2005 Turkey Season

“Class of 2005”

Well it’s tough getting back to human life, being a Dad, being a Husband, doing the paper work, working on the farm, (when it’s not raining), going to Church 2 or 3 times a week, (I need it), Life was so much easier being a hen turkey guide. Why does it have to stop? I think I could go out there tomorrow and fool one, and the next day and the next. I seriously want to push for a year-round season. It wouldn’t hurt the population that much, because I am sure there are just a handful of us sick, addicted people that would even consider chasing them year-round. If you agree, please send me $39.00 and I will see to it that your voice will be heard. I will not stop fighting for this until we are assured at least 9 months of season. But you know, in order to do all of this, I will need a few more donations, probably about, oh, maybe two or three a month, depending on how hard you want me to work. You know, like the NRA, the more you give the harder I will work for you. Think about it, A NON-STOP TURKEY SEASON. I know Doc will work with me on this one. Won’t You. Please give generously. I don’t want to stop chasing those darn crazy birds, and besides that, I have to quit right when I think I’ve got them figured out. It’s just not fair!

Not really, I think if season was any longer, my wife would tar and turkey feather me, and my kids would take me out, blindfolded, far into the woods and spin me a round and round until I fell down and hurt my knee. Then they would stick a beard and a big bulls eye on me and I am sure they would leave me with a pale of corn and wheat and a dirty cup of water (they know I like to eat). And then as they were running away, I could hear them say, how do you feel now, turkey man / Dad.

Well I want to give God the praise and glory for another safe and record setting season. This year was a breeze compared to last. The weather was unbelievably good to us for the most part. Cool mornings and nice afternoons, not to much wind and very little rain. No crazy people on the roadways, and no one got lost, well maybe Doc did for a little while, no harm done though. The turkeys were plentiful. It seemed like just around every corner there was another tom awaiting his mate or match. The guides and I all agreed that the birds came to the call very good this spring and Doc had his best season in Pennsylvania also, with 20 birds harvested. That’s good for that country.

I am going to do the stats on the season a little different this year. I am going to go back as far as I can on my charts (1998) and let you compare the many years of information I have collected and the progression that the turkey population has made right along with Paradise Adventures to accommodate more hunters, and yet still maintain a high quality and very enjoyable hunt with exceptional guides to work with. Just thought I’d throw that in there.

Now I want to thank all of you once again for coming out and playing with us. I also want to thank my guides / cameramen / hunters. There is none better anywhere I guarantee you. The commitment they make is unbelievable to come clear out here from out east or from right here in Kansas. It don’t matter, it’s got to be tough. I can’t imagine being away from home and family for that long. Shane was out here for just under a month and Doc was here for three weeks. Tim was here for about three weeks also and I was pushing my limit as I talked about earlier in the letter. Doc, Shane, Tim and I started April 8th. My last hunt was May 20. And just like two years ago, it was my son Hunter and guess what? He killed the bird with the longest spurs ever harvested here at Paradise. This ol’bird had 1 and 13/16 inch hooks. Unbelievable, when I first looked at them I thought they would for sure go 2 inches. Man, where is Doc when you really need him. He could have gotten two inches or better out of them I’m sure. Oh well, as Doc says, “he’s a dandy,” don’t you agree. Oh yea, Dad did manage to get the whole thing on film, 42 yard shot with his Mossberg 20 gauge, 3 inch # 6, with two glow dot sights. YES SIR-RE, BABY… Our taxidermist found one pellet in the neck and there might have been one in the head. I would like to say Hunter is good, but I better say he’s good and lucky. I would take that any day. Our taxidermist also found where someone had shot him the year before. I think he said there were 5 pellets in the breast area that had healed up just fine. No wonder it took me three days to outsmart the ol’ boy. But he met his match; “The Kansas Kids” kid put him down. Way to go Hunter my boy. Be looking for us on TV. Or check out our web sites to order calls, videos, hunts. You name it; we can probably fix you up. www.paradiseadventuresinkansas.com

Oh yes Class of 2005, you have passed with a grade of C. We only had 23 misses this year, a huge decrease from last years 56. We had 63 hunters and harvested a record number of 92 birds. Last year, (2004) 70 hunters harvested 90 birds. All I can say is “WOW” what a year. It started out unbelievably good and very special to Doc and me. We have been waiting for this for at least a year. You see Doc gave his Grand Kids a special Christmas present, a 3-day hunt at Paradise Adventures, a place that Pap Pap had only told them about and showed them pictures of. Well the time had finally arrived. Doc got out here a couple days early and had the birds all figured out (you know how that is with turkeys). Now all they had to do was the exact same thing they did the day before, and you know what, they did. They did the exact same thing, except Doc, Chelsea, Seth and Tim were there waiting. Roll’em, action, kill the third one! Bang, bang,---bang, and it was over, a double, on film. Doc was so happy that he could hardly talk because of the smile he had from ear to ear. It was great…and that’s not all. They got their other two birds that afternoon and it was over, just like that, four long beards in one day. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Also the same day I was taking out our local essay winner, Ely Walker, from Altoona, Ks. Ely probably had the best hunt a person could ask for, except for shooting a bird. We had 9 toms and 6 or 8 jakes, and a pile of hens in front of us, on the roost and on the ground, for over 2 hours. It was a show that I, myself will never forget. We heard ever sound a turkey can make, but just couldn’t get them in close enough. But we did get it all on film. It is absolutely awesome footage. First class all the way. I guess we did get a jake in close enough, but Ely opted to pass him up, which ended up being a very good choice. Because the next day we called in two long beards from over a quarter mile away. Ely hammered a great bird on film and this time I was behind the camera and Doc was doing the calling and coaching. It is also some awesome footage. We did have some bad luck with our statewide essay winner, Monte Honas, from Ellis, KS. Monte could not make it during the youth season, so we set a date for later in April. We did everything we could, but had no luck. Sadly enough, he was our first youth hunter in four years to not harvest a bird.

Well folks now for a little history about our camp. In 1996 we could only accommodate 9 people at a time. That year we added on the bar room and in 98 we enlarged the dinning room area. In 2000 we added on the back bedrooms and two bathrooms. That enabled us to accommodate 16 people. In the spring of 2002 we added the large TV / rec room and the Gear room, which at that time was the guides quarters. Well it didn’t take long for them to out grow that little room, so in 2004 we added on the bunk house, for the guides, which consists of three more bedrooms, twelve more beds and 1 full bath. We add up all the beds and now we have 28 beds. But then I decided to get rid of the snorers room and make it into my office. So that brings the total to 27 beds, 5 full bathrooms and we still have the one butt kitchen; cookie (Jamie) calls it. I hope this brings back some memories that you have gathered here at Paradise Adventures. On the chart, totals may not add up quite right but it is the best I could do. For the most part it is pretty close to what has been done here for the past 8 years. I do know that we have met a lot of fine people from all over this beautiful country and that has really been fun and interesting. Just in these few years on the chart we have taken 418 people. That does not count Deer seasons or the 10 years prior to 1995 that I took Quail hunters or the first 4 years I took turkey hunters. In turkey season I would be safe in saying that at least 60 % have been return clients, with an average of 10 to 14 first timers each year. We have had several guides throughout this time also. Mike and me of course, Brian Nunnenkamp, KS. Cousin Matt Pettersen, KS. Bernie Smith, KS. Josh Dean, KS., Cameron Bright, OH., Dave Onelio, KS., Greg (Doc) Caldwell, PA., Ray Smith, PA., Shane McKinley, PA., Tim Russell, KS., and last but not least, Jeff (Good Time-Harv) Ort, NJ. And all but two still work with us from time to time. We have had Primos, Mossy Oak, Diamond Adventures, River Valley Game Calls, and Kurt Spielberg film here. I would also be safe in saying we have easily taken over 1,000 people hunting and fishing with probably 98 % hunters. The main thing I can see from this is that we must be doing something right, some people have been coming for up to 17 years. Butch Hawkins MN., came here in 1988 to hunt Quail and this last spring I got him on film killing a beautiful Gobbler. Butch has been one of my longest acquaintances in the hunting business. There were a couple years that he missed, but over all it has been a great friendship. The McDougall family has also been coming for about 14 years. I got to watch these two boys grow up and had the honor of getting them most of their first game animals. I have collected many, many memories that I will cherish forever. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you all for helping this little dream of Michele, Mikes and mine come true. God Bless You All.

Written: 6/6/05
By Kurt Nunnenkamp

GOOD LUCK WITH ALL OF YOUR HUNTING ADVENTURES!