Affinito stated that safety, sportsmanship, ethics and respect for the wildlife and the weapon you're using are all important aspects of an enjoyable turkey hunt.

"First and foremost is safety," he said. "Most spring turkey hunters wear camouflage and they are hard to spot. Make sure you see a turkey before you aim your gun."

Sportsmanship and ethics are important, too.

"If another hunter is in the same patch of woods," he said, "find another gobbler. If you've done your pre-season scouting, you'll have more than enough places to try. New York is full of birds right now, and there are plenty of gobblers out here."

Affinito likes to begin each season by reciting a poem he wrote for his call-making friend, Robert Clifft:

THE LAST CALL
"What's that sound?" Ol' Tom
Thought as he flew.
The big hen turned
And called back, too.
His feathers were puffed
And his tail was fanned.
His big wings scraped leaves
And made lines in the sand.
He strode to the left
And strutted back right.
His feathers glistened
In the morning's first light.
And off in the distance
That lone hen kept yelpin'.
Ol' Tom wanted to mate,
and that lone hen wasn't helpin'.
The lone hen made clucks
And purred so enticin',
It made that big hen
Feel like fightin'.
So after that lone hen they did go,
The big hen, the flock,
And Ol' Tom in tow.
Ol' Tom was spittin' and drummin';
Toward that lone hen
They kept comin'.
The hunter's heart rate peaked
As those turkeys did sneak,
For they knew not the danger
Of running in out of anger.
And when the hunter's gun did roar,
Ol' Tom's mighty gobble
Was heard no more.
And as the hunter stood over his bird,
Ol' Tom realized it was
"The Last Call" he had heard!