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Spring turkey hunting is one of the most anticipated hunting seasons of the year in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø. Not only does the spring season bring comfortable outdoor temperatures, but it also offers scenic views of the newly revived prairie landscape. Few experiences compare to watching the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø countryside quietly come back to life. As the days settle into calming breezes and highs in the 60s and 70s, planning your next turkey excursion feels effortless.

Eastern Turkey at Crawford State Park - Southeast Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø

If you love turkey hunting, then you gotta do it in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø!

For hunters across the country, Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø has steadily built a reputation as one of the premier states for turkey hunters, and for good reason. One of the biggest reasons why so many turkey hunters flock to Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø is simply due to the diversity of birds available in the state. Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø remains one of the few places in the nation where hunters may pursue Rio Grande, Eastern, or hybrid turkeys. While hunters are limited to one bird per season, that only gives many of them another reason to return year after year in hopes of eventually harvesting all three.

Track Chair Hunting - Spring Turkey 2019

Hunting with my grandpa

When it comes to the outdoors, nobody is more passionate than my Grandpa. Now 84 years old, he has more than 70 years of hunting and fishing experience, and this spring, he insisted that I join him for a guided turkey hunt. Growing up, I only hunted with Grandpa a handful of times, and we always came home empty-handed. I never shared his ambition to become a dedicated outdoorsman. Still, he was determined to make sure I did not miss one of the finest outdoor experiences Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø has to offer. And when you consider that Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø is full of hunters with unforgettable stories to tell, it is hard to turn down a guided turkey hunt.

My grandpa arranged for us to hunt with The Original Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Trophy Whitetails near Hudson during the opening weekend of the regular firearm season (April 17–19, 2026). Although I chose to hunt with a crossbow and had missed the archery-only season earlier in April, we were still early enough in the season to feel confident about our chances. Wildlife thrives in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø, and game animals can often be pursued with impressive success rates. As recently as 2025, just over 53 percent of hunters who purchased a turkey permit filled their tag (). While Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø has seen some fluctuation in turkey numbers in recent years, it has not stopped many hunters from finding success.

Old Farmstead - South of Ellsworth

For this hunt, Grandpa and I were paired with a guide near an old farmstead just south of Ellsworth, once a bustling cowtown along the historic Chisholm Trail. The area we hunted was likely not far from the original route. Beyond its history, the property was an ideal turkey habitat. The farmstead featured ample trees, open ground, and a well-positioned blind overlooking a wheat field backed by windbreak timber. We had an excellent view of the surrounding land, and the scenery was beautiful. There was no doubt it was one of those perfect Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø spring days, with mild temperatures and only the slightest breeze. Unlike winter hunting, this was a time when simply being outdoors felt like part of the reward.

Hunting Stand

Our guide, Cody, was highly knowledgeable and quick to remind me just how sharp a turkey’s eyesight can be. Even from the concealment of an elevated blind, turkeys can detect the slightest movement at a distance, which makes them notoriously challenging to hunt. Yet despite their keen vision, they can still be fooled by the right call. Cody had mastered several mouth calls, and his skill soon had toms answering from nearby cover as we waited for them to approach. At first, however, all we seemed to attract were hens, which are off-limits during the season. For the first few hours, our luck appeared thin.

Cody - Our Guide

Like many worthwhile pursuits, hunting is all about patience. Fortunately, we had the advantage of spending those quiet hours outdoors in spring. When no turkeys were in sight, we turned our attention to the many other birds around us. In many ways, downtime during a turkey hunt feels like bird-watching with a purpose. We passed the afternoon watching blue jays dart through the trees, another reminder that spring turkey season offers more than just the hunt itself.

Nearly three hours into the hunt, we finally spotted four impressive toms. Better yet, they were only about 25 yards away, which is an ideal distance for both crossbows and shotguns. Quiet excitement filled the blind. My adrenaline surged as Cody and my grandpa whispered advice beside me. It was an exhilarating moment, the kind of thrill that helps explain why so many hunters return to turkey season every spring.

An (Almost) Successful First Shot!

Once the toms came into range, I selected one bird and slowly raised my crossbow. It did not take long for him to pause long enough for a shot. I released the arrow and made contact on the first attempt, but the broadhead only caught the edge of the turkey’s wing. Our guide quickly sprang into action, helping us track the bird down, where we ultimately completed the harvest with a 12-gauge shotgun. Even though my crossbow shot was not cleanly successful, I was still overwhelmed with excitement.

We couldn't celebrate too much, though. Three toms remained, and my grandpa still had his opportunity. We tagged my bird and reset as quickly as we could, this time with my Grandpa holding the shotgun. As luck would have it, only 30 minutes later, the other three toms returned. My grandpa remained perfectly calm and steady. His discipline as a hunter is truly remarkable. He quickly spotted his bird, lined up the shot, and harvested it with practiced ease.

After we both tagged our turkeys, all I could think about was how enjoyable the entire experience had been. Stan Christiansen, owner of The Original Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Trophy Whitetails, kindly hosted us for a steak dinner immediately after the hunt. A lifelong Kansan, Stan has developed numerous hunting lodges and properties across the state and welcomes hunters from all over the country to experience the outdoors in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø. With years of experience hosting sportsmen, he has helped build  Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø’ reputation as a destination for hunters nationwide. He also maintains a high-fence estate that offers additional hunting opportunities. If you're curious to know more about all the various hunting packages that he offers, be sure to check out his website at . 

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