Whitetail Properties "Dream Dirt" Life on a Hunting Farm

Jason and I are not new to chasing gobblers but this year we have decided we are going to up our game a little bit and have decided that this year will be all archery equipment and no blinds!  Yes we know many have done it before but we haven’t and we all know its a challenge that many avoid.  No more, for us its bare bones equipment this year consisting of nothing more than a stool, bow and arrow, camoflage and calls….  As I type this just a smidge less than a month before season starts I’m excited just to be out in the woods.  We were afraid this winter might have a drastic effect on the turkey population here in the Loess Hills but so far things seem to be holding in there but we did find several dead turkeys while shed hunting last week.

Here in the Loess Hills we have the fortune of being on the very farm where some of Iowa’s turkey’s were re-introduced in western Iowa.  The Eastern Turkey has adapted well to our oak-hickory forests and thrives here.  Iowa’s turkey population began to return when the Iowa DNR returned the first turkeys in Lee County in 1966.  Over the last 30 years Iowa’s turkey population has grown from those original restocking sites.  Last year the Iowa DNR estimated that west central Iowa had the best turkey population in the state of Iowa and it was apparent here last year.  Our turkey population has exploded and it makes for some amazing Spring Turkey hunting! 

Elmer Smith, Jason’s father recently spent some time out chasing gobblers with his camera and sent us these photos.

Thanks for the pictures Elmer, that new camera is awesome.  We may enlist your as an official DreamDirt photographer!  Best of luck in the turkey woods this year everybody:)  Be safe and we’ll see ya out there!