American Raised Outdoors - Turkey 10 with Jordan Weeks from Roost'em Hunting Products - where turkey hunting memories are made!
•Posted on April 07 2022
At this year’s NWTF show in Nashville, we had the good fortune of meeting many great people! One of those individuals was Mr. Jordan Weeks who is the vice president of Roost’em Hunting Products. They specialize in turkey calls along with many other calls so please check them out if in need of a game call. Roost’em is a Christian oriented company and we are thrilled to have Mr. Jordan be a part of the 1st edition of American Raised Outdoors “Turkey 10.” We’re hopeful you may find some tips that may be helpful in the turkey woods…where memories are made!
1) Hello Mr. Jordan, can you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Rockbridge County, Virginia. I grew up turkey hunting there with my Dad, Grandfather and uncles. My wife, kids and I moved to East Tennessee a few years back. I have enjoyed the turkey hunting in Tennessee thus far. I have never hunted outside of these two states!
2) What age did you start chasing turkeys and, specifically, what was it about chasing these birds that formed that passion?
I was only three years old when my dad started carrying me along with him in the spring. I witnessed my dad kill a gobbler that first spring. He allowed me to carry a pop gun along that morning, and I was sitting between his legs when he killed the gobbler. He let me believe I killed that gobbler, till I was old enough to know better. I don’t remember much about that first one, but I do remember some. That’s what got it all started for me, I have been crazy over it ever since!
3) What is your preferred method of chasing turkeys and thoughts on why?
I have always been a “run and gun” type turkey hunter. If I can hear him gobbling, I try to get in close to him on the roost. If it’s mid day, I stay moving and calling till I strike one. That is one reason I have never hunted from a blind or with decoys. The other reason I have never hunted with a blind or decoys is because of the terrain I hunt. I have never had nice open fields or flat terrain to hunt. When you hunt the mountains like I do, it’s just not worth carrying all that extra weight. I have nothing against those that do hunt that way, but it’s just not my style. I feel more of a connection to the old days of turkey hunting, the way I hunt.
4) Being an expert in the turkey call industry, what are your suggested tactics regarding the use of the different types of calls available?
If I could share one piece of advice about “calling” turkeys it would be this, don’t do much of it!! The more you can leave to his imagination, the better!! Give him just enough to let him know where you are. Just because you can keep him gobbling with fancy cutting, doesn’t mean you are doing yourself any good. It took me a while to learn that lesson. As far as which calls are best, it really comes down to what you are most comfortable with. If you sound best on a box, use it! If you do best with a pot call, use that. However, I would encourage every turkey hunter to practice with a mouth call, just to be hands free. Even if you only use it just to finish. It’s nice to keep both hands on the gun when the turkey is in sight!
5) What are your thoughts on decoys, placement of those decoys, how many and what types?
I personally don’t use decoys, so I don’t have much experience with them. From what I have heard from other people, I would say always have a Jake or Tom accompanying the hen decoy as opposed to a hen by herself. I have been told they seem to respond better to a combo.
6) If firearm hunting, what would be your typical choice for gauge, shells and chokes and thoughts as to why?
Over the last few years, TSS has really shaken up the turkey hunting world. With these new TSS turkey loads and a good choke, you can kill one at 35 yards with a .410 shotgun. That was unheard of when I was growing up, but now it has become the new trend. There is nothing wrong with that, my kids are hunting with a .410 and TSS turkey loads. It is very effective. With that being said, I still carry my trusty ol’ Remington 870 express. I have carried it for nearly 20 years and I don’t ever plan to stop. I have tried TSS in my gun, and it does shoot very well. However, you don’t need that to kill a turkey. Just about any lead #4’s 5’s or 6’s will do the trick with a full choke! There are a lot of good chokes out there, but you should take the time to pattern your shotgun and find out what works best for the gun you shoot!! Remember, you don’t need to kill a gobbler at 70 yards, calling them in close is what makes it fun!
7) What is the typical season length where you hunt and when might you find that your successes increase throughout that season?
The season lasts a little over a month here. As far as what part of the season is best, that seems to vary year to year. Normally you have a pretty good chance at any time during the season. In my experience, a gobblers behavior can change completely from one day to the next. You just have to be there. Don’t give up if he wins a few times. Study his behavior and keep trying.
8) Please provide your thoughts on morning hunts vs. mid-day vs. afternoon hunts if legal in your state?
You can have success morning, noon or evening. During the early part of the season when the gobblers seem to have a lot of hens, afternoons or evenings can be the way to go. The hens will leave the gobblers sometime between mid-morning and early afternoons, most of the time. During the late season, the hens start nesting and it’s the perfect time to call in a lone gobbler! Mornings off of the roost seem to be better in the late season.
9) If someone was searching for ideal turkey habitat to hunt and gain permission, what suggestions would you provide?
As far as habitat, that can vary from state to state I would say. There are a few things that are consistent though, and that is water and food. The types of food can vary from place to place. It may be crop fields, or it could be an oak flat. A turkey can find something to eat just about anywhere, but water is different. There needs to be a water source somewhere near by. My grandfather used to say that the first place a turkey moves toward, once off the roost, is their water source.
10) With all the great info already provided, what would be your most helpful and final tip that you would like to leave that turkey hunter with that might be heading to the field?
If I could leave one final tip it would be this, get where the turkeys want to be. You can have a gobbler answer you 100 times, but if he doesn’t want to be where you are he will not come. Don’t be afraid to be quiet and let the turkey go on his way, drop back and make a big move to get out in front of him. Take note of the direction he is heading and try to get there before him, and be ready! Location is key. Know how to call turkeys, but don’t do to much of it. Calling is just a small part of killing a gobbler.
Fun Fact - Please leave the readers with something that many may not know about you.
Most people don’t know that I have an irrational fear of getting on an airplane!! (Haha) I would walk from Tennessee to California if flying was the only other option!
We, at American Raised Outdoors, cannot thank Mr. Jordan enough for taking the time to provide his great thoughts regarding all things turkey. We're hopeful you can take some of these tips/thoughts to the woods and just enjoy being outdoors.....where turkey memories are made! Please take a moment to visit their site if in need of a world class turkey or game call!
www.roostemhuntingproducts.com
Comments
0 Comments
Leave a Comment