Well, I finally did it! I finally called in and shot my first public land bird. I heard him gobble down by a creek, which was about 200 yards, parallel, off the road that I was on. I setup on a tree, about 40 yards into the thin pines on my side of the road. I let out a few soft yelps on my pot call, and he gobbled again. Now, between the road and the creek, the land had been cleared, and the trees were stacked, like a wall, with an opening about every 100 yards. I decided to move over to a tree closer to a thicker set of small trees so I would have a shot as soon as I saw him, when/if he came to me.
So, the next thing that I see is a bird walking in the open area between the "tree wall" and the creek. I let out a few more yelps, and he came running! Next thing I know, he cuts off to my right, at about 100 yards. I was afraid that I was going to have to make a move on him but, next thing I knew, he had crossed the road and popped into the small thick pines. He came in to my right, I got adjusted, and shot him as soon as he stepped into the first clear spot.
Since I first started turkey hunting, calling in and shooting a public land bird, on my own, has been the biggest turkey hunting goal, and biggest turkey hunting trophy of mine. I cannot express how exciting, and relieving, it was to step on that bird's neck!
I was alone, so these are the best pictures that I could get:
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_063400_zps9md0d2en.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_063400_zps9md0d2en.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_065719_zpsws1wd3ng.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_065719_zpsws1wd3ng.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_065747_zpsudr7ebiw.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_065747_zpsudr7ebiw.jpg.html)
Congrats! Persistence pays off. No better feeling than pushing through and succeeding.
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Congrats, see persistence pays
Looks like a stud! Congrats! :z-winnersmiley:
Congrats, you got out there applied your calling practice and went after them
Killed a nice one, those public land birds are just a bit sweeter at times
:icon_thumright:
Really glad you got your bird.
Well done.
Lesson to be learned. Very often we should stay still and let the bird come to us but being impatient and trying a new setup is unnecessary risk.
Congrats!
Bud that's great. Congrats!
Congratulations! :happy0064:
Hey congrats man! Persistence and patience! That's a nice bird. Always got to keep after it, lots of ups and downs chasing these birds.
Very glad for ya brother. After the trigger squeeze and the adrenaline dump, that is an awesome carry out of the woods. Can't even feel your feet on the ground. The reaching of a self set goal is the reason we hunt.
There you go, some will get easier and some will drive you crazy. It's just one foot in front of the other. CONGRATS :happy0064:
Congrats, beautiful bird... :icon_thumright:
Congrats - nice bird.
Good job and nice bird!
Certainly one to remember.
:fud: :OGani:
Well done, congrats!!!
Congratulations, nothing like taking a good bird off public land. My best bird ever came off public forest land. I always thought to myself " The turkeys have no idea what land is public or private". Again great job. Just a little more satisfaction walking out of the woods after taking one where anybody can hunt. ;)
Congratulations on a fine gobbler...
P, D, P pays big dividends. .
Persistence, determination, & patience. ..
WTG. !!
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That is an accomplishment, taking a gobbler off public land solo. Nicely done!
Great job!
Very solid bird for public, make ya feel right nice don't it !
good job man...and just for the future, with your phone on selfie mode and 10 sec timer, you can prop it up on a rock or log and get some pretty dang good solo pics.
Congratulations on a fine public land bird. Well played.
Jim
Congratulations and way to stick with it.
After experiences like thatit makes me a better hunter. I remember the tough times and how it worked out and use that for motivation to hunt through the tough times.
Quote from: born2hunt on April 23, 2017, 09:59:30 PM
good job man...and just for the future, with your phone on selfie mode and 10 sec timer, you can prop it up on a rock or log and get some pretty dang good solo pics.
I agree with this and use the timer on my phone and camera all the time.
However, I find the main camera to take better pictures than the "selfie" front camera. Like born2hunt said, you can prop it up on a log/rock whatever or take one of these when you are hunting by yourself.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41qwfWGHH9L.jpg)
I think they are called a Gorillapod by Joby. They have adapters for cell phones or regular cameras.
Like someone else said Persistence pays...if they weren't challenging at times and I ever got them completely figured out I would have given it up along time ago. The challenge and finally succeeding is a big part of what makes it so Great!!! Congrats!!
Congratulations!!!
Very nice gobbler,congrats!! :drool:
Good for you! COngrats
Congrads i wish i could kill my first over and ovetr. They arer all special but that first one. Well :z-flirtysmile3:
congrats on the bird