Well seasons not over literally but due to my daughters health condition and impending hospital stay I had Monday to Wednesday to get a bird.
The first week was soaked. Literally daily drenching and the turkeys all moved back into the area they usually spend winter. They were flocked up big time and quiet. I mean lock jaw. We had hunted this spot most of opening week. We knew birds were there, we saw multiple birds there.
So today we dragged ourselves back there even though we had very little action. The weather has changed and sunny for the first time in days. Seeing as we had terribly slow action and I had a time crunch I pulled out all stops and bought a new slate call I had tried out before the season. It was a bit pricey for me at the time but now I was able to pick it up. It's the copper double sided call from triple toe. Man does it get the birds fired up!
I sat in the corner of the field, dad went to the far side and setup near a winter wheat field they feed in. "Yelp yelp yelp..gobble"! The noise that had eluded us most of the season! "GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE" I kept calling getting them worked up until...silence. Waited another 15 mins they didn't show up I got dad and we did a bit of strategy.
"Where'd they come off the roost?" "Just that side of the ravine." So I led my dad over to the roost tree and he told me cluck like crazy on the slate. Nothing. Seeing as we both had things to do this morning we decide to head out and try again in the morning.
"Man I thought that bird would come up...GOBBLE!" I dove for a tree facing the gobble. Five minutes pass. "GOBBLE GOBBLE" Damn! They slipped into the field! So I turned slowly around and waited. About 75 yards out I spot a trio of Jakes. Too far to shoot. So I rake the leaves with three fingers twice. "GOBBLE" The larger jake veers towards me. He stops about 45 yards out "BOOM" First tag filled.
It was my first turkey calling and handling all but the idea of calling at the roost. Needless to say my dad was ecstactic! He ran over gave me a huge victory hug. Man I was proud.
Now i wasn't proud because it was a massive bird, I've shot two big bad toms, I was more happy I finally called in my own bird and got it done. Now I'm no pro. But I think I've finally earned one turkey hunting merit badge this morning. Now I need that second tag filled with a nice late season bird!
But first? Calling a turkey in for my dad. Nothing would make me happier.
Awesome congrats...Birds are a bonus. Spending time in the woods with your dad is priceless
Agree spending time with you dad was the best part of the hunting...congrats on the bird ....what a hunt...
Great hunt. Sounds like you got da fever!
Hope your daughter gets better! Prayers sent.
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Very nice,congrats!!
:icon_thumright:
Quote from: tha bugman on May 09, 2017, 08:30:16 AM
Hope your daughter gets better! Prayers sent.
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Thank you! She had a great time yesterday eating turkey nuggets! So at least she had a good time before she will have a few weeks of no fun:
You guys are spot on about the time with my dad. We have been hunting buddies for years and I don't see that changing for as long as he's around.
I'm the only one he knows that will follow him for 6miles average a day for 28+ days of turkey season. Sadly don't have as many days to hunt with him this year but we made the best of it and got a bird. Hope tomorrow, our last day, we can get that long beard we saw this morning!
Congrats on your bird man!! Great to hear. And wishing your daughter all the best.
Congrats ! Yep hooked for life !!!
congrats
Quote from: tha bugman on May 09, 2017, 08:30:16 AM
Hope your daughter gets better! Prayers sent.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm in total agreement!
Praying that everything works out, and congrats on putting it all together!
I still remember the first bird I called up and shot by myself!
That's when the fever sets in HARD!!!!
Prayers for your little girl sent from NH.