The Friday Hunting Briefing — Issue #9

The Bargain Blind

20% off · Summit Viper SD Ultra Climbing Treestand · $399.99 · $499.99

Summit's flagship climber rarely sees this kind of discount — $100 off is the deepest I've tracked on the Viper SD Ultra this year. This is the stand serious bow hunters swear by for public land mobility.

Field Report

• Bobcat Jumps Turkey Hunter During Hunt — A 19-year-old Wisconsin hunter got the surprise of his life when a bobcat mistook his turkey calls for the real deal and pounced on him while he was calling in gobblers. He caught the whole encounter on video, including the moment the confused cat realized its mistake.

• The Worst Move in Turkey Hunting — A hunter had the perfect setup on a mountain gobbler until he made one critical error that cost him the bird. The lesson here applies to every turkey hunter who's ever gotten impatient with a hung-up tom.

• Do You Really Need an Aftermarket Turkey Choke? — Before dropping $70+ on a specialty choke tube, try patterning your factory choke first. Many hunters are surprised by how well their gun shoots with the choke it came with — especially at realistic turkey hunting ranges.

• Why Turkey Hunting Is a Love-Hate Relationship — One writer perfectly captures the annual ritual of remembering why spring turkey season is both the best and most frustrating time of year. From forgetting how cold April mornings get to dealing with henned-up gobblers, it's all here.

• Remembering Flip Pallot's Last Turkey Hunt — The legendary angler and outdoor television host passed away in August, leaving behind decades of stories and wisdom. This tribute captures one final turkey hunt with the man who inspired countless outdoor adventures.

The Watch List

MidwayUSA · ALPS Outdoorz Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest · $59.99 · 53% off · Muddy Swivel Ease Hunting Blind Chair · $69.99 · 37% off · Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover Food Plot Seed · $17.29 · 20% off · Cabelas · Carlson's Long Beard XR Turkey Choke Tube · $62.98 · 10% off

Trail Tested

Ep. 1028: All Deer Trails Lead to Somewhere

Tony Peterson shares how a turkey bow hunt in Nebraska reminded him to always stay in scouting mode, even when hunting other species. It's a solid reminder that every minute in the woods is a learning opportunity for your deer hunting intel.

Ep. 1029: Save 4000 Acres of Prime Public Hunting Ground

Mark Kenyon and Jake Hofer interview Travis Morehead about a conservation project to convert 4,000 acres of private land in the Southeast into permanent public hunting access. Worth listening to if you care about the future of public land hunting.

Planting This Week

We're in the sweet spot for spring plantings across most of the country. Here's what's in season right now:

White Clover (North) · April 15 – May 31

Plant after last frost date and when soil temps hit 50°F consistently.

Chicory (North) · April 15 – June 1

Mix with clover for a perennial plot that handles drought better than pure clover.

Corn (Mid) · April 15 – May 31

Wait until soil temps reach 55°F to avoid poor germination and fungal issues.

Soybeans (South) · April 15 – June 1

Plant after soil temps hit 60°F — cold, wet conditions will rot the seed before it germinates.

Get personalized planting alerts for your property.

The Sign-Off

"The turkey is a much more respectable bird than the eagle." — Benjamin Franklin

Turkey season's in full swing here, which means I'm remembering all the reasons I both love and hate chasing longbeards. Stay safe out there.