By Brandon Wikman
The whitewashed prairies and forestlands are nothing more than a simple memory in most parts of the country as the sun melts away the blistery chills of winter. Mild temperatures warm the lands as the echo of gobbles near the heart and soul of bird hunters.
Most parts of the country are preparing for their turkey season opener, while some lucky states are already chasing birds. My very own state, Wisconsin, opens its inaugural dates of spring slaying around mid-April. Seasons around the U.S. typically run April 1st to May 31st. However, several areas across the southern U.S. open generally earlier.
I am currently putting together a last minute hunting schedule that will put me face-to-beak in front of several boasting birds. I am hoping to head out west first, where I will test my luck at hunting both Merriam’s and Rios. The beauty of hunting both of these bird species is that they are vast in numbers in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. With enough luck and patience, I will hopefully find myself in a flock of feathers.
For those of you who have not booked, scheduled, or planned your turkey hunts, it is not too late. There are plenty of outfitters, guides, or public land areas to find. The nice thing about turkey hunting is that in most states you can shoot two birds. For this reason, is why I choose to hunt Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Kansas, just to name a few. As I said before, most seasons run all the way into late May. So as we sit a month away, please by all means begin your search and find a few turkey hunting destinations that will ‘’spur’’ you some luck.
Please do remember and keep in mind that you are hunting turkey, not deer. In other words, and in most cases, you don’t have to spend six tireless days in a tree stand or blind to kill a bird. This is a great thing considering work or job arrangements conflict with hunting schedules. You may simply plan a quick 3-day weekend getaway and jog to a nearby state to hunt a different kind of bird species. This is good news for those of you who are like me and can only slip away every now and again due to college classes and work.
Today, after this blog, I will be finalizing my route across the Midwest in hopes to begin my weekend-warrior style journey of gobbler bashing. I wish all of you good luck and begin eyeballing your calendars to fit your hunts accordingly.
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