I started turkey hunting in 1981 and I’ve learned a lot of things in the 27 years of chasing these birds, but I don’t think there has been anything etched in my brain like the little bit of wisdom I’m about to give you. And it’s free!

THERE IS NO BETTER REMEDY FOR A SORE BUTT THAT’S BEEN KICKED BY EASTERN LONGBEARDS THAN A TRIP OUT WEST TO NURSE THE WOUNDS WITH A LIL’ MERRIAM's BEAK BUSTIN’!

Man! It was Awesome!

Michael Waddell and I headed west April 25 with our buddies and cameramen Dan Johnson and Phillip Culpepper, along with Coach Hugh Nall, a new member of the Realtree Turkey Patrol!

Hugh, a rabid turkey hunter, is the Offensive Line Coach at Auburn University and the only reason we allowed him to join us was the fact that he played football at THE University of Georgia and, in fact, was the center on the 1980 National Championship team.

We landed in Rapid City, SD, rented vehicles and headed straight to Sundance, WY to hook up with Jeff and Deb Smith of Seven J Outfitters for the first part of our trip.

The first morning we were greeted with freezing temperatures, wind and SNOW! It snowed off and on all day and the conditions were tough but true to their reputation, the Merriam's gobblers cooperated for Hugh as Phillip videoed him taking a great bird that morning. The next day, the morning temperature was 21 degrees, but clear and no wind! And boy did the birds gobble!

Hugh had a front row seat as Dan Johnson videoed a strutter working his way into close range as he followed two hens into my calling. It was an awesome hunt! With Michael left to fill his WY tag, Hugh, Dan and I split the scene and headed up the road a few hours to the Powder River in southeast Montana where we joined my buddy Bill Perkins of Perkins Outfitters.

My son Harman and I had the privilege of hanging out with Bill last spring for a day and saw real quick that he had turkeys and lots of them! And the best part about hunting gobblers in Montana is you can buy two tags each!

After Dan, Hugh and I roosted about 15 longbeards Sunday night, we couldn’t wait until the next morning! Well, it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen while turkey hunting. After fly down, I counted, at one time, 20 full fans strutting under the cottonwoods.
Hugh ended up putting the hammer down on a huge bird that morning. Meanwhile back in WY, not only did Michael fill his tag, but Phillip also videoed Jeff and guide Kenny Morga kill turkeys!

We were starting to get even on these birds and and our confidence, which had been severely damaged by the birds back home, began to recover.

Michael and Phillip hit the road to join us at the Powder River and things would get even better!

Hey, if you are looking for the perfect Merriam's turkey hunt, call Jeff and Deb Smith at Seven J Outfitters at 307-283-3443.

On the next blog, we continue the Merriam Madness Tour!