Title: The best day ever
Post by: Yoder409 on May 05, 2023, 04:26:28 PM
Post by: Yoder409 on May 05, 2023, 04:26:28 PM
Cousin has been here all week from Florida. The weather has SUCKED. Hunting spring turkeys in my December/January deer hunting clothes. The weather kinda broke yesterday mid-morning and we got on a whole gaggle of hard-gobbling birds around 10:45. They were on a strut zone with hens but started in....dragging their feet....... They wanted the sluttiest calling I could throw at them. At +/- 75 yards they were JUST outta sight when the clock struck 12:00 (quitting time) and our turkey carriage turned into a pumpkin. Told Cuz that it's tough walking away from that. But I didn't wanna queer the area for Plan B.
Plan B was get in on them in super-stealth mode at 0-dark:30 this morning........which we did. We set up shoulder-to-shoulder about 90 yards uphill from where the birds were roosted. Gobbling commenced........hen talk commenced....... I told Cuz we wanted to TRY to double, but make SURE he got a bird. I never made a sound til I saw the first bird drop out. It hit the ground and I made a couple clucks and a very soft run of yelps. More birds dropped out. I repeated the same sort of calls and within 30 seconds Cuz whispers "They're coming !!". I can see black backs. Then a couple or 3 white heads. The 2 lead toms were about 20 feet apart coming at us. Told Cuz to get on he left one. I was on the right one. The birds stopped at 25-30 yards. Cuz whispers "When can I shoot ??" I said "Whenever you want". He let rip. I let rip. We jumped up and ran hurried to the birds..........except his wasn't there. Not even a cut feather where it stood. He said "I KNOW that I hit it !!!" I saw it drop with my eyes, too. But instantly took my eyes away to shoot mine. We spread out and looked 25-30 yards past where his bird had stood and found NOTHING. Now he's bummed. I'm more bummed than him (this was only his 4th real day ever hunting turkeys). I told him that stuff happens. Pattern is small at close range......birds move............ etc. He was like "I KNOW that I was on that thing's neck and I squeezed slow". I started to gather up my bird and Cuz is walking out through the woods and he yells "It's right here !! It's dead !!" Never in 44 years of shooting these crummy things have I seen anything like it. Dead. Bright red blood running from he head and beak. 40 YARDS from where it took a 3" 12 gauge Longbeard #5 !!! Don't ask. I don't know. All I know is I LOVE IT when a plan comes together !!!!!!!!
Sorry, guys. No upgrade for me. Didn't weigh mine. But it was light. 16-17 pounds. Pair of 3 year birds. 10" beards and 1 1/8" sharp spurs on Cuz's bird...... 1 1/16" and sharp on mine.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52872905091_5e08db6c9d_c.jpg)
Plan B was get in on them in super-stealth mode at 0-dark:30 this morning........which we did. We set up shoulder-to-shoulder about 90 yards uphill from where the birds were roosted. Gobbling commenced........hen talk commenced....... I told Cuz we wanted to TRY to double, but make SURE he got a bird. I never made a sound til I saw the first bird drop out. It hit the ground and I made a couple clucks and a very soft run of yelps. More birds dropped out. I repeated the same sort of calls and within 30 seconds Cuz whispers "They're coming !!". I can see black backs. Then a couple or 3 white heads. The 2 lead toms were about 20 feet apart coming at us. Told Cuz to get on he left one. I was on the right one. The birds stopped at 25-30 yards. Cuz whispers "When can I shoot ??" I said "Whenever you want". He let rip. I let rip. We jumped up and ran hurried to the birds..........except his wasn't there. Not even a cut feather where it stood. He said "I KNOW that I hit it !!!" I saw it drop with my eyes, too. But instantly took my eyes away to shoot mine. We spread out and looked 25-30 yards past where his bird had stood and found NOTHING. Now he's bummed. I'm more bummed than him (this was only his 4th real day ever hunting turkeys). I told him that stuff happens. Pattern is small at close range......birds move............ etc. He was like "I KNOW that I was on that thing's neck and I squeezed slow". I started to gather up my bird and Cuz is walking out through the woods and he yells "It's right here !! It's dead !!" Never in 44 years of shooting these crummy things have I seen anything like it. Dead. Bright red blood running from he head and beak. 40 YARDS from where it took a 3" 12 gauge Longbeard #5 !!! Don't ask. I don't know. All I know is I LOVE IT when a plan comes together !!!!!!!!
Sorry, guys. No upgrade for me. Didn't weigh mine. But it was light. 16-17 pounds. Pair of 3 year birds. 10" beards and 1 1/8" sharp spurs on Cuz's bird...... 1 1/16" and sharp on mine.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52872905091_5e08db6c9d_c.jpg)
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: harleytom on May 05, 2023, 04:32:19 PM
Post by: harleytom on May 05, 2023, 04:32:19 PM
Sounds like a great memory made, congrats
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: JeffC on May 05, 2023, 04:34:52 PM
Post by: JeffC on May 05, 2023, 04:34:52 PM
Congrats to you both, sounds like a great hunt! Glad your cousin found his Tom.
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: maddog3355 on May 05, 2023, 04:51:03 PM
Post by: maddog3355 on May 05, 2023, 04:51:03 PM
Awesome hunt!!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Happy on May 05, 2023, 06:01:17 PM
Post by: Happy on May 05, 2023, 06:01:17 PM
Nice Yoder! Congrats on the first one as well. Its a dandy
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Yoder409 on May 05, 2023, 08:06:20 PM
Post by: Yoder409 on May 05, 2023, 08:06:20 PM
Quote from: Happy on May 05, 2023, 06:01:17 PM
Nice Yoder! Congrats on the first one as well. Its a dandy
Thank ye, sir !!!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Vintage on May 05, 2023, 08:24:54 PM
Post by: Vintage on May 05, 2023, 08:24:54 PM
Congrats to both.
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Tom007 on May 06, 2023, 03:10:47 AM
Post by: Tom007 on May 06, 2023, 03:10:47 AM
Way to go, congrats!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Twowithone on May 06, 2023, 03:56:41 AM
Post by: Twowithone on May 06, 2023, 03:56:41 AM
Congrads on the job well done.
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: WildSpur on May 06, 2023, 05:14:02 AM
Post by: WildSpur on May 06, 2023, 05:14:02 AM
Congrats!
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Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: POk3s on May 06, 2023, 09:30:07 PM
Post by: POk3s on May 06, 2023, 09:30:07 PM
That'll do just fine! Well done guys!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: RutnNStrutn on May 07, 2023, 06:35:44 PM
Post by: RutnNStrutn on May 07, 2023, 06:35:44 PM
Sounds like a great hunt for you guys!!! Big congrats!! 
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Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: zsully on May 07, 2023, 08:14:53 PM
Post by: zsully on May 07, 2023, 08:14:53 PM
Congrats Yoder!!!!! Awesome bird and story!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Yoder409 on May 09, 2023, 07:35:32 PM
Post by: Yoder409 on May 09, 2023, 07:35:32 PM
Thanks, fellers !!!
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: zelmo1 on May 12, 2023, 07:17:00 PM
Post by: zelmo1 on May 12, 2023, 07:17:00 PM
That's how they write those days up bro, lol. Nice day with your cuz :turkey2: Z
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: a_jabbo on May 13, 2023, 10:16:07 PM
Post by: a_jabbo on May 13, 2023, 10:16:07 PM
Heck yeah, Yoder!!! That's great. Congrats
Title: Re: The best day ever
Post by: Delmar ODonnell on May 14, 2023, 10:08:27 PM
Post by: Delmar ODonnell on May 14, 2023, 10:08:27 PM
Congrats Don! He had to give your cousin some anxiety from beyond the grave.