Opening morning in Wisconsin...

[dan]

Sitting here with a tag for 1st season sipping coffee and thinking about turkey seasons past... When I grew up there were no turkeys around here. There was a big project at some point to re-introduce turkeys. Back in the days when the population finally got high enough to actually hunt turkeys if you were fortunate enough to draw a tag, I drew my 1st tag for the Necedah wildlife area. I had never even seen a turkey in the wild ever, and never heard one gobble, or knew anything about calling.

I bought a VHS turkey video and wore it out. Went and got a box call and mimicked the calling on the video then headed to Necedah for a week to live out of the back of my truck. I think that was the mid 1980's. Funny how much turkey hunting has changed since then.

You could only hunt in the morning back in those days, and only had 5 days to hunt, but I hunted hard and searched for birds all day long hunting and scouting. I never saw or heard a bird on that entire hunt. Not even out of the truck window.

After that uncle Bill ( R.I.P.) was stopping to visit my Mom every Tuesday and I would occasionally run into him. He was a lonely man who tried hard to get people to visit with him. He talked about all the turkeys on his land in Montello and invited me up to hunt.

On the 1st hunt at his place I was wandering across his property when I saw something black moving in the distance... It was a turkey. Then I could see another. They fanned briefly. This was the 1st time I ever saw a turkey. I got against a tree and tried calling. They completely ignored me. So I started crawling closer. I eventually got to a little less than 50 yards and took a shot. The bird went down and I ran over there to claim my Jake. It was the 1st turkey I ever seen, and I got him.

That is what started this fascinating journey chasing turkeys. and today as I wait for Crazy Greg to show up, I smile and relive all the old hunts. The good, the bad, and the ones who shaped me.

As you head out to chase the elusive thunder chicken, take a moment to relive past hunts, the people who shared those hunts with you, and the great memories of days past.

[muddy]

You're writing at 0251 at night... good gracious and good luck

[Jackson Marsh]

Good luck Dan. I'm out in the woods too

[backstraps]

Good rite up Dan!!
Its fun to recall memories when afield
I often find myself revisiting past hints, especially after loved ones I shared hints with have gone on before us


Good luck Dan and JM

[homelessadam]

Called a big group of bird in on public land this morning and my Dad was able to lay out the strutter.

Not much better than calling a big woods bird in with no decoys or blind.

[peteherbst]

Called a big group of bird in on public land this morning and my Dad was able to lay out the strutter.

Not much better than calling a big woods bird in with no decoys or blind.

I called in my dad’s first bird a while back. Honestly my favorite hunt of all time. Enjoy the good times, Adam!

[Autiger]

I called in a dog and his master this morning. They then proceeded to do a circle around me twice and then posted up about a 100 yards away. Got to love public land!!

[homelessadam]

Called a big group of bird in on public land this morning and my Dad was able to lay out the strutter.

Not much better than calling a big woods bird in with no decoys or blind.

I called in my dad’s first bird a while back. Honestly my favorite hunt of all time. Enjoy the good times, Adam!

Yeah I’d almost rather just call for him. We’ve Had a lot of good ones with him behind the gun.