tlambert
PMA Member
Well its been a year of firsts in the turkey hunting world for me this year. First season, I had my first miss on a turkey and didn't end up getting one. Fourth season, I was only going to be able to hunt today and tomorrow mornings before work.
Went out this morning and set up on a field edge against the same tree that I was against when I missed that one. Had a gobbler talking at daylight about 500 yards out. Didn't think he'd come my way but he was on property I couldn't hunt so I figured I'd try to woo him over anyways. He was gobbling steady and I could tell when he hit the ground. I kept up my hen talk up and couldn't believe it when he kept getting closer and closer. He was at about 100yds out in the brush still coming when 2 hens come flying in and land about 125yds out on the other edge of the field from me. About a minute later, 3 jakes come out of the woods edge over there and fan out by the hens. Next thing I know, there's a gobble right at the field edge about 80yds from me. That tom stepped out and didn't even notice my hen decoys, but saw those jakes and ran right to them, pushing them away from the hens. The tom bred one of the hens for like 10mins! and then they started heading my way. 45mins after they got in the field, a hen finally comes up to my decoys and starts pecking at them. The jakes are in range at this time, but the tom is hanging up at about 70yds. That hen doesn't like the decoys and starts heading the other way. The other birds must notice she's spooked and start heading the other way too.....except for one of the jakes...he didn't quite make it out of shotgun range. The mossberg took the top of his beak right off. This is the first jake that I've shot in 15yrs of hunting...quarter inch spurs, 14lbs 8oz, and 4 5/8" and 3 1/2" beards. At least I've got some turkey breast to fry up now!
Went out this morning and set up on a field edge against the same tree that I was against when I missed that one. Had a gobbler talking at daylight about 500 yards out. Didn't think he'd come my way but he was on property I couldn't hunt so I figured I'd try to woo him over anyways. He was gobbling steady and I could tell when he hit the ground. I kept up my hen talk up and couldn't believe it when he kept getting closer and closer. He was at about 100yds out in the brush still coming when 2 hens come flying in and land about 125yds out on the other edge of the field from me. About a minute later, 3 jakes come out of the woods edge over there and fan out by the hens. Next thing I know, there's a gobble right at the field edge about 80yds from me. That tom stepped out and didn't even notice my hen decoys, but saw those jakes and ran right to them, pushing them away from the hens. The tom bred one of the hens for like 10mins! and then they started heading my way. 45mins after they got in the field, a hen finally comes up to my decoys and starts pecking at them. The jakes are in range at this time, but the tom is hanging up at about 70yds. That hen doesn't like the decoys and starts heading the other way. The other birds must notice she's spooked and start heading the other way too.....except for one of the jakes...he didn't quite make it out of shotgun range. The mossberg took the top of his beak right off. This is the first jake that I've shot in 15yrs of hunting...quarter inch spurs, 14lbs 8oz, and 4 5/8" and 3 1/2" beards. At least I've got some turkey breast to fry up now!
