pointing_dogs_rule Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 Took my annual trip to Nebraska, South Dakota & Wyoming for spring turkeys. I am superstitious, so seeing this rainbow on the way across South Dakota was "good karma". Southern South Dakota before you cross into Nebraska Ranch Brands in northern Nebraska around Merriman, Nebraska. The area of the Pine Ridge forest that we hunt More Pine Ridge. More Pine Ridge. Forest service roads. It took 45 minutes to drive 4.5 miles back to the furthest part of the public lands. My friend Thomas, a local. Sitting atop on of the hills. Atop same hill. Another area that I hunted near Crawford, Nebraska. Upon arrival on the first afternoon (Saturday) we spotted 2 gobblers. Thomas and Ryan went after them and were able to bag one of the toms. Ryan with his Pine Ridge bird. Congrats! We were soon after another flock and Thomas bagged his bird in the open grasslands. Congrats. Next it was my turn and we headed for the river bottoms of the White River. They had been seeing birds in a old wheat field and I was able to connect in the late afternoon. All birds were 19 - 21 lbs with 8 inch beards. My tom had NO spurs. Sunday was slow and we relaxed for the most part. Monday the birds out smarted us in the morning. I set up my blind Monday night in a place that we have never hunted in the late evening or early morning. That night I had 3 groups of hens come into the decoy field. The tom stayed at 200 yards on a hill side. The next morning I slipped into the blind at 4 am. Gobbling all over the place. What excitement. Must have been at least a dozen gobblers. This guy came down the fence line to my calls and then ducked a fence on to private land. I couldn't figure it out... call shy??? afraid of the decoys??? I called one more time and his head went up and he turned around and came in on a full strut. The initial problem.... he could not see the decoys (as I learned afterwards). I had placed the decoys in a slight depression in the dark and he could not see them until he went further south. What a pretty sight to see him come strutting in. 25 yards and it was over at 5:45 am. Love the DSD decoys. It was off to Wyoming where I visited two friends. NOTE: I skipped South Dakota due to lower bird numbers. The Wyoming - Nebraska line near Lusk, Wyoming. The flat lands near Edgemount, South Dakota Stayed one night in Newcastle, Wyoming and ate at the Pizza Barn. Hunted around the Four Corners area of Wyoming and passed on 6 Jakes as they came by me. I was hoping for a tom and that never happened. Stayed in Sundance, Wyoming and woke up to a dusting of snow and cold temps. It was onto Hulett, Wyoming to visit my friend & attend the "Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot". It's a great fundraiser for the local community. I was fortunate enough to meet Corey Cogdell (see below) the Silver medalist at the Olympics in trap. Also met some football and baseball players, Andy Griggs and a very nice songwriter from Nashville by the name of Austin Wahlert. A very cool kid. The guests on my friends ranch shot a Jake on the second day. I didn't hunt my friends ranch, instead I helped him clear downed trees on fence lines that dropped in last falls severe blizzard. 1 1/2 miles was cleared, with two partial days work (man I'm gettin' old)... still much more work. Below is a 108 year old tree that fell. Sunset at the ranch in the Black Hills. Some of the many deer on the ranch. Deer numbers seem to be rebounding. Cat numbers are lower..... GOOD!!!! Left Hulett, Wyoming at 10 PM and drove thru the night to get home. This was the scene as the was driving across southern Minnesota at 5:45 AM. A very nice sight to see as I headed east. Only 10 hours in the truck on the way back. Never realized how few cars are on the interstate between midnight and 6 am. Hope you enjoyed. good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine Hntr Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Great Pics and congrats on the turkey successes, sounds like a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 WOW !! What great pictures, THANKS for sharing those. The scenery is just breathe taking. Congrats on some great birds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 seems like an awesome trip... cool pictures and congrats on the birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Cool pics... NICE birds too....where else would a Vet eat?..IN A BARN!!...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Nebraska Merrimans (PIC heavy) Looks like it was a great trip Marty. Thanks for sharing with us. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Sounds like fun and a trip I'd like to do one of these days... congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Awesome pics and post !!!!!! Those pics of the pine ridges got me wanting to get back out there. Did most of my hunting pretty handy Crawford, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthehuntinman Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Awesome pic's and hunt congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Nice pictorial. Sounds like a great trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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