My buddy and have been going to kansas every year for four years. We have always gotten our four birds, but this year we went late and got skunked. We are ready to try something new. Kansas is fun and the country is pretty. But half the birds we killed were from sneaking close to henned up strutters. Which isn't really my thing. So....
We are thinking about Texas next year. Especially because it comes in early and we have vacation time in March. Two questions for you Texas veterans:
-Will Texas Rios come to the call regularly, like an Eastern? Or are you spending the whole day trying to cut off large flocks?
-Do any outfitters down there offer 3 bird hunts?
Thanks fellas.
Ps
I had a great year. Filled my MD and VA tags. We had some great weather this spring which helped. Crystal mistress and Sadler McGraw diaphragms been getting it done.
Don't know what it is about Kansas Rios but I hunt them on my farm in South Central,KS about half my turkey hunting time,rest in eastern Kansas for Easterns.
They seem to stay with hens 24 hours a day....last weekend I called one to 60 yds with two hens....worked him for an hour and crawled thirty yds and shot him...Good hunt in my mind....calling got them close and used terrain to seal the deal but not a classic ,come strutting in all the way hunt...but better than tag soup!
Good luck in Texas!
Honcho
We drove around for hours today. Birds off the roost went the other way. Got close to a strutter with two hens. Two guys in camp killed jakes. Weather is not helping.
Texas can be just as tricky, too. If you find a tom without a hen, get close before calling. Those Rio hens can be aggressive, and they charge in to pull the tom away from you. Then again, timing is key, so it might be smart to hunt both states. ;)