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Author Topic: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)  (Read 6339 times)

Offline ljsommer

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2019, 09:05:11 PM »
Dude, I was going to write up my own first time turkey hunting (or any hunting) story but you wrote an almost identical post as I would have. Including the same questions! I went to the Republic area as well and just got back a few hours ago. I hunted two full days and heard gobbles everyday, and finally even SAW two turkeys but couldn't seal the deal. I have so much to learn but learned a ton about what I NEED to learn in the next few weeks. I'm so hooked. I'm in Olympia, maybe we can roll out together sometime before the season ends, if not, we can meet up and talk turkeys sometime soon.

Hey I'd love to, shoot me a PM!

Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2019, 09:23:35 PM »
Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline ljsommer

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2019, 09:26:59 PM »
Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

I really needed this trip, this reinvigorated me and gave me a taste of what hunting can be. The chase was intoxicating. I could do that all day every day.
I was really surprised that they started firing up at 5:15am. I thought for sure I'd be ready for them if I set my alarm for 5. Nope!

Offline scotrobe

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #18 on: April 25, 2019, 09:37:38 PM »
Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

I really needed this trip, this reinvigorated me and gave me a taste of what hunting can be. The chase was intoxicating. I could do that all day every day.
I was really surprised that they started firing up at 5:15am. I thought for sure I'd be ready for them if I set my alarm for 5. Nope!

It depends. Sometimes they sound off on the roost a lot before sunrise and still don’t come down until well after dawn. Other times, they are off the roost before dawn. I experienced both just last week.


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Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #19 on: April 26, 2019, 05:29:42 AM »
I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently :chuckle:

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #20 on: April 26, 2019, 05:35:49 AM »
Now that's funny there!!
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Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #21 on: April 26, 2019, 06:55:30 AM »
Now that's funny there!!
  It couldn't have been worse lol.  To top it off, when he finally pitched out he just hopped down and started my way.  It was way more open than I like so I saw him at about 80 yards.  He was taking his sweet time strutting his way in.  I was gonna kill him at 60 because I was frozen and needed to get up.  About that time here come the gang of 6 Jake's! They mobbed him and ran him up the hill then came strutting and gobbling into my set! I was so pissed :chuckle:
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline Limhangerslayer

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #22 on: April 26, 2019, 07:05:22 AM »
I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently :chuckle:

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down
I've found the full moon screws with them too. In Oregon last Friday the birds started at 4:40 and I slipped in where I wanted to be and the tom was hammering by 5.  He hit the ground in my lap at 5:20!  And no I didn't make a single peep to make him fly out.  I almost never call till they hit the ground or are very close to flying out.

And yes the tom got away!

Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #23 on: April 26, 2019, 07:44:18 AM »
I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently :chuckle:

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down
I've found the full moon screws with them too. In Oregon last Friday the birds started at 4:40 and I slipped in where I wanted to be and the tom was hammering by 5.  He hit the ground in my lap at 5:20!  And no I didn't make a single peep to make him fly out.  I almost never call till they hit the ground or are very close to flying out.

And yes the tom got away!
yep big mistake guys make is beating them up on the roost. Over call and they are gonna pitch out to a strut zone.  Give em just enough to get their attention and then make them come look for you.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline Machias

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #24 on: April 26, 2019, 10:55:33 AM »
Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

:)

Also if you can get on the same level or slightly above, you'll have better luck as well.  Helps to know the terrain and make sure there are no obstructions.  They rarely like to cross a fence. thick heavy brush or cross a stream.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2019, 01:49:42 PM by Machias »
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Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #25 on: April 26, 2019, 12:10:47 PM »
Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

:)

Also if you can get on the same level or slightly above, you'll have better luck as well.  helps to know the terrain and make sure there are no obstructions.  they rearly like to cross a fence. thick heavy brush or cross a stream.
  two seasons ago I struck a bird that I was certain was on the far side of a terribly brushing nasty creek bottom. Off I went beating through the brush to get to the other side. I got over there and when I set up and called to him he answered from what I was certain was the other side of the creek. No big deal I just must have guessed wrong. Long story short I cross that Creek three different times trying to get on the same side as him because I was certain that no Tom Turkey in his right mind is going to Crocs that Creek. I've had them hang up on a God dang mud-puddle for goodness sakes. Well as I'm sitting there getting ready to give up on this bird I hear whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh of wings. Sure nuff this bird had been following me back and forth flying the creek every time. I sat still for a few more seconds and here comes that beady little head and as soon as he saw my decoy he hammered me with a gobble, went to full strut and I shot him in the face LOL.  I'm still in shock to this day!
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline Machias

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #26 on: April 26, 2019, 01:48:41 PM »
 :tup: :tup: :tup:  That is one of the fun things about gobblers, just when you think you can predict what they will do they do the exact opposite.  When I give turkey behavior, it is just generally speaking they do this.  The vast majority of birds will hang up, but some will certainly do exactly what you are sure they won't do!!  :)
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Online Karl Blanchard

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #27 on: April 26, 2019, 01:59:41 PM »
:tup: :tup: :tup:  That is one of the fun things about gobblers, just when you think you can predict what they will do they do the exact opposite.  When I give turkey behavior, it is just generally speaking they do this.  The vast majority of birds will hang up, but some will certainly do exactly what you are sure they won't do!!  :)
yep! Pretty good rule of thumb to get on their side of literally anything, and dont try and work them downhill to you, but eventually a bird will prove you wrong on pretty much anything :chuckle:  I'm sure you've watch a good number of birds hang up and then walk away because of a foot wide stream, an old laid down fence, or even a stupid little dead snag :bash:
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

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Offline Machias

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #28 on: April 26, 2019, 02:17:48 PM »
Oh yea, I've also looked up while stradling a barbed wire fence and have this gobbler standing there staring at me.  :)   When I first started hunting turkeys in WA State in 1995 I bumped more birds than I had my entire life.  The mountain air makes them seem further away than my Eastern Birds did back in the midwest.  I ran into several birds trying to cut the distance down here.  I killed my first gobbler in 1975 in the Ozark hills of Missouri.  We had a 2 week season that ended at noon every day.  They would kill 56,000 gobblers in those 2 weeks.
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Offline TheStovePipeKid

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Re: First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)
« Reply #29 on: April 26, 2019, 02:50:26 PM »
I just spent two days chasing the same birds back and forth. I'd set up on one side and they'd fly down to the other. I set up on that side this morning and they walked right past where I was yesterday and hung around my car so they could blow raspberries at me. Live and learn. I'll be hunting them again in the fall, so I'll get the tag filled one way or the other 8)
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