May 2009 Updates page 8
19 May
John,
Not a monster (10 inch beard, 1 1/4 inch spurs, 20 lbs), but a fun hunt this morning (03 May 09) that required a little more work than usual. For once on this farm, the toms were really active with incessant gobbling starting 30 minutes before sunrise and continuing as I walked back to my truck with this one hanging on my back at 11:30.
Regardless of what I or the hunter on the next non-MAHA property threw at him, this bird would not come off a glacial hill ridge (for those unfamiliar with [location deleted], that equates to a mini-mountain). After talking to him for well over an hour, I knew I had to start working his way. Another hour found me wading a creek, working up three benches, and staring at 60 feet of near vertical climb to reach the ridge. Two good things existed: he was still gobbling and I could just make out his tail-feathers as he hit full strut on the high ground above.
As the hunter on the adjacent property hit his box call, the bird opened up, turning his back to me and allowing me a chance to scramble up the incline. I grabbed a seat on the base of a tree that placed me eye-level with the ridge, hit a couple of yelps with my mouth call, and watched the gobbler strut within range.
Also, a word of advice for out-of-state hunters chasing turkeys in Kansas: I've found over the years that the chance to take a gobbler improves as the season moves later into May...more gobbling and much easier to pattern mature birds.
Thanks Doug
Thank you Doug, it is always good to hear from you.
