By Mike Roche

Last week was my first ever turkey hunt in Missouri. After over a decade of flying out to Kansas and hunting turkeys in that state, things changed. In response to significant declines in turkey numbers in the Sunflower State, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks voted to take actions to reduce the number of turkeys taken by hunters. The first change was to eliminate the fall 2023 season and the next measure was to reduce the spring harvest by reducing the number of non-resident permits by 25%. That was done by requiring all non-residents to enter a lottery to apply for a spring turkey permit. My name was not pulled so there would be no spring turkey hunt in Kansas for me.

It is only a 15-minute drive to neighboring Missouri, however, and that led to some investigating on my part. In most of the country, unlike the New England states, private land is not open to hunting without permission. There is public land but competition on most, particularly those with good hunting, is steep. Reaching out to some of the people with whom I have shared hunting time did produce some prospects, but sister Patricia has a wide network of friends in her horseback riding circle. They share a love of “riding to the hounds” and are participants in the sport of fox hunting, where hounds chase a fox and the hunters follow on horseback.

In recent times, the number of foxes has dwindled and now the hounds primarily chase coyotes, but game is the same for the riders who wear English formal riding gear. The hunt grounds have trails with man-made obstacles, like those seen in Olympic equestrian events, for the horses to jump over and it is not a sport for sissies! Pat was able to find two of her fellow riders who own land in Missouri and big brother was in business!

We actually went directly to the properties after she picked me up at the Kansas City, Missouri International Airport and both properties looked promising. Wednesday morning found me in my “turkey lounger” hunting seat well before sunrise. My owl hooting did not elicit any responses, but 20 minutes before dawn a bird gobbled behind me, and he was soon joined by two others. They were close but after 15 minutes the sound was noticeably quieter, a sure sign that the birds had pitched off the roost. Then the two toms that had been roosted close steadily moved away, as happens when hens lead the eager suiters off as they feed. It was obvious that they were not interested in me, so my decoys and chair were packed up and a march north got me ahead of the parade, which from a distance appeared to be two strutting gobblers and at least two hens.

That led to my setting up and calling and soon my eye caught movement. The excitement was soon over when it turned into not one but two coyotes stalking my decoy. They ran when they realized it was a fake and shortly after that the gobbling ended and my calls were ignored. After a break to get myself refocused, my hen yelps from the Lynch World Champion box call – the old reliable tool – was answered. I will not detail the “rookie mistake” that should have cost me, but the tom came in silent, looking for the hen he heard. It was obvious he was a big bird and he looked six feet tall as he stretched his neck and scanned. He finally was in range and offered me a chance and the Federal TSS 3-inch #7 load did the job. After using my phone to “notch” my Missouri permit, it was time to lug him back to the truck. It was instantly clear that this was more work than getting a woodcock out of the woods as he later tipped the scales at 24-four pounds! Sporting a beard over 10 inches long and long spurs, he was a mature gobbler and this writer pleased with the three-hour hunt. Missouri allows two turkeys with visible beards to be taken, but only one during the first week of the season. That was fine, as now it was possible to have “quality time” with my sister Pat and her husband Jim Wolf. We enjoyed it to the max with trips to Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops and great restaurants for breakfasts, dinners and of course a visit to Kansas City Joe’s where the best barbecue on the planet awaits a crowd all day, every day that they are open!

The trip to Kansas also included what we called the “Second Annual Meridan Kansas World Farm Pond Fishing Contest.” Last year my friend Steve Williams and I teamed up and defeated his two grandsons in what was billed as “The Old Fogies vs. The Young Guns.” The rematch was filled with tension and went to sudden death overtime with the youngsters winning. Wait until next year!

Perhaps the highlight of my trip was when good friend and very dedicated hunter/trapper/fisherman Kin Hickman presented me a display mount he had made with a beautiful turkey image etched by using a woodburning tool. You can hang your beards from it, and he had cured the tail from a gobbler I shot hunting with him which goes behind the artwork. Beautiful!

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Massachusetts turkey season opens Monday. Reports have been mixed on the number of toms people have been seeing, but the four-week season will provide opportunities for hunters to match wits with gobblers. Remember to follow the “Ten Commandments of Turkey Hunting Safety.” Don’t stalk or wear turkey colors (white, red or blue), be sure of your target, sit against a tree wider than your shoulders, make your presence obvious to an approaching hunter without moving by speaking out, and do not use gobble calls.

As former National Wild Turkey Federation president Rob Keck often said, “It is the gobble and not the gobbler that is the real prize!”

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.