The Turkey Hunter Podcast With Andy Gagliano | Turkey Hunting Tips, Strategies, And Stories

The South Carolina Super Slam with Bubba RossIn this week's episode, Andy and Cameron have Bubba Ross on the show to chat about his amazing accomplishment of killing a wild turkey in every county in the state of South Carolina. Bubba is the only person to achieve this feat, and to complete it without assistance. Bubba Ross shared insights into his hunting strategy, the importance of gaining access to private land, and his preference for morning hunts, as well as the patience required for turkey hunting. Bubba Ross and Andy Gagliano also discussed the difficulties of hunting in all counties of a state compared to the "super slam" across different states. And, Bubba offered some advice for aspiring hunters based on their unique experiences.This is a very interesting episode. Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on

To All the Turkeys I've Missed BeforeAndy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington, discuss their recent turkey hunting misses and some of the factors they believe contributed to them.Cameron shares details about his single miss from the past year, attributing it to a "stupid" rushed shot and offering insights into how he improved his shooting, including patterning different shells and switching back to open sights. Andy recounts two misses, one from a Texas hunt in challenging weather and another from his home state, speculating on potential causes like different ammunition or a turkey's unexpected mid-flight maneuver. They also express gratitude to their listeners for donations to the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and TFT (Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center) from a raffle, highlighting the significant impact these funds have on wild turkey research and habitat management.Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyh

Are There Really Fewer Turkey HuntersWe hunters hear it all the time, "Hunter numbers are declining." But, are hunter numbers really declining? Are the number of turkey hunters declining as well?This week, Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington host Dr. Will Gulsby and Dr. Marcus Lashley to discuss hunter recruitment trends, particularly for turkey hunting. Marcus Lashley presented research indicating an aging turkey hunter demographic and scrutiny of national survey data suggesting a decline in hunter numbers, while state-level data presented by Cameron Weddington showed increases in many states.Listen in! Click here to view the spreadsheet containing all of Cameron and Andy's stats used in the show.Click here to view the episode on YouTube.Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking her

How Harvest Statistics are Calculated with Dr. Roger ShieldsThis week, Wild Turkey Coordinator for the state of Tennessee, Roger Shields, joins Cameron and Andy on the show.They discussed Tennessee's wild turkey population, including concerns about rainfall impacting hatch success, the value of citizen and staff observation data, and trends in brood surveys. Dr. Shields provided insights into harvest management, the results of banding studies indicating sustainable harvest rates, and the methods for gathering harvest and hunter effort data, emphasizing the importance of CPUE. Dr. Shields also addressed the process of setting regulations and the considerations beyond biological data that influence the commission's decisions.

Hit the Ground Running - A Turkey HuntSummaryAndy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington discussed Cameron Weddington's challenges with their new chicken flock due to mycoplasma and its potential implications for wild turkey populations, referencing anecdotal evidence and a Canadian study finding mycoplasma in wild turkeys. Cameron Weddington then recounted a difficult three-day turkey hunt in a new state, detailing a tense encounter with two gobblers on a steep cliff that ultimately led to a successful shot after a strategic and risky maneuver. The hosts, Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington, also looked forward to a New Zealand turkey hunt and shared listener predator stories.DetailsPodcast Introduction and Personal Updates Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington began the Turkey Hunter Podcast episode 520 by discussing personal happenings. Andy Gagliano joked about opening chipmunk season at their house, while Cameron Weddington shared the story of their new flock of chickens after a disastrous first attempt involvi

Summer Turkey Soup Andy and Cameron discuss concerns about a potentially poor turkey hatch in the Southeast due to rain, the impact of weather on past turkey seasons, and the resilience of turkey populations. They also highlighted the importance of turkey observation surveys and the increasing restrictions and pressure on public land hunting access, referencing Oklahoma's new regulations. They also examined trends in turkey harvest numbers, changes in fall hunting regulations in states like New Jersey and Michigan, unusual coyote behavior during turkey season, predation on turkeys, Mississippi's new wild turkey stamp, hunting accidents and safety, proposed changes to Arkansas' turkey hunting zones and penalties, and the need to understand the drivers behind high harvest numbers. The favor of the week this week is to share predator stories from this spring's turkey season with Cameron and Andy.  Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by cli

Hunting Pressured Turkeys with Darrin Dawkins Andy Gagliano and Cameron introduced Darrin Dawkins, who discussed hunting pressured turkeys, noting increased hunter pressure as a key factor impacting turkey behavior. Darrin Dawkins shared his experiences and observations on changes in South Carolina hunting regulations, the importance of hen imitation and using varied calls like trumpet calls, and aggressive hunting strategies for pressured birds, while Cameron and Darrin contributed insights on regulation changes, hunter behavior, and turkey population trends. Darrin shares some incredible turkey hunting tactics. They also touched on the influence of social media on hunting and the call-making philosophy of Darrin Dawkins. If you would like to purchase a call from Darrin, please reach out to him at 803-230-3085. The best way to purchase a call from Darrin is to stop by his booth at Unicoi in Georgia in January of 2026. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from

Hunting Osceola Turkeys from 2025 Unicoi Callmakers Show This week, Cameron and Andy play the Hunting Osceola Turkeys roundtable discussion from the 2025 Unicoi Custom Callmakers Show that was held in January in Helen, Georgia. The panel for the roundtable includes Darrin Dawkins, Lon Trice, Larry Stephens, Lamar Williams, and Mark Prudhomme. The panel discusses differences in Eastern and Osceola turkeys and the differences in hunting them as well.  This is a great discussion, and one that even experienced turkey hunters can pick up some helpful hints by listening to. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

2025 Mid Season Update Cameron and Andy are back after some unscheduled time off from the podcast. In this episode they explain what has been happening in their worlds that has kept them from posting shows regularly this spring and they share updates about their seasons. Andy's spring season is over now, and Cameron is squeezing in one last hunting trip for the spring. But, what happened between preseason and now? Listen in and find out. Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Join us this week as we dive into a successful turkey hunt that Cameron experienced earlier this season. We also discuss a few audio mishaps and fun memories in the turkey woods.  Hopefully you can pick up an idea or two from this live hunt to help you on a future turkey hunt. 

Hunting Pressured Turkeys with Patrick Wightman This week, Patrick Wightman, a research scientist with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, joins Cameron and Andy this week to discuss what turkeys do when they get pressure put on them by hunters. Patrick has done hours and hours of research on this topic, and he shares his insight with us in this interview. This is an interview that we feel everyone will glean some useful information from because private and public lands alike can receive a great deal of hunting pressure. You'll want to grab a pen and piece of paper before you start listening to this one because there are some great nuggets to take away from this episode that will help you to find and harvest pressured turkeys. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by

Hunting Pressured Turkeys with Cameron and Andy This week, Cameron and Andy take on the topic of hunting pressured turkeys. They share their approaches to hunting pressured turkeys, and talk about how some private ground is just as pressured as some public ground. They also share some stories of encountering pressured birds and what they learned from those encounters. This is the first of a new series on the topic of hunting pressured turkeys. This is a very informative and fun episode. Listen in!  Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Turkey Hunting in New Zealand with Dink Watson This week, Dink Watson with New Zealand Turkey Adventures joins Cameron and Andy this week to talk about turkey hunting down under. This is an eye opening and fascinating episode that kind of makes you wonder what turkey populations might be like in the US without hunter or predator harvests and diseases. According to Dink, the numbers of wild turkeys in parts of New Zealand is absolutely mind boggling. Cameron and Andy will be traveling to New Zealand to hunt turkeys in early September, and they wanted to learn a little more about what they can expect when they get to the ranch to hunt.  Listen in! Here is Dink Watson's contact information... 337-396-6547 Phone dink@trophyhunting.co.nz You can also find Dink on Facebook by searching New Zealand Turkey Adventures and Dink Watson   Here is the link to attend Dr. Lashley's and Dr. Gulsby's workshop on March 8 in Columbiana, AL... https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-turkey-management-academy-tickets-1200894139699?aff=

Putting Your Best You Forward with Landowners with Dr Jack Schafer This week, Dr. Jack Schafer joins Cameron and Andy on the show to talk about an interesting topic of how to present your best you when approaching a landowner to gain access to his/her property for turkey hunting. This episode is full of very interesting and useful verbal and nonverbal cues to look for when speaking with a landowner and also gestures and verbiage we can use to increase our odds of getting a "Yes" when we knock doors to ask permission.  Also, in this episode, I have a brief discussion on the show with Dr's Marcus Lashley and Will Gulsby regarding an upcoming workshop they are putting on discussing techniques and considerations landowners should take to compile a habitat management plan for our properties. This should be an amazing workshop, and I encourage any landowners from around the southeast to attend. Lots of great info in this episode, so listen in! Here is the link to attend Dr. Lashley's and Dr. Gulsby's workshop on Ma

Q&A with Mike Chamberlain and Patrick Wightman at NWTF Convention This week, Cameron and Andy share the Q&A Seminar with Mike Chamberlain and Patrick Wightman from the NWTF Convention in Nashville last week while they are in South Texas enjoying turkey camp with the raffle winners. This is a great episode with Mike and Patrick sharing their knowledge based on many studies completed from around the US. The questions from the audience range from topics like habitat to setting bag limits and season dates to predation. You are sure to pick up something you did not know already by listening to this seminar by Mike and Patrick. Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Better Setups for More Successful Turkey Hunts with Doc Weddle This week Doc Weddle joins Cameron and Andy to discuss some of his techniques and strategy in setting up for more successful turkey hunts.  Doc has completed 5 US Super Slams, and he is arguably one of the best turkey hunters you will ever meet. Cameron and Andy question him on what he looks for in a great setup for a turkey hunt, and Doc provides some great nuggets.  Like most, Doc believes great setups will help you kill more turkeys than great calling.  This is a great episode that is full of really good tips and tactics to help you tag more birds this spring. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Better Setups for Successful Turkey Hunts with Jeff Budz This week, Jeff Budz joins Cameron and Andy to discuss how to setup on turkeys to increase your odds of filling a tag.  Jeff has killed more Grand Slams than anyone has at this point, and he guides hunters as well. So, when it comes to knowing what a good setup looks like, Jeff knows a thing or two. This is a fun episode as Jeff is in his normal fashion, which is 90 to nothing. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Better Setups for Successful Turkey Hunts with Cameron and Andy This week Cameron and Andy discuss how setting up for your turkey hunts can make all of the difference between eating turkey or eating tag soup.  Listen in as both Cameron and Andy share some of their secrets setting up for more successful turkey hunts. Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Early Season Tactics with Bret Collier and Nick Bakner This week, Dr Bret Collier and Dr Nick Bakner join Cameron and Andy to discuss what wild turkeys are doing early season. Dr. Bakner has extensively tracked the movements of wild turkeys throughout the seasons and in different landscapes across the country. He shares his extensive knowledge of the movements of wild turkeys during hunting seasons, but especially early season. The information that he and Dr. Collier share with us in this interview is fascinating in context and impressive in quantity.  You do not want to miss this episode. Listen in! Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Early Season Tactics with Kenny Mount Part 2 This week, Cameron and Andy have the remainder of the Kenny Mount episode where they do a little deeper dive into early season turkey hunting tactics. This episode is not without its share of laughs and silliness either, but there are some tactics that will help you to have more success in the early spring turkey woods. Also, the 2nd annual hunt raffle is on the downhill stretch. Get your tickets by clicking the link below.  Listen in! Here is the link to this year's hunt raffle to benefit the NWTF and TFT. Buy early and buy often! Thank you for supporting these 2 great organizations. https://rafflecreator.com/pages/78793/2nd-annual-wild-turkey-hunt-fundraiser Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/ Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunt