Thank you to this nightmare called COVID we have missed a few months of articles, but hopefully you didn’t miss turkey season. Because of the shortages we are facing from COVID, turkey season was interesting for sure, especially ordering ammo. Right now ordering anything is unbelievably difficult. We might not be able to get you exactly what you want but we try to get you something that will work. COVID is certainly teaching us to be happy with what we can get.

This year wasn’t quite my first rodeo when it comes to turkey season- but it was close. About 5 years ago my first turkey hunt lasted a total of 15 minutes at an outfitters near Walkerton. We hired a guide who did all the work because we had no idea what we were doing. All my dad and I did was drive for a day- pull the triggers- then drive for a day home.

This year started with the idea that I could shoot a turkey in my back yard. There are lots around now so it was time to take a crack at one. I needed a call, some decoys, proper ammo and a gun. O.k. easy enough, right? Not so much. Everyone is sold out of decoys except for jakes. After giving up on the idea that I could paint the jake decoy to look like a hen and realizing that the probability of attracting a male turkey who preferred males was not likely going to happen, I borrowed a hen decoy. I also learned how to work a call, and that I have absolutely no patience to wait between calling no matter how hard I try. I’ll just stick with my theory that there is a big flock of hen turkeys having a party at my house, that’s why they call so much, what tom or jake could resist that? I took a few shells from my dad and the most expensive gun off the used rack at work and off I went (I figured impressing the turkeys with my big fancy gun was worth a try, and it was a bonus to look a lot richer than I really am in the photos).

Opening morning came and my dad showed up before I was even awake, no surprise, and we stood on my back porch in the pouring rain and waited. And waited. We could hear them calling and in came a bunch of hens. I think they look like giant gross cockroaches on long legs running around the yard. Finally, around the side of the house came two jakes, we both pulled up and my dad fired but I didn’t. I hesitated too long and mine was gone but he got his.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason and there was a reason I didn’t shoot that bird. If you spend much time online and like memes and hunting, by now you must have seen the picture of the guy hunting out of a hot tub. You see where I am going with this right? So one of my life goals has been to hunt out of a hot tub. A couple days into the season I got up early, folded back half of the hot tub cover and put my tea and phone playing a movie on top. I climbed in and set my gun beside me. Let me tell you that all future hunts will now take place in the nice warm bubbling hot tub not sitting in a freezing cold stand in the tree. Only a couple minutes later a great big tom smashed out of the bush and walked right out right where I wanted him to go. That tom was mighty yummy and very impressive at 25lbs and a 9 ¾” beard.

So with a borrowed decoy, some weaseled ammunition and a shotgun on loan from the used rack at work, little old me made due with what I had and shot one gorgeous bird. It was cheap ammo, an inflatable hot tub and the least expensive hunting gear available on the market but it still made a dream come true and I got some pretty priceless photos. Unfortunately COVID is not gone, and we have no idea how things will go in the future but do what you need to, make the most of what you have and enjoy every minute hunting.