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The first gobble of the year flips a switch. We dive into the craft of listening for turkeys—how we build efficient morning routes from the road, pick vantage points near water and open ground, and use sound to sketch a map long before we ever touch a call. If February is the month of anticipation, this is how we turn that energy into practical intel that pays off on opening day. We get specific about timing and terrain: why arriving an hour earlier reveals the true start of the dawn chorus, how to triangulate a gobble without walking into it, and when to trust your ears over the map’s magnetic pull toward a distant creek. We talk public versus private approaches, the false promise of winter flocks, and why restraint—less calling, more reading—often brings a gobbler to 30 yards faster than hammering on a box. We also share lighting and safety habits that keep you quiet and invisible, plus when a restrained owl or crow call earns its keep. For hunters with limited days, roosting can be the difference between wandering and winning. We explain how to pin an evening bird, set a safe approach, and let terrain do half the talking at fly-down. You’ll hear stories of early-morning shockers, late fly-down puzzles, and the setups that worked because we waited for the bird to make the first mistake. Along the way, we preview our NWTF Convention plans, new Spring Legion gear, and weekly YouTube hunts that show the real process—missteps, adjustments, and the moments where one well-timed call changes everything. Subscribe, share with a buddy who’s already hooting in the truck, and leave a quick review with your best listening tip. Then tell us: where do you start your first February loop—and what made you pick it? LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

We return to the original studio and lay out a field-tested guide to turkey setups, from the pretty spots that fail to the ugly positions that kill. We share how to read gobbles, time your moves, and build options with terrain, shade, and smart angles. • gear updates, NWTF booth location, and a YouTube giveaway • why open “stage” setups make birds hang up • the power of backdrops and concealment in shade • when decoys solve curiosity too soon • reading hot birds vs courtesy gobbles • moving on a gobble, wind, and shadow cover • using barriers, blowdowns, and creek banks • elevation choices that make a bird step-and-look • partner safety, communication, and 360-degree options • ugly, uncomfortable setups that create clean kills • accepting failure as part of learning Wear Spring Legion apparel to the NWTF Convention in Nashville and swing by our booth. When you get to checkout, we’ll give you some free gloves, mask, or something of that nature. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

From scouting topo maps to a few secret spots for finding fresh turkey tracks, we focus on how to actually find spring turkeys—starting at water-shaped roost sites, moving through midday strut zones, and using sign the right way—while sharing honest lessons from our past wins and dry spells. We also talk Mississippi’s new turkey stamp, our YouTube plans, and listener-requested scouting tactics. • why water, elevation and comfort drive roost choice • how to efficiently combine e-scouting with boots on the ground • benches, strut zones and midday movement patterns • reading scratching, tracks and dust bowls with freshness in mind • food and bugs in bottoms, cow pasture advantages • wind, rain and heat shaping daily locations • hens nesting vs setting, the agenda and late-season shifts • shrinking the map at hand by ruling out where turkeys are NOT Use code Pod 10 for 10% off at springleasure.com LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Today, we share a field-first plan for finding and hunting tight-lipped turkeys, from reading low-pressure mornings to using terrain, water edges and smart setups that make a silent gobbler move. We talk patience, locator calls and how to avoid educating birds before the best weather window. • preseason anticipation, NWTF plans and vest update • listener questions shaping the season’s topics • defining silent gobblers vs henned-up birds • weather, barometric pressure and wildlife activity cues • elevation, hearing range and picking listening points • water edges, oxbows and movement funnels • locator calls used sparingly for a single gobble • wing beats, scratching and non-vocal turkey sounds • positioning to remove barriers and force routes • patience, timing the mid-morning switch, leaving options open Use code POD10 for 10% off your order at springlegion.com LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Introducing the new Spring Legion Turkey Vest for Spring 2026, we reflect on the vests we've worn over the years and a few stories that came with them.  First signs of spring are back—birds waking up, weeds popping, and that itch to get your vest dialed. We’ve been obsessed with building a turkey vest that actually helps you hunt better, and we finally pulled the curtain back. High and tight so it doesn’t slap your knees. Quiet, durable fabric that molds to your body. MOLLE-compatible layout to add what you need and drop what you don’t. No magnets to fail in a thicket or mess with your compass. A butt pad that rides slim but still gives you that post-shot flop that feels like victory. We walk through the decisions that took years to refine: a detachable box call holder that doesn’t rattle, striker storage that won’t lose your favorites, slate pockets with a divider for conditioning pads, and a dump pocket for tags, zip ties, batteries, and the random essentials you actually use. Hydration is routed clean through the strap so you can take a sip without shifting a gun off your knee. Fit extensions and an XL option make it accessible without turning it into a bulky mess. Then we take you to Tennessee. Picture pounding rain, cattle pastures, and a square of yellow flowers. We break down how we moved through livestock, secured permission, managed wind with a box call, and threaded a barrel through a heavy panel fence to set up a clean shot on two strutters. When the tom tried to recover, the ability to move fast without snagging gear made the difference. Along the way we dig into loadout philosophy—Thermacell over DEET, permethrin-treated clothes, two strikers you trust, one slate or glass, and a box call when the timber demands reach. We finish with tactics that travel anywhere: using a real wing for subtle fly-downs that keep mystery alive, scratching to mark location without overcommitting, and reading silence as movement. If a gobbler shuts up after a wing beat, he might be on the way. Stay just below the crest, pull him to an edge, and let curiosity do the work. Hit play to learn why simple, quiet, and modular beats heavy and complicated—and how to set yourself up for a better spring. Subscribe, share with a buddy who’s tweaking his vest this week, and leave a quick review to help more turkey hunters find the show. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

We begin this episode with the irony of trading Black Friday greed for Christmas giving, then carry that theme into the turkey woods with stories where the hunt gives… and where it yanks the rug out from beneath us. From a rattled-in one-horn buck to a public land gobbler, we unpack patience, luck, and the grind that makes hunting worth it. • cold deer hunt that unfolded like a turkey setup • gifts vs ungifts theme across multiple turkey seasons • calling mistakes that still led to a limb-hanger on public • midday nap turning into two red heads and a quick shot • close-roost lessons, misses and setup discipline • Paw Paw memories, calls, and minivan clay pits • the road gobbler with hooks and the sudden house pad • patience, woodsmanship and showing up when the tide turns Thank y’all for subscribing, liking, sharing, telling friends about it, and all the feedback we receive is always welcomed with open arms. We hope y’all have a very safe and sincere holiday season and wish y’all Merry Christmas. Follow us on socials for new stuff dropping soon. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Three years with your back against the same tree can teach you more than a stack of tags, or perhaps it only further proves there are no certainties in turkey hunting. In this episode, we unpack three seasons centered on the same setup and why gobblers kept working that ground in eerily similar ways.  From loud leaves that accidentally “called” a bird, to a light wind that gave us just enough cover, to a hot gobbling longbeard that veered at the last second, we trace how small choices and familiar terrain create repeatable opportunities without turning hunting into a script. We dig into the biology and the woodsmanship. Dr. Chamberlain’s insight on lek-like behavior gives a scientific reason birds revisit certain areas, while field stories highlight the patterns you can actually use: favor dark timber over bright openings, let terrain hide your feet, and plan for what turkeys are unlikely to do. When you add clear team roles—who calls, who shoots, who films—you multiply your windows and take cleaner shots. We also reflect on the details that tell a turkey’s story after the shot: stained wing bars, the grit inside a gizzard, and what those clues say about where he spent yesterday. Not every plan works. We break down a painful miss, the lesson in brush lanes and shot windows, and why returning to proven ground still demands flexibility. Access changes, pressure resets, and sometimes the smartest move is to take the knowledge and go try something new. If you’re thinking about patterns, ridges, ditches, and how to make the next setup count, you’ll find practical, field-tested takeaways to carry into spring—without losing the joy and mystery that keep us going back. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a buddy who lives for March mornings, and leave a quick review so more turkey hunters can find us. Your support helps us bring more stories, more lessons, and more wild mornings to your feed. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

On this episode, hosts Hunter Farrior and Chase Farrior are talking about a few good drumming turkeys from the back corners of their minds. From a high school before‑class bird that taught Chase his first lesson in throwing soft yelps over a terrain roll, to the heaviest Alabama gobbler we’ve ever carried—whose drum hit harder than his gobble—this one is packed with practical wisdom you can use the next time the woods go quiet. We unpack how to recognize real drumming by cadence, separate it from log trucks and wind‑flexed roots, and move only when the rhythm gives you a beat to steal ground. You’ll hear how cemetery high points and creek‑bottom bowls shape sound, why cedar walls look right but hunt wrong, and what to do when hens drift by within arm’s reach and your gun is tangled in branches. We also revisit low‑tech scouting—reading fresh tracks in mud and using water holes like analog trail cameras—to confirm travel without burning a spot. Close calls drive the best lessons: wing drags at five yards without a shot window, half‑strut toms that never fan but drum non‑stop, and the discipline to hold your call when you can already hear the drum. If you’ve ever asked when to move, when to call, and how to set up for a shot lane instead of a pretty view, these stories give you a blueprint. Subscribe, share with a hunting buddy who lives for tough birds, and drop your best “heard him before I saw him” story in a review—we might read it on the show next week. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Today, we're talking about Chase's big Delta buck, and taking a deep dive on smarter spring turkey hunting tactics. We unpack first chances, second chances, midday loafing, sign-reading, terrain, and the confidence to walk away and win tomorrow. In this episode: • cold front, new gear and a busy shop • Delta buck story, management and shot follow-up • why first chances feel best but second chances pay • midday loafing windows and patient scouting • reading sign before calling and moving with purpose • using edges, shade and buffers to close distance • when to risk a push vs save the morning • confidence as a tool, not a crutch • how to leave dead spots and find active birds If you can like, follow, and subscribe on Apple and Spotify, or leave us a review, that would be very appreciated! LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Ever have a gobbler prove your first instinct right while you sit in the wrong spot? That’s the thread running through this one: trust the high seat when the terrain says high, let the bird lay the first card, and don’t let a cutoff clock rush you into a bad setup. We start with the good stuff—our Greenleaf drop and Black Friday bundles—then get straight into fieldcraft that held up under pressure: roost strategy, reading hills, and taking the shot before the window slides shut. We break down two hunts that tested our patience. A hen crossed a gravel road and pulled us low; the tom flew to the bottom, climbed to the crown, and marched toward the road—exactly where we would have been if we hadn’t second-guessed ourselves. Then a giant bird roosted shockingly low along a pasture ditch and drummed in the dark. By daylight he’d shifted to the top, again proving that discipline in what you already know beats improvising around a weird detail. The pattern is clear: stop trying to make turkeys do things; start listening when the woods tell you what the bird wants. From there we talk shot selection and calling. On pressured ground, you’re lucky to get one clean look. Know your range, build lanes, and pull the trigger when his head hits the window. With calling, timing and direction do the work. A soft note thrown into the gap you want him to check can force the exact two steps you need. Drumming became our compass, letting us course silent birds over rolls and into view without blowing the setup. And yes, we’re upgrading how we capture it—barrel cams and smarter filming so you can see how those choices unfold. Grab the new Greenleaf gear while the bundles last, follow along for more hunts dropping Mondays at 6 a.m., and tell us: when your gut says take the hill, do you climb or keep debating? If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review so more turkey nuts can find us. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

Year SIX of turkey hunting tips and stories has arrived with a warehouse full of spring 2026 gear and a head full of stories that matter more than numbers. We pulled the curtain back on how Spring Legion grew from spare bedrooms to stacked pallets, why we obsessed over simplifying designs, and what it took to bring Greenleaf across the lineup without investor money. Then we shifted to the real currency of our brand: hard-earned lessons from a season ruled by wind, hens, and terrain that punishes bad angles. Georgia reminded us that timing beats talent. After days of punishing wind, the first quiet minutes lit a gobble from way off, triggering a mad dash from the porch to a setup that worked only because we were there when the woods finally breathed. In West Virginia, the mountains turned sound into a trickster. Gobbles sounded close while birds covered country fast, and a crow call at the perfect moment kept us from stepping into a gobbler’s vision cone. Hunting with a partner who reads the same map in your head matters—call when the lane turns in your favor, and let the bird make the last mistake. Across states, hend-up flocks and better hatches changed the playbook. Low-volume mornings forced a patient, movement-first style on public ground where birds have seen every trick. Woodsmanship won the day more than loud calling: benches, cover, leaf rhythm, and a respect for how quickly a skyline burns you. We even talk about the tom that strut-carved a pine straw bowl by standing in one spot forever, a perfect snapshot of why observation can beat pressure. The quiet theme is mindset. There’s a season where you chase numbers, and a season where you chase the right moments. We chose to walk away content, tags unpunched, because the woods had already given enough—daybreak gobbles, tough reads, and proof that purpose beats tally. We also share Black Friday bundle details, restocks, and plans to bring on help so we can tell more of these stories and the real, chaotic path of building this brand. If you’re here for honest turkey talk, thoughtful tactics, and gear built to serve—not shout—we’ve got a full run ahead. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, share this with a hunter who lives for first light, and drop a review to help more folks find their way to the spring woods. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

We unpack our essential knowledge for traveling turkey hunters, sharing hard-won wisdom about what to pack, what regulations to be aware of, and how to maximize success in unfamiliar territories. • Weather is crucial – chase good conditions rather than sticking to rigid travel schedules • Noon hunting cutoffs in certain states require different hunting strategies • State-specific regulations vary widely – physical tags, hunting zones, and public land rules • Packing smart prevents overloading – focus on versatile, multi-purpose gear • Keep emergency equipment like tire repair kits, jump packs, and boot dryers • Vacuum sealers are game-changers for preserving harvested turkey meat • Scout unfamiliar public land for diversity in terrain features • Be cautious of recreational lands where non-hunters may be present • Remain flexible and willing to change plans based on conditions Be sure to check out our new merchandise including the Woodsmanship tee, No Sleep Till June shirts, and our Walking Turkey logo hats now available on our website. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

We've officially hit the halfway point of the 2025 spring turkey season, and the changes in weather and turkey behavior are becoming more apparent as the foliage thickens and temperatures rise. • Chase's hunt in East Georgia yielded success after walking 23 miles in three days through challenging sandy terrain • After a thunderstorm passed and winds died down, a gobbler immediately started hammering, creating perfect hunting conditions • Understanding turkey behavior in thick foliage becomes crucial when you can't distinguish if turkeys aren't gobbling or if you just can't hear them • Hunter's adventures in North Georgia and Tennessee featured steep terrain and high winds, requiring quick strategy adjustments • Hunting ridgetops requires understanding how wind affects turkey behavior and being willing to change plans quickly • The challenge of "periscoping" gobblers that periodically raise their heads to scan for hens without fully committing • Updates on Spring Legion gear including waterproof gaiters at 30% off and the new turkey hunting hat collection at 25% off with code CAP25 • Special congrats to this week's review winner who will receive a free duffel bag and license plate Don't forget to check out the Spring Legion online shop where waterproof gaiters are now 30% off and the new turkey hunting hats are 25% off with code CAP25. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

What makes the Eastern Wild Turkey America's most challenging gamebird? Join Hunter Farrior of Spring Legion, Dr. Mike Chamberlain (@wildturkeydoc), and Matt from the National Wild Turkey Federation as they dive deep into the mysterious world of Eastern Wild Turkeys from their Kentucky turkey camp. The conversation opens with back-to-back hunting stories that perfectly illustrate why Easterns have earned their reputation for outsmarting hunters. As Dr. Chamberlain reveals, "Easterns are the most heavily hunted subspecies with decades of hunting pressure...they're used to dealing with us." This hard-won wisdom passed through generations of turkeys explains why success rates remain so low compared to hunting other subspecies. You'll discover fascinating research about Eastern turkey behavior, including their complex roosting patterns where birds use multiple locations rather than returning to the same tree night after night. This explains why hunters sometimes return to a spot expecting the same bird, only to encounter a completely different turkey with different behavior patterns – a revelation that might change your hunting strategy forever! The discussion takes a critical turn toward conservation as the team explores how Eastern turkeys depend on hardwood forests for winter nutrition and return to the same breeding grounds generation after generation. With hardwood forests disappearing at alarming rates and specific breeding grounds being disrupted, understanding these complex habitat needs has never been more important for ensuring the future of the wild turkey. Whether you're a seasoned turkey hunter looking to improve your odds against these forest-dwelling game birds, or a conservation-minded outdoorsperson concerned about wild turkey populations, this episode delivers crucial insights directly from the experts studying these magnificent birds. Listen now and gain a deeper appreciation for America's most widespread – and most challenging – wild turkey subspecies. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics

This week, Hunter Farrior welcomes his good friend Gary Stanton (of country music duo Muscadine Bloodline) to share their recent adventure pursuing turkeys in completely new territory. What begins as a loosely planned expedition with minimal local knowledge turns into a masterclass in adaptability, patience, and recognizing opportunity when it presents itself. The hunters reveal how a wrong turn and nearly hitting a hen with their truck led to discovering a turkey hotspot that would define their entire trip. Their experience demonstrates the delicate balance between scouting widely and committing deeply once birds are located. The conversation explores the challenges of hunting opening day on public land, managing pressure from other hunters, and the tactical decisions that ultimately led to success. Rather than constantly seeking new ground, they found that staying put and truly learning one productive area yielded better results—harvesting birds seven hours apart but only 70 yards from one another. Beyond hunting tactics, Bobby and Gary discuss their friendship built through shared passion for turkey hunting and literature, how superstition influences their hunting gear choices, and the special quality of early spring turkey season that keeps them coming back year after year. Their genuine enthusiasm and storytelling make this episode both entertaining and educational for hunters of all experience levels. Whether you're planning your own out-of-state turkey adventure or simply enjoy authentic hunting stories, this episode offers valuable insights on finding success in unfamiliar territory while creating lasting memories with friends in the turkey woods. LINK: Save 10% on your next North Mountain Gear Leafy Jacket with code LEGION26 at northmountaingear.com LINK: SAVE 10% on the new 2026 Line of Turkey Hunting Gear at springlegion.com with code POD10 Follow us on Instagram: @springlegion @hunter.farrior @chasefarrior We'd like to thank the following sponsors for making this podcast possible: North Mountain Gear Mossy Oak Apex Ammunition Vortex Optics