Post by LongSpur39 on Apr 13, 2010 1:35:05 GMT -5
This day of hunting was pretty much nerve racking. I had a co worker who had never been on a turkey hunt,fall or spring. He'd ask me each week if i could take him out.When we would plan it something came up so he couldn't go. Just other obligations he had. The usual day to day things we go through. Finally the last week of the spring season. It's a go! A lull had hit ,so the birds weren't gobbling much for several days prior. I wasn't all that optimistic.And the weather was not gonna be all that great either. When he arrives at 4:30 am ,my thoughts were just to get some birds goin somewhere,so he could hear them. We went to an area i hadn't been to in 5 or 6 days. It was overcast ,Basically i thought day break was never gonna get here. I sent several series of owl calls. When i hit the last series 3 or 4 gobblers cut loose.. I gave them some soft subtle tree calls. And then did a flydown with no cackle just wing flaps. They went off the deep end. The birds were roosted around 70 yds apart. when they came off the roost two of them went in the same direction. The one sounded like he was interested.And number four went silent.With in a couple minutes one was very close.I was tryin to coach this guy for the shot. At 30 yds I told him to drop the hammer. BOOM! Off flies the bird. We sat there for a few minutes listening. He said he was so excited he couldn't keep the gun still. I gave words of encouragement. But also began to doubt his shootin iron. The other birds weren't even phased by the shot.They carried on as if nothing happened. We moved on them and closed the distance. After a couple of setups.The two toms were on there way. 10 minutes later I could hear them both spittin and drummin. I told him here they come. This time I let them get closer,like 20 to 25 yds. I told him to get the bead on the larger of the two. Again I said take em! Boom! both birds hit the air! WTH is going on? He said he patterned his gun.Then he said he had several pellets in the head target out to 30 yds.I asked him how many practice shots he took . His reply was two!!!! Oh my? I told him he would be carrying my gun the rest of the morning. We moved and waited for about an hour. No gobbles, no nothing. I called here and there and figured we would just sit the rest of the morning. At 11:12 on the button a lone bird answered me from 200 yds.By 11:20 he was just under 70 yds.The witching hour.I don't know why but the last hour I watch the time like a hawk especially when working a bird. Anyways the bird slowed down .I could barely see him,just pecking along through the timber. At 50 yds there was a dip in the woods. He dropped out of sight. The next time we would see him is in front of us at 20 yds. Luckily when he dropped out of sight,I could call to him. Soft purrs and clucks and scartched in the leaves. When he popped up he was struttin so I could see him before his head was in view. His head came up and boom,down he went. 22 lbs,10"and some change beard.1 5/8 spurs. He has the pics. Good hunt anyhow. But insane! ;D ;D
