The crostini has made a name for itself in restaurants, at dinner parties, and on home date nights. The canvas of a blank French bread allows the chef to paint the diner’s palette with a full flavor experience all in one bite. Working with the crostini can open creative avenues without requiring much time or cooking experience, therefore making it one of my favorite ways to practice building complex and well-rounded flavor profiles I can then rotate into my cooking compilation.
It can be one of the most critical decisions a turkey hunter makes; where to set up when he hears that longbeard gobble. And, typically, he must make it fast. But, unless the bird is right on top of you, take a moment and choose your spot wisely. Dropping down in the wrong spot can put you in a slight depression or behind brush that may obstruct your view—and shot. Or it can leave you unnecessarily exposed or sitting facing the wrong way from where the bird wants to approach. Here’s how to choose a spot that will provide for the perfect ambush.
Wild Turkey is the first wild game I ever hunted. My journey to becoming a hunter started 12 years ago when I was invited out by a family friend. I was an apprentice chef at that time and fascinated by the fact there were wild turkeys roaming the fields outside the small town where I was living. I had no idea that there were wild turkeys. I thought the turkey was a domesticated bird much like a chicken. As a curious young chef I wanted to taste the difference. Little did I know that it would be one of the most memorable hunting experiences of my life.
For those who love gamebirds, gobblers are some of the most beautiful spring and fall-time harvests. We’re all familiar with turkey breeds in the U.S., but they have a vibrant cousin down south—M. ocellata, the ocellated turkey. This unique bird, found only in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Central America, has some key (often striking) differences from its American relatives. Bearing a beautiful blue head, bright orange nodules, and feathers not too far off from a peacock’s, this World Slam checkmark is a sight to behold. With our guide, you can get a head start on your next Ocellated Turkey hunt and work towards that elusive World Slam record.
A couple weeks ago, I shared my experiences with kayaking and canoeing, today I wanted to share my favorite hiking experience at Devil’s Marbleyard. As an Eagle Scout, I’ve hiked my fair share of trails across the Appalachian Mountains and the east coast. Devil’s Marbleyard is a highly rewarding, yet admittedly strenuous hike, that offers some of the most impressive vistas and fun rock scrambling on the east coast. If you’re looking for an exciting and adventurous hike that isn’t too extreme, then you should definitely try hiking up to Devil’s Marbleyard. It’ll be an experience you never forget!
Kayaking and canoeing are some of my absolute favorite outdoor activities. Spending a day out on the water with a good group of friends is a blast, and it’s a good way to stay active while keeping cool in the upcoming warm months. I started kayaking and canoeing during my time in the Boys Scouts, and now I try to get out on the water every chance I have. I recently planned a bachelor party camping trip where we spent an entire day on the James River, and the experience gave me the chance to introduce people to the fun of kayaking and canoeing. The whole trip inspired me to share my passion and get other people to try it out too.
In iSportsman’s Master the Call Series, we’ll take a look at different calls of the wild turkey and discuss what the call is good for, when to use it and share with you from the web a good example of what it sounds like and how it to make the call. Today, we'll be explaining what the yelp call is, why it's used, and how to effectively use it to snag your next turkey.
Turkey hunting has many challenges but one that is often overlooked is proper target acquisition. That problem can be resolved by choosing the right turkey gun sights.
Unlike other sporting birds that are shot while flying, turkeys are taken most often as they feed on the forest floor. The favored target is the brain and neck vertebrae as the turkey sticks its head up to investigate their surroundings. However, getting a proper sight picture on a target that bobs and weaves like an arcade whack-a-mole game can be almost impossible.
How to find big crappie seems to be a well kept secret. In reality it is imperative to know their preferred habitat for the season. It’s worth saying a hundred times: ninety percent of the fish are going to be found in ten percent of the water.
Last week we had a gorgeous early spring day here in Central Pennsylvania. Not one of those almost too-warm afternoons that brings everyone into frenzy, but a pleasantly mild 50-some degrees, truly my favorite weather. I took the opportunity to head straight from work to scout for deer in the mountains.
Many folks shed hunt this time of year, which I somewhat do, but what I am really searching for is buck sign leftover from last fall's rut. During winter, the deer in this area herd up in thermal hemlock valleys which they don't frequent nearly as much during hunting season, so shed hunting does not benefit me substantially. Early spring prior to green-up is a tremendous time to be searching for new spots. I am looking for general areas with good deer concentrations, and next fall I will do stealth recon missions to verify there are bucks using the area and pinpoint stand locations. The combination of signs I look for are quite simple, yet require tuned-in observation to locate: convergence of deer trails, typically on benches, saddles, and other map features; with scrapes and rubs (preferably big) in the vicinity; and, food (acorns) and bedding within easy reach.
