Title: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: tomstopper on April 13, 2020, 11:19:25 AM
Post by: tomstopper on April 13, 2020, 11:19:25 AM
Went out to a small field Easter morning and worked a nice gobbler for about 1hr and 20 mins but just couldn't get him to leave his hens and the treeline that was about 30 yards out of range (might have been able to call him in a little later but you have to stop hunting here in NC on Sundays at 9:30am).
Decided when I got home that today I would hunt a different spot today because I already had a blind set up there and wanted to take it down today before the storm winds really got whipping (forecasted to pick up early am and start really raining about 9ish in my area).
Got in the blind an hour before daylight and my weather app said the winds were already 18mph. I figured I would try to hold out to a little after sunrise to see if the turkeys would fly out into a large field in front of me. Like I predicted, they did but way out of range. I used my box call but it just was too windy for them to hear me. I stayed until 7:45 am when the wind began to tear up my blind.
Finally made it to my truck and decided to drive ten minutes out of my way to check that small field that I was in yesterday. As soon as I pulled up I could see him strutting with some hens along a hedgerow/strip of trees that is about 10 feet across and separates the small field and a larger one. I pulled over out of view of the small field and the gobbler and checked the big field for birds. None were present so I decided to try and sneak down the strip of trees on the large field side. I made it about 25 yards from him when I realized I wouldn't be able to see him and decided to get about 25 yards ahead of him and slip into the brush and hopefully get a shot on him. Got into the brush and could see him strutting and gobbling in the same spot where he had been. Did a couple of yelps on my box call and he immediately turned and headed in my direction. When he got to about 15 yards from me and I had a clean shot and I took him (TSS really did a number on him at that range hence the pants).
Not the ideal way I would like to take one but it's always gratifying to stalk one and ultimately connect on him. You can get away with plenty of movement when the wind is blowing at least 20mph and you move slowly. Sometimes it pays to be lucky instead of good.
Sorry for the crappy pics but it began to pour when I got him back to the truck and home (only place I had to take pics was in my garage with poor lighting).
Weighed 19.09lbs, 10 3/4 in beard and 1 1/4in and 1 3/8in spurs.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/9fcaddb75d47bca7723c38519d9f6b70.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/9e0e3d38d6e71331bf42b869cdb13b8a.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/10298c17bb038a74580b023c33dc0800.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/e2b9846d61279479a8fd9336066a7eaa.jpg)
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Decided when I got home that today I would hunt a different spot today because I already had a blind set up there and wanted to take it down today before the storm winds really got whipping (forecasted to pick up early am and start really raining about 9ish in my area).
Got in the blind an hour before daylight and my weather app said the winds were already 18mph. I figured I would try to hold out to a little after sunrise to see if the turkeys would fly out into a large field in front of me. Like I predicted, they did but way out of range. I used my box call but it just was too windy for them to hear me. I stayed until 7:45 am when the wind began to tear up my blind.
Finally made it to my truck and decided to drive ten minutes out of my way to check that small field that I was in yesterday. As soon as I pulled up I could see him strutting with some hens along a hedgerow/strip of trees that is about 10 feet across and separates the small field and a larger one. I pulled over out of view of the small field and the gobbler and checked the big field for birds. None were present so I decided to try and sneak down the strip of trees on the large field side. I made it about 25 yards from him when I realized I wouldn't be able to see him and decided to get about 25 yards ahead of him and slip into the brush and hopefully get a shot on him. Got into the brush and could see him strutting and gobbling in the same spot where he had been. Did a couple of yelps on my box call and he immediately turned and headed in my direction. When he got to about 15 yards from me and I had a clean shot and I took him (TSS really did a number on him at that range hence the pants).
Not the ideal way I would like to take one but it's always gratifying to stalk one and ultimately connect on him. You can get away with plenty of movement when the wind is blowing at least 20mph and you move slowly. Sometimes it pays to be lucky instead of good.
Sorry for the crappy pics but it began to pour when I got him back to the truck and home (only place I had to take pics was in my garage with poor lighting).
Weighed 19.09lbs, 10 3/4 in beard and 1 1/4in and 1 3/8in spurs.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/9fcaddb75d47bca7723c38519d9f6b70.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/9e0e3d38d6e71331bf42b869cdb13b8a.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/10298c17bb038a74580b023c33dc0800.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/e2b9846d61279479a8fd9336066a7eaa.jpg)
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Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Gobble! on April 13, 2020, 11:30:09 AM
Post by: Gobble! on April 13, 2020, 11:30:09 AM
Congrats!
Sounds like a great bird.
Sounds like a great bird.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Hobbes on April 13, 2020, 11:42:36 AM
Post by: Hobbes on April 13, 2020, 11:42:36 AM
That is one soaked gobbler. Congrats.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Tom007 on April 13, 2020, 11:59:11 AM
Post by: Tom007 on April 13, 2020, 11:59:11 AM
Congrats. You earned him
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: g8rvet on April 13, 2020, 12:17:06 PM
Post by: g8rvet on April 13, 2020, 12:17:06 PM
Wet bird pics are never artistic, but they are still a trophy and great eating. Great story too. :happy0064:
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: MJW on April 13, 2020, 12:39:54 PM
Post by: MJW on April 13, 2020, 12:39:54 PM
Great job You earned it
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Greg Massey on April 13, 2020, 01:19:50 PM
Post by: Greg Massey on April 13, 2020, 01:19:50 PM
Congrats on your bird ..
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Muzzy61 on April 13, 2020, 01:31:40 PM
Post by: Muzzy61 on April 13, 2020, 01:31:40 PM
Congrats, the well earned ones are the ones we always remember.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: tomstopper on April 13, 2020, 08:04:18 PM
Post by: tomstopper on April 13, 2020, 08:04:18 PM
Quote from: g8rvet on April 13, 2020, 12:17:06 PMTrue. My daughters first ever gobbler last year was soaked and today it's still the best looking bird I have ever seen.
Wet bird pics are never artistic, but they are still a trophy and great eating. Great story too. :happy0064:
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Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Mathews.1 on April 13, 2020, 08:51:35 PM
Post by: Mathews.1 on April 13, 2020, 08:51:35 PM
Congratulations you deserved him.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: perrytrails on April 13, 2020, 11:20:50 PM
Post by: perrytrails on April 13, 2020, 11:20:50 PM
Congrats!!
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Yoteduster on April 13, 2020, 11:31:40 PM
Post by: Yoteduster on April 13, 2020, 11:31:40 PM
Congrats on a nice (wet) bird
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: kyturkeyhunter4 on April 14, 2020, 09:49:03 AM
Post by: kyturkeyhunter4 on April 14, 2020, 09:49:03 AM
Congratulations
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: JeffC on April 14, 2020, 02:53:01 PM
Post by: JeffC on April 14, 2020, 02:53:01 PM
Congrats, great read and pictures. That's why I always have a pair of sweatpants in truck.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: 3bailey3 on April 14, 2020, 06:13:52 PM
Post by: 3bailey3 on April 14, 2020, 06:13:52 PM
Awesome hunt, congrats
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: joey46 on April 14, 2020, 06:44:13 PM
Post by: joey46 on April 14, 2020, 06:44:13 PM
Sounds like fun. Congrats!
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: surehuntsalot on April 14, 2020, 06:54:28 PM
Post by: surehuntsalot on April 14, 2020, 06:54:28 PM
congrats
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: tomstopper on April 14, 2020, 08:48:55 PM
Post by: tomstopper on April 14, 2020, 08:48:55 PM
Quote from: JeffC on April 14, 2020, 02:53:01 PMI may have to start doing that. I happened to have a large trash bag under the seat of my truck and sat on that on the way home.
Congrats, great read and pictures. That's why I always have a pair of sweatpants in truck.
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Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: brittman on April 14, 2020, 10:27:21 PM
Post by: brittman on April 14, 2020, 10:27:21 PM
Rain soaked gobblers are pretty darn ugly. Son killed a really late season Tom last year in rain and 30 mph winds.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Gooserbat on April 14, 2020, 11:34:02 PM
Post by: Gooserbat on April 14, 2020, 11:34:02 PM
Well done
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Southerngobbler on April 15, 2020, 07:51:49 PM
Post by: Southerngobbler on April 15, 2020, 07:51:49 PM
I usually keep a sandwich bag and a few rubber bands in my pack and put the gobblers head in a bag held in place with a rubber band, it will keep your pants clean.
Also if you want some good picks spend about 15 minutes with the wife's blow drier on your wet turkey and he will look significantly better for the pics.
Either way congrats on a good bird.
Also if you want some good picks spend about 15 minutes with the wife's blow drier on your wet turkey and he will look significantly better for the pics.
Either way congrats on a good bird.
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: Tom007 on April 15, 2020, 08:20:40 PM
Post by: Tom007 on April 15, 2020, 08:20:40 PM
Great advice. Thx
Title: Re: Stormy Day Gobbler
Post by: g8rvet on April 15, 2020, 08:35:23 PM
Post by: g8rvet on April 15, 2020, 08:35:23 PM
Quote from: Southerngobbler on April 15, 2020, 07:51:49 PM
I usually keep a sandwich bag and a few rubber bands in my pack and put the gobblers head in a bag held in place with a rubber band, it will keep your pants clean.
Also if you want some good picks spend about 15 minutes with the wife's blow drier on your wet turkey and he will look significantly better for the pics.
Either way congrats on a good bird.
But don't let your buddies catch you giving the bird a hairdo! :turkey2: