2016 spring turkey season ended for me this past Wednesday, a day earlier than I had intended. I had an enjoyable week, and because I've been a big slacker on sharing hunts on here as of late, I thought I'd share the last few birds that only put the highlight on this spring's already incredible season. I entered the week with 3 tags in 2 locations and 4 mornings to fill them... A tall order, but I was looking forward to trying.
Monday morning I started off slipping into a section of woods I was sure a group of gobblers I had previously had a very close call with were roosted. Humid and some light rain.. nothing gobbles anywhere close to me. I sit there for a bit, nothing flies out within earshot. There were a few gobbles across the way, and I "thought" I heard two gobbles that were definitely on private to the other direction. I tried to see how close I could get to the bird gobbling more steadily, and it was pointless.. just couldn't get close enough to be able to do anything with him. I head towards where I thought I heard the other bird and as I get closer – I get a bird to answer. Two birds, definitely on private and not seeming to want to budge. I play for a while and I wasn't getting anywhere. The sun was starting to break out and I knew birds would be rolling so I left them gobbling. The 3rd spot I hit was one I had been working a bird in I was certain was a bruiser.. I get him to gobble and stay on him for 2 ½ hours.. he didn't gobble much, but would let me know he was still there periodically and I even thought it was going to happen at one point. Eventually he went quiet and I lost him.. I slipped out to not disturb him any more. Back to the original spot.. driving down the road I pass the public field near where I worked the pair earlier.. low and behold.. two longbeards on public with no hens in sight. I park and slip into the woods. I'm approaching them and yelp.. nothing. Move up closer, yelp and they hammer back.. already inside the woods! It seems they're going around a different way than I intended so I am all but running to get to a certain point where I felt I'd be better off working them from. I'm cutting the whole way in an attempt to redirect them. When I sit down, I pour it on them for a minute and they eat it up! It doesn't take long and I see 2 longbeards coming through the woods - 12:54 I finally get a clear shot and he perks up for me just at the right moment.
Very pleased to see these on him when I get up to him!
Tuesday - the dilemma hit on where to start out. Knowing what Monday's bird was sporting hookwise and that he had a brother with him put him higher on the list.. but I still had that other bird I worked late morning Monday that I had 6 hunts invested in at this point this year and just had the feeling he was a good bird. Being stubborn - I needed the closure on that bird. So I slip in early where I thought he would be. Rain before gobble time had things pretty quiet, which I loved for the walk in but no so much come gobble time. I don't hear a peep. I tree yelp some.. nothing. About the time I think a bird could be on the ground I let out a real yelp and a bird HAMMERS on top of it 60-70 yds away. It seems he's moving back and forth, but not gaining any ground towards me. This goes on for a long time. I've called a good bit, at times getting pretty saucy with him. At 6:39... he finally flies out! 'Doh - had no idea he was still in the tree. I guess he had a long branch he was walking up and down on. He pitches out towards a private field. Next time he gobbles he is in it. I reposition some and try to heat him up. I can already tell he's winding down as now there's hens out in that field as well. I catch a glimpse of him moving away from me. Call some more.. thought I was screwed for the time being and let my guard down a hair. Next thing you know he steps out 35 yards away. My hands aren't on my gun.. I let him walk behind a tree and make my moves.. when he steps out on the other side I was head down on the stock and ready to rock. 6:57 he down!
After seeing a couple birds already this season.. I had begun to think I was going to mess up my multibeard streak.. happy to see this on this guy.
Spurs weren't what I was hoping for at 1 1/8", but he was a heavy one for this late at 22lbs 8oz.
So being tagged out there, I now have to change it up for the last tag. MDBowman hunted Tuesday night and heard a bird gobble 4 times close to dark. He was in a small section of woods I know pretty well, but being that he walked around there before dark.. didn't know where he might be roosted so tried a different spot first thing Wednesday morning. Ended up calling in the same pair of jakes twice.
Moved to another spot and no luck.. at this point its well after noon. I head towards where MDBowman heard that bird. Sat and called for a few, nothing. Covered that section of woods.. nothing. I move through a large field that has a thick hedgerow leading to a small field. I slip through that hedgerow and am real careful coming out the other side. There's a dark spot against the woods on the other side but I thought it was just a shadow. As I step out to look farther up the field, that dark spot lifts it's red head. I freeze.. I can't tell if it's a jake or lb.. He takes a few steps out into the field to check me out a little better as he didn't know what I was. I see the beard swing. I raise up, knowing its a longer shot, I take the time to bear down and squeeze the trigger. 1:55pm he goes flopping. Maybe not the perfect hunt we all look for, but I'm not one for passing up a gift.
Decent spurs on him too
I sat next to that bird for a long time just taking it all in. It has been a great season, as they all are. I feel very fortunate that God made me a turkey hunter, that I had my father to introduce me to it, and that I am able to hunt this bird. To be able to see, hear and feel things that the majority of people will never understand. There is no real way to describe it.
I apologized to my father for killing that bird! lol. Even had to take him Thursday morning in which we had a very exciting hunt but didn't end in a gunshot.. however he evened the score without me Friday.
Is it April yet?
