By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Many of you may know that one of my biggest springtime distractions (distracts me from fishing as much as usual) is turkey hunting. When those beautiful birds are gobbling, well, I have a hard time concentrating on anything else.
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about my early season hunt (Where the Plums Bloom). I teased then that I was not done with spring gobblers, not by a long shot (pardon the pun). Want to blog one more time about this year’s spring turkeys to recount how the rest of this season unfolded.
For the first time in years, I punched a couple of turkey tags last spring. Believe me, I thought about getting a second tag again this spring after clobbering a big tom on the opening weekend of shotgun season. However, I hesitated to do that because of my April and early May calendar. I also figured I might have some opportunities to share hunts with some of my best partners.
Spent one weekend out west and got to spend some time hunting with a nephew in the loess canyons south and east of North Platte. I grew up chasing coyotes and some deer in those canyons, but at that time there were no turkeys there. Never dreamed there would be the numbers of handsome wild toms that populate those canyons now.
With family activities, my nephew and I did not get to spend a lot of time hunting together that weekend. Turkeys went the opposite way early one morning (wish I had a dollar for every time that has happened). Then, while he was spending quality time with his kids, I slipped out for an afternoon to see if I could tie down a big tom for him. I found one, and naturally, without calling or even trying, he walked right to me. Could have easily filled another tag.
Figured we would have a good chance for that bird later that evening when my nephew could hunt. We tried. Had hens come to the decoys almost immediately after setting up, but then never saw nor heard another turkey the rest of the evening.
Yes, the sunset was beautiful!
Found a bunch of roosted birds on the way out. The toms were gobbling their heads off!
He texted updates and frustrations with me over the next week or so. Then, finally sent a photo of his successful hunt!
Well done, Nathan!
Another weekend and more time with family gave me the opportunity to spend some time in the field with my son. We have shared a lot of hunts together; was great to experience a hunt together again.
When I started hunting spring gobblers in Nebraska, there were only a couple of units where hunting was allowed. Both of those were in northern and western parts of the state. In those days, spring turkey hunting was synonymous with rugged, rocky canyons, sighing Ponderosa pines, and if you were lucky, blooming pasqueflowers next to a patch of snow. Every chance I get to hunt in those environs is an opportunity to go back in time and re-connect with my turkey hunting roots. The sights, the smells, the sounds and the feel of pine needles under my backside bring back a flood of memories.
Once more, my son and I were able to share only a brief time hunting, but it was in a beautiful place. I even found a pasqueflower! Pasqueflowers are SoDakota’s state flower. They are one of the earliest blooming plants in Nebraska. Often pasqueflowers can be found on the edges of a receding spring snow drift. I have only found pasqueflowers along rocky canyon rims in northern and western parts of the state, the same places where I started hunting spring gobblers.
We set up in a likely spot where he had been on birds early that morning. That evening, a few gobbles confirmed that they were in the area, but they went low while we stayed high. Might as well say it again, “wish I had a dollar for every time that has happened.”
Like my nephew, my son sent photos of his successful hunt a week or so later:
I thought I took a really nice turkey this spring. Of course, my son’s was bigger at over 22 pounds! In addition, it had a beard of nearly 11 inches! Great bird, Daniel!
Still some time left in this year’s Nebraska spring turkey season. I am still hearing birds gobble. If you have an unpunched permit, it ain’t too late! I have harvested more Nebraska toms in May than April. Have taken them clear through the end of the month of May. You might have to change hunting tactics, but it definitely can still be done!
It continues to be a great spring!