Well Kansas was all in all a good trip for my dad and I. We were invited out to hunt with my uncle(who knows nothing about turkey hunting) so didn't know how this trip would go. Never had the chance to do any out of state hunting with my dad since his work schedule hasn't allowed it. Now that he is retired we are hoping to start traveling more often!! First night there, I decided to bowhunt after scouting some private ground for the next two days of hunting. I was hoping to knock a gobbler out early for me with a bow, and focus on getting my dad his first bird ever the rest of the trip. First night in the blind I had a gobbler going crazy on a ridge about 200 yards away, but he wouldn't commit since he had a hen already catching his eye. 10 minutes later I look out to my left and a different bird came out of nowhere and silently snuck up on me. I had moved in the blind a couple seconds before I saw him and he busted me and was getting nervous. So, I leaned over as far as I could and caught the bird in my sights. Fired, and heard a loud pop!! Thought my bow blew up on me, and watched the arrow fly right over his back. After looking back out the window I realized I had nicked the side of the blind with my broadhead....big wooooops!!! The first morning of the gun opener we had birds gobblin on the roost all over the place! Northeastern Kansas is loaded with birds! I left my bow in the truck to sacrifice myself as the caller and do all I could to get my dad his first one. About 730 I heard a gobble behind his blind and got a little excited on my call and hear they come...3 birds. I couldn't see them from where I was but about five seconds after I hear a real close gobble I hear bang!...then a text message that says BIRD DOWN!!!! I ran over there and after hugs and high fives we had a jake down. My dad got his first taste of this addicting sport! Next day was differnt...moved a little farther south and higher on the ridge about 100 yds from the morning before. It was rainy and needless to say, we didn't hear a single gobble all morning. Had one jake come by and watched a nice tom work a ridge 200 yds out but wouldn't commit. I was getting a little discouraged but knew to stay patient and it would pay off. Around 11, I get a text that says big tom and a hen 150 yds to south...CALL!! So, since I couldn't see the birds again due to the elevation, I started calling and worked my call depending on the play by play texts I got about the birds!! Technology 1 turkeys 0!! haha. Called the hen right to me and when the tom passed the blind Bang! followed by text...TAGGED OUT BOY!!! The tom had a 10" beard and true 1 1/2 spurs. He decided on a full body mount and the taxidermist said they were the sharpest hooks he had ever seen. He aged the bird at 5+!! So here are the pics...sorry for the long post, but we are pumped up!!! And had to tell....
He's hunting your ground Cole. Serously, he was right on top of you the first couple days! Oh, and there are no birds in NE kansas. Stay very far away.... BTW.... Congrats!!!
