May 2007 page 4 Updates

10 May

Take A Chance

Went into [location deleted] Wednesday night after work and getting there late just set at field edge and watched for birds going to the roost. Saw several good toms and couldn't wait to go back on a full day hunt. With all the rough weather today I decided that I'd probably be lucky to get in several hours before being stormed out so I took the shotgun. With thunder, lighting, rain and bad weather threatening, the birds came off the roost well after light. With a few fly down calls I had 4 longbeards coming right into the decoys. First time to hunt this property and again was very impressed with the quality of habitat. One day of scouting is well worth the time. Only ended up raining less then 1/2". Thanks again for such a great Assc.

Thanks Steve for the good lesson about getting out there and how skill and luck can come together.

Spring Turkey Last Hunts

Three telephone conversations this week concerning hunters considering a late Kansas turkey hunt and if such a hunt is worth the trip. In their case they turkey hunted the early season under adverse weather and had tag(s) remaining. The answer is yes.

It is yes due to the hens nesting up like they do leave more toms covering a larger area in hopes of late breeding. Past experience from many have shown these toms easier to decoy and call in. Add to this the earliest we have ever observed a late spring/early summer tom flock was June 11.

Those that take that last hunt will have the satisfaction at season closure of making the most of their time. Those that do not will have what we all experienced before and that is the feeling of missing out on what we should have taken advantage of. The short answer is that we will all be dead soon enough and none of us need more time at work or on lawn care. Let the grass grow and take a chance on a hunt.

Missouri

Hey John, Gary [last name deleted] here. I took these on my Missouri scouting trip in late March. Some folks have probably never seen these things, especially in the midwest. Thought you might want them for the website. Talk to you later. Gary

Thanks Gary, always good to break things up sometimes.

Land Costs

"In 2006, the average value of an acre of Iowa farmland climbed 10 percent to an all-time high of $3,204. In some counties, the price jumped to more than $4,000 an acre, and in eastern Iowa it was more than $5,000, the highest ever recorded.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service in March said that U.S. farmers intended to plant 15 percent more acres of corn in 2007. Producers plan to plant 90.5 million acres -- 12.1 million more acres than in 2006 and the largest area since 1944.

The report attributes the increase to favorable corn prices because of the greater demand from ethanol producers as well as strong export sales."

The Associated Press May 7, 2007

The article title was: "Private equity seeks farmland for profit" identifying a rise in big money groups that seek to buy or lease farm land for crop, hunting rights and another topic that may be new to some, conservation leases. Conservation leases include carbon credits [additive to the article] that are now exchanged the same as any other land lease option. These equity groups seek land investments due to their lack of volatility and consistent value increase. The bottom line is more groups seek more land and making less to go around.

A secondary effect of the increase in corn prices will be harvest timelines as more acreage in corn means less in wheat or beans. Corn simply takes up more space for transport, storage and longer turn-around due to the larger grain size. Additionally, while more acreage is going to corn at the cost of decreased wheat or beans that acreage includes land that may have been previously fallow or in conservation. Combine time most likely will not be increased with additional machinery. The end result may include as a comparison to last fall a longer time period of standing corn in the fields affecting early upland bird and archery deer hunting.

8 May

The Rest Of The Story

A picture seen on an earlier update and now the story of the hunt behind it.

Jon, took off a few days last week to hunt [location deleted] turkey. started hunt on Tuesday in [location deleted] . I got in late and turkey were on the ground right where I had planned to set up blind. I set up anyway and heard gobbling both up and down the creek. Had two toms coming in and a hen came from the other direction and cut them off.

Next about a hour later a good tom came from the north. He had a nice brushy long beard. He came within about forty yards but no chance with my bow. Off he went down the creek. Then a dry spell but still gobbling up and down the creek. Could not get any takers so I pulled out the latest Turkey Call magazine and proceeded to read. About two hours later I heard a racket to the west of the blind. Peeked out the window and saw 4 toms charging my double bull blind. I grabbed my bow deciding to take one but I missed at 12 yards. I would like to say I called them in from a mile away but I was reading and they did it on their own. Just got too excited too many fluffy feathers. Set the rest of the day saw hens but no more toms. That day I saw 7 toms total only the 4 close enough. Talked to Shaun and left at noon headed for [location deleted].

I went to check in with the land owner and off to hunt. Called in 3 toms. Two came from the north and one from the west. All three came to the blind at the same time. Put a arrow in one at 10 yards 5 inch beard others never stuck around. Saw one hen then left to scout before dark. Came back the next day and nothing, but had two toms gobbling their heads off very close to me. Left at about 2 pm called Shaun and headed to [location deleted].

The next morning I got messed up and took wrong turn by the time I got to the parcel the turkeys were talking I hurried across the corn field and set up next to the creek. After sun up I saw the corn stalks were too tall all tom talk was east of me so I packed up blind and decoys and went to the pasture. Set up and the turkey were still east of me so I picked up again and setup one more time. By this time it is noon and I had talked to turkey but no favorable responses. So I had yet to see a turkey but decided to stay put and I had heard a lot of racket the morning. Well It was about 2 pm and very hot I woke up from my accidental nap and was feeling sorry for my self. Then heard a gobble. This tom came up the creek I called very little. He answered very little but he came my way.

I could not see him but I quit calling when he was about 100 yards. Watched out of window and finally saw him peek over the creak edge. He drummed and fanned very slowly to my decoys. I was able to arrow him at 10 yards. He had a 9 3/4 beard. He put on a great show. The great part about all this is I had hunted two of these units in previous years but had done no scouting as had to hunt my home state. I was able to get 3 in nebr but not near the action as [location deleted] many more birds. The [location deleted] property is great. My hunting partner Steve shot a nice tom with shotgun also in a new unit for him. All in all it was a great week. Two of these units were places you referred me to my first year in the club. New members are lucky to have you to help them out. I have yet to kill a bird in [location deleted] . I tried the [location deleted] area last year where Steve got one with shotgun. I am going to try it with bow. Do you have any suggestions near the north part of state where the pressure might be favorable to a bow hunter??? Thought of trying the unit where Steve shot his January buck. Thanks again Steve L from Nebraska

Thanks Steve, it always good to read how the turkeys worked and the hunt went. A good break from the daily grind.

Kansas Deer Regulations Changes

House Bill 2437. This legislation, signed April 16 by Gov. Sebelius, enacts a broad range of changes regarding issuance of deer permits. The changes will take effect in 2008. Among the changes incorporated are the following:

allows issuance of resident whitetail either-sex permits that are valid statewide during any season with equipment legal for that season;

makes resident Either Species, Either Sex Archery permits valid statewide;

eliminates transferable nonresident permits;

establishes a half-price fee for big game or turkey permits for residents younger than 16;

authorizes issuance of special Hunt-Own-Land deer permits to a landowner's or tenant's siblings and lineal ascendants or descendants and their spouses, regardless of residence;

establishes a formula for determining the total number of nonresident deer permits issued annually, based on demand, as well as biological adjustment factors;

restricts nonresident deer hunters to two adjacent deer management units;

requires nonresident hunters to select one season (archery, muzzleloader, or firearms) at the time of application;

and allows nonresident hunters applying for whitetail either-sex archery or muzzleloader permits in designated units to also apply for one of a limited number of mule deer stamps (if successful in both drawings, the applicant would be issued a permit that allows the take of either a whitetail deer or a mule deer in that unit).

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