Long ago, I accepted the fact that many, many people in the world are much better at calling turkeys than I am. That doesn't mean I don't practice to get better; also, I'm living proof that a marginal turkey caller can call in turkeys.

But I don't practice on turkeys.Deer hunters often talk about "educating" deer. For example, the hunters put out some scent, do a rattle and call sequence, and call in a young buck or doe. The hunters don't shoot because they are waiting for a big buck. However, the young buck or doe smells or sees the hunter, snorts, pops up that white tail and careens away to safety.And it makes me wonder, when something like that happens, does that mean that those deer will be less likely to respond to rattling and calling again? I believe it's true. In fact, research on bucks in wild populations using DNA often shows that some older bucks - shooter bucks - stop participating in the rut. The researchers don't yet know why that happens. Could it be that those older bucks once responded to a hunter's deer scent, rattle and call, and found the human instead? And "learned" those sounds could mean danger?We don't know. But I believe a similar thing happens in the turkey world.Those hunters I mentioned - the ones who are really good at calling turkeys? They can't stand it as the season approaches. They've just got to go out there and start "fooling with" the turkeys.I've already been out for a late Sunday breakfast, before turkey season has started, and overheard them as they were talking about the big gobbler they called in early that morning. It makes me want to go to their table and complain."Hey, you, yes you in the camouflage outfit," I would say, if I had the nerve. "Please stop fooling around with the turkeys before the season starts.""I believe there is a limit to the number of times you can fool a turkey, and I believe it is a low number," I would add. "So just wait until opening day and let's all start fresh, all of us, and all the turkeys."Today turkey season launches with the special Youth Hunt, and it opens statewide April 30 - May 31. Some regulations to note if you're mentoring a hunter:A mentored youth must be stationary and within arm's reach of the licensed hunter when the youth is in possession of any lawful hunting device.A mentor may not accompany more than one youngster at a time. A mentor cannot accompany a mentored youth and a junior hunter at the same time.A mentor and mentored youth may not possess collectively more than one lawful hunting device. The mentor must carry the device.The mentor is responsible and accountable for all actions of the mentored youth. In other words, a mentor who allows or causes the mentored youth to engage in an unlawful act shall be punishable as the principal offender.