Hate to rub it in, but my new land is great!

[Timmer]

...at least by Minnesota standards.

After over 25 years of turkey hunting with knocking doors, having permission and losing permission on some great and not so great properties, dealing with countless other hunters and a fair amount trespassers that the farmers didn't want to take the trouble to chase off, I finally have turkey land I can call my own. 

I purchased 356 acres in central Minnesota last fall.  It's made up of 118 acres of pasture and fields, 45 acres of wetland, and 193 acres of woods.  I bought it for a future retirement location in order to get away from it all at some point.  I knew there were turkeys around, but when I purchased it I still wasn't sure it would have a big enough turkey population to make me want to give up my longstanding tradition of heading down to southeast MN bluff country to hunt.  Over the winter I had turkeys here and there on my trail cameras, but I also had coyotes, bobcats, and wolves.  Just recently I started having bears in the cameras as well. I didn't want to get my hopes up as I imagined tough winters and lots of predators would likely mean a small population of turkeys. 

Last Thursday I took my youngest kid out.  We went into the woods before sunrise, with the hope of finding a bird on the roost to target.  We followed trails in the woods to approximately the center of the property and sat against trees at the top of a ridge. When the sun started coming up, there were gobbles in every direction!  I have no doubt there were at least 7 distinct gobbles, maybe even several more.  We didn't know it but we were too close to 4 birds that ultimately flew down and took off.  We sneak hunted the property all morning and saw several more birds out in the fields and pasture but didn't get a tom come in.  After a lunch break we decided to head to a blind.  Within a half hour I was working 2 toms, calling them in slowly but surely from well across the pasture.  Suddenly there were 2 toms thundering behind us.  They circled around us and chased off the first 2 toms.  Then they turned their attention to my calling and came in.  My son got his first bird! 

I still can't believe how great our day was.  As you can imagine, I am thrilled to learn that I can hunt on my own land!

[Greg Massey]

Congrats and congrats on the new retirement land ... awesome

[Tail Feathers]

That has to be a fantastic feeling!  Congrats on the birds and to your son on his first!

[JeffC]

Congrats to you and your son for breaking the ice on your new slice of heaven!

[richard black]

Congratulations to you and your son on harvesting his first bird. And congratulations on having your own land to hunt, what a good feeling. As many on here know, public land is getting crowded and is getting more challenging every year. I know when I am hunting my farm and harvest a gobbler I am thankful to have my own land.

[zelmo1]

That's how it should be, congrats. Z

[Old Timer]

Congrats on your sons first bird and I hope you see a many of sunrises on your new property!

[tad1]

Wow, sounds like a dream come true!
 Send some pics and stories our way!, congratulations on your slice of heaven!
   JT

[Badger]

Good for you.

[spncrwillis]

That's the dream! Someday I hope to have my own slice of heaven. Congrats!

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[NEhomer]

Congrats!

[Muzzy61]

Congrats, sounds like a great piece.

[Notsoyoungturk]

Congratulations!  You just lived every hunters dream.  I can't think of a much better day than hunting your own land with your kids and watching your son get his first bird.

[POk3s]

The American turkey hunter's dream! Feel good about it!!! You should!!!

[bbcoach]

CONGRATS Timmer sounds like a GREAT piece of Property!!  And CONGRATS on your upcoming retirement.  Retirement is a WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!!  Now try and keep the Trespassers at Bay on your 350 acres.  Maybe some blue paint maybe in order for starters?