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Seated L-R Todd Lindsey, Donnie Hogan, Kurt Schlosser standing Danny Hogan

“Just For Us” Turkey Hunt
By Rusty Waite

Three hunters were able to hunt the weekend of May1st and 2nd. Arrangements had been made for Donnie Hogan, who was accompanied by his brother Danny, to hunt on the property of Bob and Dorine Shiflett. The first morning the birds worked the chosen area just as they had during scouting although no shots were offered. As the day wore on more birds approached from the NW but never would commit to closing the distance. One O’clock rolled around and after a bite to eat our party turned to fishing. Later in the afternoon a plan was devised and another spot was prepared for the following mornings hunt closer to where the birds had entered the field. Confident in their setup, they returned to fishing and ended up catching over 40 Hybrid Bluegill and Bass. To top off the days events Bob and Dorine went that extra step and treated their visitors to steak and all the fixings for supper while everyone else rested up for their escapades the following day! The Hogans returned to the Comfort Inn wore out but with big smiles on their faces from their day a field and excited about prospects for the next mornings’ hunt. Day two found our party filled with excitement as they got set up in their new location. As the sun rose our hunter waited in anticipation but the birds didn’t cooperate. By 10am they had decided to move since the birds from the NW would be coming into the field soon. Once they had made their change and were setup in the previous days’ spot, of course the birds appeared in the field within spitting distance of where they were an hour ago. Turkey hunting is frustrating at times! The sun kept its end of the deal and the day wore on but the birds wouldn’t hold up their end of the bargain and they fed through out of range the rest of the day showing little interest in the decoys. The Hogans departed for home around 1pm with a big glow on their faces and discussions of this falls deer hunt dominating the conversation. I’m sure they will be back to enjoy some more of our local hunting and fishing opportunities in the future. I would like to mention that Danny Hogan donated 4 new rod and reel combos for our fishing events and he also brought a quart of pure Huzzah Honey that he had harvested from his beehives. I was speechless when he handed them too me because I wasn’t expecting such a generous donation.

I would be acting as guide for Todd Lindsey. Our first morning was wet as some showers lingered in the area till 9am and then the sun came out and made things steamy. The birds were quiet on the roost but we did manage an occasional gobble. Several hens fed through our hunting area but no gobblers would show. Around 12 we decided to take advantage of good sunlight to take some pictures, as we were going out we sighted a doe and her fawns so all was not lost. We went to Comfort Inn to enjoy some lunch and discuss the events of the day. Later I did some scouting and found water too deep to navigate and mud nobody in they’re right mind would even attempt to go through. I had put 7 toms to roost within 200 yards of our morning location so things were still looking positive. As the sky turned pink the gobbling picked up on our second days hunt. The hens hit the ground on our ridge and the toms soon followed. Every scratch on my "Poor Valley" turkey call would elicit a series of gobbles from both sides of the ridge. Soon we could hear a scuffle break out as two toms tested the other’s dominance. Once the social structure was decided, strutting began in earnest, but they would never work up the ridge to our location. Around 9 a small buck fed across the ridge about 30 yards from our location. When he noticed our decoy he started the head bobbing and foot stomping scenario hunters know all to well. After satisfying himself that all was OK, he resumed his feeding and passed on through. The turkeys were still responding when I’d call from time to time but around 10:30 chaos erupted. Some hounds had caught the scent trail of the deer and started running them around the area. Turkeys scattered in all directions and inside I knew our hunt was over. We waited it out till 11:30 and then headed back in. After the hounds had disrupted our hunt I asked if Todd might be able to stay one more day. After working out the details things were set for one more try at getting Todd a bird the following morning. I checked on some other spots but things were still looking the best in our original location so we decided to spend our last morning in familiar surroundings. Once again the birds were vocal on the roost and the hens came to the clucks and purrs on my call. The toms soon followed and once again repeated the previous day’s antics. Around 9 they shutdown and fed off through the timber and no amount of calling would get them to sound off. We spent the rest of the morning talking about the outdoors and enjoying Gods splendor. Although we never fired a shot all weekend we had a great time and I made a new friend and hunting partner. I surely do look forward to getting out with Todd in the future chasing critters around in the great outdoors.

Notes and acknowledgement: 

To make things more conducive to our elderly participants we offered to take them hunting during the week to better facilitate their caregivers. Although several showed interest, circumstances came to bear that prevented all but one, George Slifer, to get out after Ol’ Long beard. George is 98 years old and a resident of Clarence Care Center. He hunted small game in his youth but never spring turkeys. Jim Knowles VP of the Tick Ridge Chapter of the NWTF volunteered his property and services as a guide for the hunt. The chosen morning ended up being windy and the birds headed to their field late. They did see a large tom as they were leaving the area heading in the direction of the blind they just vacated. Turkey hunting can be that way! The highlight came later in the morning as KHQA TV reporter Angie Quinley interviewed George for an evening news story. His story ended up leading the 10 O'clock news and now he’s enjoying celebrity status in the area!

"Rusty Waite"

The following article was submitted by one of the hunters, Kurt Schlosser.

I met Rusty Waite, who arranged this hunt for me, at The Comfort Inn in Macon Friday afternoon before the hunt. The other hunters and their family members also met there, and Rusty offered to take us all out to eat, but I chose to get some McDonalds and rest up from the drive. Later I ordered a pizza, and settled in for an evening of Monster Garage and American Chopper. I'd already talked to Todd Henry, who was to be my guide, and made arrangements to meet him the next morning.

Saturday morning I met Todd at the agreed upon time and place, and followed him to the Heggemeier Game Farm. We transferred my gear, to his truck then he took me to the blind he'd set up the day before. It was a good spot, near the edge of a field, and brushed in. Todd got me and the gear to the blind, then took the truck back out and walked back in. We got situated and waited for the sun to come up. Right at first light Todd started hearing some gobbles, and shortly after that I could hear them too. Todd called and got responses, but they wouldn't come any closer. All went quiet, and we just sat back and waited, until we heard a gobble or decided to call again. The weather varied from misty rain to sunshine. At one point a hen walked up pretty close, so we had hopes she'd help lure the gobblers in, but she just fed a little and slowly worked her way back the way she'd come. We had several exciting moments where the gobblers would sound like they were starting to come in, but they never did.

After the hunt Todd introduced me to Dave Heggemeier, and we discussed the next morning's hunt. Dave would get me in there, but had to take care of other matters later, and if I needed help I could call him on my cell phone. Todd also said he'd come back later in the day and move the blind closer to where the gobbling had been coming from.

Back at the Inn I cleaned up and ate some leftover pizza, got on the inter-net for a while, and Rusty took us all out to eat for supper. (I had more pizza). I packed my stuff up, so I wouldn't have to return to the Inn after Sunday's hunt. Sunday morning was dry and clear, so instead of taking the truck in I drove my Pride Celebrity scooter, and Dave walked in to show me where the blind had been placed and to set out the decoys. He stayed to call for me for a while, and there were gobbles coming from all around. Nothing real close, but close enough to work them. He called enough to let them know we were there, then waited a bit for the fly-down. Once they got down they didn't gobble as much, but still replied to calling. At this point I was certain I'd have one in no time, but it didn't happen. After everything had been quiet for a while, Dave went back to take care of things, and I kept hunting. I'd call occasionally, and got some good replies, but as before they wouldn't come in. I did see four deer cross the field, which I always enjoy. A few hours later Dave returned to finish out the hunt, and it continued the same way. Plenty of responses, but no movement. A hen walked by, yelping as she went, but was no help. All had been silent for a while, with no response to calls, so at 12:30 we decided to pack it up in case we'd hear one on the way back to the truck and possibly call him in. When we rounded the last corner and could see the truck, there in the road, straight in line with the truck, was a gobbler just taking off from the road. I couldn't do anything but watch him fly away, but at least I could see that beard hanging down as he went.

I started the drive home, thankful to all of those who had made this hunt possible.

"Kurt Schlosser"