An Outdoorsman’s Journal

By: Mark Walters

The Two Decade Turkey Hunt

Hello friends, This past week I spent 5 days hunting turkey, and each day was at a different location. This week’s column is more like a path down the last 21-years of some of my history as well as some people very important to me. As always, thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 23 High 62, low 40

Today would be day 1 of my 7-day turkey season and I would be hunting on private land close to my home in northern Juneau County. For some reason, the turkey numbers have been dramatically reduced here but I sure had a nice time hunting even though I did not see or hear a bird. The first time I hunted this property was 21-years ago with my stepson Travis Dushek.

Two toms came into our decoy setup. It was Trav’s first turkey hunt. He dusted one, I was going to let the second one go. The foolish bird started tearing into his fallen comrade and was tearing it up. I decided to punish it and so I whacked it.

My daughter Selina and I put a food plot on the property and had incredible success with some really big birds as Selina put the lights out on five big toms at it.

Michelle Chiaro was a woman that touches me in ways everyday even though she passed away on 6-15-22. Michelle’s only turkey was a 25-pound pigasaurus that she whacked on the food plot as well.

Friday, April 25

Yesterday I hunted on public land and did not see or hear a turkey while hunting. This morning, I walked from my house long before daylight and hunted on the food plot that Michelle and I built. I probably put a hundred hours into building that plot and Michelle and I spent many a “date night” by a campfire enjoying life there. I also witnessed Michelle harvest her first and only deer on that plot. On the hunting end today, I did not see or hear a turkey. I miss that woman!

Monday, April 28 High 76, low 41

I am hunting down the road from my home on a field rich with our turkey hunting history. Selina killed her first turkey here when she was 11 and it was a double beard, 25-pounder with 1 5/8 inch spurs. I watched all 3 of my stepson’s harvest toms on it as well as many youth hunters that I helped. On one experience I was with Joey and Travis Dushek, and we had two toms coming in. I was going to call when to shoot, Joe and Trav were aiming. Trav decided to shoot ahead of the plan and Joey had to and did make a phenomenal shot at a running tom.

On another hunt I was with my stepson Kevin Dushek on a snowy morning. I helped Kevin get his first turkey that morning and when my chance was approaching, the hoodlum made some noise and no shot did I fire. No turkey were spotted or heard this morning.

Tuesday, April 29 High 65, low 36

Today I would be in northern Juneau County in the Meadow Valley Wildlife area hunting turkey where I run bear baits, near a place we call Selina’s Stand! I heard her 30:06 go off when she harvested her first bear. Selina was 15 and earlier that day I watched her run in a cross country meet at Brookwood. A very positive day that was.

I have been part of several people’s first bear at that location and today was the first time I hunted turkey at it and not a bird did I see or hear while hunting. Actually, while hunting I did not see or hear a bird during my 7 day season.

Folks if I had the time, I could write a book about the five places I hunted due to all of the incredible experiences that I have shared with young hunters at them. My guess is that you can understand that I really do not care that I did not see or hear a turkey during my hunt.

Sunset

This uncovered stump is loaded with granola, cookies and about a pound of peanut butter.

If you want to become good at bear hunting over bait, it takes time, money and the ability to adapt.

Left to right: brothers Joey and Travis Dushek, in this picture taken 19-years ago, at one of the locations Mark Walters hunted turkey.