Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 05, 2022, 09:54:13 AM
2 days before the season started, we set up the ground blind so the birds could get used to it. Opening morning was not an option this year, since I am a teacher and LP is in school, plus baseball practice and a team dinner Friday night. But we were ready to go Saturday morning. We got to the blind and had the decoys set up well before first light, but unfortunately there was a stiff, cold wind blowing that had the birds huddled up in the treeline all morning. We could only stay until 8 because LP had a triple header Saturday and the game went until almost dark, so an afternoon hunt was out as well.
Sunday morning was perfect though.
Clear, chilly but no wind. Before long the whole flock was on the ground and we started calling. We saw a large group of birds disappear behind a hill to our right. About 30 minutes later we could see 9 birds coming down the hill in a line towards our set. They all turned out to be hens, which was disappointing at first, but they came into the dekes and after some initial confusion, just started feeding. Perfect! For the next 15 minutes they did all the calling for us. Then the rest of the flock showed up on top of the hill.
They started working their way down towards us, and initially they started working around behind the blind. That was bad news because we didn't have any of the back windows open so that our silhouettes and movement would be reduced. Then another group showed up on top of the hill, with several large toms. They lined out and started heading for our set, angling in front of us. We ignored the flock behind us and focused on the group coming into the decoys to our front.
I have never been in a situation like that. Literally, surrounded by clucking, purring yelping and gobbling turkeys. All told there had to be at least 40 of them. I was tucked back in the blind calling and couldn't see well because of the closed windows, looking through a peep hole about the size of a quarter at several big toms about 45 yards away. It took me by complete surprise when the shotgun went off.
At first, I thought LP had shot prematurely at the birds I had been looking at and I whispered "What are you doing! They're not in range yet!" LP looking at me confused for a second and then pointed. "Uh, yeah he was..." Shifting in my chair I was able to see a turkey flopping on the ground 20 yards to our front. "I'm pretty sure he was the biggest one."
He was.
Turned out to be LP's biggest bird so far. 11" beard.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 05, 2022, 09:55:38 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 05, 2022, 09:58:18 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 05, 2022, 09:59:45 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 05, 2022, 10:03:31 AM
Post by: Platensek-po on April 05, 2022, 10:54:11 AM
Post by: hunter399 on April 05, 2022, 10:58:44 AM
Congrats 👍👏
Heck ya!
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on April 05, 2022, 06:47:08 PM
Post by: Bob33 on April 05, 2022, 07:20:07 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on April 05, 2022, 10:02:09 PM
Post by: zwickeyman on April 06, 2022, 05:46:15 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 11, 2022, 11:40:11 AM
Post by: Dan-o on April 11, 2022, 01:35:45 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on April 11, 2022, 01:38:55 PM
Post by: DIron on April 11, 2022, 08:39:25 PM
Post by: WaltAlpine on April 12, 2022, 12:32:12 AM
Memories of a lifetime!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: rosscrazyelk on April 12, 2022, 08:36:20 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 02, 2022, 08:08:54 AM
2 toms came in to about 50 yards, but wouldn't cross the property line. I think they knew the deal; they made a wide berth around my blind and decoys, while the hens came right in. Could be they've seen something bad happen there before. :chuckle:
Then two jakes and a small tom. We elected to pass.
Sunday was much better. No rain, warmer, birds moving more. About 6:30 a flock of 6 hens and a tom came in on a string. LP pounded the tom at 43 yards with the first shot he's ever fired out of his new birthday shotgun. :tup:
9 1/2" beard. Happy kid.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 02, 2022, 08:11:38 AM
Post by: Dan-o on May 02, 2022, 09:17:54 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 03, 2022, 05:02:50 PM
Post by: Dan-o on May 03, 2022, 07:18:40 PM
Post by: Oldguy on May 03, 2022, 07:27:37 PM
Post by: Tree Killer on May 04, 2022, 04:06:21 AM