Turkeys - 2
Matt - 0
I got out for a second go on Friday. Wife hates it because the puppy knows what the camo means and freaks out after I leave and keeps her up until she has to go to work, so I staged everything in the garage and snuck out in my undies to get dressed at 3:30 am.
After witnessing the hot mess of humanity on opening day, I was pleasantly surprised to see very few other hunters two weeks into the season. Although I missed getting set up before sunrise, I parked myself in an alfalfa field facing a treeline with a creek running behind it. All the sign I had seen were off to my left, so I was focused there. To the right was tall, thick grass and why would a turkey hang out in that crap? I made a few calls, and hearing no responses whatsoever I worked hard to not fall asleep in my cozy little nest. Maybe 20 minutes in I glanced over my shoulder to the right and there looking back at me from 30 yards out in the middle of that tall grass that a turkey wouldn't be caught dead in was a blue and red head. I saw movement of at least one more bird behind it as well. I heard a few of those wonderful putts in alarm before the birds melted back through the fence and into the trees.
He was right out there, where my barrel is pointed:
I hung out for a while longer, then got up to see if I could spot them in the trees, but the birds were gone. Off to check out another spot.
On the way up into the forest, I come around a corner and there in the middle of the road are two jakes, just hanging out. I pulled over, rolled down the window and called to them as they moseyed over the bank and down the hill. I got one of them to gobble back to me, so either my calling isn't completely terrible or I just met the Forrest Gump of turkeys. I parked along the road and as I watched, they both scooted back up onto the road and made a break for it up the hill into the woods. Just for the heck of it I grabbed my stuff and set out after them. I found a really nice spot to sit against a tree and watch for a while. The birds were gone, but there were signs in the area and now I have another spot in my pocket to check out next trip up.
Sitting on a small ridge with sight lines into shallow ravines on either side. I think this might be a real nice spot to try and set up before sunrise. Down below me is the road, and a small creek.
Final spot of the day was a patch of feel free to hunt land that looked promising. It's up higher elevation and was buried in snow two weeks ago. Of course I am pretty ignorant of such things, but this
seems like it ought to be good turkey country. A wheat field above, water draining down through bottom of the draw, and lots of cover in between. No signs of turkeys, although I did not venture down into the trees. Mostly just wandered along the field edge for a bit. I did kick up a couple huns from the wheat, I think a return trip this fall with the pup will be warranted. Also lots of deer and (I think) elk tracks in the mud.
After a nice stroll, I headed for home. Of course I passed plenty of private land plastered with no trespassing signs and Toms strutting about in the distance as I drove out of the hills.
That's a lot of words from someone who hasn't even taken a shot yet. I'm really enjoying the journey, though. Hopefully I can get another outing or two before the season ends at the end of the month.
not being able to get out because you have a 3mo old baby and sleep is precious 
finding the road to the one reasonably close spot is closed
hearing there is a new hunter access you didnt know about
finally getting 4 hours to get out and being the first one to the parking area
finding the access is only open during big game seasons
