After two years and four seasons I finally got my tom! It had been close to ten years since I've shot a turkey (a fall hen taken with dogs) but a couple of years ago I got the itch again. I would like to tell you that I called him in from a distance but it was pure luck & being at the right place at the right time with this one.
I got out late, about mid morning & the wind was blowing HARD! Anticipating less than stellar action, I set up where I found some recent sign and sat down to call. As usual when I sit down, I fell asleep and had a nice nap for around a 1/2 hour. Trees rubbing woke me up and I decided to continue into a ravine called "boulder alley." This terrain is all river bluff and you need to be part billy-goat to navigate it. After stumbling around a bit, I heard some scratching in the leaves not too far from me. Slowly working my way around a 20' boulder I caught a glimpse of turkeys working the bluff. I ducked back behind the boulder, unslung the shotgun, snicked the safety forward and stepped around the boulder again. The tom was the closest bird too me and as soon as I saw the beard I let one fly! After the crashing and flopping I walked up to my 1st fall tom. I thanked the hunting gods for the luck and the bird for his life...
The bird weighed 19.4 lbs, has 11.25" beard and 1-1/8" spurs. The gun is a Mossberg 20 ga turkey model (22" barrel) with X-factor choke. Winchester Double X 3" magnums, 1-1/4 oz. #4s. Once again I am happy happy happy!
Congrats on a fine fall trophy.... :you_rock:
Great turkey!
Very nice bird! Definitely something to be proud of! The hunt sounds like it was pretty exciting regardless of the fact you didn't call the birds to you! Congrats!
Congrats!!!!
That is awesome, congrats to ya!
Awesome! Congrats.
Nice Bird. Congrats.....
Great fall bird, congrats!
I also shot my first fall tom this yr...
Congrats! On your fall turkey