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Hunts
Other | Dear Mid-America Staff,
I'm writing to tell you about my turkey season on Association ground. I know I'm a little late in writing to you, but better late than never. This is my third season on club ground and it was my best year turkey hunting season to date. I ended up shooting all four of my turkeys in two states. Here are my stories for each of my birds.
First off, let me say that this was the coldest turkey season I've experienced in my life. It was crazy; I was wearing my burr suit in Kansas during the early bow only season! At one point, I was actually in a semi snow storm! I fought this ridiculous weather and frontal pattern for many days, but I could not close the deal on a bird I wanted. Opening day in Missouri came around an I had already patterned several toms. I set up on a typical strut zone but the birds were predictably "henned" up. Around 9 AM that morning, I heard a gobble fairly far away and prepared for a calling sequence. I gave quite the calling sequence where I imitated two different receptive hens. No gobbles at all! I waited patiently knowing the birds would come tot he strut zone eventually. Around 10 o'clock that morning, a group of four toms came sneaking in from out of the thick brush. The toms came along a steep creek drainage; when the first bird came into my shooting lane, I let him have it but I didn't see the bird! I got up and ran toward the area where I shot but did not see my turkey. I eventually looked down at the creek and seen my gobbler floating down the creek! It was pretty funny to say the least. After laughing for a bit, I waded in and got my prize. He was a 22 pound tom with an 11 inch beard.
After some unsuccessful hunts out in Kansas. I returned to Missouri after the required one week waiting period. I set up on a couple of roosted toms and hoped that I cold call one of them into me. The birds flew down as planned, but they met up with a large group of hens. The two toms sat out in the field and strutted in front of me for hours and hours. While watching these birds with my binoculars< i spotted a lone tom that came to the field from another direction. He came out into the field and gobbled at my decoys for awhile but did not come any closer. I was disappointed when he went back the way he came. I figured that he was an older tom that had been beat up by these two big toms that were in the field. This all occurred around 10 o'clock that morning and I had pretty much figured my hunt was over for the day. After nearly falling asleep, something caught my eye; that same tom that had left the field earlier, went all the way around the other birds and came into the field. He was coming my way slowly and steadily. After 10 minutes he worked his way into 30 yards and I harvested him. He was almost identical to my first turkey; he was 22 pounds with a 10 inch beard. In two hunting days in Missouri, I had shot both of my birds. The crazy thing was that these birds were quiet toms. Neither of these birds came in gobbling like so many people are used to. I've been experiencing these quiet toms a lot more the last few years.
My third bird was extra special to me. Everyone has their thing that they like to do in life; mine is bowhunting. As much as I bowhunt, I have never harvested a wild turkey with my bow. The year started out in Kansas with their special 10 day bowhunting only season; I hunted very hard and had many close encounters but I couldn't quite put it together. After filling my tags in Missouri, I was dedicated to getting my first bird with a bow. I set up on a travel corridor where two different chunks of timber and feed fields came together. The spot I picked is usually best suited for late morning or early afternoon hunting. This is because the roost trees are on private property. Around 10 o'clock that morning, I finally called in a big gobbler and jake but I could not get a shot at them through my blind. My blind was faced the wrong direction of course. This is what is so fun about bowhuinting, because everything has to be perfect for success to occur. After these birds came in I heard no gobbles at all! Around noon that day, I was ready to pack it in. I had my release in my pack and was about to close my blind up. All of sudden here comes a whole group of toms. I had to fumble around and get my release on just in time for a tom running to my decoys. I drew back and released the arrow at 7 yards! The turkey fell over dead five yards away. I finally got a turkey with my bow! I went over and got him and he ended being a 16 pound jake. I usually pass all jakes, but this one fooled me. It was great to finally get my first bow bird.
My fourth bird was out in Kansas and it was a classic hunt. The birds did not gobble at all on the roost that morning. I was really surprised to say the least. Around 10 o'clock that morning, I heard a gobble so distant you could barely hear it! I made a call and he answered back. I played cat and mouse with this bird for 30 minutes. He finally came near the small grown up field I was hunting; I shut off my calling and waited for him to find me. He came 25 yards away from me on a cattle trail and seen my decoy spread. He actually started going away from me when he saw my jake decoy. I ended up shooting him 30 yards. We was a 21 pound tom with an 11 inch beard. This was the first time I've limited out in two states.
Thanks to all the MAHA staff for your help. I especially want to thank John Wenzel for recommending some new ground. I also want to thank Shaun for putting up with all of my land requests and questions. You guys do a great job and I just wanted to remind you of it.
Sincerely, Chantz
Thank you Chantz for the detailed hunt account and the opportunity to share with others.
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