An Outdoorsman’s Journal: Turkey hunt/puppy watch

Hello friends, I am currently in a simply crazy busy but positive section of my life. This week I hunted hard for turkey during the second season in Zone 1 and did all of my hunting in a large oak forest directly behind my house in northern Juneau County. Along with turkey hunting, my 2-year-old golden retriever Red was due to give birth to her first litter.

Wednesday, April 24 – High 53, low 31 Here is my goal: hunt turkey with my compound bow and by the end of my seven-day season have a litter of pups and hopefully put an arrow in a gobbler. I would hunt the first three days in a food plot behind my house and that is an entirely different story. I created this food plot four years ago with the goal of having a place for my daughter Selina and, just as importantly, my girlfriend Michelle Chiaro to hunt for both deer and turkey. The food plot was literally carved out of an oak forest/hazelnut brush with a chainsaw and a rototiller. For two years Michelle and I loved the food plot, and then on June 15, 2022, Michelle passed away unexpectedly, and I have not been able to spend time in it.

This turkey hunt would be where I attempted to get past that demon.

Hunt 1. Up at 4, set up in my blind at 5, I saw one hen and there was very little gobbling. I was at peace and that was more important than harvesting a turkey with my bow.

Hunt 2. Thursday. I did not see a turkey today but had an incredible experience in the afternoon with 15 high schoolers from Necedah, as we worked on a fishing area for our community. We cleared brush, hung bird houses and I think everyone enjoyed the experience.

Hunt 3. Friday. I called a jake in and was too hungry for a tom experience to fling an arrow at it. So far three hunts and only two birds spotted. Hunt 4. Saturday. Red is swelling up so fast that it is almost unbelievable. This will be my 16th litter. I started when I was 22. I truly do raise and create a quality golden retriever and am proud of that. I relocated about three quarters of a mile south of the house in the same forest. This is where Selina has harvested seven toms and many others have been whacked, including Michelle’s first and only bird, which was a 25-pound gobbler and an incredible memory. We did a full body mount on it and it is in my living room. Michelle passed away before the taxidermy work was complete. I did not see or hear a turkey today.

Hunt 5. Sunday. Lots of rain, cold weather. I love it. Mother Earth is coming back to life, it would be so cool to see a normal summer, weather-wise. Red is now uncomfortable and on my mind all the time.

Hunt 6. Monday. I am worn down from either hunting, doing hobby farm work or concern about Red. I saw a hen this morning, not a single gobbler. When I came home from my afternoon hunt, I heard whimpering in my living room next to the turkey mount, but on the floor. Red had given birth to two pups. Sleeping would not be a part of this night once again. When I left to go hunting at 4:45 a.m., my mood was excellent but very worn down. There were six bundles of gold in my living room. When I returned after a pretty cool hunt where I saw four turkey, there was another pup! Six males and one female.

If you are interested, I have some quality golden retriever pups! My busy season is here and will last until December. Life is positive; I miss Michelle!

Sunset

Mark Walters