| Hindsight ThingThe realization at this point for the do it yourself Kansas spring turkey hunter is that with this Association giving the advantage of returning years of turkey hunts that is the very attitude for turkey hunting success. The first year turkey hunter best serves himself if he works for years of Kansas turkey hunting to come rather than solely concentrate on that first season. This is a case of hindsight. What wild turkey hunters that do seek their own turkey hunts find in their previous experience is a gypsy like travel pattern seeking turkeys in variable locations without ever finding any one locality suitable for return visits. These same hunters typically had been public lands hunters shunning guide services and putting up with that competitive beat the other guy mentality hoping that other guy would never show up. The reality of public lands hunting as all who tried it will agree is to accept seeing other hunters. Another common approach, and more difficult to find, was a private rancher willing to provide some type of hunting lease arrangement. Again variable results were achieved and many were short term until the rancher received a better offer or the hunter grew tired of the same spots. With MAHA that same turkey hunter finds a return each season hunt to a known spot as well as the adventure of exploring new areas. Being able to return consistently to the same areas allows for that desired increasing levels of success while retaining the adventure of exploring three states. Three states may not seem like much, however once entered into they suddenly become big when taking them a quarter section at a time. Rio GrandeOf those self guided Kansas spring turkey season hunters that hunted the Rio Grande Turkey region common comments were about how the Rio tom looked to be as big as any other turkey species they had hunted but once weight and beard measured they were typically on the smaller size. Weights reported were around the 20 pound mark and most beards under 10 inches. Many of these Kansas hunters had only Easterns for their earlier hunting career and the Rio Grande Turkey was their first of another species. The second most common comment was that the Rio tom seemed easier to call and decoy in than their earlier experiences which largely centered on big woods Eastern birds. YouthOverall, of those that hunted the youth turkey season and the regular reported a lower likelihood of returning for the youth only season the following year so as the father and youth could both hunt during the regular Kansas turkey season. This was motivated by seeing many turkeys through out the year and the lack of hunting pressure stated as not seeing another hunter in the field, not hearing another shot and an the occasional hunter that was encountered was frequently so in the motel parking lot.
Tags, Permits, Basic License and UnitsThere was some confusion over the interchangeable terms of the Kansas spring turkey hunting tag and permit as well as management units. On the turkey tags they are distributed by units with zero to 2 tags available per turkey management unit (distinct from deer units) over the last several years. Both tags are for over the counter purchase and may be done so by walking up to the sporting goods counter in any Wal-mart and many small town grocery store customer service desks as well as online. On the Kansas management units for fall season they range from dividing the state up into as few as 2 and as many as 4. That difference between the fall and spring has always been an issue and further complicated by their mis-match to the deer management units. The only answer is to read the state regulations just before every hunt. Pretty much all realized the need to purchase a new, as to the calendar year, basic license and have it in possession along with their turkey licenses.
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