MY FIRST HUNTING TRIP
OR
HUNTING 101


BY VICKI RATH
 

My husband has hunted ducks, geese and pheasants. All three of my children (even my daughter) have taken hunter safety education. Me? I always thought hunting was for someone else, until March 2005. You see, being handicapped and not able to walk for long stretches always seemed to be a problem when considering hunting. Two friends, May and Bonnie, convinced me to give it a try. Linda from Rapid City decided to join us. The idea was to get spring Black Hills turkey tags, head for the Hills and bring home huge toms.
First on the agenda was to talk to Jan, a friend in Spearfish, about turkeys at her place. She had a large flock visiting her ranch every day and enough room to house us for a weekend.
Next, we got our tags. You see, I live in Iowa so I am a non-resident. Check the prices sometime. Because of this I was assured that I would get to take the first shot since my tag was more costly than the others.
At the Outdoor Women of South Dakota convention 2005 we picked up all the camouflage clothing we could at the auction. You may look like a terrorist but those turkeys won’t see us coming.
Practice shooting was the next item on the checklist. This not only assures you know your gun’s pattern but it also helps you to determine where to tuck the butt of your gun when firing. It takes about three weeks for a shoulder bruise to heal. Believe me, I know.
On the day before going West River we made sure to pack for the weather-WARM clothes are needed even on the last weekend of April. Snow can come at any moment and it will invariably be too cold for the clothes you do bring. But remember that Cabela’s is on the way!
Although it is quite a drive across the state, it can be really fun if you are with people you enjoy. Take your time, plan strategy, and snack-that is a must. Carry a variety of snacks-fruit, sweets and salty things. Whatever you do, don’t forget the chocolate. Leftovers from the ride can always be packed for the hunt.
We spent three days in the Hills looking for turkey. First, Jan’s flock of nuisance turkeys had decided to take up residence elsewhere. By the time we got ready to hunt the weather had turned to blizzard conditions with 19 degrees and a stiff wind. Saturday and Sunday we were up at 5 AM searching for turkeys. With Jan as our guide, we checked out every accessible area she knew. The only turkeys we saw were too far away and moving farther. None of us even loaded our shotguns.
The last chance we had was on Monday morning before heading home. We again were up at 5 AM to check out a spot near Deadwood. No luck. We then headed to Higgin’s Gulch. The weather had improved on Monday with the snow dissipating and the wind diminished. We stopped at a width of road and Bonnie started calling using her box call. Immediately we had a response, turned to see about a dozen turkeys heading up a hillside about 50 yards from us.
That’s when the adrenalin started pumping . We loaded our guns (the first time) always keeping an eye on where the toms were heading. All of us started up the hill. I decided to hold back half way up and Bonnie and May went up over the ridge to try to work the turkeys back down.
Those little critters are quick! Bonnie and May never got in front of them after following them for an hour and finally lost them over a second hill.
Am I disappointed in never taking a shot? A little. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. It was exhilarating to chase a creature that seemed to be smarter than we were, staying hidden during the terrible weather, and humbling to know I was able to do something I long felt was out of my ability zone. The beauty of nature-deer, turkeys, even magpies-will long be in my memory. Oh, and also, the solidifying of acquaintances to become special friends with the same ethics, interests and willingness to adventure made this a most successful hunt.