Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on January 03, 2016, 01:59:02 pm
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Plans for this year's turkey camp began even as we were tearing down camp last year. We had 7 people in camp last year and it was kinda uncoordinated to run the kitchen off little Coleman stoves and I had made up my mind to upgrade. I got some motivation when one of last year's attendees backed me with some folding green paper and then a Cabela's gift card showed up in the mail. Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is the centerpiece to this year's camp kitchen:
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Cooking/IMG_20160103_095016262_zpszvotyzwa.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Cooking/IMG_20160103_095016262_zpszvotyzwa.jpg.html)
The box on the left covers two of the three burners to create a grill. Or it can be removed if you have a series of pots and pans to crank out the meal:
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Cooking/IMG_20160103_095046820_zpso0wik5po.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Cooking/IMG_20160103_095046820_zpso0wik5po.jpg.html)
This means I need to find some larger cast iron griddles so that large batches of hashbrowns or flapjacks can be cranked out on an industrial scale. And best of all, the burners have enough BTU outputs that I can heat a 5 gallon stockpot with water mighty dang quick, allowing folks to have a decent little wash up later in the week. (Last year I noticed folks were allowing each other more "personal space" as the week went on. ???)
For the most part, the menu will consist of things like chili, venison stew, and other things that I can make ahead and simply re-heat. But on the off chance that some of the fellers decide to fetch along some venison, we may be able to pull off a decent little steak fry one night, AHEM, HINT, HINT!
The entire South Dakota contingent of Kyle, Julup, and Mikey have committed to coming back, as well as helping organize. Their help will allow me a little breathing space over the week, and I fully intend to take some of the inspiration Primitive Tim left me with. I hope to shoot some video of the camp and splice together a nice little micro-documentary.
Over the last few years, I have invited a number of folks from this community. Plenty of them have not been able to make it happen, but that invite still stands. If you have been invited and are thinking of coming, drop me a p.m.
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looks like a hellava camp stove, sounds like a hellava good time. good luck this year boys :)
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I have great hopes that a bird gets it in the face this year. We are two years straight without a single mortality! :-[
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JW pap always said it was a vacation if you killed anything it was a bonus.
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What a cookin' rig! Ought to do the "job".
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An Old friend of Mine has the same stove - works VERY well. Looks like a fun Camp is ahead for sure ! Bob
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My vote is the Mexican meal we had the last night in camp. That was the best. Three meats ?
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Always dead tired but never hungry in Turkey camp. Your head hits the rake and 2 seconds later your back up and turkey hunting again it seems. Always good hot food to keep ya going. I hope to loose another arrow this year dirt is ok with me.
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Turkey camp sounds like a lot of fun, good luck to all!
Sure looks like you'll all eat good.
Kevin
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Iowabow, that last night in camp was carnitas. Pork shoulder slow braised with oregano, cumin, orange, lemon, lime, and guajillo peppers until it is fall apart tender. The fat and gristle melts away, leaving that classic looking pulled pork.
For the rest of you to drool over: We then made scratch guacamole. Sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese was there, too. Corn tortillas, flour tortillas, hot sauce, whatever. No plates, we just started marching around the table, loading one up, heading to the back of the line and eating, and starting over again! Everyone was groaning as the last of it was mopped up! Primitive Tim opened a portal thru time and space somewhere in his belly and really hit it hard! But he's a growing sasquatch cub and allowances were made!
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Best meal ever.
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Dang J.W. That is right up town! I am going to guess that you had to break it in, before hunt camp, just to check that everything is in working order, and of course, you had to use it like you were actually, taking food orders, at camp, and actually cook, all the orders, and timed it of course. Just guessing that is what you did already. Sounds like more of a gourmet, hiking club, than a turkey hunting camp. That unit will do the job. Lucky you, and the guys, who will get to sample the meals. This year, you might just check to see if the guys are actually loading their guns, and or actually nocking an arrow. It could be they just come for a good meal, instead of actually hoping to pop a turkey. Might go on line to see if any of them are peta members, taking advantage of your culinary skills, and going out and barking like a dog to scare off the turkeys. Could explain the unfilled tags.
Wayne
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What's non resident license cost and what time is dinner?
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What's non resident license cost and what time is dinner?
I believe it is about $150.
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I think out of state tags are $100. Last year, each man's share on groceries was $25 for the 5 days.
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Can't wait JW, just waiting for those tags to go on sale. I don't care if you cook dinner over a bic lighter, It'll be good I'm sure.
Tattoo Dave
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Can't wait JW, just waiting for those tags to go on sale. I don't care if you cook dinner over a bic lighter, It'll be good I'm sure.
Tattoo Dave
Easy there buddy, we may have a jazz musician in camp...don't mention cooking stuff over a bic lighter!
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You should never needle a jazz musician jw.
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I should be stoned for making a joke?
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Please, no swinging jokes...please.
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Please, no swinging jokes...please.
We don't go that way.
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Ok, season dates were announced by SD GF&P and it ends on Sunday, May 22nd. I am formally announcing May 18th as the "official start" of camp even though folks may come slinking in earlier than that! I got a great feeling, this may be OUR YEAR! This may be the year that one of us might actually bring a bird home!
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I have faith JW, this is the year a the turkey dies...because I'm coming ;D ;D. Sorry couldn't help myself.
I'm ready to apply for this tag. What area do we apply for? Looks like there's a BH1, and a BH2. Is there a deadline?
Tattoo Dave
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As a non-resident you may only apply for the BH1. I suggest you NOT apply for the archery tag, though. I know it sounds odd, but there is a reason for this. We may have some in camp that are not hunting with a bow and will be carrying a shotgun (possibly flintlock .62 cal smoothbore). And if you are carrying an archery tag, the gun carrier has now committed a big game crime and we have reciprocity with 39 states. But if you are carrying a bow with your shotgun license (which is legal!), then the person carrying the shotgun is not committing a crime. Clear as mud?
So, you will be applying for BST-BH1 tags. Online apps need to be in by Feb 17, 8:00 a.m., however, since the tags are not limited, you can apply any time up to a week before you leave to come out here. Just so long as you have time for the tag to arrive by mail.
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JW - How's the Bug situation out there during Your Hunt ? The Skeeters here In Michigan can be HORRIBLE at times. Bob
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JW - How's the Bug situation out there during Your Hunt ? The Skeeters here In Michigan can be HORRIBLE at times. Bob
Because of the altitude and the dry climate, mosquitos are never really a problem.
Hey! Can everyone that is coming send me a p.m.? I wanna get a preliminary headcount because I think there may be a berth or two open! If I have offered an invite to you at any time, your offer still stands, but let's start to firm up some plans!
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JW, where's this held ? Sounds like a great time.
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Black Hills. I have a site picked west of the ongoing Crazy Horse Monument.
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Ok, thanks! I'll apply for the gun tag. I'll send you a pm, I'm in. I may bring both a bow and a shot gun, if things are looking desperate, we may have to throw some lead instead of sticks and stones.
Tattoo Dave
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I'm still waiting to hear about my travel plans...boo!
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Keep on the beat, TimBo. Hate to lose you at the bridge!
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JW, you sound just like one of the cats. Your lingo chops are impeccable! If one of these yellow face things had sunglasses and a beret, we would be all set.
Seriously though, I was supposed to know on Feb. 1, and it is killing me. I'm glad the tags won't run out at least, and that's good info on the archery tag...I would have gotten one of those and gotten some people arrested. Nice way to make friends.
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I'm hep!
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I'm hep!
yep just ask pine cone
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I'm hep!
yep just ask pine cone
I thought we agreed we would never speak of Coney?
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I'm hep!
yep just ask pine cone
I thought we agreed we would never speak of Coney?
I will say nothing more.....just saying
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JW, last I checked the tags were available for application, but the only one for the black hills was listed as archery. its hunt BH132. Is that the one we want? Just want to positive before I apply. Thanks!!
Tattoo Dave
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JW, last I checked the tags were available for application, but the only one for the black hills was listed as archery. its hunt BH132. Is that the one we want? Just want to positive before I apply. Thanks!!
Tattoo Dave
Archery tag is the AST-ST1-32. The regular gun season (that also allows archery) is the BST-BH1-32.
I unpacked that monster three burner stove/grill apparatus and assembled it the other day. I had purchased a cast iron flattop grill to go with it (guessing the sizes) and it fits just fine. I cannot wait to start cooking on this sucker, we will dine like kings!!!
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Sweet! That's the one, I'll apply a little later today.
That's awesome! Me and food get along very well. ;D can't wait!!
Tattoo Dave
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Pork shoulders were on a really good sale, I so stocked up. Yesterday I made 12 lbs of breakfast sausage and smoked up 8 lbs in preparation to braising them to make carnitas. Last year the carnitas and the biscuits-n-gravy were pretty popular meals.
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have my tag in hand...I have a score to settle...Te he he
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Oh I may be early again,but I'll bring some skirt steak again,only if I can see the birds one more time
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Oh I may be early again,but I'll bring some skirt steak again,only if I can see the birds one more time
it is coming soon
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I guess that means I should practice up on my calling, shave and a haircut two bits...lol ;) >:D
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Hehehe!
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My tag is on order.
Soy, you bringing that fancy copper call. I'd like to see it in action. I've got a few ceramic top calls in the works. I'm thinking ceramic is one of my new favorites, it's a little high maintainance though. But man they sound good.
Jw, if you need me to bring anything, just let me know.
Tattoo Dave
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My tag is on order.
Soy, you bringing that fancy copper call. I'd like to see it in action. I've got a few ceramic top calls in the works. I'm thinking ceramic is one of my new favorites, it's a little high maintainance though. But man they sound good.
Jw, if you need me to bring anything, just let me know.
Tattoo Dave
I am the one that received that cooper call. Lol
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Well I didn't think I was that old yet. My memory must be worse than I thought. Iowabow, yours is not curly Osage though, right??? I think I have a few cooper top calls out there to PA members, but only one made from curly Osage.
Tattoo Dave
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Well I didn't think I was that old yet. My memory must be worse than I thought. Iowabow, yours is not curly Osage though, right??? I think I have a few cooper top calls out there to PA members, but only one made from curly Osage.
Tattoo Dave
If we are talking about the same thing....last year jw made me a copper turkey call only because i have been working ABO and he wanted to contaminate my soul.
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Well I didn't think I was that old yet. My memory must be worse than I thought. Iowabow, yours is not curly Osage though, right??? I think I have a few cooper top calls out there to PA members, but only one made from curly Osage.
Tattoo Dave
If we are talking about the same thing....last year jw made me a copper turkey call only because i have been working ABO and he wanted to contaminate my soul.
The call was made from copper plumbing pieces. I thought it would be perfect for the guy that has twice won the toilet tank knapping event at Twin Oaks.
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That's funny stuff. I made a curly Osage turkey call for Soy, that had a copper friction surface on it. Currently working on a few more just for this trip.
Tattoo Dave
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I won once and maybe won second
Well I didn't think I was that old yet. My memory must be worse than I thought. Iowabow, yours is not curly Osage though, right??? I think I have a few cooper top calls out there to PA members, but only one made from curly Osage.
Tattoo Dave
If we are talking about the same thing....last year jw made me a copper turkey call only because i have been working ABO and he wanted to contaminate my soul.
The call was made from copper plumbing pieces. I thought it would be perfect for the guy that has twice won the toilet tank knapping event at Twin Oaks.
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Dave I will be bringing the call and if u say the .....well I'll be getting a hold of you ;)
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Sounds good. I have received my tag in the mail today! ;D
Tattoo Dave
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Sixteen days and counting! I am finalizing the menu for the week and will be posting that soon.
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Hey Jw, kinda late to the game here. Can't wait to head out that way and eat some great food.
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Tha's ok, kiddo. You been kinda busy running into burning buildings and saving folks from wrecked cars and the like. Just remember to bring your camo cape, super hero!
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Man really sounds like fun guys. Allways wanted to get out that way some time. My brother was there once he really liked the area. Good luck with the birds, we really got a bunch here again they had second hatch last year and easy winter. I'd love hunt them some time but allway so busy this time
of year.
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Hey...
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Hey...
WHAT?!?!
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Hey...
WHAT?!?!
Huh?
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Who?
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Hey... Iowa was that hint you want to take care of my turkey delima? I'd personally not have a problem with that but I'd have to run it by my brothers. We all share the land, and it's not like the big acreage spreads out west or perhaps even Iowa. Afraid there really wouldn't be enough for a bunch of guys maybe 1 or 2. About 7 years back we where getting over run with them, one winter there would be 150 in field every day. Then we got huge freezing rain ice storm and didn't have many till this year again. Funny how nature works
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Jw
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Jw
NOW WHAT?!?!
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I don't know maybe he's having a stroke.
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Here's the menu as planned thus far:
Wednesday brunch:
.venison breakfast sausage
.eggs
.fried taters
Wed. dinner:
.corned venison
.carrots, potatoes, onions
.biscuits
Thurs. brunch:
.Biscuits and gravy
.homemade pork sausage patties
Thurs. dinner:
.venison stew
.pie and ice cream (if I can get volunteers to crank on the antique churn)
Fri. brunch:
.Flapjacks
.homemade pork sausages
.eggs
Fri. dinner:
.pork carnitas
.fresh handmade guacamole
Sat. brunch:
.venison backstrap steaks
.fried taters
.eggs
Sat. dinner:
.Monroe County, Kentucky hot chops (a regional delicacy of spicy grilled pork steak)
.coleslaw
.beans
Sunday brunch:
.homemade venison chorizo breakfast burritos
And as always, there will be fresh fruit, veggies, and a selection of cheese/crackers available at all times. I am also adding a pot of home made chicken stew that can stand in for warming up cold bodies or feeding someone that doesn't like what is on the menu. Tattoo Dave claims he is bringing some pasties, and lordy-me, those are great to tuck in a pocket for when your belly complains of misuse and abuse!
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Whoa - What a Menu ! Sounds like a wonderful time Sir. Bob
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Can I order take out to Buffalo N.Y.?
Been watching this thread for a while,a few of my box calls are going on this hunt.
Just want to wish everyone good luck, I hope the turkey gods smile on you all.
Can't wait to see some pics!
Kevin
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Great, now I'm hungry....lol
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ahhh
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Can I order take out to Buffalo N.Y.?
Been watching this thread for a while,a few of my box calls are going on this hunt.
Just want to wish everyone good luck, I hope the turkey gods smile on you all.
Can't wait to see some pics!
Kevin
You will see pictures but you must be warned ahead of time that some images from this camp are graphic and could be violent in nature.
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Weather report shows a few evening showers, one day we may see thunderstorms, temps as low as mid thirties overnight and highs as much as 80 degrees. So, pretty much what we get at this time of year.
Lotta last minute cancellations this year, so it should be a smaller camp. I have reports of folks seeing gobblers wandering around without hens, so that tells me that the gals are heading off to their clutches of eggs early in the mornings and that the gobblers will be lonely.
Let's see if we can light 'em up, boys!
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Sounds like perfect weather to me JW. Can't wait to send some arrows through the air!
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I see ya all real soon!
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Here at jw's and he is loaded and we are heading to pre-camp setup
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Home for the week
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Looks like a nice home.
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Cool lookin' spot - good luck Guys ! Bob
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Yall have fun and keep us updated.
Pappy
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Awesome camping spot!
Good luck to all.
Take a lot of pics for us turkey voyeurs.
Kevin
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I can early because I have to leave camp early so I was the only one camping and babysitting the gear that jw brought out. I got up at 3:30 and had heavy rain so I spent the early morning setting up the tent. The rain stopped so I am out running the hills not trying put a Hunt on.
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Good sign...about 20 birds ran across the road close to camp on the way out! Lot of last year's hatch in the crowd including a mess of dumber than used dirt jakes! There was one really nice looking mature bird, too.
I had gotten a call earlier in the day and had to abandon Mr Iowabow to his own devices while I drove further south to pick up an injured raptor. Initially, the woman said it was an American kestrel, smallest of all falcons in the western hemisphere, a whopping quarter pounder. When I asked her about confirming details, we determined it was NOT. Her best guess, then, was a goshawk. Well, a gos' runs up to three pounds, a whole lot bigger. Goshawks are a species of great concern here in the Black Hills, so I was gonna get a move on! When I got there to pick up the bird, I was shocked to see an adult PEREGRINE BLOODY DANG FALCON!
Whereas the goshawk is a species of great concern, the peregrine is listed as critically endangered in the state despite how they have recovered populations otherwise in the country.
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bird%20stuff/pefa_zps6pcxufiy.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Bird%20stuff/pefa_zps6pcxufiy.jpg.html)
I could not find a broken bone, but one wing droops and she was incapable of flight. Possible soft tissue damage, possible sprain, possible hairline fracture/break of radius or ulna though not both...all things that require a proper rehabilitation veterinarian to get involved. I spent most of today arranging to get this bird hauled halfway across the state to the nearest licensed rehab facility. But she has a great chance of being back out in the wild soon, so it was worth it.
We fed her some rabbit livers/hearts/kidneys last night to help her restore some energy. Unlike hawks and eagles that are easy to forcefeed (pry beak open, push food down the throat and do it FAST), falcons are notoriously persnickety! I got bit no more than 25-30 times. Luckily, my hands are fairly tough from working with wood and hand tools, so no major stitching needed! This morning I thawed the one and only precious sharptail grouse breast in my freezer and donated it to her.
Hopefully, helping this falcon will appease Nature's Powers That Be and they will smile upon we simple minded homo sapiens as we hunt a turkey with a brain the size of a shelled walnut. May we not be too badly humiliated, shamed, and sent packing with nothing to show for our measley efforts!
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Good going J.W., that's a great thing to do. 8) fantastic birds.
All the best, Ruddy Darter.
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She's a beauty!!
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One of of these days I will convince my wife and the government to let me care for one of those beautiful raptors!
I'm not sure which one will be easier to convince...
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Quite the looker she's a beautiful bird
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One of of these days I will convince my wife and the government to let me care for one of those beautiful raptors!
I'm not sure which one will be easier to convince...
It's a heavy responsibility. It's one of those things that doesn't take a lot of time but it has to be every day. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a like minded friend you can't leave. And I believe that the friend would have to continue with any training you have going. If, for example you were in the middle of training a new bird to eat from the hand and your friend just threw a hunk of meat in the cage you would probably be starting over when you came home. I had a recently caught Northern Goshawk when I got my job with the telephone company. I had just got her eating off the glove. The company decided to send me out of town for a week. All I could do was cut her jesses and turn her loose. I was 19. haven't had a bird since.
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Really tough day from snow, ice to a hot day. My goal was to locate birds for tomorrow's hunt. I found three gobblers just at sunset and kinda have them located. I have a valley their near. In the last photo that is my truck on the right side near the horizon. Hard to beleive this was the same day.
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Jw calling to Tom. It might happen!
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Still working them
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God has blessed you with beautiful weather, nice scenery, and great friends. Hunting is the applesauce on that plate.
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JW,
You banked a little bit of good karma with the rescue, good luck hope you get one of those black hills gobblers.
Kevin
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Good on you JW. Good luck on the hunt, shoot straight. :)
Pappy
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Come on guys, we need an update. >:(
Pappy
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Come on guys, we need an update. >:(
Pappy
X2
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The turkeys must be gobbling and they have no time for up dates
eat, sleep, hunt, eat, sleep, hunt.....
either that or the turkeys are not gobbling and they are all sleeping off food comas from working their way through JW's menu.
I get hungry every time I read the menu.
Kevin
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I did not kill a turkey but it was a great time! I am really tired from hunting so hard. I hunted mostly with dave and we had some great hunting experiences. The best was call birds in to 15 yards and Dave not getting a shot at the 4 lol...Dave you can tell that story.
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I saw a lot of elk
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In the black Hills sometimes the roads are questionable. I took a little time to explore.
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Iowabow arrived early, really early. Like days before anyone else. Can you tell he was excited???
We drove out and set up his camp in the "Elk Rocks" area I have found last fall and heard elk bugling in the dark. I abandoned him to his own devices as I had to work Monday morning. I told him I would be back Tuesday morning and headed for town. Monday afternoon, after work, I was so excited myself that I packed like a madman and was driving up the little Forest Service two track at about 10:00 p.m. I walked into camp to the ringing echoes of pure copper free abo snoring! I made some bear snorts and growls as I shook one of the poles of his tent. Iowabow woke with a scream (he claims he was shouting at the "bear" in order to scare it away), and I had to rock him to sleep, singing lullabies to calm his frazzled nerves.
Next morning, well...later that same night, really...we rose and burst out into the woods to work our first gobblers. Iowabow had done a great job locating the flock and we had birds at about 100 yds rocking and rolling. He claims to have had a coyote right in front of his set-up, but I didn't see anything but a scabrous, handicapped, three legged chipmunk with an eyepatch.
He and I busted a hump most of Tuesday clearing out deadfall mountain pine beetle killed trees and catching up on current events. That evening, we put some birds to bed and did the same for ourselves.
Kyle and Julup showed up Wednesday early afternoon. They are buddies of mine from the muzzleloading/rendezvous circuit. They had their gear out and set up in record time, being old hands at this kind of work. I sent Iowabow out with them for the late afternoon/evening hunt. I offered to stay close to camp since we were expecting Tattoo Dave from Michigan to show anytime.
I had gotten no more than a couple hundred yards from camp and bumped two different feeder flocks moving toward a peak on the ridgeline east of camp. I heard a vehicle in the distance and soon heard it's horn sound off. I had left a note pinned with my jackknife to the upright pole on the camp kitchen awning instructing Dave to toot his horn when he arrived. I dogtrotted out of the woods a few minutes later and proceeded to be a living example of why it is not smart to meet people on the internet and make plans to meet them in the woods! Poor Tattoo Dave may very well never be the same. His gear was unloaded in minutes and set up. We were off on the errant feeder flocks moments later.
The entire crew was assembled now. Attrition had whittled this year's camp from 10 people to just a mere 5. Plenty enough, and with what I had gathered for groceries, nobody was gonna starve much.
....more to come.
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It was a fantastic week! I arrived in camp Tuesday night. JW and I were promptly in the woods, and we're putting some birds to bed less than an hour later. Wednesday morning John(Iowa bow) and I were on the move to get closer to some gobblers and called them into less than 10 yards. Too bad they came around the wrong side of a rocky outcropping we were set to ambush them on, we didn't get a shot off. We worked birds every time we set foot in the woods, and had a blast doing it! We ate like kings and slept like babies...for real, waking up at 3 am and taking plenty of after breakfast naps
John gave me some pointers on abo knapping, and I managed to make a useable point. Looking forward to next year fellas, can't wait!!
Tattoo Dave
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Jw was about to make friends with my 44 mag. He told me he would not be in camp that night.
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Sounds like a hoot and that country looks like some serious wandering round land. Nothing better than no signs and no fences for miles.
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Turkey camp is not for the lazy; we get up at 3 am and eat a light breakfast and head out at 4 am. The weather in the blackhills changes hour by hour, it can be 33 degree leaving camp and the return hike could be 70. You're trekking up and down mountian terrain in the dark without a flashlight. You have to move quickly because the birds are going to be on the ground by 5am. We worked birds till about 7am then started moving on birds that would not come it untill about 8-9am. After hunting hard we would return to camp where jw would have breakfast cooking. During the first part if the trip jw worked me like a slave and had me set up camp by moving logs and clearing brush for the camp ground and parking area (so much for peace and quite of the early bird). In the afternoon we would all split up and scout for birds for the next mornings hunt. By the time you returned to camp after sunset it would be 9-9:30pm and you are very tired and hungry and agian jw would have dinner on the stove and one night we had an apple pie and homemade ice cream. The evenings were filled with stories of the day's hunts, plans for the next day, lots of poking fun, and fantastic lies of adventure. If not for sheer exhaustion we would never have overcome the thunderous snoring of the camp host which certianly doubled as a bear like deterrent as it sirened over the hills for miles.
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Sounds like everyone had a great time.
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Outstanding Folks! I am complete homesick for the Black Hill turkey season.
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Looks like you guys had a great time. Hopefully I can make it next year!
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Iowabow brought back a mighty nice gift from the Tennessee Classic where he had done some horse trading with a certain BuffaloGobbler. This amazing boxcall made the trip all the way from Tennessee to the Black Hills where it talked dirty to plenty of birds over the weekend. Over the course of the week, this call was carried and used for everyone in camp, but she saved her sweetest talk for me when I carried her alone one morning early in the week.
I had beebopped out of camp on pure adrenaline and caffeine, short on sleep, long on hope. I knew the general area of the roost site, but was a little short on time to get very close. I set up in a good spot with a commanding view, stood up a decoy hen about 5 yards behind my left shoulder and promptly pulled my most secret turkey hunting technique out of the velvet trick bag of experience.
Through years of practice, I am able to all but become invisible with this technique. It includes various disciplines of Eastern Mysticysm, Native American Holistic Spirituality, and Viking Berserker Battlecraft....simply put, I leaned back and fell asleep. Try it, it works. Brings the birds right in. Sometimes right past you if you go deep enough!
I was sawmilling old growth ponderosa pine when a "chirrUP!" startled me. I did my best impression of Elmer Fudd doing a Patrick McManus inspired "Modified Stationary Panic" when that cow elk stood there 25 yards in front of me with a look of sardonic bemusement. Apparently, I had not balanced the eastern versus western aspects of my technique or the elk would have never seen me.
It was about sunrise and I had missed flydown. Up the valley to the west came a few ringing gobbles and some mighty excited hen calling. I ignored the cow elk's dirty looks as I scooped up my decoy and hustled into the treeline to the north and began to gain altitude moving up the ridgeline in hopes of getting around and above the flock. When my wind was spent and I was wheezing like a demented pipe organ, I figured I was in about the right spot. I climbed up into a saddle on the ridgeline and leaned my shotgun against the tree, pulled out the decoy and crawled 10 yards to stand up the little foam bodied trollop.
Just as I was getting her planted, the 20 hens and about a dozen jakes of the flock crested the saddle about 35 yds away. They were yakking and blathering away to beat the band crossing over the saddle. And there I was pinned down in the wide open. Nothing to do but kneel there and take it like a whining toddler with a wet diaper.
As the last hen melted into a line of doghair pines, I turned to crawl back to the tree I had chosen to lean my gun before the gobblers. I had no more lined up on the tree when I looked at 4 jakes about 15 yards away. They had their heads stretched as tall as they could get to look at my shameless hussy of a decoy. I remember those days, all hormones and the inability to borrow, beg or steal a hint of good sense. I crawled back to the tree, put the shotgun across my lap and told the jakes to beat it. They all tried to gobble in their adolescent pre-teen pubescent voices, cracking like a box full of good china hitting the concrete floor. Again, I felt sorry for their testosterone overdosed libidos and again I told them to get a move on before the gobblers following would come and beat them like rented mules. They just looked at me and one said "Buck-AWP!"
I reached into the box call sleeve on my new vest and out came BuffaloGobbler's mighty fine raspy throated artwork. I chalked it up while these four horsemen of the apocalypse (in their opinions) just looked at me with their dopey faces as empty of expression as their bodies were of ability to breed hens. I opened the calling with a few chirps and clucks. No answer from a gobbler below the hill, but these four jakes all started milling around excitedly and yelping. I joined in with some lovely chin music on the call, yelping louder and more excitedly, ending with some aggressive purring. They were half strutting like a sophomore in front of the varsity cheerleaders when he thinks the upper classmen aren't watching!
So much the better, four live decoys and one foam strumpet. Any dominant gobbler would have to come on the run for this show! The poor jakes had no idea they were being used. I'd call, they'd join in and look at me, oblivious as could be. I told them one last time that this was their chance to beat feet before the gobblers showed up, but they still didn't get it. About then, the gobblers announced their presence...about 100 yds up the ridgeline with the real hens. I had been outfoxed AGAIN! It rarely happens, not more than 20-30 times a season, I swear! But I was beat and I knew it. These four jakes had been sent to fight a rear-guard action, their mission was to lay down covering yelps to hold the line while the rest of the flock made good it's desperate escape.
In the three flocks within hiking distance of camp, there had to be a good 25 or so jakes. I had seen several other flocks in the area with good numbers of immature gobblers, plus my contacts in Game, Fish, and Parks reported good to excellent hatch numbers last spring and better than average survival rates. Last year I had asked folks in camp to stay their hands on jakes because there were just so few breeding age male birds. But this year was a new year with new facts on the ground. I had lost or broken the last of the wingbone calls I love to use and thought about the smaller, more delicate bones in these four silly bodgers in front of me. In the end, I justified it by saying to myself the three survivors will be smarter for the loss of their fourth.
I laid the bead of the gun an inch below the snood of the one on the far left and the Pecker Wrecker blew his beak around to the back of his head at a mere 9 yards. I think I hit him with every last pellet AND the plastic shot cup! Clean and quick, Hevi-shot head trauma.
I'll stand and take every bit of razzing for not using a bow to hunt. But the fact remains, I am a pretty poor bow shot these days and it would have been unethical to loose a shaft at a living animal. I put this bird down fast and clean, I was tagged out and could go with the rest of camp when they arrived without them worrying about whether it was their shot or mine. I was done and out. Dave, Kyle, and Julup were coming in later that day and I could just play host.
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As always JW, GREAT story ! Good thing it wasn't a "Full Bore Lineal Panic" tho O:) - Bob.
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Enjoyed reading your story very much JW!
Meeting Iowabow at the classic this year was a stroke of good fortune, I had been thinking of sending the box call to Tattoo Dave and have him bring the call but life happens and I never sent the call to him. When I met Jon and he said he was going on the Black Hills hunt it was as if the stars aligned and I knew I had to send the call with him, and to hear it helped you tag a turkey just puts me on cloud nine!
Congrats to you!
Jake bones make a very fine wing bone call, just the right diameter to sound like a raspy hen, plus, you can kee-kee on them.
Kevin
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Enjoyed reading your story very much JW!
Meeting Iowabow at the classic this year was a stroke of good fortune, I had been thinking of sending the box call to Tattoo Dave and have him bring the call but life happens and I never sent the call to him. When I met Jon and he said he was going on the Black Hills hunt it was as if the stars aligned and I knew I had to send the call with him, and to hear it helped you tag a turkey just puts me on cloud nine!
Congrats to you!
Jake bones make a very fine wing bone call, just the right diameter to sound like a raspy hen, plus, you can kee-kee on them.
Kevin
I wish you could have seen those turkeys running as fast as their little feet could go as I blasted them with your call and then the expression on Dave's face as I told him to get ready and take the shot as they come around below the rock we were behind....lol they went up instead of down and they were looking down at us at ten yards with our bows pointed the other direction, great call and good times. Ya never know how its going to come together or in this case not!
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I've been looking forward to these stories since last years thread, lol.
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Great story JW.
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Jw it was just as fun to read this story even after having heard in it person the first time lol. But what everyone is missing is how you physically act out the story .....funny stuff!
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What a great story John, very well written.
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I wish you could have seen those turkeys running as fast as their little feet could go as I blasted them with your call and then the expression on Dave's face as I told him to get ready and take the shot as they come around below the rock we were behind....lol they went up instead of down and they were looking down at us at ten yards with our bows pointed the other direction, great call and good times. Ya never know how its going to come together or in this case not!
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Don't shoot til ya see the whites of their eyes!
It's happened to me also, they appear in the wrong place, I wish I had a magic call that would put them in front of my arrow every time... or even just some of the time.
The pictures are great, looks like beautiful country and from the stories it sounds like you all had a wonderful time.
Kevin
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As always JW, GREAT story ! Good thing it wasn't a "Full Bore Lineal Panic" tho O:) - Bob.
Absolutely! But that would be very difficult to achieve with the number of trees and rocks around here. It would be more of a pinball/pachinko move!
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Enjoyed reading your story very much JW!
Meeting Iowabow at the classic this year was a stroke of good fortune, I had been thinking of sending the box call to Tattoo Dave and have him bring the call but life happens and I never sent the call to him. When I met Jon and he said he was going on the Black Hills hunt it was as if the stars aligned and I knew I had to send the call with him, and to hear it helped you tag a turkey just puts me on cloud nine!
Congrats to you!
Jake bones make a very fine wing bone call, just the right diameter to sound like a raspy hen, plus, you can kee-kee on them.
Kevin
Think of it this way...your call IS SO GOOD, it kept those birds anchored to the ground in front of me EVEN AFTER THEY KNEW I WASN'T A HEN!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Great story JW. Sounds like a great hunt.
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Great story JW. Sounds like a great hunt.
Hey man, it really was. Next year you and Killer Keller?
I will make pie and ice cream again!
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Great story JW. Sounds like a great hunt.
Hey man, it really was. Next year you and Killer Keller?
I will make pie and ice cream again!
It probably won't work next year either. Keller will be graduating right around turkey camp time. Maybe if all the stars align.
Keller and I have been chasing turkeys for the last month in Minnesota. I with my self bow and him with his gun. I got one shot at a long beard on my first day out. I am apparently not a good shot either. After that I had a lot of birds going and many in gun range, but on those days Keller was not along. He was pretty busy with school activities. Days when Keller was along we were still on birds but things just didn't work out. We sure did have some good times though.
I really enjoyed reading your story and following this thread.
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Another expose' on the Black Hills Turkey Camp 2016:
Someone that shall remain nameless spent almost the whole time on his stupid phone/Android. I won't say who, but two years running MISSED turkeys and last year didn't even get off a shot. Talk about your three time loser. He DID, however keep us all up to date on the weather while checking his phone. And there is the crux of the issue....he saw heavy weather coming and came up with some lame excuse about family, wedding, whatever.
Kyle called him out and said that Hallmark still makes cards and there was a post office just down the road in Custer, SD where he could find some of those cards. Fact remains, Iowabow, I mean SOMEBODY NAMELESS, just plain bugged out because the humidity was going up a little. And then it came down. In fact, about two inches of humidity in the form of rain and marble sized hail came down!
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Hunting%20albums/Turkey%20camp%202016/Morning%20after%20the%20hail_zpsb8kmld17.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Hunting%20albums/Turkey%20camp%202016/Morning%20after%20the%20hail_zpsb8kmld17.jpg.html)
And some of camp was still able to go out and work birds in the morning! Talk about some tough sons-a-guns. Later that morning we popped into town and visited the "Lost Sock Laundromat" to make use of their driers.
Frankly, we were pretty lucky since none of the bedding had gotten wet and no one was in danger of hypothermia. Everyone used good sense and dry sox to their advantage. Nothing as welcome in this world as good sense and dry sox.
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Cool pic & a great Camp. Thanks for posting JW ! Bob
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Love the canvas wedge tents and dining fly.
Kevin
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Now hold the phone there Hatchet Jack. It weren't my idea to go killing jakes on the first day and tickin off the turkey gods. It's all fun and games there greenhorn when the sun's out and you're paying no nevermind to the weather. Not my fault if you didn't "put enough dirt down" so to speak. Now I did get a shot off last year (missed) but this year I let Dave have the honors as I was on the call so he could have a fighting chance. I came early and left early so thats a draw in my book. As far as you abandoing camp at the first sign of a clouds well I'll let others draw their own conclusions on the perseverance of "leader" types.
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You guys really have me confused ???
Who is Hatchet Jack? :o
Who is Shake and Jake? >:D
Forget about Fair Weather Fred.
Zuma
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Hatchet Jack was found frozen solid on the mountain, died of a "broke leg" but his trusty Hawken"kilt th' bar thet kilt him"
And I believe "Shake" is what the "jake" did to Dave to stop Dave from Making "shake-n-bake" with the "jake"
Kevin
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That was 3 jakes and a fat tom gave us the shake. That was morning number 1. So, the box of shake and bake was never opened...stupid birds anyway. There's always next year.
Tattoo Dave
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That was 3 jakes and a fat tom gave us the shake. That was morning number 1. So, the box of shake and bake was never opened...stupid birds anyway. There's always next year.
Tattoo Dave
They will be a year older and an entire order of magnitude tougher to chew!
Even though camp was smaller this year, the hunting was thrilling. We would go out and work birds any time we wanted. The scenery was divine. Elk, deer, and every songbird the Black Hills has to offer came by camp. Heck, I even got some real work out of Mr. Iowabow...and not just flapping his jaws like some college professor! Actual, real, physical work cutting and hauling off downed timber to make room for camp.