If you've ever listened to one of my
podcasts, you'll know that I have this recording ring that consists of a Digital Audio Recorder attached to an umbrella mic. It's a homebrew thing. I got the plans from off the web. Here is what it looks like:
It's built on a paint roller handle, and I have a short paint stick, and I shove that into the ground. I try and stay well back from the turkeys. This is mostly done in the pre-season, and I want to just sneak in and record them in their natural environment. However, that is not always the case. I Several times over the last few years, I've had close encounters with gobblers, and they seem to have romantic interests in the microphone. Here is one example:
The Mistaken Gobblerand here is an even better example. The gob came right up to the mic and I was able to catch his spit and drum. This all took place just behind my head, and the gobbler was less than 10 feet away.
Yute Hunt 2020Okay, so much for the set-up. While was out in the blind last year, I had an idea: If those birds get turned on by a camo umbrella hat turned sideways on a paint stick, what would they do with one that is a bit more visible and lively.
I don't know if your fashion tastes go this way, but some folks (especially in the U.K.) think this is a cool look:
I found this one on Amazon for $4:
. . ., and my plan is to put a stick in the ground, maybe 3 -4 foot, and then hang the hat by the headband. It will move around in the wind, and my guess is that I'll be able to fool a gobbler. This should add to the pre-season merriment.
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