Author: Heath Wood
Heath Wood
Heath Wood resides with his wife Faron and their son Carson in Mountain View, Missouri. His writings have been published in many major hunting magazines such as Predator Xtreme, Bowhunting World, Gun Digest, Turkey Country, and Game and Fish. As well as several websites and blogs for over 15 years. His favorite topics include, but are not limited to deer, turkey, and predator hunting. Wood is a member of the Mossy Oak pro staff where he can often be found sharing tips and stories through his writings on MossyOak.com. He has also appeared on Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World TV, Hunters Specialties The Stuff of Legends, Hunters Specialties popular DVD series Cuttin' and Struttin', and NWTF's Turkey Call TV. Heath loves helping introduce newcomers to the sport of hunting and working with the youth in any way possible. Wood also enjoys serving up delicious wild game recipes and trying to master his favorite BBQ dishes, many of which have been featured in hunting and fishing publications. This outdoor cooking passion has led to Wood serving on the Traeger Grills Outdoors Pro Team.
In recent years, concerns have arisen among turkey hunters regarding the declining population of wild turkeys across the United States. This trend has sparked discussions among conservationists, hunters, and wildlife management agencies about the factors contributing to this decline and potential strategies for addressing it. Still, hunters often explore why the declining turkey population is a concern. Many turkey hunters wonder, what happened to our turkeys? And what can be done to improve the population before it worsens? I was fortunate to be raised when turkey numbers in southern Missouri were at one of their highest. As a teenager, I…
Spring turkey hunting, steeped in tradition and the thrill of the chase, captivates the hearts of avid hunters across the United States. As the season approaches, enthusiasts meticulously plan their journeys to states renowned for their abundant turkey populations, impressive harvest totals, and reasonable license prices. At the beginning of the year, a good friend called me. “I’m going to Nebraska this spring,” he excitedly shouted. This will be his first year leaving his home state of Missouri for a new turkey hunting journey. His excitement, immediately had me thinking, where can I go on my next turkey hunt? Each…
Spring Bass Fishing Tips from MLF Pro Mark Daniels Jr. For the past 10 years, pro angler Mark Daniels Jr. has made a full-time career as a bass fisherman. Throughout those years, Daniels Jr has throttled his way through the professional bass fishing world. In 2013, he won the National Championship in The Bass Federation. In 2014, Daniels qualified to fish the FLW tour, where he spent three years bass fishing until he moved to the B.A.S.S. Elite Series in 2017. After two years of fishing the Elite Series, he moved to Major League Fishing, where he continues to fish…
After spotting sprigs of green grass beginning to pop through the brown winter fields, I knew that warmer weather and spring temperatures were near. Though I was ready for a change in the seasons, the success I had enjoyed from two months of extensive efforts calling coyotes was enough to make me long for winter to last a bit longer. On a mild, mid-March Day I finally talked my wife into tagging along with me on a hunt. I first asked her a month or two earlier, but with the temperatures much more comfortable now, she agreed. Even though…
Adrenaline, excitement, enjoyment, delight, and tradition are a few words that come to mind when explaining coyote hunting to a newcomer. Rather than trying to describe why coyote hunting is such a fun activity, try showing them. When someone extends an invitation for a chance to coyote hunt in a new area, I am eagerly receptive to every opportunity. When a good friend asked me to take him and his nine-year-old son coyote hunting on a cool mid-October morning at their family farm, I didn’t initially realize how special the hunt would be for him, his son, and myself. My…