Turkey hunting reports
Justin Shireman of Tuttle with a wild turkey harvested in Caddo County
One week into the spring turkey season and the hunting has been tough as expected, especially in eastern Oklahoma.
“The article about the declining turkey population (in eastern Oklahoma) is right on point,” said Kevin Shutt of Midwest City. “My dad, brother and I just completed a five-day hunt in Wetumka and the Eufaula areas. So far, Scott (Kevin’s brother) is the only one of us to kill a tom.
“Our traditional hunt in Wetumka has always been fun, but our friend’s 270-acre farm produced nothing! In two morning hunts, we’ve seen a grand total of two hens. That’s it! In the past, this farm has had a very respectable number of turkeys, but not this year. It’s eerie.”
“In Eufaula, however, our 400-acre family-owned property still has a decent number of birds, but man they’re tougher to hunt because their numbers are down. I’ve had two toms within 25-50 yards of me, but I haven’t been able to close the deal with a clear shot through the brush or timber.”
Justin Shireman of Tuttle has better news from hunting the Rios in western Oklahoma in the opening week.
Shireman took a nice tom with his bow Sunday morning in Caddo County. The gobbler had a 9½-inch beard, 1 1/8-inch spurs and weighed 19 pounds.
Shireman also took a fairly good tom earlier in the week in Rogers Mills County with his shotgun.
“As far as the hunting goes, there are lots of gobbling and strutting going on,” he said. “All jakes will respond but it is hit and miss on mature toms. Some are henned up and some are not.
“I even saw groups of toms still traveling together. I think it will really be good in another week and a half or so.”
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Comments
Aprrently you folks hunting in E-OK are not the in the best spots for turkey?? I have a ten acre hunting cabin in E-OK surrounded byt national forestry land and have seen no less than 500 turkeys so far??? Evaluate your area before you make an absurd comment about the declining number in the turkey population in Oklahoma!!!!!
hunting…
As I was digesting your post it occurred to me that I can completely relate to your viewpoint….
9.5″ Gobbler??? More like 4.2″ Dangler.