Turkeys are a Worthy Opponent!

We know that we can only hunt waterfowl for about five months of the year!  That leaves plenty of time to repair rigs, update spreads, and hone our shooting skills. We can't leave out all the yarns that are spun at the local gatherings. Tall tales about the great shots we executed, I wish I had a dollar for every story about how someone,"…called those ducks right off their spread"! Who hasn't heard the stories about the seventy five yard duck who crumbled after one shot and fell so far it took a full minute to hit the water! Now, of course, I would never tell such tales! I prefer to use my time to pursue some other worthy opponent. 

Pheasants are a worthy game bird and so are grouse. The problem is there are very few grouse in Ohio. The team work with my dog makes pheasant hunting a special experience. The challenge of turkey hunting however, is an excellent test of any waterfowl hunter's diversified hunting prowess. Ben Franklin proposed that the turkey should be our national symbol. Anyone who has ever hunted the ghosts of the hardwoods understands why! Turkeys are a cagey lot, but occasionally, a seasoned waterfowl hunter like myself manages to harvest one of these magnificent birds. Ohio has turkeys in nearly every county now. A friend of mine actually hunted birds just outside of Cleveland!

Turkeys do not have to be monsters to make for an exciting hunt. I have had jakes come in to my decoy gobbling and in full strut. It was enough to make my heart pound with excitement. The bird in the pictures is a twenty four pound beauty with an eleven inch beard, and 1 3/8 inch spurs. 

Not every turkey that I have harvested is of these behemoth dimensions, but every one was special. A turkey is definitely a worthy opponent. Since we can't hunt ducks in the spring, it’s OK to have another passion. The ducks won't mind!