It was 5 am on May 2nd, the opening morning of Michigan’s recent 0234 spring turkey season in Arenac County. Stars sparkled in a clear, predawn black sky and frost covered the ground. We quietly eased our way through dense cover to a hunting blind placed there the day before, and there was no wind to speak of, which was blessing after having a steady supply of strong winds statewide this spring, not to mention plenty of rain as well. Once in the tent-blind, we sat down to patiently wait for daylight to slowly ease … Read More
ALL IN THE FAMILY -Turkey Trifecta 2026-
Nothing brings family together like traditions. When that tradition includes an interlude with nature, especially where hunting is involved, lifelong bonds are strengthened. This spring, during the opening week of Turkey Season, there was much to celebrate when 3 generations from the same family each tagged a tom. First up was the patriarch of the family, Richard Compeau, age 85. This was actually his first turkey, though his hunting experience of other wildlife has been an important part of his life from his early years. On this day, Richard was sitting in a tent blind … Read More
“Turkeyology 101”
I never really hunted turkey with any regularity and seriousness until 2016, when I booked a hunt Gary Morgan. I have hunted several more times with Gary on his turkey hunts and I always seem to learn at least one new thing each time I go. I knew next to nothing about calling, setting up decoys, and shotguns/choke tubes as they related to turkey hunting, . I have learned a great deal over the past 10 years and now I have a decent knowledge base, a great deal of which I learned from Gary Morgan, … Read More
When Turkeys Go Silent
One of the best things about turkey hunting is when the morning silence is broken by the sound of the first Tom gobbling from his roost. For the next several minutes to a couple of hours, the conversation between toms and hens will continue to echo through the woods and surrounding fields. It’s every turkey hunter’s dream to get a tom to hear and respond to the hunter’s calls. In fact, some might say, a turkey hunter’s true measure of success can be from his or her ability to call the turkey to the hunting … Read More
Uncle Bob’s Memorial Turkey
By: Rodd Little. Feeling Lucky and blessed after Connors Turkey hunt I decided to try and Take a turkey with my deceased uncle Bob’s Winchester model 1300 he won in the early 90s at a DU banquet. Bob was my mothers younger brother, 9 years older than me and for three decades we hunted ducks, geese, turkeys and deer together. I have spent a lot of time hunting with friends, family and many other people but the time I spent in the woods and fields with uncle Bob will forever have a special place in … Read More
Doubling Up On Dandy Gobblers
Nothing is quite like an early morning in a spring “turkey woods”. It starts out pretty quiet, except for the occasional chorus of frogs trilling away. Then, as the woods begin to take shape as darkness begins easing into the gray light of dawn, songbirds begin chirping away, just a few at first, then all the rest soon join in to create a unique woodland symphony, something I have always enjoyed. This is exactly what we were experiencing from our newly erected ground blind. It wasn’t long when a great-horned owl hooted, quickly followed by … Read More
Great hunting memories in introducing a lady to a trophy swamp gobbler
The spring temperature, though cool, wasn’t uncomfortable and the ink black sky filled with bright stars and a partial moon gave just enough light to find my way through the dense cover with a lady following close behind. Pastel yellow and violet hues hinting in the eastern sky let me know we would be setting up at just the right time and we were in for some good weather. Our destination was a hunting blind on the high ground in a heavily wooded swamp, the perfect setting for a mid-May turkey hunt in the Thumb. … Read More
Duck… Duck… Goose… Is Spring Finally On The Loose?
One might question this, especially with the late snow and ice this year, more intense the further north you go. However, there have been some signs, and in the interest of being an optimist, I will side on hope! More gobbler sightings, and the return of some migratory birds definitely point to spring. On the warmer days, especially when there’s a little sunshine present, more vibrant bird songs fill the air. One can’t help but smile, especially after another long winter, with recent storms hopefully behind us. But perhaps one of our most pleasing encounters … Read More
Competing with Coyotes for Turkeys
Well, my friends, deer season is behind us. The snow is gone, and those toms will soon be gobbling away in the woods this spring. Your chance to put in for a 2025 turkey hunt has come and gone but, not to worry because there will be plenty of over-the-counter tags available for purchase and that late hunt can be a good one. Last year, I told the story I called “Double Trouble” in which my good friend Andy and I doubled on a couple of nice toms. Well would you believe me if I … Read More
2023 And Me: A Year to Remember
Author: Rodd Little. Anyone who hunts or fishes has years where everything he does falls right into place, while other years it seems like no matter what you do nothing goes right. In 50 years of hunting I have never had a year like 2023. It started during the spring turkey season with my 9 year old grandson Connor. I took Connor on my property in northern Bay County on opening day of the 2023 turkey season to a portable (tent) blind in a Grandpa Ray’s clover plot I had frost seeded in March. I … Read More