Took the day off work to try and fill my second turkey tag. I decided to go into an area out in klickitat that I've had success at in the past that typically holds a bird or two. After a mile in or so I let out a few calls. Instantly a hen answered with a gobbler not too far behind. However, i found it odd that the hen answered me so quickly...and it sounded a little people-ish to say the least...but i thought no way anyone is in here this far in on a tuesday morning. As I closed the distance I saw the gobbler come out full strut at 100 yards through the oaks...as i scanned to find a place to set up, I found the source of the hen call and my suspicions were right. A hunter was setup on him already not more than 60 yards in front of me.
Defeated and bummed I slowly crouched down and watched for a minute or so before backing out of there and wishing him the best. He beat me in there fair and square and as much as I wanted to circle around and try and call in that bird the other side, I wasnt about to. Wouldnt of felt right to me, not to mention if i was in his shoes I would be pissed if someone did that to me.
I hunted my way out and decided to check one area on the way home that I hadnt hunted before but I've seen a few hens in. Its not a very popular spot given its location and smaller bird numbers but i figured hey why not. I get no more than 100 yards into this area and i hear a faint gobble off in the distance...NO Way.
I creep up 50 yards to an open bench and setup my decoy and start calling. 10 mins or so goes by and I never hear from the gobbler again. However, a hen answers me from behind about 60 yards away. I soft call back to her and think hey maybe she'll bring in a Jake. I didnt have many days left to hunt so I wanted to take any legal bird at this point. I see the hen step out at 30 yards with a Jake in tow...as i'm raising my gun up I see a third bird...its a TOM! I kid you not this hen brings the jake and tom in on a string to my decoy and at about 15 yards I filled my tag on the beautiful tom.
Beforehand I hadnt really put much thought to what comes around goes around...but After reflecting on the hunt I without a doubt am now a firm believer in hunting Karma. I'm not saying it will play out like this everytime but it will come back around in one way or the other (good or bad). Morale of my story - be a good ethical hunter and give people the right of way if they were in there first. Because at some point, these roles may be reversed and you would want the same. Good luck to the rest of you trying to fill tags
