2022 season recap (picture heavy)

[RutnNStrutn]

Well guys, another turkey season has passed for me. It was my best season in quite a while. Harvested some good birds on some exciting hunts, crossed 3 more states off my list, got 3 of 4 gobblers with my custom 20 gauge, saw some amazing places, and took the first bird off of my property in Tennessee.
The first gobbler was on an afternoon roost hunt in the Lowcountry of SC. I called a strutter and his hen 300 yards across a field, and shot the gobbler at 56 yards while his hen was running straight at me to fly up to the roost.
The second gobbler was on my property in Tennessee. I watched this gobbler following hens for 3 days, but he wouldn't leave the hens, and the hens weren't interested in sharing. So on day 4, I set up in the area they had been traveling, and put out my DSD's, a feeding hen, an upright hen and a 3/4 strut jake. The gobbler came right in with his hens, and attacked my Jake deke. I dropped him at 20 yards.
Next up was the Black Hills of SD. Beautiful country out there with lots of hard gobbling Merriams. It was tough hunting due to lots of hens. On the 3rd afternoon we roosted 60 turkeys including at least 6 gobblers. The next morning we snuck into the roost before light. As dawn broke, I realized that I was surrounded by turkeys, and watched two gobblers hammering away at hens and strutting on the limb. Shortly after flydown, a gobbler strutted into my shooting lane and I dropped the hammer on him at 22 yards.
The final gobbler of my season was in Wyoming. We'd hunted hard under the same henned up conditions. It was the last afternoon of my trip, so we went to where we'd roosted birds a couple of days earlier. I set up in the roost and waited. An hour before dark 3 gobblers marched up the hill, then turned around and headed back down the hill. The lead bird stepped into an opening and I spotted a decent beard. I swung my 20 to the next opening and dropped him at 42 yards when he walked in.
It was a great season for me!! I harvested a gobbler in every state that I hunted. I crossed 3 new states off my list. I killed a gobbler on my land. I saw turkeys, whitetails, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, buffalo, bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goats, prairie dogs, porcupines, coyotes, and countless geese and ducks.
We visited The Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, Devil's Tower, Custer State Park, the Black Hills and took in some tremendous sights. It was a season to remember!!

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[Zobo]

Beautiful pictures, nice country

[joey46]

Congrats! Great pictures. 

BTW - you look like a guy I talked with at a bar in Bell Fourche.  Been around the 6th.

[Tail Feathers]

Congrats on a great season Jim!   

[Hoot 000]

One heck of a vacation and hunting trip thanks for sharing, very nice pictures.

[Turkeybutt]

Great photos!  Thanks for sharing and congrats on your hunting success this year.

[USMC0331]

Congratulations and great photos.

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[FLGobstopper]

Thanks for sharing was an unforgettable season and great pics of great birds in some amazing country. Well done!

[RutnNStrutn]

BTW - you look like a guy I talked with at a bar in Bell Fourche.  Been around the 6th.

Joey, we hunted SD near Bell Fourche, but we stayed in Hulett, WY. So it wasn't me.

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[RutnNStrutn]

Thanks guys!!

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[JeffC]

Congrats on a great safe and successful season Jim. Taking a Tom of of your own piece of dirt is a season highlight all by it self, icing on the cake with success with additional states. Congrats again Sir!!

[RutnNStrutn]

Taking a Tom of of your own piece of dirt is a season highlight all by it self

I totally agree!! That was a memorable hunt.

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[Jim K]

Congratulations on a fine season. Thanks for all the pictures!

[Tom007]

Year of a lifetime, congrats.....

[Old Timer]

Congrats to you. Looks like you enjoyed your trips and got rewarded. Did you go with a partner or a group? I would like to do a little more cross state hunting. But I need a partner with the driving and so forth. I think with my running and gunning tactics I wore them out. Lol. But to be honest most of the time I hunt alone. A good partner I had has passed years back and another friend is so busy with work we rarely connect anymore. Congrats again for your success!