Hawk's home page, and click on books to find out information about John Phillips' three turkey-hunting books: "The Masters' Secrets of Turkey Hunting," "Outdoor Life's Complete Turkey-Hunting Book" and "Turkey Tactics." Call (800) 627-4295 to order.