Kansas Hunts
Turkey Hunt Options
Hunter Interests | BlindAll day long wild turkey hunting can be extremely difficult if not using a blind. The majority of the Kansas turkey hunters we have talked to that do turkey hunt all day do hunt from of a blind. They have reported seeing as many turkeys on the move mid-day as they do the first couple hours of the morning. Those that do not hunt from manmade blinds are split between those that erect natural cover blinds and those that set up in thicker than the surrounding brush. The few that purely stalk without any more camouflage than what they are wearing are rare. When digging into how these hunters developed their skills they all to a man started chasing turkeys long before they could get driver's licenses. The biggest distinguishing aspect of the blind over the non-blind hunters seems to be largely based on where the hunter grew up leaning their turkey hunting skills. Local hunters are far more likely to hunt from a blind while those from the south, southwest and northern and eastern big woods are not. One hunter distinguished this observation that central mid-west hunters learn quicker the roost, feed fields and water source all work towards keeping all day long flock movement to a predictable pattern in a relatively small area discernable by the hunter. This observation is frequently compared to some Texas hunts in low scrub country where regular near and long distance observation of flock movement is rare as it is in the big woods. The effect is local hunters find through adapting their observations to local terrain is simply more eyes on all turkeys not just toms from the flock and repeatedly so during the day. Those blind hunters that do move during the day further describe the move as from one concealed position to another simply as a reaction to short-term changes to the daily flock routine. To further support the collective comments from a good many spring turkey season hunters through the years is our seemingly casual conversation with those hunters making the most reservations before tagging out. The bulk of the group lies in two categories. The first, is the relatively new turkey hunter and the second is one that describes how he is more in the run & gun category of hunter and yes, this turkey hunter is more likely to travel from hilly/wooded or thicker scrub country.
ForageSouthern Kansas turkey hunters found a regional difference and spring tactics. Kansas green wheat and fresh green sprouts seem to be a primary turkey food source both early morning and mid-day throughout the season. When the wheat fields grow past a foot tall the flocks tend to shy away from them early in the morning. Some say the reason is the dew on the tall grass makes their feathers wet and they do not like being wet the first hour or two in the morning, especially if the temperature is cool. When the sun dries the wheat In the middle of the day we’ve heard the turkeys use the tall wheat, but decoys are not visible. This is just a thought that we would like to pass on to those interested in the feedback we’ve heard from our Kansas hunters over the years. While at this point it may appear we speak of wheat fields a lot for Kansas turkey, it is that Kansas has more wheat than Iowa or Missouri and the turkeys do use the wheat for much grazing during the early half of the spring season. No experienced Kansas turkey hunter will pass a wheat field without at least a glance to see what is there.
PatternAnother observation from our all day long self guided Kansas turkey hunters is if the turkeys are not pressured they tend to fly down to the open fields in the morning and move to the timber and tops of the ridges mid-morning and slowly work their way back to the open fields mid-day. With this in mind connecting the dots with aerials before the hunt anticipating the turkey movement of hens to nest areas, water, forage, strutting and roost as well as a day spent scouting may payoff with a quick harvest, or the chance at being selective on a big tom. Rarely while on a turkey hunt does a hunter just stumble into a flock or individual turkeys.
Kansas turkey hunt specifics:
MAHA turkey hunts in general: |
Robert R. sent in a picture of his third for the season tom. This Kansas turkey hunt account included that this tom was freelancing and not a hen in sight. Robert didn't know the tom was in the area. He had hen decoys out and used the put purr combination until he saw this bird coming in from down the field along the edge. Robert stopped all calling and let the decoys do the work as the tom was strutting and moving in on the decoys without making any sound. Once in easy shooting range with a head shot it was over quick and this late afternoon bird was tagged. It was the only bird he saw on that day.