Last part of the season Hey John…I am pleased to be able to write you once again this spring turkey season. Jarod killed his first [location deleted] gobbler this past Saturday in [location deleted] County. Good morning turkey hunt – calm and clear with lots of gobbling and the turkeys well dispersed on the property…you could screw something up on one bird but still have opportunities. We called in this gobbler from across a plowed field. He came right in to our setup after about an hour and a half, gobbled several times and strutted over the last 60 yards or so. Jarod shot the bird at 17 paces. Nice gobbler with a 10-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs. There were at least 6 other birds gobbling on our property that morning but [location deleted] County was calling. First part of the season Via email: Hey John: As a proud dad I would like to brag on two of my turkey hunting kids for a moment and provide this trip report and photos... Missouri - Youth Turkey Season Mariah - 11 years old killed her first gobbler ever Sunday about 12:00...the morning was clear, calm, and cold (frost) and the turkeys gobbled good on roost Kansas - first day of Youth Turkey Season
Caught a ton of fish too...no big ones but dozens anywhere from 6-inches up to 14-inches or so and found a real unique rack/skull intact in a burned field...the rack was a 13-point (one kicker off the left base) with matching double-tined G3's, but one brow tine and the G5 and G6 on the right side busted off...I'll take a photo and send it in later. Matt |
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We drove out to [location deleted] County Saturday afternoon and turkey hunted that evening and Sunday morning. The turkeys out there were acting like it was the first of April rather than the middle of May…with hens and lots of fighting and scrapping amongst themselves. We first got on to a flock of jakes (5 or 6) with two long-beards and two hens. We couldn’t do a thing with them except make ‘em gobble. Later, we finally got a bird worked up about 10:00 yesterday morning but he seemed disinclined to crossing a steep-banked creek. He actually walked around the upper end of the drainage and started back towards us, got near the edge of the field before running into a live hen and following her off the other way. Wind was blowing 20 – 30 mph with 40 mph gusts. Lots of turkeys out there and I have never seen so many jakes in one area…makes you start thinking about next year and all the two-year-old turkey that might still be around. 
Jarod - 13 years old - nice gobbler Saturday morning in the wind and rain...called in one gobbler but he hung up about 80 yards out and decided not to come closer...less than one hour later, I called in 5 long-beards...they came into the decoys in a big "pod"...Jarod shot the only gobbler he could see from the blind at 42 yards...the other four, including the only strutting bird were out of his line of sight but only 20 - 30 yards from the blind. 
but shut up when they hit the ground...no gobbles until while "prospecting" we struck this bird who responded well and came straight in gobbling and strutting the last 50 yards after seeing the decoys...came to within 15 yards in a continuous strut. It was one of the most perfect turkey hunts I've had in a while with the bird responding well and often, weather was as good as it gets...just cool enough to feel good laying against a tree in the sun, and the gobbler spitting and drumming for quite a while at less than 15 yards but so totally focused on the decoy that I was able to whisper instructions to my daughter without attracting his attention. Mariah made the shot with her single-shot .20 gauge at 14 yards. Incredible turkey hunt. 
Jarod and I were in Kansas Friday morning...3 longbeards, 2 jakes, and 8 hens roosted together...we got to within 150 yards before setting up but they all flew down together and ignored us completely at around 100 - 120 yards...one strutting gobbler was breeding hens and the 2 jakes were running around in circles when another flock of turkeys moved in from the north and started gobbling...all three longbeards and 2 jakes on our side of the creek immediately ran to the creek, flew across, met up with the other flock of turkeys and they all got to fighting, chasing each other all around the field...we could see them through the trees and they really got into it...the 3 gobblers and 2 jakes left the hens standing around wondering what had happened...the hens eventually began feeding across the field in front of us when two coyotes came out of the creek and busted them...I started squeaking then soft hen calling and the coyotes came around the field edge right up to our position...Jarod busted the first coyote to come in. A great turkey hunt.
