June 2009 Updates page 12
22 June
Hi John and everyone at MAHA,
Spring turkey season started out pretty good for us once again. The first morning of our hunt Greg and I (hunting in different locations) had toms just out of range but gave a good idea for what was next. Jeremy had a lot of birds just across the property line. After lunch we moved in on some strutting toms where I was able to connect on the first of the hunt. That afternoon Greg went back to his morning location where he intercepted two real good birds coming back to roost, two shots and he was tagged out. Jeremy and I heard birds that afternoon but no connection. Next morning birds went other direction so once again met for lunch and found ourselves watching four toms 
separate from two hens only to head our way. Jeremy and I spread out and literally waited for the birds to get back onto our property while Greg watched from a few hundred yards away. The first bird to present a shot to Jeremy was an old tom with 1 1/2 in spurs weighing in at 23 lbs. The count is now 4 birds 2 days. That afternoon once again, heard and saw birds but none close enough. The third and final morning the birds once again went away but Jeremy was able to intercept and he was done as well. Greg and I put a good stalk on two toms but some jakes came in from behind and spoiled the setup. Not a bad weekend though, 5 birds 3 days 3 hunters...
I filled my second tag on May 2. Spitting rain all weekend and flooded creeks made for a tough hunt. No gobbles in the morning so I went on the stalk. I found a tom and hen together in the point of a field near a creek. After wading the creek and belly crawling 30 yds to a brush pile 15 yds from the edge of the field the birds were within 100 yds and still feeding my way. With a few soft yelps they were interested but not coming a lot closer. The hen started feeding away so I poured out some aggressive clucking and perrs, she turned and brought the tom in to 35 yds where he finished my turkey season.
A big thank you to everyone at MAHA for the work they do so well so we hunters can enjoy great hunting year after year.
Nick
Always well received when hunters show habitat.
This picture and hunt story from Nick, Jeremy and Greg has become something we have come to look forward to each year. Just something different about hunters that are willing to smile for their harvest pictures. Thanks guys. Congratulations on the great hunt and sharing your family and hunting together with the rest of us.
Admin
A long story about a simple point that when told simply does not always seem to get across. We are different and we will stay that way. An illustration that has happened again with a different outcome to help stress this simple point is the story:
An Association membership applicant requested a meeting to see if we were good enough for him to pay us money. We patiently work with this type buyer as we all recognize we need value returned for any money spent. The hunter came to our offices with teenage son. The son had in his ears his Ipod, said nothing and sat down. While the three of us were seated, your Association staff and the father/applicant talking, the son's cell phone rings, he opens it and begins talking over it right next to us. I, your Association staff with less tolerance than the other Association partner, reached over pushing the cell phone from the boys face and told him to take it outside.
What does this story have to do with hunting? It is the same in terms of standards, the popular term of "disd" or making a non-verb into a verb "disrespect". The standard for the Association are its published rules and we do not negotiate them. This reminder seems necessary every year when deer tag issue rears the ugly head of overly competitive trophy minded whitetail deer hunters. Many of whom tell us they read this page.
