Bird Brain Is Back: Talking Spring Turkeys with Long Branch Game Calls
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In this episode of Sportsmen's Empire - Turkey Hunting, host Mitchell Shirk welcomes Jake Stanish, founder of Long Branch Turkey Calls, for an in-depth conversation about the art and philosophy of turkey hunting. The discussion begins with a heartfelt personal reflection from Shirk on his church's hunter's round table, where his pastor shared a powerful Easter sermon using an archery analogy to illustrate the concept of salvation through Jesus' perfect life. This spiritual reflection sets a contemplative tone before diving into the core of the episode: the fundamentals of successful turkey hunting. Stanish, a lifelong Pennsylvania turkey hunter, emphasizes the importance of patience, woodsmanship, and deep understanding of turkey behavior over flashy gear or aggressive calling. He shares insights on scouting, calling strategies, and the critical difference between hunting for trophies versus hunting for connection with nature. The conversation highlights how experience, persistence, and listening to turkeys—especially in the fall—build real skill. Stanish also discusses his journey creating his own turkey calls, driven by a desire to make realistic, user-friendly products for average hunters rather than just contest specialists. The episode concludes with practical advice for new hunters and a strong encouragement to spend time in the woods, not just to kill, but to truly experience the wild turkey's world.
Patience and persistence are more important than calling skill or gear in turkey hunting.
Listening to turkeys in the fall builds foundational knowledge and realism in calling.
The most successful turkey hunters are those who understand turkey behavior and patterns, not just those with the best calls.
Less is often more when calling—give turkeys just enough to keep them interested, not overwhelm them.
Realism in calling comes from cadence, pauses, and sounding like the local turkey population, not just making loud noises.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Spirit of the Hunt: A Pastor's Easter Reflection
“What if our way, in order to get into heaven, he said, what if it was an archery competition? He said, but instead of it being the 20-yard indoor competition, He said you went to a 1,000-yard rifle range and set up a target. And in order to make it into heaven, you had to shoot 60 arrows. And those 60 arrows all had to land within the inside of a 4-inch circle at 1,000 yards. And you had to hit every single time.”
The Mindset of a True Turkey Hunter: Bird Brain and Patience
Jake Stanish defines 'bird brain' as the obsessive, all-consuming focus on turkeys that only comes in spring. He shares his philosophy on hunting, emphasizing that he'd rather not shoot a turkey in the fall to preserve the population and maintain the integrity of the hunt. He discusses the importance of fall turkey hunting for learning and the deep connection it fosters with the species.
The Foundations of Success: Scouting, Calling, and Woodsmanship
“I'm one where I like to take their temperature, see what they like, give them a little bit, see what they do, and just kind of feel the situation out.”
The Art of Realism: From Calls to Cadence
“To me, the biggest thing is how it's presented. One way to easily explain what I mean there is if you listen, if you go on YouTube... The NWTF has the Grand National Calling Championships... Does it sound like a flock of turkeys or a single bird doing what they're describing?”
Building a Legacy: The Story Behind Long Branch Turkey Calls
Stanish shares his journey from a young boy fascinated by turkey calls to founding his own company. He explains his motivation to create calls that are user-friendly for the average hunter, not just contest specialists. He discusses the process of building his first successful call and the deep satisfaction he gets from knowing his products help others create lasting hunting memories.
“What if our way, in order to get into heaven, he said, what if it was an archery competition? He said, but instead of it being the 20-yard indoor competition, He said you went to a 1,000-yard rifle range and set up a target. And in order to make it into heaven, you had to shoot 60 arrows. And those 60 arrows all had to land within the inside of a 4-inch circle at 1,000 yards. And you had to hit every single time.”
“To me, the biggest thing is how it's presented. One way to easily explain what I mean there is if you listen, if you go on YouTube... The NWTF has the Grand National Calling Championships... Does it sound like a flock of turkeys or a single bird doing what they're describing?”
“I'm building something that somebody else is going to make a memory with. I wonder what it's going to be. Is it going to be, you know, a parent taking their kids out or someone just going out and hunting by themselves?”
Host
Guest
Jake Stanish
person
Long Branch Turkey Calls
brand
Jesus Christ
person
Mitchell Shirk
person
Pastor
person
Book of Life
other
NWTF Grand National Calling Championships
other
Whitetail Institute
brand
Little Mountain Outfitters
brand
Huntworth
brand
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