2nd Season Turkey Hunting and Cabin Work

With a 6 day weekend ahead of me, I headed for the cabin on April 16th. I had a lot of work to get done on the cabin but I also had a 2nd season turkey tag in my pocket so I planned to hunt the mornings and evenings and work during mid-day and at night. I ended up getting to the cabin much earlier than expected to beat an incoming snow storm. With the extra time, I managed to get the entire interior of the cabin primed before going to bed.

Walls and ceiling all primed

The next morning, I woke up to over 12 inches of fresh snow and decided it wasn't worth trying to turkey hunt so I stayed in and got to work on priming the support beams and painting the ceiling. 

I was too lazy to walk through all of that snow

Starting to paint the ceiling

After a quick lunch, I headed out to try and find some turkeys. I did manage to see 2 hens but didn't hear a single gobble all evening. I got ambitious that night and ended up staying up until 11 to finish the first coat of paint on all of the walls. 

Deluxe accommodations for lunch

Night time painting

My alarm came quickly the next morning at 5:00 am. Without roosting any birds the evening before, I wasn't sure where to start but luckily I heard 2 toms gobbling just to the west of my property. It was a beautiful morning but the snow was super crunchy so I couldn't move around much without making a lot of noise. I ended up setting up 1 ridge away from where 3 hens and 1 of the toms walked up but couldn't make a move on them. After the birds moved off, I tried to locate another tom but was unsuccessful so I headed back to the cabin to get back to work.

Beautiful sunrise with the remaining April snow

After touching up all of the walls and ceiling, I worked on painting the support beams. I did hunt some more in the evening and came across a lone hen but again heard no gobbles. After returning to the cabin, I got to work on assembling the shelves and counter. 

Painting the support beams

TV shelf

Framing up the counter

Finished product

Key rack

The next morning was much more spring-like with all of the snow melted. I walked for over 4 miles but was not able to find a single turkey. With the snow gone, I was able to get some food plot work and mowing done. I headed back out for a mid-day hunt and decided to set up in a couple of spots that I had seen turkeys in the past. I had a bunch of deer walk past but not a single turkey. 

Spraying off some fields to prepare for spring food plots

Riding circles on the mower

Freshly mowed yard and orchard

Setup over my decoys on the big field

With most of the planned work done, I enjoyed some time sitting by the fire on Sunday evening. It was a gorgeous evening with a beautiful sunset. I watch a few rabbits chasing each other around and listened to several owls hooting back and forth to each other.

Cooking dinner over the fire

The most beautiful view in the world

I had originally planned to stay through Tuesday, but to be honest, I was feeling awfully lonely and decided to head for home a day early. It is funny, usually I enjoy the peacefulness of spending time by myself at the cabin, but with all of the isolation at home over the previous month, it just wasn't as enjoyable this trip. After another unsuccessful hunt and 3 more miles of walking on Monday morning, I took a trip into Ottumwa for a Menards run and was thankful for a store that wasn't very busy. I got all of the wood to complete the trim work along with a new ATV battery. After locking up the cabin I headed for home with only 5 days until I would return. 

Everything needed for a the next trip

Finally broke down and got a new ATV battery, I was sick
of using the jump starter every time