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Author Topic: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…  (Read 542 times)

Offline Mossyguy

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The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« on: March 15, 2023, 09:03:41 PM »
This afternoon did! My son and I went to this area this morning but the birds didn’t cooperate…saw a few hens but the gobblers were absent. I was upset because these birds had been here everyday for the last week and this morning they no-showed. He had to head back home around 2 so once he left I headed back to this area. My dad did have some luck on another property I scouted and he was able to take a nice 2 year old double beard.

The timber on this property had been thinned in October and I noticed some strut marks on the logging road going in a few days ago. I set up where I could see all the way down, which was about 250 yards, found a tree and settled in. I waited about 30 mins and let out a series of yelps. About 5 minutes later a hen walks out into the road about 60 yards away and begins fussing. We battled back and forth for a couple minutes before she lost interest and moved on. For the next hour I called off and on with no response.

At 5:15 at was thinking about where these birds could be when the two gobblers walked out into the road at about 100 yards. They appeared to be heading away from me so I let out a couple quick yelps. They both perked up, turned and started heading my way. I noticed one of the birds had a bad limp so I decided that I would try to take him if he gave me an opportunity. They’d walk a few yards, the boss bird would strut, and the limper would be a few steps behind him. It took them about 10 minutes but when they got to around 30 yards I cut twice. Both stuck their heads up and I folded the limper. The boss bird preceded to jump on mine for about 30 seconds and walked back into the timber.

When I got to my bird and picked him up I noticed he was really light. As I was cleaning him I found a few pieces of what looked to be #6 shot(I shoot 9’s) in his breast. I also found a couple in one of his legs so I imagine that was causing his limp. The bird weighed only 14 lbs.  I’m glad I was able to take this bird and hopefully the dominant one will go on to breed.

It’s supposed to be really cold these next few days so I think I’ll skip it and wait until next week and try to find some more.



The road I shot him on



Offline harleytom

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2023, 09:22:16 PM »
Congrats! Nice story also


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Yoder409

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2023, 10:01:23 PM »
CONGRATS !!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT story and BEAUTIFUL setting for a hunt !!!!

 :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
PA elitist since 1979

The good Lord ain't made a gobbler I can't kill.  I just gotta be there at the right time.....  on the day he wants to die.

Offline zsully

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2023, 10:33:09 PM »
Congrats Mossy! Way to get on the board! Great story too!

Offline JeffC

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2023, 08:03:56 AM »
Great read, picture with Tom on log would be sooo much better if you Smiled. Congrats.
Print by Madison Cline, on Flickr

Offline twyatt

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2023, 08:16:20 AM »
Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

Offline Delmar ODonnell

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2023, 10:34:04 AM »
Congrats, Mossy! Glad you were able to give him a much quicker death than he probably would have otherwise suffered. Wonder if he was shot during youth season?

Offline Mossyguy

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2023, 10:48:10 AM »
Congrats, Mossy! Glad you were able to give him a much quicker death than he probably would have otherwise suffered. Wonder if he was shot during youth season?

I was thinking about that last night. It was pretty healed over so I’m guessing either he was shot last year as a jake or someone tried to plug him during squirrel season. But you could tell it was affecting him by the way he walked and his weight. The last time I took one like that was almost 15 years ago in Kentucky and he’d been shot as well.

Offline POk3s

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2023, 04:51:26 PM »
Very well done!

Offline Vintage

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2023, 05:28:54 PM »
nice going. Congrats.

Offline Tom007

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2023, 06:42:01 PM »
Way to go my brother. Great story, great photos…..congrats!
“Solo hunter”

Offline Paulmyr

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2023, 09:56:56 PM »
I find 7.5 lead in birds while I'm cleaning them quite often. A product of public land opprotunistic poachers I'm guessing.
Paul Myrdahl,  Goat trainee

“I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.". John Wayne, The Shootist.

Offline a_jabbo

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Re: The morning hunt didn’t work..but…
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2023, 01:03:58 AM »
Heck yeah, Mossy!!! Congrats