Off topic,,, 2022 Iowa Turkey success

Huntindave McCann

Well-known member
Sponsor
Here in Iowa we have been blessed with a windy cold spring. Temps have been like a yo-yo with more down than up and windy too. Did I mention the wind?

Tuesday, I purchased a tag for 4th season turkey, which started on Wednesday. Wednesday morning found me sitting on the ground pad of my turkey vest, tucked into the edge of a public field. The DNR has just been out on the previous Monday and planted a few hundred tree seedlings in rows all across this field. Along with Tuesday's rain, I figured the fresh turned earth would be a draw to any local birds.

Yep, right early Wednesday morning a hen came into visit. She poked and fed for about 20 minutes before she moseyed back into the timber. I did see other turkeys, just nothing any closer than 300 yards. After a few hours my hip was giving me a lot of pain from the continued sitting. Due to the pain, it was a difficult walk back to my boat (1/4 mile away) so I could motor back to the ramp and my truck.

Thursday morning, I motored down to my hunting spot but this time I packed my enclosed blind along with me. Saw a few birds, but nothing had any interest in coming closer, to check out my decoys. Around 10AM my hip was beginning to ache again. No amount of shifting or squirming, gave me any relief. So I left my blind where it was and called it a day. Got home, just before the rain showers started. Which was fine by me, my hip needed a rest.

Friday morning it was still raining. Around 10:30 there was a break in the rain and I pondered heading out. Yep, I'll go, just need to put the new boat stickers on (they expire April 30th) before I go. Good thing I decided to take the time for the stickers, soon as that was done, it started raining again. Just as well, I needed to make a run to the vet for supplies and my hip joint was still throbbing.

Saturday, (today) I had hoped to take my Grandson out, but the forecast was for rain on/off all day. So canceled plans with him. Even so, I woke up at 3:45 to a steady rain. Around 5:30AM, I checked the radar and it looked like an open window between 6AM to 9:30AM. Bingo, I'm out the door and headed down river.

Not too bad out now actually. Hearing a lot of ducks and geese moving around. One pair of geese even made a low pass over my turkey decoys, looking like they were going to land right in front of me. I called and clucked occasionally with no response, still it was nice to be out. My hip was tolerable, and the wind had subsided to around 10mph. I was checking the radar on my phone when I heard a "cluck", a real close cluck.

Looked out and what do I see but 3 Jakes walking around in front of the blind. What the heck, where did they come from and how did they get where they were, with out me seeing them?????? No time to ask questions, as now they are walking away from me. Lay the phone down, pick up the gun and boom. One Jake down and kicking. The other two hang around, trying to figure out what the fuss is all about.

Life is good and I am a happy hunter.



2022-jake001.jpg



2022-jake002.jpg



2022-jake003.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dave~


Great tale well told - congratulations!


Sorry to hear about your hip. "I needed to make a run to the vet for supplies and my hip joint was still throbbing." I wonder though, if your veterinarian is giving you the best of care.....


We open tomorrow morning. Forecast is for chilly - 35 degrees or so - but otherwise calm and sunny. Perfect. There was a bunch of gobbling on the east end of the farm this morning. I will try to keep at least one Tom on the property.


All the best,


SJS





 
Steve Sanford said:
Dave~

Sorry to hear about your hip. "I needed to make a run to the vet for supplies and my hip joint was still throbbing." I wonder though, if your veterinarian is giving you the best of care.....

All the best,

SJS

Steve,
I like to serve you guys a slow lob once in a while. [cool]

I think I need to start the process of maybe getting an artificial joint. My left hip is the worst and it has gotten to the point I can not do the things I enjoy doing.
 
Going to the vet to have that dysplasia checked out. I know health insurance is expensive, is pet insurance that much better?

Mark
 
Mark W said:
Going to the vet to have that dysplasia checked out. I know health insurance is expensive, is pet insurance that much better?

Mark

I betting I could get in sooner to see the vet, than the orthopedic surgeon. Woof, woof. [cool]
 
Dave

Congrats on the gobbler. Looks like a really nice one. Have you broken the news to your grandson? How'd he take it?

Eric
 
Eric Patterson said:
Dave

Congrats on the gobbler. Looks like a really nice one. Have you broken the news to your grandson? How'd he take it?

Eric

Eric,
Found out later in the day that he and his parents were busy butchering a steer anyway. I think he finds that fascinating. Last time they butchered one, he asked me if I had ever held a still beating heart in my hand.
I actually think he was a bit deflated when I told him, yes I had.

Back out in the field by myself this morning. Dang temperature drop again along with 22 to 25 mph winds. Even with that, had a turkey gobbling in the timber behind me, a few minutes ago. Didn't show his face though.
 
Last edited:
Way to go Dave!!!!!

Whatcha gonna do with those mighty fine lookin legs?
 
Dani said:
Way to go Dave!!!!!

Whatcha gonna do with those mighty fine lookin legs?

Dani,
The drumsticks are cooking as I type. I deboned everything, the thighs went in the freezer and the drumstick meat is in the slow cooker. All the breast meat was divided up and packaged for the freezer as well.

I have a 2nd tag to fill, but once again, it is raining today. That plus a wind chill temp of 35 degrees is keeping me in the warm kitchen just now. [;)]

Yesterday afternoon I was treated to something that in all my years of turkey hunting, I had never witnessed up close and for a long duration. A hen came walking into my area and at about 60 yards away she stopped and gave herself a dust bath. Dropped to the ground, fluffed her tail and body feathers. Rolled back and forth, side to side, twisted and contorted, all the while kicking dirt/sand up onto her entire body. Then she just laid there with her chest tight to the ground. Soon she was pecking at the ground in front of her as she lay there.
I'm sure she was eating bugs that were crawling off her, as she lay there.
This went on for 20 minutes before she got up, collected herself and walked away from the scene. It was quite interesting and entertaining to watch. I have seen javalina, small birds, horses and numerous other animals taking a dust bath before but never a turkey. Knew they did it just hadn't witnessed it in person.
 
Last edited:
Cool I?ve watched our chickens take a dust bath, it must be something to see a full grown turkey do it.
 
Back
Top