Turkey Hunt April 2010 Slope Co. ND By Jeremy Rodgers
My friends Darin and Mike, my eight year old son, Zach, and I drove for six hours after work to reach the badlands Friday evening April 16th. We set up Darin's spacious 5th wheel camper, had a few beers, and went to bed with much anticipation. I love chasing strutting turkeys in the spring playing hide and seek in the hills. We got up early, ate a big breakfast, and had coffee. Then we drove 15 minutes to a spot that usually holds turkeys. The turkeys seem to like areas like this where the ravines meet a flatter area with a hayfield and a creek. We were in business with at least one tom only a 1/2 mile from the road. We drove around to the west and dropped off Darin and Mike. Zach and I drove back around to the east and we snuck in 1/4 mile along the creek bottom. We didn't see Darin or Mike even though they should have been close nearby. Junior and I looped to the west of the birds along the creek bottom to get within 60 yards, but it was still too far for my shotgun. We tucked up tight against the six foot bank and waited for the birds to make their way from the hayfield towards us at the creek bottom. We had no cover except a three foot deep depression in the eroded bank, so we patiently crouched and waited for 15 minutes. One by one, four hens walked by within 10 feet of us and then off the bank down to the creek bottom. BOOM!! BB's went by close overhead as Zach and I gazed wide-eyed at each other. Turns out that Mike had crept in behind us and shot the tom that we were after. While we intently watched the birds in the hayfield, he had circled to the south around us and then crept in along our back trail within eight yards of us. He had crouched in a depression of the bank similar to us and peeked over while the birds went between us. When he shot, Mike scared the hell out of us since we didn't have a clue someone had crept in behind us.
A half hour later we found another flock of turkeys about 1/2 mile from the road. They were heading West from private land to public grasslands. I quickly jumped out and trailed them into the hills paralleling the road. I got close, but when I climbed out the top of a steep ravine I ended up right next to a hen and scared the whole flock away. Luckily they went towards the road and Darin intercepted them in heavy cover where he got a nice tom. On the way back to camp our incredibly good fortune continued. I had a short stalk into a strip of brush where I shot a beautiful, older tom. What a day! We were tagged out by 11am the very first day of the hunt. Zach and I spent the rest of the day glassing for deer, hunting rabbits, and shooting prairie dogs. Mike and Darin stayed closer to camp and played archery golf. They took turns picking targets from 50 to 150 yards away and seeing who could shoot the closest with the best of nine being the winner. That evening we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner by Mike, had too many drinks, and played poker until midnight.
After sleeping in, we packed up and headed back home to West Fargo. What a fun trip. I learned that when you're accompanied by an eight year old, hunting is all about making it entertaining. I must be similar to an eight year old because I hate sitting still and waiting. Spot and stalk is more difficult and often less productive than stand hunting, but the constant movement and action definitely keeps me entertained.
Equipment: Browning 12ga. 3 1/2" BPS, Federal 3 1/2" #6 shells, Swarovski EL 10x42, Leica 1200 rangefinder, Badlands 2800 pack, Danner Pronghorn
A half hour later we found another flock of turkeys about 1/2 mile from the road. They were heading West from private land to public grasslands. I quickly jumped out and trailed them into the hills paralleling the road. I got close, but when I climbed out the top of a steep ravine I ended up right next to a hen and scared the whole flock away. Luckily they went towards the road and Darin intercepted them in heavy cover where he got a nice tom. On the way back to camp our incredibly good fortune continued. I had a short stalk into a strip of brush where I shot a beautiful, older tom. What a day! We were tagged out by 11am the very first day of the hunt. Zach and I spent the rest of the day glassing for deer, hunting rabbits, and shooting prairie dogs. Mike and Darin stayed closer to camp and played archery golf. They took turns picking targets from 50 to 150 yards away and seeing who could shoot the closest with the best of nine being the winner. That evening we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner by Mike, had too many drinks, and played poker until midnight.
After sleeping in, we packed up and headed back home to West Fargo. What a fun trip. I learned that when you're accompanied by an eight year old, hunting is all about making it entertaining. I must be similar to an eight year old because I hate sitting still and waiting. Spot and stalk is more difficult and often less productive than stand hunting, but the constant movement and action definitely keeps me entertained.
Equipment: Browning 12ga. 3 1/2" BPS, Federal 3 1/2" #6 shells, Swarovski EL 10x42, Leica 1200 rangefinder, Badlands 2800 pack, Danner Pronghorn
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