region #1 report - Safari Club International Northwest Chapter

Just Say NO!!!
a cautionary tale for the would-be Turkey Hunter
by Patricia Marcin
Here it is: one more thing to avoid in life… Turkey hunting. Why
is that you ask? Well, those of you who have been Turkey hunting
before already know (you poor suckers!). But for those of
you that have been lucky enough to
avoid it, let me explain. There is a lot
to this story, but here’s the condensed
version of my experience…
It all started when Mrs. JoDean Peters
had the swell idea of a turkey
hunt “for the girls,” and I was invited.
OK, I need a few things… I have to
get a license. Oooops, I was born
after the cut off date. Crap, now I
have to take hunters safety…We’re
leaving in a week… the class takes
a week. (Luckily I am accustomed to
doing things at the last minute.) I
need appropriate clothes and gear,
and I need to borrow a shotgun, and
buy the right shells... Am I forgetting
anything? Finally, I’m ready to go!
Here we are, 3 girls in the front of a
pick up, on our way to Colville. Going’
on a turkey hunt! WOOO-
HOOOO! Well no not quite… Back
to my house!!!
Rule # 1 – Don’t forget your tags and license.
Skipping ahead, we arrived at Bear Paw Outfitters Later that
evening. 3AM the next morning someone bangs on the door…
breakfast! (If you can eat that early—are they serious?) Our
guide was Dale, and he decided he would take all 3 of us out
together (he had no idea what he was in for). So it’s early, its
dark, and he drops JoDean and me at a blind. Here is where I
discovered I am not the blind-sitting type. I got some photos of
the sun coming up…. More hours pass… I’m not very awake.
We are hearing birds, but not seeing them. Hey lets go look for
them! Great idea!
RULE # 2 - Don’t leave your blind. (We found this out later.)
NW Chapter Life Memberships
Available for sale
See list of Life Members on pg. 9
Contact Mike Rex, Membership Chairman
cell (206) 730-3763
10
We wandered for quite a while, and then saw some birds on
our way back... Yup, they were walking right in front of our
blind. Here’s an idea, lets sneak up on them from behind… It
was fun, we were stealthy; but the birds were covering ground
faster than we were. Result: no turkeys for us. Oh well, maybe
later, but that evening our luck wasn’t any better.
3 a.m. next morning. (How do people eat this early?) Today
we’re splitting up; everyone in separate blinds. I was last, so on
the way to my spot, Dale decided he would try a few locating
calls. Gobbbble! We found one! Out of the truck, camo-up, and
we’re ready…. Dale tries to call the bird out of the woods…
Nothing—we have to go to him.
Stealth Mode! Following the occasional
gobble from the bird, we located
and crept on him. After a
ways-in we saw something… it appeared
to be a hen. Then it gobbled.
It was a Jake! Dale said “Shoot it!”
#BANG#. Bird Down! Woooohoooo!
My first Turkey!! This is fun! Shortly
after that we saw a really nice Tom
across a valley. We spent about an
hour sneaking around through the
brush, trying to come up behind him.
The bird was within 100 yards when
a cow decided to run right towards
my turkey causing it to run the other
way. Does anyone have an Angus
tag?
RULE # 3 - It’s tempting, but don’t
shoot the farmers free ranging livestock.
At least the trip back was downhill.
Later, we all shot ground squirrels and woodchucks (the beginning
of a Stevens Co. rodent slam). The next day I tried again
for a nice Tom, but no luck. Any more vermin? I didn’t end up
with my second bird, but it was a blast anyways. I had such a
great time, even with sleep depravation. So after all of this fun
and camaraderie why was this a mistake? Now I have one
more thing I want to do with the spare time I don’t have. More
things to buy with money I don’t have—a new shotgun, clothes
for warm weather hunting... It’s addicting!
So just keep in mind… unless you want another activity to add
to your list, and another large bill from Cabelas… If someone
asks, “Do you want to go turkey hunting?”
JUST SAY NO!!!
If a parsley farmer
is sued,
can they garnish his
wages???