2007 Spring Turkey Season
Back to View All Summary Letters
- All Aboard - “The Roller Coaster Ride of Weather Events”
(May 31st)
Well, I had a strange feeling all day today. Got up early and went straight to the garden after a quick bowl of cereal. Wow, was it a Beautiful Morning. Not a cloud in the sky, cool temp, no wind, about 55 degrees. What I would have giving for that to be one of those days when I had a camp full of hunters and it was snowing or storming or both. Today was different though. There were no hunters here, but I did have two turkel tags in my pocket, and it was the very last day of the season. But I was very content, and you will soon find out why.
Yes it’s May 31st. Can you people that I took way back in the first week of April believe that I have had turkey’s and turkey hunters on my brain for 61 DAYS. There has not been one day go by that I have not been thinking about those two things. Where is that big tom across the creek from the camp house? Where is the one going to roost behind my house? What group is coming in next? Is there enough to eat for everyone? Where are all my guides? Whoa, did that guy just miss that bird? Nope, it’s laying down there in the water, “yes”! The highs and lows of the hunts, the camaraderie, the excitement and then just like that, it ends.
May 31st is a sad day in a way. Part of me is thrilled it is over and the rest of me is sad to see it end. I want you to know that it’s just a small part of me that was thrilled to see it go, because I am one sick, addicted, individual, to turkey hunt’n. Oh yes, and just like opening day, so was yesterday, May 30th. That’s right. Bob Tonneson came down for the hunt of a lifetime, because, all of our hunts are a hunt of a lifetime! Well we left the camp house bright and early, about 4:30 AM. We were headed to a place called Semrad’s, where these two lucky toms were finally going to meet their match, Bob T and me. They had played games with me and other hunters before and won, but that wasn’t going to happen this time. With my fingers crossed and a lot of patients, persistence, and persuading from the new, Enigma (ex- Mojo), and some of my x-rated mouth calling. I was sure the boys could not resist me this time. I do have to admit, I was sounding pretty cute. With the camera rolling, rain falling, and 2 ½ hours into the morning, they finally decided to come.
People, it truly is a different world out here now compared to when a lot of you were here. With all the rain we’ve had and high humidity, it looks like a jungle. The grass is waist high everywhere you go and the trees have more leaves on them than I have ever seen before. There is no way you can see the beard on a bird. So Bob had told me as we were waiting there in limbo under this single hedge tree in a sea of tall, dripping wet fescue grass. “Hey, it’s the next to the last day, and I know the hunting has been tough, so if a red head shows up, he’s going down, we will worry about the beard length later.” That sounded good to me.
Well the birds were working their way in slow, as we could tell by the loudness of their gobble. We had been listening to them all morning starting out about 300 yards away. But as they closed the distance down to about 150 yards, they got silent. After a bit I stood half way up to see if I could spot them in the sea of grass and I did. But I only saw one about 100 yards out. All I could see of him was from the waddles-up, to that red head. I ducked back down as we sat there waiting in anticipation. The rain began to fall harder. I peeked over the grass again and still only saw one bird and this time he was about 45 yards out. But we still could not see him in a sitting position. Both of us were shaking with adrenaline. There, there he is. Do you see him Bob? Yes! I’m on him. The shot rang out. Bob hammered the bird and he went down, like a huge bolder dropping on a Ford pickup in a TV commercial. BAM!! But at that very instant, a big tom took to the air about 10 yards behind the one that just hit the ground. He got up about 6 or 8 feet in the air, and from watching the film you can see that he decided that this was a very bad move on his part. So as fast as he was going up, he now had decided to go back down. What he didn’t realize is that Bob is one heck of a wing shooter at pheasants. The second shot rang out not more than 2 seconds after the first and that poor big fella went down in a heap also. Wow, this was just the way I wanted it to happen. Bob had ended my season on two perfect notes, the sound of two shots ringing out, on a warm, humid, showery, beautiful, turkey hunting morning. That was our 75th and 76th birds and Bob was my 76th Hunter. I knew it was over right then and there! 76 for 76………….and now you know why I didn’t want to go out today, why take a chance, end it on a HAPPY NOTE. So I did.
Well now its July 1st, no wait, its June 1st. I just had to say that Rob. I know that will get a giggle out of you, and so will the rest of you when you see, “Head Hunters, vol. 4”. Yes, it’s June first and another wet one. Of course we got another 1 inch of rain last night. I don’t understand! We go from one extreme to another. Last year drought, this year monsoon. Our wheat is almost a total failure. This is the first time I have ever seen this. We just have to face it. Mother Nature is hard to predict, and once wheat gets over knee high it just cannot take 18-degree temperatures, especially for a week or so about every night. And it also cannot take standing in water for two weeks either during the month of May. It’s gone. Mike did have it insured though and they came out and zeroed out most of it and said, “just plant beans through it all and we will come back out and zero out the rest of it.” Thank God for crop insurance. Dad never had that when he was farming. He took the loss and kept on struggling. It’s a wonder Mike and I became farmers after hearing about all of the hardships that he endured and then going through some of them ourselves when we were young. I guess it just made us more determined to succeed, just for his sake. But it is hard. It’s hard on the mind and the body. The most fun about farming is watching your crop flow into the grain bin as you are harvesting it. This will be a little hard to swallow. Well let’s get to the turkey season. All this farm talk is depressing me and I know you’re all anxious to find out how the season turned out over all. So here we go.
Season did not start out with a “BANG” this year. It started out with a “WHACK”. In fact, several “whacks”! This was the first year for a bow season only. We had 4 hunters and all but one got a bird. He would have scored easily several times if it had not been for them trying to get it all on film. But the birds just would not cooperate for him and the camera at the same time. But his wife, on the other hand, well that is another story. Things went perfect for her and Mary Lou, (decoy) while I was behind the camera. Awesome hunt, (Head Hunters, vol. 4), hint, hint hint.
The youth season coincided with the bow season this year, which worked out good. We had six kids and it was a GREAT time. Dad’s, mom’s, grandpa’s, daughter’s, son’s, grandson’s, we had them all. From six to sixteen on the kid’s and who knows how old on the rest of them. All combined they had a lot of experience of people being people. But this adventure had brought them all together with one goal in common. They all wanted to see a bird go down. It was not a necessity, but it was definitely a common feeling amongst them all. Well it did happen to all of them but one, our essay winner Colton Browne. He just had some tough luck. We were all sad that he didn’t get one, but the kids all had a great time together and he didn’t seem to mind too much. I couldn’t believe how the kids were pulling for each other and how excited they were for each other when one of them would bring a bird in. A lot of this was captured on film and I wish everyone could see it. Some of the kid’s were even more fortunate and harvested two birds. Like, Juston, Collin and Johnathan. It was just an awesome weekend, very cold and snowy, but awesome. Let me tell ya, our kid’s and adult kids were some tough troopers! That was the worst weather I have ever hunted turkeys in, no doubt about it. Tough guides too.
Oh, it’s still June 1st Rob, and the sun just went down. But not before it dumped another inch or two of rain on us and one heck of a wicked lightning storm. WOW! Had to turn off the PC a couple of times. I am hitting save again right now. Click.
Well now it’s time to tell about my old pros in the regular season. Most have been coming so long I think they are relatives. No, I guess they can’t be. I see these guys to often. Plus they pay me the monies they owe me when they leave. Just kidding! Well, it was hammer time again as usual for most of the pros. I know there were a few of them that left, scratching their heads, wondering what just happened, but I know, they know we tried. The season was weird. That is the best word I can come up with, WEIRD. Weird weather. Weird mating patterns, first of season scattering great, then the snow came, back together they went. More cold weather moved in and bunched them up even more. Then it settled down, and they started scattering again. Then the monsoon hit, and back together they went. And just like Bernie said, “we are going to run out of season before they run out of hen’s”, and we did. Two days ago proved it; we just had more cahoona’s than them two toms. Oh yes, and weird people too, like me.
We ended up taking 66 people during the regular season. It started out pretty cold too, but warmed up nicely as we got into the season further. It was a tuff year all the way thru. But I have never seen birds act the way they did after about April 25th or so. They were acting weird all over the country. Some of you were hinting that we over hunt our birds. So we went out and got new ground during the month of May. Guess what, they were doing the same thing there. I got an email from my friend Big John Grady, Nashville, TN and I quote him. “It was the same in Tennessee. I had some great battles with some gobblers on the days they did gobble, but, overall they are saying the kill count is way down”. I also heard the same thing in the far eastern states. Yes there were a lot killed, but numbers are down everywhere on the kill charts. I do think that we did see a lot of jakes this year and that should help next year, but only time will tell.
As most of you know, I did start my year out in Florida. It was another hunt of a lifetime, that’s for sure. I got to spend some quality time with 3 of my good friends from Pennsylvania. It was great, we all four got our bird and 3 of them are on film. Some of the guys struggled and we were glad they brought extra shells. I won’t mention names, but Doc and I only needed one shot. Uh oh, now I am sure Ron and Joe will both owe me one for that comment, you reckon.
I can’t wait to see the video, “Head Hunters Four”. Doc has a New Team working on it and I am so thankful we got rid of the character that did the last ones. He did an awesome job, but never got them done on time. They should easily be done on time this year and that right there will be a first. Exciting things are taking place this year and we hope to fill you all in on them by next season.
Next Spring Season is going to be a little different. Paradise Adventures is going to take a break in the middle of the season; from April 28th thru May the 4th there will be NO HUNTS taking place. This idea is to give our guides and our birds a break. We are also going to make a run up to Nebraska and hunt some of those Merriam’s with my ol’ buddy Cameron Bright during this break. I am sure some of you remember Cameron. He used to guide for me. You may think this is not much of a break if we are going up North after them, but I assure you that getting away from P.A. for a bit will be a break. At least all I have to worry about is getting my bird. At home I worry about every person there, not just the ones I am guiding. This break is for me if nothing else.
Also I am looking for new guides. When did you say you were retiring Gary B? I couldn’t quite match the money that Grady needed, so he moved on. If I could add another zero on their daily pay scale, then I might be able to get a few more easily. But then I wouldn’t have any hunters, because of the trickle down effect. So, keep your ears open, and you know I only want the best of the best.
Now I give thanks. Thank you God for giving me another safe season, for putting your protective shield around all of us. There were no accidents, but one very close call. We are not perfect and things can happen. I just pray that nothing ever happens to any of my guides. I don’t know if I could continue if anything serious ever did happen. Mainly because I am the main reason they are out here, plus their love for hunting. So please people, be so very careful when you are walking behind us, loading and unloading guns, crossing fences and especially going through heavy brush. Our life is in YOUR hands and Gods. Thank you all for coming out and enjoying life with us in the Paradise Adventures Hunting World.
I also want to thank my guides from the bottom of my heart once again. They do an awesome job, Denton Wenner, Greg (Doc) Caldwell, Gary Magee, Josh Hansen, Shane McKinley, Matthew McDougall, Mike Nunnenkamp and Brandon Nunnenkamp. Also a special thanks goes out to my main cook, Rhonda Walker and her sister Debbie. These two are responsible for keeping our bellies full, which in turn makes my job a lot easier. Tummy’s full, equals happy hunters. I could not do it without each and everyone of you. May God bless you all in a very special way!
One more time. THANK YOU ALL that came out and played the game of, “Turkey Hunt’en” with us.
Written: May 31st, June 1st and 2nd
By: Kurt Nunnenkamp
*****A Special Thanks To Special People That Make A Difference*****
Also a special thanks goes out to Bob and Julie Tonneson from Mankato, MN. They are our first sponsors of our own hunt of a life time for a child that wants to go hunting but might not ever have a chance to do so. This year they sponsored Keyghan Reed, from Emporia KS. He and his mother, Melissa had a great time on their very first hunt EVER. Doc was Keyghan’s guide when he got his first long beard and his Mom got it all on film, almost. I know they want Bob and Julie to know how grateful they are for giving them this opportunity and what a wonderful time they had. Bob and Julie wanted to be here but were unable to make it. Bob said, “Next year, I’ll be here”.
We now have another man by the name of Larry Tilton, from N. Attleboro, MA. Larry is also going to sponsor a child for a deer hunt of a lifetime. This is an awesome way to make a difference in a kid’s life. Introduce them to, “Our world of hunting”. Thanks people. They will never forget.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
THE STATS
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| Hunters | 76 | |||
| Turkeys | 76 | |||
| Hens | 2 | Easterns | 30 | |
| Jakes | 13 -5/youth | Rio's | 33 | |
| Toms | 61 | Hybrids | 13 | |
| Full body mounts | 10 | |||
| Beards | Tail Mounts | 14 | ||
| 12" + | 1 | Florida birds | 4 - Osceola's | |
| 11"-12" | 3 | Misses with a gun | 27 | |
| 10"-11" | 23 | Misses with a bow | ?? | |
| 9"-10" and so on |
28 | |||
| Double Beards | 3 | |||
| Triple Beards | 2 | |||
| Spurs | ||||
| 1 1/2" | 1 - Juston Femburg |
|||
| 1 3/8" | 1 | |||
| 1 1/4" | 10 | |||
| 1 1/8" | 13 | |||
| 1" | 18 |
Harvested Their First bird ever – –4 adults – 3 kids – with gun Taken in the AM – 43 |
LIFE IS GOOD, HOPE TO SEE YA NEXT YEAR.
