Carpsniperg2: Fall Turkey down!!!

[carpsniperg2]

Well I have been busy as heck and not had much time to hunt. I only went out one day with my bow and learned why fall turkey hunting is so hard Birds would talk to me only when I really cut hard and put a lot of lip into my calls. I don't know if that is normal or not. This is the  first fall permit I have ever had. I can kill them well during the spring season and consider myself a good caller. So it was weird for me to get so little response from them. These birds would talk a little and walk my way they get distracted and chase grass hoppers What a big difference in birds from spring to fall seasons.

Nothing would come into bow range and with limited time I decided the next trip I would break out the shotgun. It has been awhile since I busted a bird with a scatter gun I am pretty much a archery for turkey guy now.

So me and my wife set out to get camp ready for everyone heading up for the modern opener. I BATTLED MANY YELLOW JACKETS TO RECLAIM OUR SHACK After we got done I talked her into going for a little walk with me to see if we could find some birds. We got to the place where I hunt and the land owner was gone and had locked his gate. So that added about another 1.5 miles  in and out to this little walk I check a few of my spots that I got birds to talk to me a few days before. So after not finding any birds we crossed the creek. With it being so dry it helped a lot to keep the feet from getting wet We started to cut into one of my favorite spots where 2 canyons feed into eachother. The birds travel this route a lot. I stopped before getting to the edge and called. I heard a few birds talking back to me from up the canyon on the right. So we got into the mouth of the canyon on the left and ducked behind a few big pines. After getting setup I would call off and on. I would talk and they would talk back a little bit, like normal. Then all of a sudden they all shut there trap. I had no idea what was up. Just as i was starting to think WTH a big hawk went bombing over my head and up the canyon. I was about ready to call it, then I looked to my left and see another group of birds that was silent standing there looking at me. I was so focused on the other group I did not even see or hear them come in. I gave the group a quick look over and saw no jakes or toms so I picked out a younger hen at about 35 yards and let the scatter gun eat. Man did the woods blow up with birds So it was a great evening and my wife got to watch from right over the top of my shoulder. With only one day left and a bunch of stuff to finish up in the morning before hunting season. I was happy to get my bird. Nice young hen that is going to make a great meal for the night before hunting season.

Hope you enjoy the pic.

[Kola16]

Way to go Carp  I love wild turkey 

[Greenhorn]

Great picture, congratulations!

[lokidog]

 

[Hunter Dug]

Nice bird, youll have to show me how to do that some time.

[carpsniperg2]

It look's something like this

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Thats cool! Thanks for story.

[NRA4LIFE]

Good job Matt.  Those are fine eating birds in the fall.

[firefighter4607]

Great Job Matt!

[Atroxus]

Congrats, nice looking bird.

[bearpaw]

sweet.... 

[Whitpirate]

Good eats.  Best of luck in deer camp!

[Wacenturion]

Congratulations....great photo!

[Gobble Doc]

Awesome job and story.

I went out with my 14 year old, each with our bows last weekend.  We didn't connect but my son came very close.  I can't wait until one of us can get one with the bow.  We weren't doing much calling, just stalking without getting busted.  More than once the birds saw us from a distance and it was game over.  At one point he had his bow pulled back at 15 yards with one in his sights but the bird walked right behind a "NO HUNTING" sign and he told me he just watched it walk away. 

[turkeydancer]

Congrats !!! 

First year for a long time I haven't gone early fall turkey hunting (and probably won't go late fall). When I go I usually will either call very "soft & sparingly" using kee-kee-runs and the birds natural curiosity against them (especially when they think there young is in some trouble), or I use "ambushes" to great effect (if you know where they are and where they'll go, just setup and wait).  I've been lucky enough to have over 300 birds come within a couple feet of my blind and launch over the top, a hen flydown and land on my boot, and several times them walking within a couple feet.  One thing you always definitely need to do is be on the look out for their slilent approach.  Although my favorite will always be spring gobblefest, fall hunts can be tons of fun also. 

Happy you got some turkey tenders while with your loved ones ... priceless !!!