I am not sure if there is a season opener that is more anticipate in my household than turkey, could be the fact it comes after a long winter, or more likely the thrill of a gobbler answering a call. My number one turkey hunting buddy is my 8 year old daughter, this is her 4th season chasing these frustrating birds with me and I have enjoyed my best and most successful days with her at my side.
This year started the afternoon before opener when I picked my daughter up at her after school daycare to head off to turkey camp. I feel missing a day of school is easily justified by the experience gained. A short drive later we arrive to some much cooler and damper weather than we have been enjoying as of late. I was slightly concerned how this might affect the hunting since I had heard numerous report of gobblers going nuts with this early spring. Regardless we quickly set up camp and headed out for a drive to check out some spots. We saw tons of deer and elk, but were most excited about the tom we spotted sneaking into the trees in the exact spot I wanted to hunt in the morning.
Up with the alarm at 530, a few coffees and hot chocolates later we were off, actually a little later than I hoped since the sky was starting to brighten up. We stopped at the spot the tom was the night before and were actually a little surprised that no one answered, we went for a bit of a walk and didn’t hear a peep. So we headed up the road and got out for another hike only to have our hen call answered immediately by another hen. The call was so loud and so close I told my daughter it was likely another hunter, only to have a hen pop out 50 yards away. She quickly spotted us and took off.
We went to a few other good spots but again and again, hike, call, but nothing. Well now I was a little surprised, its opening day and conditions were perfect but no one wanted to talk. We got our hopes up a bit at the sound of a distant gobble, couldn’t get a response. At this point we started running into other hunters everywhere. I decided to check one last spot and call it a morning.
Well we arrived at the final spot of the morning and weren’t 50 yard from the truck when Hailey said she was tired. She is a great hiker and such a trooper I knew she must be beat to say something so I said no problem lets go have breakfast.
Well we start heading back and got to the “no hunting zone” as we passed by some private property. Sure enough there are 3 tom’s in full display in the middle of a field showing off for some hens. I never hunt private property since we have so much crown land but thought what the heck and pulled into the next driveway. I met an wonderful older gentleman who said he, his family and friends hunt so they don’t grant permission. Fair enough I thought, well Hailey jumped out of the truck and asked if we get to hunt those turkeys, one look at the little girl in camo and pig tails had that old farmer wavering, a few bats of the eyelashes and we won the lottery. A onetime only, one day opportunity to hunt his and his neighbour’s property! I was shocked to get permission and very grateful indeed.
We set up a ways back, decoy in place ready for all hell to break loose, I gave a little yelp, nothing. I called louder, nothing. I waited a bit and called again, nothing!
What is going on with these birds I know they can hear me. We heard a few hen clucks from the general direction we knew the birds were but that is it.
We repositioned about 100yards but just shy of our destination I caught a bit of movement and froze. A hen was slowly making her way through the brush clucking softly. Hailey and I crouched down and tried to stay a still a possible, all of a sudden a tom comes out 40 yards away is full strut. He started looking around wondering where this hen was but didn’t give him a chance to gets suspicious as my shot rang out. He still had a bit left in him and was making a slow get away, but a quick sprint and one more shot finished him for good.
Hailey and I picked him up admired him for a bit and took some pictures, for those who care his beard is 10 ¼” and his spurs are 1 ¼ and 1 1/8”.
We went to thank the farmer and went back to camp to clean the bird. Not the typical turkey hunt I am used to but very grateful for the opportunity and felt lucky to have shared it with my daughter. My wife and son arrived Saturday to camp for the rest of the weekend. We ended up seeing a few other birds including 2 more toms while adventuring around, but didn’t hear any gobbling. I guess it’s time to start waiting till next turkey season, good thing there are lots of other hunts to keep us busy between now and then.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by jtred
