RE: Black Hills turkeys
I hunted for merriams in 2003 and it was around that time in Apriland did we have a heck of time getting the gobblers away from the hens. After awhile we were just wasting our time calling because the hens would just go in the opposite direction and take the gobblers with them. the hens were also not going to their nest yet so they stayed together all day. Finally by the third day we patterned the the birds and we knew where they wanted to go so he sat there in silence and just waited and that was the only way we shot our birds.Not asmuch fun not calling but when you go all that way you sometimes have to resort to that. Good luck on your hunt!