The silence of the North Carolina woods was broken by a sharp, rhythmic owl call. Moments later, the woods erupted as a Tom offered a thunderous “shock gobble” from his roost. As a mentor with the Fall Line Outdoors Chapter (FLOC), I watched my students’ focus sharpen. We quickly devised a plan and convince that Tom we were the most captivating hen in the woods.
This is how most of the hunts start while hunting the elusive and most difficult bird to hunt in the turkey woods. This high-stakes chess match is the heartbeat of turkey hunting—pursuing what many consider the most elusive bird in the forest. In 2026, FLOC officially opened its doors to a first-of-its-kind mentorship program designed to turn beginners into lifelong stewards of the Eastern Wild Turkey.
The program hit the ground running. With the assistance of experienced Mentors, we aim to teach our students how to understand the laws of harvesting a turkey in NC due to the differences in each state, pick the right weapon, ammo, sighting scope if they choose to add one on their weapon, understand what turkey scratching sing is and where to find them roosting to be just a few things they learn. Five students have immersed themselves in the complexities of the craft and all have had some sort of encounter with this turkey, but none have sealed the deal yet. All understand that harvesting a turkey is “The Bonus” not the guarantee. They aren’t just learning how to hunt; they are learning the “why” behind the “how.”
True stewardship begins with “boots on the ground.” Long before the season opened, we conducted four Mentored scouting trips and students went scouting on their own as well during the small game season. The benefit to this is the student can develop general outdoorsman techniques with old deer sign they can file in their hunting apps for the next deer season and current small game hunting in the woods while still looking for turkey sign.
While the season is only 12 days old, the lessons have been profound. Our five students have all had close encounters, yet they’ve embraced the program’s core philosophy: The harvest is the bonus; the experience is the guarantee. There is a quote we teach, “Make your plan, Stick to your plan”. “Here are some of the results our students have had in the woods”.
2026 Student Progress Report
| Student | Hunting Ground | Status | Highlight |
| Bill | Private | Active | Successful solo hunt; spotted 4 mature Toms. |
| Jamel | Jordan Lake (GMA) | Active | Awarded permit; solo roost & ground encounters. |
| Brian | Public/Private | Active | Full interaction: observed strutting, gobbling, & fly-offs. |
| Dan | Public/Private | Active | Successfully patterned birds; high engagement. |
With the season still in full force until May 9th, FLOC is encouraged by the students performance so much, that they feel good about creating future Eastern Wild Turkey hunters and conservationists. Stay tuned for part 2 of the FLOC turkey hunting program to read of its conclusion to the 2026 season and find out how you too can become part of this program for 2027.