Adrenalin pulsed through my veins and my anticipation soared as I viewed the famed Kentucky Lake Dam and Kentucky Lake’s shimmering waters on the famous bass factory.

Legendary anglers have caught untold numbers of bass from the lake’s bountiful waters. Kentucky Dam Village is a destination that beckons every angler to come and sample the fishing in Kentucky and Barkley lakes and enjoy the spectacular vistas teaming with fish and all manner of wildlife.

Arriving at Kentucky Lake I spotted an osprey soaring high then diving suddenly and landing on its nest high atop a railroad trestle spanning the Columbia River. Further down river an eagle soared majestically, and I realized I was in a special place.

Almost heaven

Nestled among the scenic hills of Western Kentucky, lies a treasure unknown to many outside the immediate vicinity. Kentucky Dam Village State Park is a treasure, indeed. There’s little wonder that Daniel Boone, one of the most well-known frontiersman of his time loved his old Kentucky home which was teaming with fish and game.

The Land Between the Lakes (LBL) area holds many different species of animals and birds including turkeys, deer and even elk. In fact, the area was the only place that deer and turkey roamed in Kentucky for many years. Now they are plentiful throughout Western Kentucky.

Cody Guess shocked the turkey world when he harvested the world record turkey a few miles from Kentucky lake. The talented young hunter called up and harvested a gobbler that was the largest ever recorded at 37.6 pounds!

I’d planned a turkey hunting trip with my new friend Randy Moore, otherwise known by friends as Ranger Moe. Shortly after arriving that the village I shared a scrumptious meal with Wayne Kingston and Moore at the restaurant overlooking Kentucky Lake. Moore and I planned to scout our hunting area the next day before for a trip later in the week.

While scouting for turkeys we also happened upon a herd of wild Fallow deer in the Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreational Area. Further down the road we also viewed a herd of elk and bison too. Astonishingly elk are found in a select area in the LBL area as well.

On the morning of our hunt we awoke well before dawn and were treated to a shimmering sky filled with sparkling stars. The crisp cool morning was just the icing on the cake. We made the short drive to an area with rolling hardwood hills and hollows with deer and turkeys galore. Is it any wonder why Daniel Boone loved this land?

The pre-dawn darkness was holding on to the night, but the early morning sky was getting lighter by the minute and songbirds sent out sweet tunes greeting a new day. Walking through the darkness toward our destination I thanked God for the opportunity to hunt with Moore and walk in the footsteps of another Kentucky legend, Daniel Boone, in search of a wary old gobbler. Moore had scouted an area and he was confident that we’d hear a gobbler this morning.

“Today’s going to be your day,” Moore said. “I can just feel it in the air.”

Standing in the stillness of the grey dawn we listened intently for any sound of a turkey.

“Geeeooobbbllle, obble” sounded an old tom from high atop a nearby ridge only minutes after we’d arrived at our vantage spot.

Moore and I quickly set up and readied ourselves for battle. The King of the woods gobbled a few more times and then was joined by another gobbler. Yes, there were at least two of them. I stayed silent about as long as I could stand it, but when I heard a hen yelping I could wait no longer.

“Flop, flop, flop.” I simulated a turkey fly down with my Mossy Oak cap, beating against my leg and followed that with a few soft purrs.

“Prrrrr, prrrr, cluck.” After a few more gobbles I hit him with a few purrs and clucks from my Albert Paul box call. They continued to gobble lustily at my enticing calls. I was trying not to show my hand but there’s a fine line between giving them just enough or too much.

Adam Stewart’s killer call

After a few more yelps with my natural voice I stroked a few notes on Adam Stewart’s “Killer” pot call. Seconds later I detected the wingbeats from a gobbler flying down. A couple minutes later another bird lit just out of range behind some trees slightly to our left. In mere seconds the woods came alive with gobblers as 3 long beards ganged up and put on a strutting and gobbling show about 80 yards distant.

I yelped and cut and the gobblers made a beeline to our position. “Pffft-doooom, pffft-doooom,” spit and drummed the old birds. Though it seemed like forever, they never checked up once they started our way.

Ka-boom, roared my 12-gauge SuperVinci as 3.5 ounces of Winchester number 6 double X struck pay dirt. The gobbler collapsed instantly, and my first Kentucky trophy gobbler was in hand, thanks to my friend Randy Moore. Moore had located the birds on the ridge earlier in the season and had done his job by placing me in the right area.

Traveling to Western Kentucky and Kentucky Dam Village State Park was almost like coming home. The people are friendly, and make you feel right at home. With two world class bass fisheries teaming with bass, crappie and wildlife, the possibilities for the vacation of a lifetime are unlimited. If you’re looking for a chance to experience world class fishing or a taste of heaven on earth, check them out at www.kentuckylake.com or at www.facebook.com/kentuckydamvilage.

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.