So this isn't the first time this has happened to me, and I let the bird go because I simply couldn't think of what to do. So I figured I would post here and see if I could get some opinions that I could utilize for the future.
What to do when the gobbler is just under the crest of a ridge and the ridge top is to narrow for a shot?
I was in a bottom and there was gobbler up on a ridge top. I can hear him gobbling on the top and heading towards a field on private. Once he was almost to the private I hit a call to turn him around.
It worked, but I wasn't in a good spot. So as I'm beginning to climb the ridge top I can hear him heading back and towards me, gobbling on the hill side. As soon as I hit the top the bird is just over the crest of the ridge top and he lets it rip, he's probably 20-30 yards away from me. So I just sit down on the nearest tree. Now this top is pretty narrow and pretty thick. I'm sitting in the only somewhat open area.
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Birds gobbling so I say screw it, it's game on. I give him a couple clucks and shut up. As I'm sitting and anticipating his arrival I'm looking around and realizing that, unless his head pops up directly in front of me, theres no way I can make a shot because it's just too close. I would have to move to drastically left or right. It's maybe about 10-12 feet before I hit the crest, and that bird is right over that crest.
I wait 30 min and nothing. The bird eventually made it to private.
So I'm not 100% sure what to do in this situation.
I wasn't sure if I should drop back down the ridge and try to get him to crest the top and try and take a peek over the other end. I felt that was a really unlikely chance.
I thought about dropping back and circling and trying to get on the crest of the hill 50 yards to the right of him. But I was afraid he may have circled himself and would have potentially bumped into him. Or he would have seen me trying to get into a better spot.
To add to it, the sun would have directly been hitting me, making it even worse trying to aim if he crested or move to reposition.
Now I know I'm not the only one that's been in this position. Anyone thoughts on what would maybe have been a better decision to make?
Thanks
-Included a photo for reference. The white gobbler is where he was when I struck him. The hiker point is where I was when I first called to him.
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move back in the hills if yo can so you have more room to work with, make him come look for you. As soon as he crests you got him. Mike
Hard to say what I'd have done in the moment as far as original set up (Crest the top? Don't crest the top? Turn him then go wide and get set up where he was originally wanting to go? Would've been largely dependent on how familiar I was with the woods), but I know for a fact what I would have done with him that close and it too thick and/or too tight to sit down and shoot. I'd have stayed standing. Given the chance, I'll always set up sitting with my back to a tree but sometimes that's not possible or just isn't the best option. In that case, I'll stand behind a tree, gun up and ready (usually rested on a limb if at all possible). Old timer I hunt with kills a lot of turkeys standing up. Kills most of them standing up nowadays as his legs give him fits and he can't sit for long. It most certainly can be done and be done well. Now that might not have been an option in that I don't know what the trees looked like and maybe there was nothing that would've worked and you'd have been inevitably skylined. But my thought process is that in the situation you described it would've opened up your field of view and assuming it was that thick knee/thigh-high dog hobble type brush that's bad to be on a ridge it would've gotten you above that.
That said, you'll get a hundred different answers as far as set up, and every answer might have worked but might not have. Honestly I don't think you did anything "wrong." Sometimes they just beat us. Most times. And most times they beat us with terrain.
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As the years go by and you've dealt with lots of gobblers, you can count the many times when you thought the tom would do one thing and he did something else. A lot of turkey hunting success is dealing with the lemon the gobbler gives you and then you making lemonade out of it. For a lot of us, that's the challenge, frustration, and final joy of turkey hunting. Remember...the gobbler has to win every time but you only have to win once.
I had this happen this season. I crossed a fairly steep bottom and climbed up a steep hillside. I got up to where the lines started and the slope wasn't so bad. The pines had been burnt recently. I crawled about 10 yds into the pines and had a a clear view to the crest of the hill in front of me. I had waited to he was in the ground to make this move. As soon as I sat against the tree I could hear him drumming and he was close! I thought he just have been 30-35yds which was just over the crest. He worked from left to right and I assumed I would get a shot anytime. It was so close I can't remember if I even called or not. At one point one of his hens walked over and passed me on my right side. At this point I knew it was a guarantee lol. He was still up there drumming back and forth right over the crest. It was too close and open for me to move. After 5-10 minutes the hen that passed by walked back to the left and disappeared. Eventually the gobbler and his 3 hens worked on down the ridge to the right and finally where I could see them but they were about 75 yds at this point. I just knew I'd be toting this gobbler to the truck. I feel like I did about everything I could with the circumstances. I snuck back in the next day and came in from the opposite side. I watched him again with his hens but never could get close enough. You see a lot of videos where people will call them up to the crest and shoot them when they periscope. This bird had hens and anytime I called it seems like they would create distance from me. I kept trying to just get in their path and wait them out but of course they did something a little different everyday.
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aclawrene...It's always easier in hindsight to know what might have worked in your situation rather than in the heat of the moment when the mind is racing trying to check off your options; however, if you could have made a couple of clucks or light tree-type yelp and then just waited, it might have gotten his curiosity up enough so that he might have peeked over the crest of the ridge giving you a chance for a shot. Having said this, then again the gobbler might have stood his ground and expected the hen to come over the ridge, eventually leaving when she didn't appear. With turkeys, you make your best effort and then see what happens. As you know, there are no guarantees when it comes to calling turkeys. If it were always easy, we'd probably soon loose interest and take up golf.
Quote from: TRG3 on May 23, 2021, 01:32:01 PM
aclawrene...It's always easier in hindsight to know what might have worked in your situation rather than in the heat of the moment when the mind is racing trying to check off your options; however, if you could have made a couple of clucks or light tree-type yelp and then just waited, it might have gotten his curiosity up enough so that he might have peeked over the crest of the ridge giving you a chance for a shot. Having said this, then again the gobbler might have stood his ground and expected the hen to come over the ridge, eventually leaving when she didn't appear. With turkeys, you make your best effort and then see what happens. As you know, there are no guarantees when it comes to calling turkeys. If it were always easy, we'd probably soon loose interest and take up golf.
I honestly can't remember for sure, I may have made a few soft calls but when the hen came by I think went quiet at that point so I wouldn't get busted. I actually called this gobbler in the day before when I first found him. I heard him gobble around 11:30 and went to where I thought he might be. I set up and called and he was right down in the bottom I mentioned earlier. I screwed this set up up and set too far back in the open burnt pines. He came right up out of the bottom and strutted around the edge but never came close enough. He could see all around where I was sitting. I was so frustrated with myself. This is where I started the next morning and he was roosted across the bottom on the next hilltop. The only time he ever came to my calls was that first time when it was late in the morning. The next two days he hit the ground with his girlfriends and they were not interested in checking me out. Maybe he'll be around next year! Overall I'm happy, I got watch the same gobbler strut and drum up close three days in a row on public land. That was better than my whole season of 2020 on public.
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Quote from: aclawrence on May 23, 2021, 08:19:00 AM
I had this happen this season. I crossed a fairly steep bottom and climbed up a steep hillside. I got up to where the lines started and the slope wasn't so bad. The pines had been burnt recently. I crawled about 10 yds into the pines and had a a clear view to the crest of the hill in front of me. I had waited to he was in the ground to make this move. As soon as I sat against the tree I could hear him drumming and he was close! I thought he just have been 30-35yds which was just over the crest. He worked from left to right and I assumed I would get a shot anytime. It was so close I can't remember if I even called or not. At one point one of his hens walked over and passed me on my right side. At this point I knew it was a guarantee lol. He was still up there drumming back and forth right over the crest. It was too close and open for me to move. After 5-10 minutes the hen that passed by walked back to the left and disappeared. Eventually the gobbler and his 3 hens worked on down the ridge to the right and finally where I could see them but they were about 75 yds at this point. I just knew I'd be toting this gobbler to the truck. I feel like I did about everything I could with the circumstances. I snuck back in the next day and came in from the opposite side. I watched him again with his hens but never could get close enough. You see a lot of videos where people will call them up to the crest and shoot them when they periscope. This bird had hens and anytime I called it seems like they would create distance from me. I kept trying to just get in their path and wait them out but of course they did something a little different everyday.
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From what I noticed that's a classic case of what happens when a hen is involved. Just like if some gal was somewhere with her boyfriend or husband and some gals trying to holler at him. She's gonna say it's time to go.
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Turkeys being turkeys...
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Quote from: boatpaddle on May 27, 2021, 01:45:51 PM
Turkeys being turkeys...
Yep. Anybody that tells you that "this or that" would have worked in your situation is kidding themselves. Anyone that has hunted gobblers very long has been in a similar situation way too many times. In every case, there are many different strategies that we can use. We choose the ones we think are best and see how they play out. Sometimes you choose the right one,...and look like a turkey hunting guru.
Unfortunately, too often,....and even in those situations where you think you have done everything right,...a gobbler will save himself by just doing something,...either randomly or perhaps intentionally,...that keeps him from being killed. We all end up beating ourselves up over what we might have done differently and second-guessing ourselves, but in the end, it is all just a normal part of the game that happens to every turkey hunter pretty regularly.
Admittedly, when you have a gobbler THAT close, and he ends up getting away, it stings a bit more than usual! :)
I think chestercopperpot had a good suggestion in standing up instead of sitting. My main strategy in similar situations is make my best guess on what to do and if It's the wrong one, go find another gobbler and don't beat yourself up. You played the game and the other team won, it's all about the game and now you get to play a little longer. every gobbler has his day and the best strategy is go find the one who's day is suicidal. I used to obsess over failed set ups and got over it a long time ago, I love hunting more than killing and it just means more hunting.
Killed several standing behind a large tree in steep terrain! One property I used to hunt they always stayed over the crest and would not expose themselves, always thought I should see them any second and never did, starting standing and killing them ignorant birds.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on June 02, 2021, 10:57:55 PM
Killed several standing behind a large tree in steep terrain! One property I used to hunt they always stayed over the crest and would not expose themselves, always thought I should see them any second and never did, starting standing and killing them ignorant birds.
Most excellent point. We have all heard the "sit with your back against a large tree" mantra spewed for so many years by the "experts" that something as obvious as standing (or laying prone in some situations) is somehow filtered out of our thought process in setting up on a bird. I threw that mantra out the window many years ago, but not before a good number of gobblers escaped their demise simply because that "sit against a big tree" rule had me sitting when I should have been standing.
Now, before anybody responds with the "sitting against a big tree is for safety reasons" comeback, let me ask you this: What makes you look more like a turkey?,...sitting in a ball about the size, shape, and height of a turkey against a tree,...or standing straight up by that tree trunk? ....The answer should be pretty obvious.... ??? ;)
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 03, 2021, 08:42:45 AM
Quote from: Dtrkyman on June 02, 2021, 10:57:55 PM
Killed several standing behind a large tree in steep terrain! One property I used to hunt they always stayed over the crest and would not expose themselves, always thought I should see them any second and never did, starting standing and killing them ignorant birds.
Most excellent point. We have all heard the "sit with your back against a large tree" mantra spewed for so many years by the "experts" that something as obvious as standing (or laying prone in some situations) is somehow filtered out of our thought process in setting up on a bird. I threw that mantra out the window many years ago, but not before a good number of gobblers escaped their demise simply because that "sit against a big tree" rule had me sitting when I should have been standing.
Now, before anybody responds with the "sitting against a big tree is for safety reasons" comeback, let me ask you this: What makes you look more like a turkey?,...sitting in a ball about the size, shape, and height of a turkey against a tree,...or standing straight up by that tree trunk? ....The answer should be pretty obvious.... ??? ;)
Bingo! I seen this very scenario play out two years ago in Ky. I was hunting with my main hunting buddy and we struck a bird and he was not far and in open woods. As we approached a set up we realized we could not get out of the low brush without getting busted. I did not intend to shoot as I killed a bird the day before and my friend had not killed his first. I told him to stand up by a large pine so he could see. I then backed off and dug into a tree top and brush. I looked over and saw him sitting down and my first thought was, NOOOO! Well here comes the gobbler and he marches right by my buddy and proceeds into my lap and I am forced with a decision, shoot or let him go....yeah I shot him. The first thing I asked my buddy is, "why didn't you shoot him? He replied, I couldn't see him well enough to shoot, I guess I should have stayed standing like you said. He admitted it was just too foreign to the way he'd been taught and he thought I was nuts to suggest it. He thinks different now
I was basically self taught turkey hunter so I never stuck to the "rules"
Between standing and shooting off hand I have taken many birds I wouldn't have!
Luckily I am a bit ambidextrous so shooting off hand was easy for me, but it's not hard for most, grab a box or two or targets loads and soot em all off handed!
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Quote from: eggshell on June 03, 2021, 10:03:28 AM
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 03, 2021, 08:42:45 AM
Quote from: Dtrkyman on June 02, 2021, 10:57:55 PM
Killed several standing behind a large tree in steep terrain! One property I used to hunt they always stayed over the crest and would not expose themselves, always thought I should see them any second and never did, starting standing and killing them ignorant birds.
Most excellent point. We have all heard the "sit with your back against a large tree" mantra spewed for so many years by the "experts" that something as obvious as standing (or laying prone in some situations) is somehow filtered out of our thought process in setting up on a bird. I threw that mantra out the window many years ago, but not before a good number of gobblers escaped their demise simply because that "sit against a big tree" rule had me sitting when I should have been standing.
Now, before anybody responds with the "sitting against a big tree is for safety reasons" comeback, let me ask you this: What makes you look more like a turkey?,...sitting in a ball about the size, shape, and height of a turkey against a tree,...or standing straight up by that tree trunk? ....The answer should be pretty obvious.... ??? ;)
Bingo! I seen this very scenario play out two years ago in Ky. I was hunting with my main hunting buddy and we struck a bird and he was not far and in open woods. As we approached a set up we realized we could not get out of the low brush without getting busted. I did not intend to shoot as I killed a bird the day before and my friend had not killed his first. I told him to stand up by a large pine so he could see. I then backed off and dug into a tree top and brush. I looked over and saw him sitting down and my first thought was, NOOOO! Well here comes the gobbler and he marches right by my buddy and proceeds into my lap and I am forced with a decision, shoot or let him go....yeah I shot him. The first thing I asked my buddy is, "why didn't you shoot him? He replied, I couldn't see him well enough to shoot, I guess I should have stayed standing like you said. He admitted it was just too foreign to the way he'd been taught and he thought I was nuts to suggest it. He thinks different now
Just curious, were you standing or sitting when you shot the turkey?
I was sitting. I was off my buddy's left shoulder calling, which put me about 10 yards into the brush and the same distance from the open woods. The gobbler had come in on the edge of the open and passed my buddy and was just past me. I had watched him walk and strutt all the way through and couldn't get a clean shot. Just when he was about to go over a break, he stopped and stuck his head up into a small hole in the brush at about 10 yards. I had been following him with the gun. Luckily he done that or he'd have gotten away. I never set up with any thought of shooting, it was just plain luck I got a shot. My buddy and I have an agreement that if the designated shooter can't get off a shot and you can, we don't let a bird walks off when we are on a three day out of state hunt. Just curious why you ask? I hope it's not to stir up a debate in this thread.
Nope just curious.
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 03, 2021, 08:42:45 AM
Most excellent point. We have all heard the "sit with your back against a large tree" mantra spewed for so many years by the "experts" that something as obvious as standing (or laying prone in some situations) is somehow filtered out of our thought process in setting up on a bird. I threw that mantra out the window many years ago, but not before a good number of gobblers escaped their demise simply because that "sit against a big tree" rule had me sitting when I should have been standing.
Now, before anybody responds with the "sitting against a big tree is for safety reasons" comeback, let me ask you this: What makes you look more like a turkey?,...sitting in a ball about the size, shape, and height of a turkey against a tree,...or standing straight up by that tree trunk? ....The answer should be pretty obvious.... ??? ;)
GobbleNut - in general, how do you decide whether to sit or stand in a given setup?
I have also shot several gobblers over the years by standing up, but usually as a last-minute adjustment. I have never gone into a setup thinking "this is a stand-up vs. sit-down setup" so am trying to learn...
For me, I never plan on standing up, but when I get in a situation that will not give me a good view and I can't move to a sit down spot, that's when I stand. It's a response thing not a planned thing. This is true of many turkey hunting scenarios. flexibility will get you more shots. Another thing many inexperienced hunters fail to do is get close. They are afraid of spooking birds. Read the terrain and conditions. Every 20 yards you get increases your chances of pulling that Tom to gun range, especially after you've engaged him. You'll spook a few, but you'll kill some you wouldn't have. It balances out.
Quote from: PNWturkey on June 05, 2021, 01:21:44 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 03, 2021, 08:42:45 AM
Most excellent point. We have all heard the "sit with your back against a large tree" mantra spewed for so many years by the "experts" that something as obvious as standing (or laying prone in some situations) is somehow filtered out of our thought process in setting up on a bird. I threw that mantra out the window many years ago, but not before a good number of gobblers escaped their demise simply because that "sit against a big tree" rule had me sitting when I should have been standing.
Now, before anybody responds with the "sitting against a big tree is for safety reasons" comeback, let me ask you this: What makes you look more like a turkey?,...sitting in a ball about the size, shape, and height of a turkey against a tree,...or standing straight up by that tree trunk? ....The answer should be pretty obvious.... ??? ;)
GobbleNut - in general, how do you decide whether to sit or stand in a given setup?
I have also shot several gobblers over the years by standing up, but usually as a last-minute adjustment. I have never gone into a setup thinking "this is a stand-up vs. sit-down setup" so am trying to learn...
How do you know? When you sit down against a tree and you can't see 10 yards but stand up and you can at least see what you need to.
I will slightly disagree with one thing at least in my experience. I've "set up" standing up quite a bit as a result of hunting Pa., WVa and NY State's steep ridges and I can say that turkeys will pick you out MUCH quicker standing against a tree than sitting. The fortunate thing is that most times he's dead by the time he could have seen more than your head and shoulders.
To the OP's original question.....obviously don't know your exact situation, but with a turkey just over the crest of a ridge, I usually would flank left or right for 100-150 yards, get up on the ridge to where I could see the other side and work him from there.
I've killed a number of turkeys standing up but I never get behind a tree,
I always get in front of the tree. I do this because I can swing my gun anywhere very quickly.
If you're standing on a narrow hogback ridge and he's coming up the slope, you will usually catch a glimpse of his head or fan moving. Most of the time this will be all you need to get your gun up. But like Tony said, they can pick you off a lot easier. Especially if your in front of the tree.
Ask me how I know! :OGani:
I only do this to increase my range of vision. The downside of this for me
is I can only stand there for so long.
Quote from: Jimspur on June 11, 2021, 07:36:18 PM
I've killed a number of turkeys standing up but I never get behind a tree,
I always get in front of the tree. I do this because I can swing my gun anywhere very quickly.
If you're standing on a narrow hogback ridge and he's coming up the slope, you will usually catch a glimpse of his head or fan moving. Most of the time this will be all you need to get your gun up. But like Tony said, they can pick you off a lot easier. Especially if your in front of the tree.
Ask me how I know! :OGani:
I only do this to increase my range of vision. The downside of this for me
is I can only stand there for so long.
I have considered the question of whether to stand in front or back of a tree on a few occasions myself. I can remember a time or two when I have chosen to stand in front, but it is always based on the "tree conditions" of the situation. That is, if there are enough low hanging branches that will break up my outline, and where I can get "tucked in" such that I feel a gobbler won't immediately pick me off, I will choose the "in front" option.
Now, if we are talking about standing in front against a barren tree trunk, that's a different story. I will get behind every time. I choose the side I think the gobbler will most likely come from, and try my best to be ready. If there is a "protrusion" on the trunk such that I can just lay my shotgun across it and wait comfortably, all the better.
I agree about the length of time I can comfortably stand there, though. As the years have passed, that length of time has become progressively shorter. ;D :D
I can only stand motionless for so long. I can sit motionless for much longer. Thus I'll tend to flank him and have a more favorable setup.
The only thing that is certain is that every situation demands it's own application and approach. That is what separates the successful set ups from the failed ones. Choose wisely grasshopper.
9.8 times out of ten I am sitting, but on occasion I will stand, but I will never stand if I think it's going to be a long duel. The set ups that are stand ups are close and hot. If the bird is far enough that's it's going to take long enough to exhaust you, you have time and space to move to a sitting spot, most likely.
That's what makes turkey hunting fun for me. Every situation is different,
and you hope you make the right decision. Sometimes you don't.
Quote from: eggshell on June 12, 2021, 06:37:28 PM
The only thing that is certain is that every situation demands it's own application and approach. That is what separates the successful set ups from the failed ones. Choose wisely grasshopper.
9.8 times out of ten I am sitting, but on occasion I will stand, but I will never stand if I think it's going to be a long duel. The set ups that are stand ups are close and hot. If the bird is far enough that's it's going to take long enough to exhaust you, you have time and space to move to a sitting spot, most likely.
Totally agree. The standing set-ups are usually the ones where a quick decision has to be made (often based on topography), or the understory conditions are such that the extra couple of feet of elevation at eye-level is obviously going to make a difference. Also agree that if conditions and time allow, it is generally best to find a spot to "assume the sitting position",....especially for some of us "old dudes" that have commented on this subject. ;D
Similar situation happened to me this season but not a narrow ridge like you had. Late season around 10 am struck a bird but could barely hear him gobble across a pretty big ravine. I was on one ridge he was on the ridge across so down, cross the creek, and up toward him was the move.
I got about 3/4 up the ridge he was on and he gobbled probably 75 yards away. I was able to get ~30 yards to the lip of the ridge facing up (turkey would have to look facing down) and sat down knowing he would be in range if he wanted to see the source of the calling. Once set up, lightly called and mostly did some scratching to give him a reference point without being too loud. A few minutes later his head appeared and the bird was in hand.
In your situation I would say don't be afraid to setup downhill of a bird just as long as you know you're close enough to shoot the ridge lip/terrain feature he has to cross to look down. But with that being said be ready to shoot immediately he might only give you 2 or 3 seconds before he spooks.
Quote from: bobcat19 on June 14, 2021, 05:14:59 PM
Similar situation happened to me this season but not a narrow ridge like you had. Late season around 10 am struck a bird but could barely hear him gobble across a pretty big ravine. I was on one ridge he was on the ridge across so down, cross the creek, and up toward him was the move.
I got about 3/4 up the ridge he was on and he gobbled probably 75 yards away. I was able to get ~30 yards to the lip of the ridge facing up (turkey would have to look facing down) and sat down knowing he would be in range if he wanted to see the source of the calling. Once set up, lightly called and mostly did some scratching to give him a reference point without being too loud. A few minutes later his head appeared and the bird was in hand.
In your situation I would say don't be afraid to setup downhill of a bird just as long as you know you're close enough to shoot the ridge lip/terrain feature he has to cross to look down. But with that being said be ready to shoot immediately he might only give you 2 or 3 seconds before he spooks.
Not exactly the safest way to discharge a weapon in the turkey woods. I hope anybody that may happen to be with in 200yds on the other side has on a good pair of safety glasses on and that would be if the ground was flat. if it drops off into another ravine no telling how far a safe distance would be. Guy hears the shot and immediately looks in the direction the shot came from. Catches a BB in the eye. Make sure you know what is beyond your target before pulling the trigger.
I don't want to be contrary or discount the safety issues as noted above, and "better safe than sorry" certainly applies in all circumstances. Having said that, I honestly believe that mantra can be taken a bit to the extreme in some cases. This may or may not be one of them,...each circumstance often has to be evaluated in "real time".
In bobcat19's situation, if I am honest, I would almost certainly have pulled the trigger as he did. Honestly, I bet there are few turkey hunters that would not have done the same. The remote possibility that someone beyond the turkey would be hit, to me is equivalent to the possibility of being struck by lightning or having a tree fall on you.
Let me expand on that explanation from my personal perspective. In any turkey hunting scenario I am involved in, I am always trying to be aware of the possibility someone else might be in the area. I am always on the defensive in that regard, but maybe more importantly, I am also always watching/listening for clues that might tip me off that I am not alone.
Obviously, hearing turkey calling in the distance is one of those clues. Another clue that I pay attention to is any change in a turkeys demeanor that indicates he has become alert to something from an extraneous source. In my experience, the turkeys will be the first to tell you that something is amiss. Simply put, it is the extremely rare turkey hunter that can sneak in and set up on a gobbler that you are working, get close enough that he might get shot, and do that without the turkeys (or you) having an indication that something like that is happening.
The odds of someone doing that, AND being in a position that they will possibly be hit by the shot string beyond the turkey is extremely remote. Again, if it was me, I would be more concerned about a lightning strike.
I totally agree,..."safety first",....but honestly speaking, in this case, I think that would be taking it to the extreme. :icon_thumright:
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 15, 2021, 09:36:40 AM
I don't want to be contrary or discount the safety issues as noted above, and "better safe than sorry" certainly applies in all circumstances. Having said that, I honestly believe that mantra can be taken a bit to the extreme in some cases. This may or may not be one of them,...each circumstance often has to be evaluated in "real time".
In bobcat19's situation, if I am honest, I would almost certainly have pulled the trigger as he did. Honestly, I bet there are few turkey hunters that would not have done the same. The remote possibility that someone beyond the turkey would be hit, to me is equivalent to the possibility of being struck by lightning or having a tree fall on you.
Let me expand on that explanation from my personal perspective. In any turkey hunting scenario I am involved in, I am always trying to be aware of the possibility someone else might be in the area. I am always on the defensive in that regard, but maybe more importantly, I am also always watching/listening for clues that might tip me off that I am not alone.
Obviously, hearing turkey calling in the distance is one of those clues. Another clue that I pay attention to is any change in a turkeys demeanor that indicates he has become alert to something from an extraneous source. In my experience, the turkeys will be the first to tell you that something is amiss. Simply put, it is the extremely rare turkey hunter that can sneak in and set up on a gobbler that you are working, get close enough that he might get shot, and do that without the turkeys (or you) having an indication that something like that is happening.
The odds of someone doing that, AND being in a position that they will possibly be hit by the shot string beyond the turkey is extremely remote. Again, if it was me, I would be more concerned about a lightning strike.
I totally agree,..."safety first",....but honestly speaking, in this case, I think that would be taking it to the extreme. :icon_thumright:
Same. I'd have pulled without a second thought. It's not like you're firing a .308 out into oblivion. "The know your target and what's beyond," is a wonderful rule to live by, but if you've never had shot fall on you you've likely never hunted a very good dove field.
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Shooting my gun up over the crest of a hill when I have no clue who may be on the other side or where is not anything I plan on doing any time soon. You guys have at it. Ill find a better place to set up.
Speaking as someone who has a very keen perspective on safety and being shot....I'm shooting that turkey in bobcat's scenario. I agree with Gobblenut's comments. A rising trajectory up and over anyone's head level and the limited range of shot make's the odds of a safe shot very high. I think a shot in flat open woods or a field carries far more risk. How many times are we 100% sure of what is down range, not many in reality. We make assessments and weigh risk every time we decide to pull the trigger, it's rarely risk free. I am a huge advocate for safety and absolutely agree that every set up should involve an immediate assessment what's down range, but this scenario will pass in most cases
Absolutely knowing what is beyond your target is impossible unless the target is between you and a nearby (really close) high bluff. Turkey hunting is a dangerous endeavor, much more dangerous since the emergence of TSS.
I will conclude my thoughts on this by saying this: Even though I am in the "I would take that shot" group, I will also state that I would rather be in the woods with someone like Paulmyr that errs on the side of safety than I would those guys at the other extreme! :) :icon_thumright:
Granted I would shoot off the top of the ridge where my shot sprays the the valley/ creek bed below. I'm just not hip on setting up downhill from a bird specially with the crest within turkey killing range.
After contemplating shooting over the crest if a hill quite a bit. If I'm being honest with myself I guess it would depend on the angle of the shot. Shooting up at say a 45 degree angle I suppose would be no different than spraying shot off the top of a ridge.
Edit: Either way I'm still looking for a better set up.
After taking some time to evaluate the situation I know what I should have done. Of course hindsight is 2020.
Realizing that it was to tight for a shot I would have dropped down the ridge just under the crest behind me and circled to my right where the ridge top was thick but the hill side the bird was on was mature hardwoods.
I would have quietly dropped down and moved up and try to get almost right at the crest. Then do some soft yelps and clucks and wait for that bird to take the deer trail on the hill side he was on and hit the mature hardwoods for 30 yard shot.
One thing I like to do on the off season is evaluate my battles and really pick them apart.
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Quote from: Mossberg90MN on July 28, 2021, 01:27:15 PM
After taking some time to evaluate the situation I know what I should have done. Of course hindsight is 2020.
Realizing that it was to tight for a shot I would have dropped down the ridge just under the crest behind me and circled to my right where the ridge top was thick but the hill side the bird was on was mature hardwoods.
I would have quietly dropped down and moved up and try to get almost right at the crest. Then do some soft yelps and clucks and wait for that bird to take the deer trail on the hill side he was on and hit the mature hardwoods for 30 yard shot.
One thing I like to do on the off season is evaluate my battles and really pick them apart.
How many times have all of us walked away from an unsuccessful encounter with a gobbler with that same thought?..."If only I had done this or that I would have got him". We say to ourselves,..."next time, I will do this differently when I am in a similar situation". The problem is, the "next time" that gobbler (or another one) is quite likely to do something entirely different, too. The "next time" what YOU did the first time might be the right move!
In the end, the best any of us can do is use our best judgement in each situation,...that judgement generally based on our past experiences. When all is said and done, the reality is that we play the game,...and hope for the best. Then again, assessing what we think we did wrong is a good idea and is certainly better than the alternative of blindly stumbling along without trying to learn from our past failures.
However, assuming a gobbler is going to stick to a script the next time you encounter him is a mighty big leap of faith. I think we turkey hunters contemplate a turkeys actions (and try to make sense of them), a lot more than the turkeys do. ;D :laugh:
Quote from: GobbleNut on July 29, 2021, 10:35:31 AM
Quote from: Mossberg90MN on July 28, 2021, 01:27:15 PM
After taking some time to evaluate the situation I know what I should have done. Of course hindsight is 2020.
Realizing that it was to tight for a shot I would have dropped down the ridge just under the crest behind me and circled to my right where the ridge top was thick but the hill side the bird was on was mature hardwoods.
I would have quietly dropped down and moved up and try to get almost right at the crest. Then do some soft yelps and clucks and wait for that bird to take the deer trail on the hill side he was on and hit the mature hardwoods for 30 yard shot.
One thing I like to do on the off season is evaluate my battles and really pick them apart.
How many times have all of us walked away from an unsuccessful encounter with a gobbler with that same thought?..."If only I had done this or that I would have got him". We say to ourselves,..."next time, I will this differently when I am in a similar situation". The problem is, the "next time" that gobbler (or another one) is quite likely to do something entirely different, too. The "next time" what YOU did the first time might be the right move!
In the end, the best any of us can do is use our best judgement in each situation,...that judgement generally based on our past experiences. When all is said and done, the reality is that we play the game,...and hope for the best. Then again, assessing what we think we did wrong is a good idea and is certainly better than the alternative of blindly stumbling along without trying to learn from our past failures.
However, assuming a gobbler is going to stick to a script the next time you encounter him is a mighty big leap of faith. I think we turkey hunters contemplate a turkeys actions (and try to make sense of them), a lot more than the turkeys do. ;D :laugh:
I agree! That is the one thing about these birds as they can be so unpredictable!
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