Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

  • News
  • Think Pieces / Opinion
  • Turkey Hunting
    • Fall Turkey
    • Spring Turkey
    • turkey hunting tips
    • Stories
  • Humor
  • Deer Hunting
  • Willow Ridge Custom Turkey Calls

Hard to Stop Turkey Hunting

June 28, 2017 by Charlie 8 Comments

The last day of Wisconsin’s 2017 wild turkey hunt dawned quiet, very quiet; at least as far as turkey sounds are concerned.  The usual bird rush hour was in its normal fine form, but on this morning the turkeys apparently had other plans.  The season has been rewardingly long this spring from the first week in April hunting Colorado Rios, moving up to Wyoming Black Hills for a snowy Merriam and back to

Take time to teach the next generation of hunters.

Wisconsin for some youth hunt mentoring until my first Wisconsin tag validation the last week of April.  Not a morning missed, rain, shine, or somewhere in between and now here I set wearily reflecting on it all to the sounds of silence, the 30th of May with no complaints or regrets.  Yeah, I missed a turkey or two and zigged when a zag was needed more often than I care to remember.  It’s not good to focus on negative thoughts because if you do, they become self-fulfilling prophecies.

As the morning birdie rush hours fade into memory, I stand, stretch and give thanks.  Wild turkey season has come to an end for me…Until later while walking the dogs, a lone gobbler takes to flight out of the VPA field and glides lazily to the opposite woodlot.  It’s 1:30 in the afternoon, the season is still open, and I have two unpunched tags left.  VPA is private land that the Wisconsin DNR leases for public access, the field is open for hunting but as is so typical the woodlot is not enrolled, so it is closed to hunting without permission of the landowner.

The internal debate heats up; tiredness makes its nagging request just to forget him and rest.  While the prey drive says “two open tags and several hours to hunt a gobbler you can call out to kill.”

I feel sorry for the poor dogs after promising them on my return this morning that my hunt was over until the fall season and Vic would get the hunt the next time.  Funny thing about plans, they are subject to change, and here I am setting up in some long grass barely able to see the freshly planted corn field, calling on a tongue teaser to what seems like wide open empty spaces.

2017 spring’s most effective call for me

As 3:00 rolls around my sanity in some quarters would be questioned and the of quitting continues to grow in appeal.  The sun seems searing in intensity; you’d think the biting gnats would have their wings burned off, sadly it just appears to energize their bloodlust.

Time crawls to only 3:15; Has my watch stopped?  Ok, enough for one spring; as I roll off the gobbler lounger to take a final 360 look around a neon blue spot moves on my right…How in the heck did he get that close without being seen? And, as always, these birds come in from the direction least expected.

Rarely, is movement helpful when a standing tom is staring at you at close range.  However, he must have thought another turkey was moving around in the long grass causing him to up periscope for a better look-see, a fatal mistake.  I rose to my knees and looked at the twitching gobbler through the shot-tunnel in the grass.  Must be a mirage! Another tom is closing fast, heading directly to the dead bird and the end of my barrel.

Two toms, side by side.

For a moment I thought it was just a dream, so I waited for the empty field to rematerialize.  But you know, the weight of 40+ pounds of turkey over your back brings reality into focus.  On the half mile stroll back to the truck there was a moment or two when the memory of turkey tags still available and the season does not close until 8p something…hmm.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Related

Filed Under: News, Spring Turkey, Stories, Turkey Hunting Tagged With: Turkey Hunting, turkey hunting story, Wild Turkey, Wisconsin Turkey Hunting

Comments

  1. N.C.L.W. says

    June 28, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    AMAZING!!!!

    Another double… Beautiful times Charlie! Somebody up there loves you. : D

    As I always like to say and am pleased to type here again – Congratulations, Sir!

    So… How’s about another tag, nay or yay? An interesting and blessed choice to have available.

    Reply
    • Charlie says

      June 28, 2017 at 2:51 pm

      Yes, it was quite a spring season, truly blessed from that standpoint.
      Went nay on another tag because if I’d bought it, I’d hunted some more. Just can’t make myself stop when open tags are in my possession and on that day I was soo tired.
      Now thoughts are on trying to figure out some turkey cooking posts.

      Reply
      • N.C.L.W. says

        June 28, 2017 at 5:35 pm

        Excellent! I am sure that’s a good call and one I’d be likely to make myself after such a season as yours past.

        For me, I failed to apply myself properly to the pursuit of birds but am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the ’17 Spring Season. I know many people with far fewer barriers to success than I who didn’t get a single Turkey Hunt in this year. Including many who, under Canada’s apartheid system, are Literally above the Law when it comes to animals – For these ones there are no seasons, bags limits or limitations of any kind. They can even roost shoot with lamps at night! Still, they birdless too.

        Looking forward to the Fall Season. Likewise as always to future posts here on Charlieelk.com

        Reply
        • N.C.L.W. says

          June 28, 2017 at 5:49 pm

          P.S. – Perhaps, if you are looking for suggestions, you might recall the schnitzel recipe? Could be a thing! Seein’ as how you’ve got plenty of Turkey to eat. 🙂

          Reply
          • Charlie says

            June 28, 2017 at 6:08 pm

            Thank you. Suggestion duly noted.

        • Charlie says

          June 28, 2017 at 6:15 pm

          There are places in the U.S. that have the apartheid system too. Northern WI is one I’m familiar with, also known as the Ceded Territory. Fortunately, gambling is legal only in that sector of society, and all members share in the lucrative spoils. We have found this makes them soft and deadens their desire to partake of the discomforts of the outdoors.

          Reply
  2. FirstBubba says

    June 28, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    I’ve had two doubles in the past.
    Awesome!
    Had two birds all lined out this year.
    Bird #1 was at 30 yards. Bird #2 was maybe 2 feet to port and steady on the keel.
    The first shot was true!
    Bird number one collapsed on the spot, (actually, bird #2 in the xray thread!)
    BUT….instead of flopping about and attracting bird #2, bird #1 never so much as wiggled, the entire flock disappearing in a hard run!
    Oh well! Maybe next year!

    Congrats on a fantastic finish to a fine season, charlie!

    The “Turkey Gods” smiled on at least one of us this year!

    Reply
  3. huntfishtrap says

    June 29, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    Some people have all the luck… ;-D Way to go, Charlie.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. No other email will be sent to you.

comments

  • Justin on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Kathy Eldred on Beavers Eat and Store Corn
  • Toney Jacob on Hunting Deer From the Ground in Wisconsin
  • Anthony Lumbard on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Bryan Ash on Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?
  • Jim Sinquefield on How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys

Top Posts

  • How I Kill Afternoon Gobblers, the lessons of many years
    How I Kill Afternoon Gobblers, the lessons of many years
  • The Turkey's Snood Knows
    The Turkey's Snood Knows
  • When Do Turkeys Nest in Wisconsin?
    When Do Turkeys Nest in Wisconsin?
  • 32.5 Pound Turkey
    32.5 Pound Turkey
  • Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?
    Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?
  • How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys
    How to Legally Bait Wild Turkeys
  • Wisconsin Collector Stamps; How to order
    Wisconsin Collector Stamps; How to order
  • Beavers Eat and Store Corn
    Beavers Eat and Store Corn

Recent Posts

  • Kirkland Warbler, Wild Turkey use Audio Bait
  • A Little more Frigid or Warm; What is better for Wildlife?
  • West Nile Virus detected in Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse
  • When the Deer Season Ends
  • First Bubba Chili Pucks

Recent comments

  • Justin on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Kathy Eldred on Beavers Eat and Store Corn
  • Toney Jacob on Hunting Deer From the Ground in Wisconsin
  • Anthony Lumbard on Bulllet Head Stamp Gallery
  • Bryan Ash on Wild Turkeys See In Color; But Will Pink Spook Them?

Videos

Mosquitoes use six needles to suck our … [Read More...]

Have you ever had a whitetail deer standing real … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2025 charlie elk

 

Loading Comments...