Clay Newcomb & Josh Spielmaker- Turkey Camp

In this episode of the Speak the Language Podcast, hosts Lake Pickle and Jordan Blissett welcome guests Clay Newcomb and Josh Spielmaker for a candid, humorous, and deeply personal reflection on their fifth consecutive turkey hunting trip along the Mississippi River. The episode captures the full arc of a challenging but ultimately rewarding spring turkey season, filled with near-misses, dry spells, and one unforgettable final hunt. The group shares stories of missed opportunities, including a turkey that flew off after a poorly timed shot, and the emotional toll of hunting droughts. Yet, through perseverance and teamwork, they ultimately bag two turkeys on the final day—first a long, tense stalk through dense vegetation, and then a dramatic, cinematic approach using decoys and coordinated calling in a clover field. The episode is rich with hunting wisdom, camaraderie, and the kind of raw, unfiltered storytelling that defines the show. It’s a celebration of patience, persistence, and the deep bond formed through shared outdoor experiences. Key takeaways include: 1) The importance of adapting your calling strategy—answering a gobble with yelps can be more effective than staying silent; 2) Patience and persistence pay off, even in tough seasons—sometimes you just need to keep hunting; 3) Teamwork and communication are critical in multi-person hunts, especially when setting up decoys and calling; 4) Always be ready to pivot—when one strategy fails, try another; 5) The environment shapes the hunt—understanding habitat like sloughs, bogs, and floodplains is essential in the Delta; 6) Mental resilience is as important as gear—handling missed shots and dry spells with grace is part of the journey; 7) The best hunts often come after the longest stretches of nothing; 8) Humor and humility keep the group grounded, even when the turkey gets away.