Call softly, carry a short stick at Texas Hollow

BENNETTSBURG, N.Y. — Turkey hunting in New York has become almost as popular as deer hunting.

And in today's competitive environment, it may be to your advantage to travel off the beaten path just a little further or look for the smaller areas of public land that have not attracted the crowds of hunters or hold the reputation of some of the larger public hunting grounds.

Texas Hollow State Forest is 937 acres and is located southeast of Bennettsburg and north of Odessa in Schuyler County.

It's found on the Burdett Quadrangle of the U.S. Geological Survey maps.

Now, unless you are a well-traveled hunter, you are reaching for your DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer just to get a general idea of what I'm talking about.

If I told you it is east of Watkins Glen or south of Finger Lakes National Forest, that would more likely ring a bell and you would have a general idea of what I am talking about.

If you are about to grab your trusty turkey gun, the chances are you would head to the 16,000-plus acres of the national forest before you would dig out the maps for Texas Hollow.

And that my hunting friend is just what the savvy turkey hunter wants.

Areas

There are no empty areas along the Southern Tier — wild turkey are pretty much everywhere and in numbers sufficiently high you can expect to find turkey on any given day.

Texas Hollow State Forest, even though it is an irregular strip of land about 2 miles long and in most places less than a ½-mile wide, has plenty of turkey habitat.

It also has some steep ridges that discourage less athletic hunters.

Climbs of up to 400 feet in elevation are possible as you work east off Texas Hollow Road or Newtown Road into the interior of the property.

If you traverse the portion of the Finger Lakes Trail that bisects the property, it is a little more level.

Use the trail to walk and talk if you are not working a hot bird. Trailheads can be found off Texas Hollow, Newtown and Steam Mill roads.

Tactics

Most wild turkey trophy toms have heard it all.

From late March and onto April, the rank beginner hunters and video camera operators are scouting with their calls, giving notice to the world to watch out.

Toms may have also had a close call in seasons past.

The bottom line is that, as a longbeard hunter, you need to depend more on your woodsmanship, patience and just a couple of whispers saying "I'm a turkey."

Locator calls work sometimes, but like anything else that is overused, they can alert your turkey.

I prefer to just listen and let the birds sound off on their own.

Hopefully I will have roosted a bird the evening before and have a good idea where it is.

There are plenty of listening posts along the roads of adjacent to Texas Hollow and the steep ridges will reflect the sound.

Knowing there is a bird in the woods builds your confidence and helps to maintain the patience to wait.

Generally a few low volume yelps or clucks are all that is needed to tell Mr. Tom you are there.

Remember, he is experienced in collecting his harem. You also may have competition from real hens who are taking his attention.

Holding out is not bad. He will get to you eventually and perhaps even in the very beginning of the morning ritual because you have not responded.

Now is not the time to call. Instead, pick up a stick, one that is about ½-inch in diameter and 2 feet long.

Scrape the leaves with just a flick of your fingers, in the same manner a feeding hen would pull back the ground cover as she looks for grubs and mast.

Scraping is not constant; take a break to give time for the bird to peck. Then scrape, scrape, pause, scrape.

In the early days of the season you may have to wait longer because of the hen competition. But as more of the hens go on their nests, the tom will be more aggressive in finding you.

You might throw in a yelp or a purr once in a while.

And if you have both a friction call and a mouth diaphragm, you might use them to make combinations of clucking, pretending to be two hens keeping in contact with each other as they feed through the woods.

Remember to keep the tone soft and to rake the leaves like a real bird.

You can also move and call from a new location. Unlike deer hunting, noise is not a big issue.

Turkeys are vocal and reckless walkers — they may kick leaves and small sticks with almost every step.

Listening is one of your most important skills, as they might come in without a gobble.

I have hearing loss in my left ear and have used a Walker's Game Ear to enhance my hearing for a number of years.

Even if you don't use an electronic hearing enhancement, don't forget to cup your hands behind your ears to make sounds more audible.

Turkey hunting is largely a listening and waiting game with the soft added sounds that only a turkey would make.

Have no doubt, Mr. Tom will find you when you call softly and carry a stick.

Get there

Texas Hollow State Forest is easiest approached from the north.

From Watkins Glen or Ithaca take Route 79 to Bennettsburg and pick up Texas Hollow Road to the south.

You can also connect with Texas Hollow Road just north of Odessa (Route 224) off Railroad Street and then run due north.

However, it is easier to judge the boundary lines from the north.

Of course, Watkins Glenn or Ithaca are accessed from I-86 (old Route 17).

Services

In Watkins Glen, the Seneca Marine Bait and Tackle (607-535-6690) will service your firearms and information needs.

For lodging and associated service, call (800) 607-4552 or (800) 28-ITHACA.

In Ithaca, Dick's Sporting Goods (607-257-5077) will supply your outdoor needs.

Guide service is available from Joe Sears (607-589-4611).

Material from Fishing & Hunting News
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