Flintlock turkey

[Hangfire]

I got in woods by 5:30 am and heard the first gobble at 6:am. I heard birds in three directions, all on property I did not have permission to hunt on. Birds quite gobbling at 6:30am. I started walking and searching at 7:am. I never heard another bird until a gobbler sounded off at two ravens. I had just used the box call with nothing. I moved about a quarter mile in to the general direction of the bird I heard. I got no response to the box call for 15 minutes. I heard a different bird about 600m yards away on the other side of the canyon. He responded as soon as I gave a reply. I moved about 150 yards towards him and gave a soft reply with one of Ed Blankenships scratch box calls, about every third time he would gobble. When I figured the tom was 100-150 yards I quite answering his gobbles. He came in sight at about 35 yards and put on one of the best shows I have ever seen a gobbler put on. He strutted, spit/drummed and gobbled all the while searching for the hen.  When he got to 16 steps I shot with 90 grains 2ff and 100 grains volume of number 5 shot. Dead bird. The tom weighed 17 pounds with a 8.5 inch beard and 3/8 spurs, probably a two year old bird. I think the soft calling with the scratch box call I bought from Ed  in Chewelah really brought him in. I have had very good luck with this call. The flint lock I built really adds to the hunt. I have hunted this area (1200 acres) for about 10 years. The last two years the bird population is at least down 75%.  The decline started with the two hard winters and really dropped after the last two very wet springs.

[washelkhunter]

Congrats! Flintlock! Dude, you rule!   "

[lokidog]

Didn't happen without pictures....   

Congratulations, if I can't connect with my bow, I might pull out my percussion double.

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats 

[Hangfire]

I tried for a half hour to post picture, don't know what doing wrong but lost what I had wrote twice. Finally did with out picture. When my wife gets back may have her try the picture. This was my first hunt of the season and no scouting so feel good about results.

[carpsniperg2]

You have to open them in a program like paint and then click resize. Then shrink them to like 20% of the original size and they will post.

[lokidog]

You have to open them in a program like paint and then click resize. Then shrink them to like 20% of the original size and they will post.

That or click on the change size of pic rather than % and change the larger number to 800, the other number will auto change to 600, then Save As or you will lose the original picture.  This is in Paint.

[stevenjackson]

nice job and nice choice

[NavyChief08]

Congrats. 

[RG]

Way to go on the bird and on the flintlock!  I've hunted elk and deer with flintlocks I built for over 20 years, it's great.  Not many people have the commitment needed to hunt with one.  I salute you!  Need pictures though.

[kevinlisa06]

Very nice hunt! I have a couple of Eds calls they're nice

[turkeydancer]

  Way to smoke pole 'em ... after the inspiration I'll need to pull out my TK 2000 !

[irishevox]

we need pics!!!!!

[Mfowl]

Nice job on the smokepole bird! Uncommon for sure.