"THE RED CANYON MERRIAM" (with pics)

[pointing_dogs_rule]

Note: blame this long post on REDBEARD... he's rubbing off on me. Still not as eloquent as he though.

“The Red Canyon Merriam”

The saga began 10 years ago while traveling the back roads of Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas aimlessly. I came upon this ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming that had 300 deer grazing in the alfalfa fields. I admired the does and bucks and then located the farmhouse that occupies the property. My mom taught me “it never hurts to ask, what can they do shoot you”. I met the owner who would become a very good friend, Walter. After chatting about cattle and the beauty of the area I asked if he would let me bow hunt. He says “well no one has ever asked to bow hunt”. I tried to hide the huge smile that came across my face as I asked for permission for next year’s hunt. The next year I was bow hunting the property for whitetail. As I hung stands and hunted I was amazed at the number of Merriams that occupied the area. Groups of the buff colored turkeys, numbering 12-20 would parade past my bow stand every night.

Eight years later I decided that it was time to hunt these birds in the Black Hills. Last year I purchased a South Dakota and Wyoming turkey license and made the trek west. My success was none. I literally got my butt kicked by those birds. The birds were not on the Wyoming property that I was hunting, however, there where 20+ gobblers on the posted land 3/4 mile down the valley. In the town of Alva, Population 25, I had to stop because of the toms strutting in the middle of the highway. How frustrating! After two days of hard hunting in Wyoming I packed it up and went to Hill City, South Dakota to try my luck. Once more I learned that this “big woods” hunting was hard and the birds were hard to pattern unlike the birds in Iowa. Once more frustration set in as I had no luck in getting the toms to respond. The nine hour drive home was a long one, empty handed.

Fast-forward to 2010. Being as stubborn as I am, not giving up because of one misadventure was not an option. The South Dakota and Wyoming licenses were in hand and the hunt was on. I met Walter for nice lunch at Cindy B’s in Aladdin, Wyoming. After a nice discussion on world & local issues & cattle the subject turned to turkeys. Walter informed me that the 30 turkeys that were roosting in the cottonwood trees 10 yards outside his door had disappeared one week before the season and were not to be seen. Rats! Once more the turkeys had abandoned the property before I had a chance. Another local Bruce stated that he might have turkeys on his property 11 miles back on a dirt road. He was nice enough to show me the property and where the birds might be found. I just had to ask the inevitable question: “seen any cats lately”? Bruce says: “about a month ago I saw a cat track in the cattle corral”. Note: I am not fond of walking at 4:30 AM, in the dark, with no buddy along, miles from the nearest house and with cats in the area. Yep, call me chicken!!!

Before I left Walter’s ranch I met some other turkey hunters who I chatted with. They had no luck in the area and I informed them that I was headed to South Dakota to try my luck. Nice as these fellows were they offered to show me on the map where they had previous success in taking birds. With the lack of birds in the area and my national forest map highlighted in yellow I headed for Newcastle, Wyoming.

Thursday morning came early as I traveled the national forest roads just across the South Dakota line. I stopped the truck at times and listened for gobbling….. none heard. After 20 miles of driving the roads only a few hens were seen, however, at 5:30 AM the scenery was beautiful. The fields full of deer and elk as the sun was rising. I headed back to the hotel disgusted and was thinking about heading to Hill City. I remembered that a friend back home had a friend out in Newcastle that hunted birds. I called back home and got the Newcastle guy’s telephone number. Jim answered and was more then happy to put me on some birds. He showed me some private property that birds had been taken off in earlier in the season. That afternoon I headed to the ranch and set up my blind on the property. Behind the ranch house was a canyon that was hardly noticeable from the road, however, the canyon opened up after a few hundred yards. Red cliffs that rose 100 - 400 feet straight up and continuing 1 ½ miles towards the South Dakota line. I stood there in amazement and just took in the beauty of it all. My thoughts…. “God had a great day when he made this canyon”! How lucky I am to be here? After trekking 1 mile up the canyon I set up at 12:30 PM and stayed there until 7:30, only seeing 1 hen. A changed of plans was needed so I moved the blind to within 400 yards of the canyon opening hoping to get the birds as they came off of the roost & traveled up the canyon.

At 4:30 AM I parked the truck and entered the canyon. As I walked in the ranch dog barked and the turkeys gobbled. Every time the dog barked at me the turkeys gobbled. This event went on for ½ hour. At least I knew the turkeys were roosting in the area. As the sun rose the gobbling subsided to about every 20 minutes. I was determined to stay in my blind until noon and not miss these birds. Well, at 7:30 it is 30 degrees and starts to snow. As the morning goes on the decoys become covered with snow as do the red cliffs of the canyon. I do everything to stay warm, including three hats. At 8:30 I notice a black spot down the valley and it is moving my way. The binoculars indicate a hen and off to the side I see what I am looking for… that red head. He is coming right at my blind as the hens also feed towards me. I give some soft calls and purrs. The hens then get within 40 yards and I give off a soft purr. They look up and see the decoys and head towards the decoys. The dominate hen was puffed up and clucking at the decoys. The tom only 30 yards away stalls behind a bush with no leaves. He pokes his head out on the right side then the left side and stalls once more behind the bush. Once the hens are close to the decoys he is brave enough to come in and the Charles Daly 12 gauge, over & under with the 2 ¾ shell, #5 shot, hits it’s mark. My first Merriam is on the ground to my delight. 21 pounds, 8 ½ inch beard and ¾ inch spurs. The buff colors were beautiful to my eyes. Lots of photos are taken and the canyon admired one more time before I exit for the motel.

When at the motel I checked out the night before because I was leaving early Saturday morning. The manager gives me my receipt and I check it over. I happen to notice on the receipt that they have my first name as Leonard, not Martin. You see my dad’s first name is Leonard and that is my middle name. A smile came across my face as I saw my father’s name on the receipt, as I knew that my dad, who passed away in 1990, was with me on that trip. I am my father.

Good luck to all

the dog

[Diamond Archer 01]

Congrats on a real nice bird!!!!

[Jorden]

Beautiful country. Those are some great pics and a real nice bird. Congrats!!!

[redbeard]

That story gave me the "good feelin" all over goose bumps, thanks for sharin', shore makes me think of my departed Dad's only chase for the Merriam's with me and brings back fond memories. God's country out there, ain't it.

Many congrats on your success and the fine story behind it.

[Goinghuntin]

That's some beautiful country Congrats on the bird!

Nathan

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

great story... congrats!

[rhine16]

Congrats on the merriam! Nice story also

[Rhino]

Congrats on your 1st Merriam. Niceun!!! Great pics!!! Great story too!!! That sure is some beautiful country. Maybe one day I'll go back out there again.