NEW FILM: Hill Country Easterns: An Early Season Minnesota Turkey Hunt

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In the shadowed ridges of southeastern Minnesota, where hardwoods stretch high and the hills echo with spring thunder, Hunter Rud returns to his home turf. At his side is Dylan Lenz, a seasoned woodsman and the steady hand behind the lens. Together, they step into the early season unknown, chasing the wild pulse of the hill country.

Day one brings the usual trials: tight-lipped toms, shifting winds, and silent woods that test every ounce of patience and woodsmanship. But on the second morning, something changes. A single gobble rolls down the ridge like a warning shot. The hunt tightens. Every footstep matters. Every call is measured.

As the light breaks and the timber comes alive, one bird answers with fire. He is coming, dragging a curtain of suspense with every strut and drumbeat. And when he breaks the crest, it is a moment born of timing, terrain, and trust in the hunt.

This is turkey hunting at its rawest, a battle in the bluffs where every decision echoes and the only guarantee is the chase.