Mark Prudhomme talks turkey; wins calling contest

Mark Prudhomme demonstrates his turkey calling style

With the turkey season opening day of March 15 just around the corner, Mossy Oak Pro Staffer Mark Prudhomme of Georgetown shares how woodsmanship and calling should work together to tag a tom. Early season gobblers that may not have experienced hunting pressure yet, are often flocked up in big groups and are therefore less likely to come to the lonesome yelping of a wistful hen away from the group.

            “Before opening day, put in some time doing what I call low impact scouting,” said Prudhomme. “Ride through your hunting property on your tractor or pick-up because wildlife doesn’t spook easily around these common sights. Glass large fields from afar with optics and monitor when different spring food sources start sprouting without setting foot in them.” Remember, before calling comes into play, its woodsmanship that helps to get set up close to roosted turkeys.

Prudhomme's Pro Staff shirt is COOL

            “Being in the right place on opening day means being where the flock is likely to travel to from the roost trees,” said Prudhomme. “You have to be careful about getting too close to the roost because the flock will have a lot of eyes looking down on your position. After I hear the first sounds from the roosted birds, I yelp softly to mimic being the first hen on the ground, and to give any fired up gobbler an early option.”

“The dominant toms are going to follow those hens in the early season once they fly down, although some younger toms may peel off and readily come to your calling,” said Prudhomme. “Remember to save some of your calling tactics for another day when hunting opening day flocks.” Meaning that if you educate all of your turkeys on the opener with your entire repertoire of turkey calls, then they will no doubt remember you and decline any future invitation to strut, spit and drum into your turkey hunting dreams.

Think Prudhomme is good? Prudhomme just won three calling titles at the 2012 NWTF convention in Nashville. He won in the owl hoot contest, the team calling contest and then was crowned the Champion of Champions .... for the fourth time! Knight and Hale calls has a Mark Prudhomme owl hooter call available and Lowcountry Outdoors can recommend its authentic sounds of the barred owl. The best thing about Georgetown's native son, is that he acknowledges that he can still be whipped by an old tom boss gobbler on some mornings. Ain't that the truth for ALL of us!!

To view past blog entries about Prudhomme in the S.C. Duck Call contest click here.

To view past blog entries about Prudhomme in the NWTF contests click here.