SD 2013

[Hoyt4]

Well two states done and 3 birds in the freezer. It's been a very good spring so far and challenging. Headed over to SD last Thursday and that drive was interesting but we made it to the hotel in 4.5 hours about an hour longer then usual.

As we drove into the area I was really thinking no way are we going to see a turkey the hills and woods covered in snow. We got checked in changed real quick and headed out to see what we could find. We wanted to drop off some venison brats and sausage to a land owner who has let us hunt in the past. Get to her road and you could not even get down the road all drifted in and 4 feet of snow. Now I was really thinking that we would not see a bird. So we have a little honey hole spot that has been good to us most years. We get there and the parking place is not plowed and not sure if we can get in. We brought the scoop shovel just incase. We nudge in a bit and gas it break through the snow bank and no problems drive through and get off the road as far as we could.Any deeper and we would not of been able to get in this area to hunt.

We mainly just trying to get some quick scouting in it was 6:00pm. Get out and start our walk that should only take 10minutes it took 45 with all the snow. . Now we are all sweaty and tired just trying to get around was a challenge. The snow was mostly 2 feet deep but you would hit a drift and be up to your thighs or arse no problem really makes the legs burn to lift and walk through all of that.

I did not want tell my buddy that this might be a tough hunt and we might not get close or see birds. Just keeping that to myself.So we finally get all the way back to were I wanted to go we never cut a track of a deer ,rabbit or turkey. Was not looking good at the start of the hunt.Finally we walk further and keeping our eyes open since I forgot my binos at home .I spotted a

trail just in front of us. Fresh turkey tracks it was snowing most that afternoon so these were really fresh. Follow them and just take our time since we are just big black blobs walking through the woods and easy to see. Follow for a few hundred yards and just keep hiding behind trees. Finally I saw birds walking across a hill from us. Two strutters and two hens was what we have been following so we just got behind a couple trees and watched them go to roost.

We snuck out without busting the birds and took just as long going out as it did in. Plan was to leave extra early and dress light going in. We got up the next morning 17degrees and still windy. Walked in just with our bottom layer until we go far enough back and put on another layer. But it was getting light fast shooting time was 6:00am and you could see very easy right now. The walk back was taking longer then I thought trying not to sweet up and get all cold once you get settle.We had to do our best and walk with the tree line to were I wanted to get setup. The birds were bobbling by 5:30 and you could see. By the time we made it to our spot it was after 6 and we are now within 80 yards of the birds. We just sat down so we could shoot this opening and flat at the bottom of ridge or hill they were roosted on.

There was one hen calling going nuts so I was waiting for them to fly down.Finally I thought the gobblers were on the ground so I started calling but they were still in the trees. Well that hen didn't like that and started going louder and longer with her calls. So I just kept doing what she did just a little more and more aggressive the gobblers would start to cut me off.My buddy said it was the most gobbling he has heard it was awesome. From lows to high just like that.

I hear a gobble to our right aways off but told him to watch that direction he could sneak in. I keep up with the hen in roost and the birds are still going crazy.Now that bird from the right goes off again and he is really close. We end up seeing him cross the bottom of the ridge.He is coming straight to us strutting all the way in.I can see him but my buddy cannot and we are sitting right next to each other but he is just a bit lower and he cannot see him. He gets to 25 yards and now telesoping his head and I can kill him but I try and let my buddy shoot first all the time.The tom now stops looking around and I think he will leave so I told my buddy Im' going to have to shoot.Then the bird turns right to left and starts strutting now my buddy can see him safety goes back on.The birds walks another few feet I Kee Kee and his head comes up. Eric puts the smack down.

He gets up to get his bird but I grabb him first and pull him back down. I yelp a couple times and the birds are still ready to go across the hill from us. So I just keep calling and minutes later here come 4 more birds 3 jakes and one longbeard.The lead jake is putting on a show he is chasing off the others and strutting and gobbling like he's the boss.Next he gets up on a log and strutts all the snow is coming off from his wings just awesome comes back down and he is around 20 yards. Longbeard is right ther but I told Eric I'm taking the jake just for the show he gave us.He plugs his ears bang bird two on the ground.I've taken enough birds that I really don't care if they are jakes or toms.This bird put on a great show and was pushing around the others. Was an awesome day in the turkey woods.Eric's bird 3/4 spurs ,9inch beard, 23lbs.

Mine had 6 inch beard nubs for spurs and weighed in 19lbs. I thought my scale was off so I check it at worked today it's right on.Now to WI this weekend for a quick hunt.I really did not think we would get one bird let alone two back to back.

Both birds were easterns, we usually get merriams or hybrids and these were not.

Few pictures of the creek and woods.

[Borch]

Cool hunt!

[123fish]

Congrats. Great story and pics. That snow will give ou a workout for sure.

[mws4dux]

very cool pics!! congrats

[sticknstring]

Rewarding hunt right there. Congrats Hoyt! I'm really starting to get sick of these spring snow patterns!

[Hoyt4]

Thanks guys , We were really happy and a little tired from the couple walks. That snow was something. This was the first time I was thinking I needed a decoy to keep their attention away from us but it all worked out. I've never thought I needed a decoy and the whole time I was debating on putting one out while they gobbled on roost.

[paceman]

great story and pictures! Congratulations!