Waddell's Turkey-Hunting Secrets

EDITOR'S NOTE: Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Waddell of Columbus, Georgia, a longtime avid hunter of all game species, produces "Realtree Outdoors" T.V. shows and videos.

Question: Can you give me three secrets for turkey hunting that not everyone knows?
Answer: My first secret is do whatever I must to get the gobbler. When I go into the turkey woods, I go to turkey hunt. I don't go just to call. I try to figure out a way to get that turkey in the back of my pickup truck. If I can use my turkey-calling skills to help me get that turkey, then I use them. But I concentrate on hunting that turkey. I don't hesitate to intersect a gobbler with his hens as he walks through a slough bottom on his way to a cow pasture. My second secret is that you still can call in call-shy turkeys. You must be comfortable and confident enough with your calling ability to call in those shy turkeys. Put a lot of personality in your calls, and learn the turkey's rhythm.

My third secret is to learn the land you hunt. Make sure you know what those turkeys plan to do before you sit down and call to them. Know the turkey's habits before you hunt it. If you know what the gobbler is going to do when he flies down off the roost, you'll have a good chance at getting him.

Question: Can you tell me about Grady?
Answer: Grady is an 1187 Remington that I won at a turkey contest. I've had Grady for four years, and over that period of time, Grady has killed about 42 turkeys. I've always named my guns, and the name, Grady, just seemed to fit this gun. When Grady started killing all those turkeys, I always joked about how Grady would stretch out there and get one. From that, Grady became as popular as Bill Jordan, the creator of Realtree, around the Realtree turkey-hunting camp. Everybody who comes to hunt with us wants to tote Grady. The late race-car driver, Dale Earnhardt, came down and asked if I had a Remington he could use. I said, "I've got Grady in the truck." He looked at me funny and said, "Okay, but do you have a Remington?" I gave him Grady, and Dale went out and killed two turkeys with it. Ever since then, whenever Earnhardt hunted at the Realtree camp, he'd leave his own gun at home and tote Grady.

The comedian, Jeff Foxworthy is the same way. He even has a Remington 1187 that he's named Lamont from the T.V. show "Samford and Son." But he never brings Lamont, instead he hunts with Grady. Grady is the most popular guy around the spring turkey woods. Everybody wants a piece of that little 1187.

To learn more about turkey hunting, you can order John E. Phillips' three turkey-hunting books by calling (800) 627-4295. Click on Books on Night Hawk's home page to learn more.

TOMORROW: WADDELL'S DEER-HUNTING SECRETS