| The Black Hills of South Dakota are full of amazing | | | | enough, there they were strutting inside the fence. |
| historical attractions. The legend of the Indian war | | | | We hurried to our ambush site and got settled in. It |
| chief Crazy Horse lives there, and you can also find | | | | wasn't long before we could heart he birds getting |
| the spectacular Mount Rushmore overlooking the hills. | | | | closer. There was at least two toms in the bunch |
| The Black Hills are also home to some 40,000 or so | | | | and they were gobbling non-stop. |
| Merriam Turkeys. That makes the state one of the | | | | A large boulder was the only thing that stood |
| top 5 in the U.S. | | | | between us and the birds. After 15 minutes of this, |
| My dad, Harry, and I started turkey hunting in the | | | | the turkeys seemed to be hung up on the other side |
| Black Hills about 9 years ago. Since then we make it | | | | of the boulder. Our decoys weren't visible and the |
| back every year possible. My dad couldn't make it | | | | real hens in the bunch kept the toms from coming |
| this year, but Harry and I managed to pull together a | | | | any closer. |
| last minute trip. | | | | It was time to make a move. |
| We pulled up to our Black Hills bungalow on Thursday | | | | Either we sit and listen to the birds gobble off into |
| afternoon. It's a nice place beside a duck pond on the | | | | the distance, or we try to sneak in close enough for |
| edge of a field. | | | | a shot. We were both feeling sneaky so we started |
| There are cheap hotels in Custer, but we like to get | | | | our stalk. We could see the flock about 60 yards |
| a cabin so we can have a full kitchen and hunting out | | | | away through the trees. All but one was accounted |
| the back door. Friday morning we woke up at 4:30, | | | | for. Harry poked his head up over a rock to get a |
| had some breakfast and headed towards the | | | | better look, little did he know the missing turkey was |
| peacock farm. | | | | 5 yards on the other side of the rock headed our |
| Every year birds are roosted inside the farm. We | | | | way. When Harry peaked over they met eye to eye. |
| know by now that after a bit of strutting, they cross | | | | Both sides were just as surprised as the other. |
| into public land where we can get a shot at them. | | | | Unfortunately the Turkey was the faster runner and |
| We got to the spot a little late that morning. The | | | | took off taking the rest with him. |
| birds had already flown down from the roost. Sure | | | | |