gselkhunter, Yes please I would love to have a copy of your program. This is what Al Moris told me last year that I sounded good but it wasn't organized, that it needed some structcture. I was just shooting from the hip so to speak, fill free to E-Mail me or a PM here is fine as well if you like. Also maybe I could call you and talk and pick your brain about the contest and your experience. Thanks Jason

Elkcrazy8, I think turkey is more detailed, at least in comp. They ask for a sound and you reproduce it. You know what every body is going to do, you just have to do it better. Elk comp is a crap shoot, who is going to do what and to what degree. I make a set program to go on stage with and have it down pat. Then some one comes up with some thing you didn't plan on and you have to juggle it in. NERVE RACKING You will see some of that in Portland. Turkey calling I don't pay much attention to the other callers calling, because I know if I make a mistake I loose. Elk calling is more subjective, I listen to the other callers, so I know if I have to regroup. Where in NY did you hunt turkeys? I am from Syracuse. Now the big question, can you gobble on a mouth call?
Tuk-ka tuk-ka tuk-ka tuk-ka tuk-ka
Gselkhunter

gselkhunter, I can gobble with the mouth call. If you want to add a new sound to it leave your lips loose when you tuk-a-tuka and closed. As the sound comes out with each tuka your lips will open and close. It sounds like there is an extra note in there and adds a sound of realism to the call. It might drive others in the house crazy but I am sure we can all attest to that already.lol.I grew up in Rochester and used to spend every weekend and day off down by Avoca and Cohocton. We used to go down to Hornell and hunt into PA, in Elkland and Osceola. I have hunted as far south as Gailton on Pine creek. I have also hunted around the Hamlin, Hilton and Brockport areas along the lake. I took my biggest birds in the Hamlin area when they finally opened the zone along the lake. Those easterns can be tough at times. I now hunt turkies mainly with my bow. It is a blast, I don't like to use a blind most of the time. I like the challenge of getting the bow back on them. It can be like trying to hit a yo-yo. I have found the turkey hunting to be outstanding here in Idaho. These merriams are hard gobblers and easier to get going than their eastern cousins. We have pockets of Rios along the snake river here also. F&G planted easterns and rios before they introduced the merriams to idaho and there are still some surviving populations that exist.

I have been over your way several times on my way up to the Adirondacks. I would spend my summers on the racquette river fishing for walleye and pike, Tupper lake area is beautiful also and holds some huge brook trout. I used to go from there up the the St. Lawrence river and into Canada. It is wierd listening to French radio stations. They were some good times but I am at home in the Rockies. This country is hard to beat.

It sure is good to see so many interested in the calling comp. I think you all got heart, and that's half the battle!!

The other parts will require real concentration and determination to be the best you can be. Practice like there was no tommorrow, really put your heart & soul into it!!

My hat's off to all of you, and I'll do mt best to root you on, but remember I'm just getting my feet wet on this one and see what to expect and then I'll consider participating.

Rather_be_huntin---Don't worry, I'll be there to enforce the bets, does these mean I get a beer too by the winner!!!!? Being a referee can be thirsty work!!! <grin> ElkNut1

First off, YES Paul you get a beer too, just for showing up. Elkcrazy8 I have never hunted back east, my father moved us to CO in 68. Rios and Merriams came from CO and Easterns & Rios came from KS. KS is really cool for hunting turkeys. The bad part about Easterns, TICKS! Out of all the birds I have taken the Rios are the easiest. I haven't killed one with a bow yet. I can't sit on my knees from all the surgeries and I don't want to use a blind either. I am so short I can't shoot my bow sitting on my butt. And I will fall a sleep and hurt myself sitting on a bucket[]. I am an elk hunter, so I run & gun turkeys anyway, the bucket makes too much noise. My knees make enough noise[:@]! Back to elk stuff, I am registered for Salt Lake! SO IT'S ON GUYS! And I am really just a rag horn, you have nothing to worry about. That is why I have to use a 3.5 reed call, right Elknut1. You all have your boots on right.
Gselkhunter

gselkhunter, ticks suck, no pun intended. I have known several people that ended up with lymes disease and one is very crippled. My daughter contracted it but came out ok. You can stop the disease in its tracks but cannot reverse the damage. Thank god we caught it early on.

Elknut, I am glad that refered to yourself as a referee and not a cheerleader. lol Hows the weather in Mc Call today. We have another nasty inversion here in Boise. I have a hacky cough right now. I should put a call in and see how the huffing sounds.

I got up early this a.m. and finished my x-mas shopping in one trip. (4:30) That is the only way to do it these days.

gselkhunter, I am sure that you alreay know, but they make those cool little stools for sitting on. I used to use one back east with the wet ground and all, Most of them come with a pouch underneath. I would modify them and screw straps to the legs and make a back pack out of them. Turkey with a bow is alot of fun. Each year I could have shot at least a dozen gobblers with a gun, but get lucky to get one good shot with a bow. I have never hunted in KS before but have heard good things about it. I am making a trip to Nebraska though this year to hunt whitetails. I should be alot of fun. We are doing a swap hunt. I am taking him for elk. I did that a couple of years ago with a guy from Alaska. He killed a nice 6 pt. when he was here. I now have an open ended invitation to hunt up there. I want to save up enough time and money to make a good hunt out of it. My dream is to arrow a brown bear someday.

Watch out ole gselkhunter doesn't lull you guys to sleep, he might be trying to sanbag you into losing your focus!!! That 3.5 reed is no beginner reed I can vouch for that!!

Actually that's pretty cool of him to share his format & cluing some of the newer ones into what to expect, that should be a huge help!!!

ElkCrazy8--- The weather is clear and cool not to mention SUNNY. What's a Cheerleader???? Call anytime, evenings are best!! In case you lost it, my numbers on our website! ElkNut1

A cheerleader is someone with better legs than you Paul!
Elkcrazy8 I can't see me dragging a bucket all over Gods creation. I have a friend that has a place on the back side of Pikes Peak, if the turkeys ever show up again, that is the place I will take my bow.
Idahoelkinstructor, I have not put that program on paper yet, today!
Gselkhunter

gselkhunter, Pikes peak is some pretty country. I flew with my daughter on a medivac plane to an army base there in Denver, I can't remember the name of the base, but we went to pikes peak from there and rode the cog rail train up the mountain. That was pretty cool. A couple of years ago I went to a school in Denver and tried driving up the peak only to be turned around just before the summit due to a huge rain storm. That was one ugly ride down. Our windsheild wipers stopped working. Another pretty mountain that I explored a little was Mount Evans. We had bighorn walking right around our car. My daughter was about 3 yrs old at the time and was laughing when one of the small rams tried to climb into the car. He was after Kate's potato chips.

Not to far from there is Colorado Mines Peak, I took my Bighorn Sheep there. 164&7/8 full curl, not big, but perfect semitry. 55yds up hill shot. 1.5 hour stalk above timber line. Shot 5min before legal time over for the day, it is an awesome story. I will share some time.
Gselkhunter