Southern Maine Turkey Expo Was a Blast!

Made the 2.5 hour drive to Kittery, Maine yesterday morning with my girlfriend, for the Spring Turkeyfest event. Got there at 9:00am and worked the floor for 9 straight hours without so much as a lunch break. I couldn't leave...it was too much fun!!!

I was there for 'Hunters Specialties' products & calls, working the slates, box & mouth calls, and had a blast just answering hunting related questions and 'Talkin' Turkey' I also met with Ameristep's regional sales guru, Chris Cobbett, who is also co-owner and co-host of "Northwoods Adventures TV with Nate & Chris", (seen weekly on The Sportsmans Channel, nationwide), and he gave me the heads-up on how I'd be working with him to do even more promotional shows and events coming up. We messed with some of the stores inventoried blinds, talked set-up on a few, and he introduced me to a 'Low Profile' chair-blind for turkey hunting. Even made a sale on a 'Tom Taker' blind myself.

Outside of chatting with folks all day long and demonstrating turkey calls with fellow HS Prostaffer Ken Fecteau, of New Hampshire, I got to spend some quality time with good friends Chris Parrish and Paul Butski. Chris is already heralded as quite probably the world's best and most-titled world champion turkey caller and believe me, he demonstrated his skills all day, as did Paul. I greatly enjoyed each one taking the time to give me tips & techniques on effective calling and how real hens really 'talk'. They even chose their favorite calls for me, from their respective lines, with instructions on how to get more from them....or any mouth call.

Also on hand was the Master himself, Mr.Will Primos. It was an honor to meet him and chat about what we were doing. Well...that's the latest. For more, see Ameristeps facebook page or vist my own! Happy Trails!

-Blaine Cardilli/ Ameristep Prostaff

He's Alive!!!

Hey Everyone wanted to share a photo of a buck I named crooked brow I got a picture of him in September in velvet and named him because of his crooked brow tine on his left side. I never seen him throughout the season and was afraid he could have died in hunting season but heard of no one killing anything where we hunt but me or he could have died in the hugh blizzard we got in Febuary. But I got some good news today when I got a trail cam pic of him and he still has both sides on his head which is strange cause of it being late March but I was very glad I know it is him cause on his left side his main beam comes up on his G4 plus of his width and not seeing his left brow tine sticking up making it Crooked Brow!! Im so happy he should be a great deer next year! Tell me what you think!

-Alec Nebel/Youth Pro Staff

Georgia Tag Stew

What can I say? Without bad luck, Rodney and I wouldn't have had any luck at all! Bad weather and tight-lipped birds makes for a tough hunt but all in all we had a good time, we were out hunting and that beats going to work any day! Everyone we talked to in the area was having the same problems that we were having. Made it back home yesterday and wouldn't you know, the Georgia weather turned out beautiful with temps back in the 70's and dry, just needed a little more time there.

Rodney will be headed here in two weeks to take each of our sons out for a gobbler then try our luck with our bows. Hopefully things will go a lot better for us here in Kansas than they did the past few days of the Georgia season. We will keep updates posted when the time comes. Hopefully everyone is doing well and wish everyone the best this season!

Clint Womeldorff - Ameristep Pro Staff

Georgia Turkey Hunt-Taggin Out Hunting

Hey all,

I hope this email finds you all fine and well. If you are turkey hunting or about to be turkey hunting we wish you all the best of luck.

This past weekend I was able to join my good long time high school buddy for a turkey hunt on his lease in S. Georgia. We had not hunted together since high school so that in itself was a real treat. Friday evening Dennis showed me the lay of the land and we quickly determined where we needed to be set up at. We set up the Ameristep Dominator blind in the middle of the field and went back for some good ol’ shut eye.

The morning found us sitting in that blind ready to go. I was talking to Dennis about how usually the birds do not fly from the roost until about 30 minutes after day break. We were in the blind moving about and eating pop tarts when Dennis moves to tell me there was a bird out in the field (10 minutes after day break). I looked up and without question we were busted with pop tarts in our hands. That bird landed at 70 yards and walked right on out of there. A little later we had another tom come out and even though he gobbled and strutted, he wouldn’t budge for that sexy little hen in the field. We decided to make a move to a different section of the field. After a short lunch. We re-set the decoy and got settled in. A short while later Dennis spotted a tom directly to the right of him. I quickly noticed that there were 2 toms and we had to move quickly to get in position. The toms started to walk away and at about 50 yards Dennis tried to harvest his first ever turkey. Two shots later the toms went a new direction. After a small amount of buddy to buddy razing some hens came into the field. Then some new birds caught our attention. 5 jakes were making their way towards the roost but I was able to call them from that. 20 minutes later 5 jakes made their destination to that cute little hen in the field. Dennis with a revenge attitude got in position and made shot 1. 2 birds fall and he quickly swung to the next bird and took it as well. Dennis was truly “Taggin Out!” He was a good bit of spoiled on his first turkey hunt. We know that it doesn’t go like that typically. 2 birds 4 1/4 inch and 1 bird double beards 3 inch and 3 1/4 inch. Birds between 15-17 pounds.


So then it was time to put the gun in a new set of hands. We went back to the same place and set up the following morning. After a few hours of nothing, the gut told me to pack it up and relocate. So we explored some new ground. We were walking along when I yanked Dennis down by the back of his collar. There was a tom about 70 yards ahead of us. We back up 20 yards, popped up the blind, and set the decoy. 10 minutes later guess who showed up? Yup. Tom did. I greeted Mr. Tom with a wad that bounce off his neck at about 12 yards. The footage is great. 9 1/2 inch beard with 1 1/8 inch hooks, 19-22 pounds.


All in all it was an excellent hunt and I look forward to going back again one day. I would like to thank the other lease members for letting me on their lease, Mr. Scott and Mr. Andrew for letting Dennis and I stay in their travel trailer, and the Kent Family for being wonderful hosts.

The dvd samples have been released for our first dvd, “Fillin Tags and Reachin Limits.” Soon we will be placing our order once the quality inspection is completed.

Have safe and enjoyable Turkey Season and/or Easter,

Team Eaton

Georgia Weather???

Finally got a break in the rain yesterday afternoon after a Georgia monsoon with a little bit of hail. Shortly after the sun broke, a strutter and a hen come out into the field along the fence line but couldn't get them to cooperate. We hit the same field this morning, but had to deal with below freezing temps and some snow mixed with sleet. Decided to give it up and hope for the best this afternoon. Rodney and I are getting a little frustrated, we can't seem to catch a break. Tomorrow is my last day here in Georgia so hopefully we can make something happen. Who knew Georgia could have this kind of weather in late March?

Clint Womeldorff - Ameristep Pro Staff

Spring Turkey-Fest is Here!

On March 27th, I'll be appearing at the Kittery Trading Post in southern Maine. Gonna work the floor, demo calls, and talk turkey for Hunters Specialties! Hope to also do a "meet-n-greet" with managers there to talk about upcoming promos for Ameristep now, too! I'll post back later with pics but I'm excited to share the floor with greats like Will Primos, Joe Judd of Quaker Boy, Jim Strelec, Paul Butski & World Champion caller Chris Parrish! Stay tuned for more and if you're in the neighborhood, swing by and say hello!

-Blaine Cardilli/ Ameristep Prostaff

Rain Out

Our luck hasn't changed... it actually is getting worse! lol Tried to set up on some hogs yesterday evening with our Ameristep blind, but they didn't read the script. No one else in camp had any luck either so we decided that the next morning we would go set up on some turkey that we saw from the road earlier in the afternoon.

We woke up this morning only to find out that mother nature has changed our plans... heavy rain. It should hopefully clear out by this afternoon (fingers crossed) and we will go after them, Rodney and I decided we are fair-weather hunters today! I guess this is why they call it hunting, can't control nature. Going to take what is handed to us and make the best of it.

Clint Womeldorff - Ameristep Pro Staff

Slow Morning

Well no luck so far... there wasn't much activity where Rodney and I were set up this morning and it was still a little cool. Headed to a different spot for this afternoon's hunt, might even get a crack at some hogs out of an Ameristep blind. Luckily, I left Kansas just in time. They are calling for 6-8 inches of snow today and tomorrow... highs in the 70's here in Georgia! Will post an update on this afternoon's hunt when we get back in.

Clint Womeldorff - Ameristep Pro Staff

First Turkey Hunt of 2010

Hey all,

I am waiting to board a flight here in Kansas City headed for Atlanta, Georgia. Fellow Pro-Staffer Rodney Evans will be waiting to pick me up in Atlanta and tomorrow morning we are headed out for the Georgia turkey opener. We will both be taking turns behind the camera and hunting, keep checking back because we will post updates as often as we can on our hunts and hopefully some picturs too! I am staying with Rodney until Tuesday so we should have plenty of time to take out a few thunder chickens. Wish us luck!

Clint Womeldorff - Ameristep Pro Staff

Turkey Hunting Problems and Possible Helps

PROBLEM:
Most hunters place decoys, (when gun hunting), at 25-30 yards; Gobbler hangs up out of gun range; what do you do?

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
Make sure you have good cover and place decoys at 12-15 yards instead. Who says they have to be farther out? Use a rangefinder and mark outlying trees; Gobblers that hung up 15 yards beyond your decoys before may now be in your effective range...even if they remain 15 yards 'hung up'. KEY: Don't sit directly behind decoys so turkeys look past it and catch you; place them to one side or the other; Take the focus off you.

PROBLEM:
You roosted turkeys the night before but when you walked in the following morning they had moved and you either bumped them walking in or found them too close...or too far away for your set-up; what do you do?

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
While there is no solution if you find this to be the case, learn from the mistake. Watch the weather channel in your area and watch for high winds or passing storms coming through. Many times turkeys will 'tree hop' during the night, during inclement weather, in an attempt to find a place more secluded & protected, out of the wind. One thing I do more now than I used to is roost birds at dawn instead of at night. By that I mean I drive to one of the spots I know holds turkeys, shut the truck off and get out and listen. When they start gobbling I can move in close enough to set up and call, especially if I'm familiar with these spots. It saves time and improves my success.

PROBLEM:
You have birds on the roost at dawn, they pitch down but the hens start leading them away; what do you do?

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
1) Start calling to the hens; if there's an Old Mama in the group she'll sass you. Mimic her calls to a 'T' but add more aggression and cut her off. Nine times out of 10 she'll head your way to pick a fight, bringing the gobblers along in tow.

2) Let's say the aggressive calling doesn't get a "boss hen response"; You better stop because the other insubordinate hens will be jealous and will quickly lead the toms away. If this is the case, try starting a fight. Thrash the leaves, snap a twig, and do some aggressive fighting purrs; keep it up and don't stop, and if you wish, toss in a jake gobble or two...but be safety minded if hunting public lands! This will often break a tom away and bring him straight to you. If none of these work, just let 'em go and reposition, but before you do, don't be afraid to be creative.

PROBLEM:
You called to a gobbler and he responded excitedly for the past hour but he's hung up and won't commit; what do you do?

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
If you know he just won't commit, you'll probably have to reposition, sneak up, and find out why. Oftentimes he's with hens and won't leave them...but is offering you an invitation; Other times he might have been headed your way but hit a barrier or obstacle like a fence, a creek, or a ditch. If there were no obstacles then repositioning just those few yards closer might put you in what we call his "comfort zone"; if it does, try calling again. He just might commit. If you find out he was blocked by an obstacle, make a mental note of it. A good turkey hunter learns by his mistakes and I now consult both top maps AND aerial photos of my hunting areas first...and then I put in the footwork through preseason scouting. Try it.

Hopefully these tips & scenarios will help you on your next hunt. Please feel free to give us feedback & comments here at Beyond the Blind, and check us out at Facebook. I'm running off at the mouth there alot! LOL! Happy Hunting!

Blaine Cardilli/ Ameristep Prostaff

Turkey Tip of the Day....

Here's a good tip when turkey hunting....

Decoy set ups can be tricky, depending on flock size and geographic locations across the country but keeping with the basics when placing decoys is always a good strategy. My personal experience in the past 12 years has taught me that as your season starts, using a strutting tom decoy with a breeding hen is the ticket, as boss gobblers will practically knock each other over to get to them; As the seasons peaks, the strutter might spook more than help so I use a standing passive jake and a hen, and that has kept birds coming in. Finally, as the season winds down and the toms are running out of steam, remove the jake decoys altogether...they may still work but not as well...and switch to just 2-3 standing/feeding hens. There are, of course, no guarantees when hunting any game but by sticking to the tried-and-true methods, you increase your chances for success.

This has helped me bag boss gobblers for most of the 12 years I've been hunting them and hopefully it will help you, too!

-Blaine Cardilli/ Ameristep prostaff

NON TYPICAL

Call it original. Call it innovative. Just don't call it TYPICAL. :) Ameristep's Non-Typical Series treestands break the mold of conventional treestand technology in ways that will elevate your hunt to the next level-like a multi-position shooting rest that lets you sit, lean and rest, turning tough shots into sure sho...ts-or the Super Cam leverage lock system, which provides unmatched stability for a hang-on stand. All of these features and more make Ameristep Non-Typical Series treestand the perfect chpice for a perfect hunt. Next time your lookin you purchase hunting products look for the NON TYPICAL Logo...can't get much better than that.

Sportsmans Banquet

Hey everyone just wanted to share a photo of me and Chad Schearer of Team Realtree and host of show "Shoot Straight" with Chad Schearer on the Sportsmans Channel and he is also a world champion elk caller, which was pretty awesome considering I love turkey calling contests. Had the banquet in our hometown and had a great time! Great food and some cool giveaways. Hope everyone likes it!

-Alec Nebel/Youth Pro Staff

A Fabric Fact

A Quick Thanks to everyone who visits and reads our blog :)

A Quick little bit of information for all of you...Our NS3 Fabric Technology is exclusive to Ameristep Quality Hunting and exclusive to our Blinds Only making them the Cadillac of Hunting Blinds. The Premier Microfiber Material is amazingly soft and smooth similar to a fleece feel. NS3 got it's unique name from the 3 key ingredients that make this fabric so great...(1) NO SCENT (2) NO SHINE (3) NO SOUND. Now you can rest easy and know that Any Blinds with NS3 Fabric are made with the highest quality fabric around-worth every penny. You can view which blinds have the NS3 Technology by viewing the Blind Comparison chart in our 2010 Catalog or right on our website at www.ameristep.com under Blinds.

NS3 FABRIC TECHNOLOGY.... Durable is an Understatement.

TOM TAKER CONTEST :)

Ameristep's Tom Taker Contest ....starts....NOW! Here are the guidelines:
Enter to win a FREE Ameristep Tom Taker Ground Blind. The contest
began Monday March 8th and ends Monday March 29th. All entries
must be submitted by 5:00 on Monday March 29th 2010. Email
contest@ameristep.com and submit a photo that includes ...yourself, your
game, and the Ameristep product that you used for the hunt. It can be a
photo of any game and any product. Also include a short story of your
experience/ what your favorite Ameristep product is and why. By
submitting your photo and story you are automatically entered into the drawing. The winners will be drawn on Tuesday March 30th and announced that same day. The winner will receive a Tom Taker Blind Model No 3296 in Realtree APG HD Camo. The Tom Taker includes vertical window technology, shoot through mesh, NS3 Fabric, 10 windows,and is Ideal for Turkey and Deer Hunting. It weighs 16 lbs and its dimensions are 60" Shooting width x 67" tall.

With each photo and story please include a daytime phone number, name, and address for shipping purposes. The winner's photo and story will be displayed on the Ameristep website. By submitting your photo and story you are giving Ameristep consent to use the information on our website. More information on the rules will follow... but hurry up and get yourself entered to win!!!!!

The contest is limited to non-employees of Ameristep and non-affiliated representative groups. Entrants must be of the legal age of 18 to be eligible to enter or have their parent enter for them. Please note: Photographs that are mailed in will not be returned and will become sole property of Ameristep. Ameristep may prohibit an entrant from participating in the contest or winning a prize if, in sole discretion, it determines that entrant is attempting compromise the contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair practices that includes manipulation of the photo image submitted. Ameristep is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incorrectly addressed, incomplete, illegal, undeliverable, destroyed, or postage due mail entries and/or lost, late, misdirected, undeliverable or incomplete e-mail entries due to system errors or failures, or faulty transmissions or other telecommunication malfunctions.

Last but not least...Winners and entrants also agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the contest and each of the representative officers, directors, representatives and agents from and against any claims, damages or liability due to any injury's, damage or losses to any person (including personal injury or death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any award or participation in this contest, or any claims based on rights of publicity, rights of privacy and/or merchandise delivery.

-Brianna/ Ameristep Quality Hunting

Good Day In PA!!

Hey everyone!! Thought I would share some cool pictures I got today while walking around some of our hunting property. Found the first shed of the year today! 4 points on the side not big at all but an awesome find! Also found some cool buck rubs, and seen a flock of 30+ turkeys, which got me really pumped for the upcoming spring season!! But what can I say pretty much anything is getting pumped for that!!! Hope you enjoy, Let me know what you think.

-Alec Nebel/Youth Pro Staff

Hunting the Rut

Many have different opinions on moon phases hunting but I use it each year and have great success. Weather, temps, and deer numbers also have a key aspect to the rut but moon phases generally have a great link to when it will be on.
Look on the calendar and find when fall begins, fall equinox. find the 2nd full moon on calendar after the fall equinox and go back 4-5 days. This will generally show the heat of the rut. Now this can be different in every state in the US. It could vary due to the weather like I mentioned before. I have 12 different Pope and Young harvests that I have used this Moon Phase hunting. I hunt generally in MN and WI so this works great for my hunts. Remember to always be safe and hunt hard....
Rhino
Ameristep Pro Staff
Wisconsin

Warning: Coyotes Come to Turkey Calls, Too!

I've written about this incident in other mags but thought the readers here might learn something from my mistakes. We take turkey hunting for granted when calling and we need to be aware that sometimes even the hunters can become the hunted...

It was May 22nd, 2008, and I was with my hunting partner on a new piece of property we had permission to hunt. It was close to 10:00am and we set up on a small green field in a local farmers 'back 40'. My buddy was set up right on the edge of the woodline and we had the decoys in front of him at about 18 yards. I decided to set up directly behind him about 15 feet to do some calling. Now, I always set up with my back to a decent tree trunk, for both comfort as well as safety, but in this instance... the first and last time I will ever do it... I plopped my butt down with nothing but some heavy brush directly behind me. I was leaning on a small pile of deadwood that came only as high as my lower back, and off to one side was heavy buck-brush, while just off my left shoulder there was some scrubby 2' foot tall firs and some deep dark timber.

Being mid-morning we couldn't get a bird to gobble but we knew they were there so I got into the calling; light at first, then very aggressive. I was about 15 minutes into it, and my partner chimed in with a little of his own when it happened... I never heard nor saw a thing but instantly there was a rush of air from the left as I was hit with the impact of what felt like a locomotive; I had been sitting practically indian-style, and the coyote hit me so violently from the left that I was knocked completely over onto my right side. Images have a tendency to freeze or be burned into your mind when you blink sometimes, and as I held my left arm up in a 'block', all I could see was this face, not 10 inches from my nose and I'll never forget it...

The coyote's teeth were imbedded into my left elbow, lips were curled back in a snarl, revealing how yellow they were, and I can still see the specks of...whatever...that was on them. It's ears were way back and it's eyes were closed, but in the instant it had me it released me and realized I was NOT the dinner it had thought I was! It's clear now that it had stalked my calls, seen my movement, (I was in full camo with a Realtree leafy suit), and then simply charged directly at me, the intention of which we believed was to grab me, (the turkey), and run full bore out into the field with it. When it fetched up on my body and realized I wasn't a turkey, it did a complete somersault on top of me, spinning completely around in an effort to turn inside-out, and get away, back in the direction it had come from.

In the process of it's jumping away from me, it must have kicked me in the face with a hind foot because I felt the explosion against my cheek, as though I'd been punched. (I later realized it had knocked a filling completely out of my mouth!). As the ruckus unfolded, my buddy had spun around on one knee instinctively, but couldn't shoot the animal because I was in the way. We did ascertain it looked like a full grown adult coyote, as it wasn't small by any means. When we got to our feet he said, "What just happened?", followed by, "No way that just happened!", and we started laughing in between the shocked stares at each other. There was no time to be scared as it was over before it really happened but I did notice a slight ache in my cheek and on my arm. I stripped down and removed the slippery, saliva-soaked clothes and found that it had barely left visible scratches and tooth drag marks, except for 2 puncture wounds, small but deep. Blood barely came to the surface of the puffy scratches and wounds but still, blood meant a problem...

The coyote had bitten through the mesh-leaf suit, a heavy cotton shirt with a reinforced elbow patch, and part of my tee. The doctor said the bony part of the elbow had prevented what could have been a far worse bite and I ended up having a total of 9 rabies shots over a period of several weeks, at a cost of about $3500. The doc said the danger, other than the possibility of rabies, was from infection setting in from the bacteria in the saliva from the dead crap in the coyotes teeth, and my arm was gross with saliva. We're pretty sure it was a healthy animal and rather than an 'attack', it was merely a case of mistaken identity, however, the reality is that every one of us who sits with our back against a tree in full camo, with the intention to call in our own turkey, becomes yet another chess piece in the vastness of Mother Nature's world...

I was one of only two documented cases in New England's history of such a coyote attack while hunting and I was lucky. Be sure to plan for such dangers yourselves while calling in the turkey woods this spring because you never know. Since the event, I have had a very hard time sitting alone against even a wide tree, eyes always moving, but nothing will keep me from turkey hunting....Perhaps I should invest in more Ameristep blinds!! lol!

(Images show the bite made through the clothing itself, the scratches, bruising, and punture marks, about 4 days after the event)

-Blaine Cardilli/ Ameristep prostaff