Merriam's Are Easy! (new pics 5/25)

[Basser69]

Congrats on the youngster getting his second bird!

[LX_Trkyhntr]

As soon as I read Merriams are easy I knew you were in for a long hunt.

TRKYHTR

Me too!!! 

Congrats on a GREAT hunt!!

[hobbes]

Congrats on the youngster getting his second bird!

The "youngster" or "son" as I put it, was in my age range (just a guess).  The father was 68.  But, he was just as exited as a youngster.

[njdevilsb]

Great story.  Glad to hear that one of them finally got a bird after working so hard for them.  Those sure are some beautiful pictures.

[chatterbox]

Well done Hobbes!
I thouroughly enjoy reading all your stories and seeing the great pics you take!
Way to perservere. I'm sure those two learned a ton from you!

[Jay]

Great read, and I felt your frustration. There's nothing worse than seeing a lot of birds, and they could care less about your calling. Glad you got one.

[nannas guide]

Great story and wonderful photos. I probably would have been so overwhelmed with my surroundings that I wouldn't have been able to find a bird. We hunted the Black Hills a few years and can't wait to make my way back west to take a Merriam's. Being from PA I didn't necessarily find them to be easy, but I heard more birds in one day then I had heard my entire hunting career.

[hobbes]

Thanks for the compliments!  Joel just sent me a few more photos so I thought I'd add them here.

This is the canyon we hunted the first morning I was there, so it was my first look at the ranch in the daylight.

This was Joel's view of the turkey as he came from right to left.  I really like these scrub oaks and apparently the bear and turkeys like the tiny acorns they find in them because they were full of scratching and bear .............  The bird is laying where it went down and never flopped at 35 yards.

This is a view from above the area the bird was killed.  The big cut is pad constructed for a gas well/pump set up.  We were in the scrub oak between the dark timber and the field at the bottom and 50 yards or so left of the road to the well.

Joel with his dad.

[WiLL B]

A really pretty place!

[WyoHunter]

Beautiful country! Enjoyed the story!

[GSLAM95]

Congratulations to the hunter, his father and yourself for creating a bond in the turkey woods that will never be forgotten.  I enjoyed the story and pictures.  Looks like a great place to spend time chasing longbeards and suck up some mother nature.

[drenalinld]

Awesome story!!! I can't wait to try those "easy" Merriams myself.   lol

[turkey slayer]

Great story and beautiful pics!!congrats!