 Visit us in Booth #223 to shop some great deals, see our new Dura-Lite™ gear, and visit with members of the Ol' Tom Elite Team. If you are a turkey hunter, it just doesn't get any better than the NWTF National Convention. The Convention is at the Opryland Hotel & Convention Center on Feb. 19-21 and we hope to see you there. Come see Ol' Tom at the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA -- Booth #2918!
 Ol' Tom would like to congratulate Elite Team members Stephan Richardson and James Harrison along with Field Expert Mitchell Johnston on their recent victories at the Birmingham World Deer and Turkey Expo in Alabama. Events were held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex on July 17-19, 2009.Stephan took home the top honor, winning his first World Gobbling title. He also placed first in the World Two-Man Team Division along with fellow Ol' Tom Elite member James Harrison. James also had two runner-up finishes in both the World Owling Contest and the World Open Division.  Ol' Tom Field expert Mitchell Johnston, also current NC State Champion, took home another top honor, winning his first World Friction title. He also placed 2nd in the US Open Championships held earlier this year in Nashville, TN, as well as 5th at the NWTF Grand Nationals earlier this past February.We are very proud of Stephan, James and Mitchell and their respectable accomplishments. Congratulations again and thanks for being such a great addition to the Ol' Tom family.
Patience + Persistence = Payoff By Phil Salzano - Ol' Tom Field Expert  I can remember watching a comedian on the television poking fun at couple of old sayings we have. "Ignorance is bliss.", "patience is a virtue", he spoke looking like a philosopher pondering the meaning of life. Then he blurted out, "Well that's fine if you're real dumb and don't mind waiting around!" And of course the audience roared with laughter. I often think about those two old sayings and that comedian quite a bit while hunting turkeys. The reason is I admit to being the guy the comedian is talking about! Sometimes with turkeys, the more you know, the less you know. As far as waiting around, you bet, if I know the turkey's are there, I'll hang tight. [...read more...]A Turkey with My Missing Gun  A few years back, I was hunting a really neat ridgetop here by the house and I shot a bird up on the ridge. It was a fun hunt and I grabbed my stuff, headed to the truck and went to the office. When I looked for my gun, it was not in my truck. My initial thought was that someone must have stolen it - hard to believe that someone would have gone into my truck at the office in little New Melle, but possible. I replayed the events of that morning - apparently they roll together, because I could remember putting the gun in the truck. Maybe I am crazy...... Maybe, I left it in the woods where I shot the bird. Maybe I left it where I stopped to loose the mornings coffee? Maybe I left it on the hood and drove off? So back to the tick infested woods I went. Up the hill to where I shot the bird - nothing but feathers. It wasn't where I parked the truck either. So, I called the police and filed a report that my ol' stacked buddy must have been stolen in the clinic parking lot. [...read more...] A solid half days drive from the Ol' Tom headquarters in Olive Branch, Mississippi will put you slap-dab in the middle of some of the best Rio Grand turkey hunting the great state of Texas has to offer. And that is exactly what a few of us did to scout birds and partake in the opening day of the season.In some of the roughest terrain south Texas has to offer, our camp was a well kept trailer nestled amongst the mesquite, cactus and rocks nearly 3 miles off the highway. Heading up this oasis was longtime friend, expert guide, and chef extraordinaire, Glenn Cunningham, who has been chasing longbeards in these parts for over 15 years. [...read more...] The Armistead Family makes headlines in the monthly newsletter, The Outdoor Wire Ol' Tom would like to congratulate the entire Armistead Family for their turkey calling successes thus far!  PLEASANT SHADE, TENNESSEE-- Expert wild turkey callers from across the country are headed to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville from February 19 to February 22 for the National Wild Turkey Federation's Grand National Calling Contest, including a unique set of siblings from Pleasant Shade, Tennessee. The Armistead family (from left:) Andrew, Lewis, David (seated), Jonathan and Anna have made a name for themselves in the world of competitive turkey calling. [...read more...] Success with Ol' Tom and Casanova By Terence Williamson, Ol Tom Elite Team Member & Woodhaven Custom Calls Pro-Staff  This past turkey season has definitely been one to remember for me. After coming in second place in the friction division of the NWTF's 2008 Wild Turkey Bourbon Grand National Calling Championships, I was fortunate enough to come on board with Ol' Tom Technical Turkey Gear as a Field Expert. This has enabled me to try out and review some of the most amazing and innovative products in the hunting industry. While finishing up my last semester of college, I was not able to hunt as much as I would have liked, but when I did, the Casanova decoy tagged along. I used the strutting decoy in both Alabama and Texas, with similar results in each. [...read more...]  Congratulations to Lee Britt (see photo right), our Field Expert from Kentucky, on his
single-season Grand Slam in 2008. Lee was also luck enough to be along on a hunt in Illinois when his Dad bagged this great bird. Fall Turkey Hunting In New York By Chuck Tiranno, Ol Tom Elite Team Member Note from Ol' Tom: Think the spring is the only time to chase turkeys? Think again. Fall will be here before you know it, and fall turkey hunting is a great way to give yourself more opportunities in the field. Follow these great tips from Chuck Tiranno, one of our accomplished Elite Team members. Summer is over; the leaves are changing into brilliant colors and starting to fall. It's beautiful this time of the year here in Western New York and everything is opening up as far as hunting. Bow hunting for deer is in full gear along with fall turkey hunting and each fall I look forward to both. Hunting fall birds with a dog is very exciting and lots of fun. But I still prefer to hunt the old fashion way by locating a flock and busting them up. The key here after locating them is to scatter the flock in all different directions and this is where a dog can do a great job. [...read more...] Hunt For A Cure - Youth Turkey Hunt by Robert Prowell, Ol' Tom Field Expert  The 4th Annual Hunting For A Cure youth turkey hunt in Savannah, TN, was a special hunt for me. As a guide on the hunt, I was paired with a youth hunter, his parents, and a cameraman to capture the hunt on film. The first morning was windy and cold, but I had located some birds on a scouting trip the previous day so, despite the weather, I thought we had a good chance of seeing some action. At daybreak, we heard two longbeards gobbling near a food plot, so we made our way to the area and set up on the closest bird. My hunting partner, an anxious 8-year old boy, was eager to get into the game. [...read more...]Magnolia State Longbeards By Clay White, Ol' Tom Marketing and PR
Press Release: Mossy Oak® BioLogic® Executive Pens ThrillerMADISON, MS-3 January 2008-Bobby Cole, Mossy Oak® BioLogic® executive, has written The Dummy Line (Context Publishing Co., 19 Feb. 2008, $24.95), an action-packed suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edges of their seats and quite possibility out of the woods at night. Jake Crosby, a troubled stockbroker, has planned a weekend escape at his hunting camp with his nine-year-old daughter, Katy. In the middle of the night, a gang of redneck drug dealers attempts to break into the remote camp. The gang's display of heinous intentions toward Jake and Katy causes Jake to make gut-wrenching decisions. [...read more...] Ol' Tom Vest Declared Field & Stream "Best of the Test"  We are proud to announce the Ol' Tom Time and Motion™ Vest was rated Best of the Test for turkey vests in the latest Field & Stream Magazine. Field & Stream asked their panel of hunters to hunt with and test out a number of hunting vests and then report their findings. Panelists were asked to evaluate based on comfort, innovation, durablity, practicality and price. [...see article here...]
Early Rain Shouldn't Affect Turkey Populations By National Wild Turkey Federation Parts of the Northeast received up to 17 inches of rain earlier this spring, flooding homes and towns, and causing millions of dollars in flood damage. The rain also poses concerns for wildlife agencies and hunters about future wild turkey populations. According to Bob Eriksen, National Wild Turkey Federation Northeast regional biologist, an overabundance of rain during the breeding and nesting season can cause problems, but the rain would be harder on turkey populations if it came in late May and into June. [...read more...] Partnership Provides Native Grass Seed to Landowners By National Wild Turkey Federation  Native warm season grasses have been proven to enhance habitat for both wildlife and domestic livestock, but converting pastures and fields is expensive. Through a partnership, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Hickory County Soil and Water Conservation District are working to make planting native warm season grasses more feasible for landowners in Hickory County Missouri. [...read more...]
Concerned about Smoked Turkeys? By National Wild Turkey Federation In areas of the Southeast, where wild turkeys and endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW) meet, it's often a fiery relationship. Part of many recovery plans for the red-cockaded woodpecker is the use of late-spring or early-summer prescribed burns to manage the habitat of the forest. [...read more...] |
