...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!
Congrats and congrats on the new retirement land ... awesome
That has to be a fantastic feeling! Congrats on the birds and to your son on his first! :turkey2:
Congrats to you and your son for breaking the ice on your new slice of heaven!
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.
That's how it should be, congrats. Z
Congrats on your sons first bird and I hope you see a many of sunrises on your new property!
Wow, sounds like a dream come true!
Send some pics and stories our way!, congratulations on your slice of heaven!
JT
Good for you.
That's the dream! Someday I hope to have my own slice of heaven. Congrats!
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Congrats!
:drool:
Congrats, sounds like a great piece.
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.
The American turkey hunter's dream! Feel good about it!!! You should!!!
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?
Glad for you that you can enjoy some stress free turkey hunting!
Thanks all for the kind comments and well wishes. I am certainly feeling fortunate. Retirement is still a few years out at best, especially now that I bought this land! :D
I didn't mention that this land borders 3,000 acres of state forest. I do fear I will be fighting trespassers. The good news is there is a 700 acre buffer of woods that runs along my property with a river on the other side that cuts off access. The only way people can get to my side is by crossing the river. That should deter most people from getting close.
Here is a picture of my son's first bird.
Again, Congrats to the young hunter!! Great picture Dad, thanks for sharing.
I didn't mention that this land borders 3,000 acres of state forest. I do fear I will be fighting trespassers. The good news is there is a 700 acre buffer of woods that runs along my property with a river on the other side that cuts off access. The only way people can get to my side is by crossing the river. That should deter most people from getting close.
Sounds like GREAT NEWS for walk in accessibility. They may not be able to access it by foot but many people around our area sneak in the back door and trespass via boat. If they hear gobbling or see a Stud buck while hunting the State Forest land, they will sneak in. People have ZERO respect for property lines. Good Hunting to You and Make Plenty of Memories!!!
Congrats on your sons first bird and on your new ground. I purchased my own ground back in 2020. Best money I have ever spent!
That's the dream. Congratulations.