2022-2023 Waterfowl Reports

[nebgoosehunter]

We were blessed with another amazing hunt this morning! I didn't have a clue where any birds were going to be roosted so Benjamin and I slipped in early and waited to hear them wake up and then set up. It sounded like they were all down on the neighbors but then a gobbler let out about 300 yards away and we decided to set up right there. A couple coyotes came down into the bottom between us and the turkeys and started yipping barking constantly. They started a little before shooting light and went on nonstop for an hour. Needless to say as soon as the birds hit the ground they were gone. I got out of the blind to go run them off and they were just laying out in the wheat field and didn't want to leave even with me chasing them off. They didn't make it too far and started up again. We decided to leave the blind behind and still hunt the timber between us and the neighbors where it sounded like the main flock was. We got to the far end of the property and noticed they were starting to get fired up when I would call. We needed to start working our way back since I still had to work this morning and so I called as we walked back. The calling as we were leaving seemed to work as we had a gobbler strutting across the pasture coming right at us. Problem was it was time to get going but I figured being a few minutes late to work would be worth it. We got sat down and it didn't take long for that tom to come in. I thought he was going to come up this clearing in front of us but he came right through a cedar thicket. I saw his head bobbing through the branches at about 30 yards is all and turn around. He ended up going around us about 60 yards out and still strutting so I don't think we spooked him too bad. In that two minute span of that first tom coming in and leaving two more toms were coming across the pasture right for us. This time I had him facing that cedar thicket more and sure enough they came right up through it. Once they came out of it though there was a low hanging branch from the tree we were sitting under in his way. The first one got out of sight below a rise 20 yards out and the second one only had about 12 inches of head showing but he made a great shot on it and he was down. It is a beautiful bird that he is proud of and he found a nice whitetail shed on top of that. I was only 15 minutes late to work so no harm no foul on my end haha. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be able to share my hunting passion with my kids!

 

[nebgoosehunter]

This turkey season continues to be amazing! I decided to try an afternoon hunt on Saturday. It has been quite awhile since I've done a strictly afternoon hunt so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did some calling as soon as I got into the timber and didn't hear anything. I ended up down towards the corner of the property when I struck a tom which sounded to be 300-400 yards away. The only spot I could find to sit down was on a severe downslope but I had a small bushy juniper right in front of me for cover with my back against a big ponderosa pine. I could not get him to respond again until he finally let out another gobble which was definitely closer this time. I'm not sure how much time passed but it seemed like forever waiting for him. He never did call again, but I figured I would be patient since I assumed he would be alone. I started hearing drumming but could not see him through the thick timber and my heart started racing. I could tell he was getting closer but I still couldn't see him, which made my heart pound even more. Finally at maybe 80 yards he popped out in a clearing below me and by now I thought the bird could hear my heart thumping! I didn't want to call to give up my location and he started to move off to the left a little and was heading for some thicker cover so I ended up shooting him at 35 yards. I would have like him a little closer but it was plenty close still. What a hunt to finish off the season on! I'm hoping I can make it in the field a couple more times with my dad and a buddy still.

 

[nebgoosehunter]

I've been trying to get my dad a second bird for the past three weeks and it has been a struggle. This morning birds were quite vocal on the roost and even for 10-15 minutes after they hit the ground, but we didn't hear a bird the rest of the morning by the time we left. After the ones we set up on seemed to have went the other way we quickly got up into the pine hills where we heard two or three on the roost that seemed relatively close. We got to a spot I could call and one responded what seemed 150 yards away so we thought he was coming. We waited awhile and the sat up and glassed the area in front of us only to see him walking away across a meadow 300 yards away. Did a lot of walking after that and just could not find or hear a single turkey anywhere. I did see four eggs that had been eaten at two different locations which sucks. Hopefully the rest of the hens have a good hatch. I also found two nice elk sheds to cap off a beautiful morning. Thanks for letting me share my turkey hunting stories on this waterfowl page! I'm not good at keeping a log anymore so having these reports and stories in one spot is nice to be able to go back and read again some day.

 

[Matfield]

I personally always appreciate your stories. Keep 'em coming. I'm jealous!