Ohio Jake

 Compared to other areas I hunt, I don’t have a wealth of public land near where we live. The best option is a 4,500-acre State Forest, which the whole thing should probably designated as a State Park with the amount of trails and recreation users that frequent there. I only hunt there is the weather is unfavorable, or it’s during the week. Nowadays, I need to take a few hours off of work to check out areas before deer hunters begin filling the woods. We’ve been hunting there at least once a week since season opened on October 1. 

Two days ago, I decided to check out a few areas after work. I encountered two horseback riders on the trail on our last walk out. They were very friendly (I’ve encountered some not too pleased with the dogs running around) and asked if I had any luck. I told them no and explained what we were doing. They told me that they encountered a good sized flock the week before a few ridges over. The next day I decided to check it out.

To access the area, you need to walk through a salvage timber harvest from a June 2022 tornado. They left plenty of slash and it’s not the easiest walking. Plus, the vegetation is starting to get pretty thick. When we were in the clear cut, Levi began to act like there were turkeys nearby. Once we got back into the woods, the dogs shot out to about 250 yards on the other side of the ridge. Based on their behavior, it looked like a good sized group.

The sit was pretty uneventful. At about the hour and a half mark (which seems to be the best time for us after a break), I heard some light rustling in the leaves (were in a drought, so it’s easy to hear things walking). I focus on that spot and see a turkey making its way up to us. Shortly after seeing it, it lets out some soft yelps. At this point, it’s well within shooting range and I just need it to talk from behind a small mound. He finally clears it and I shoot and miss. He becomes airborne and I shoot again, knocking him down into a spicebush thicket. I release the dogs and begin looking for the bird. I can’t find him anywhere! Both Lily and Levi begin barking about 70 yards away from me and  I think I can hear additional birds running from them. I continue to look and still nothing. Levi returns to me and I see Lily is stationary. I walk up to her and she had the bird! I really don’t think it would’ve been recovered if I didn’t have the dogs with me. It was some great teamwork!

Juvenile male

9 lbs 2 oz