| Hey Guys, just thought I would give you a summary of my first ten months as a MAHA member. I only made two land reservations last fall bowhunting Missouri. First trip I could not believe the deer I saw. Fifteen minutes after daylight I had eight deer under my stand. Mid morning brought a beautiful 8 point into my set-up, but just out of range. It was the biggest 8 point I've ever seen while hunting. This was the first morning to ever hunt on MAHA land. The other trip to Missouri found me hunting in [location deleted] a different location from the first trip. I didn't see as many deer, but I seen literally a ton of turkeys & was able to harvest one with my bow. It was the first gobbler I ever harvested with a bow. He weighed about 18 lbs, 7" beard, 3/4" spurs. I still can't believe I didn't make it there this spring turkey hunting.
The picture of the turkey on my tailgate is the bird I took opening day of the Kansas season. At daylight I heard probably more turkeys than I've ever heard hunting anywhere else. It took a while but I finally called this gobbler into gun range at 2:00 PM. I worked this bird for over two hours. He weighed 25 lbs. had a 10" beard and sported 1" spurs. He is one of the heaviest birds I've ever took. What makes this nice is taht this property in [location deleted] is only 3 1/2 hours drive from my home in Arkansas. The rest of my time in Kansas actually found me deer scouting. I'm hoping to draw an archery tag for this fall. I was lucky enough to draw an Iowa turkey tag on my first try, after some phone calls & advice from John Wenzel I made a reservation for [location deleted]. I took the bird in the picture I'm kneeling with at 8:00 AM my first morning. He weighed 22 lbs. had a 9 1/2" beard and 1" spurs. I certainly have killed bigger turkeys, but as of right now this bird is still in my deep freeze & I/m debating on having it mounted. I worked a bigger tom & two hens all that morning after fly down right in front of me just out of range. The turkey I took came literally from probably 3/4 mile away gobbling every step. When he came in he flew across a creek and landed 10 yards from me to my left. He immediately went into strut, and when I shot him he was almost on my boot laces. The other tom gobbled when I shot him, and just walked off. What a hunt! I studied MAHA for nearly two years off & on, and kept debating on whether or not to join. I kept thinking of the money and time it would take to be successful. MAHA gives you two things, opportunity and options. Important ingredients for success, wouldn't you agree. I sure wish I would have joined two years ago, and maybe I would of already taken my buck of a lifetime. I would like to say a big thanks to John Wenzel for talking me into the commitment, and just say thanks to the owner, operator and staff that helped every one of us hunters. I can't wait till fall! Jamie
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