turtlshell
PMA Member
Well, not even knee surgery could keep the gobblers safe in Eastern Iowa last weekend.
I did have to wait until the Thursday evening before feeling well enough to make the trip, but once home I ecountered some mid-afternoon thunderstorms. Not to worry though, a little time-killer on the fulltilt poker site (after a visit to weather.com) and all was good. I played cards for a few hours, even managed to win a little money and then hit the woods around 1630. It turned out to be an awesome hunt. I knew birds would be in the area because it's a prime roosting spot, but I didn't go in deep because really I was just on a scouting mission. Around 7pm I saw some birds running around at about 150yds. The first birds of the year and they looked huge. They were three of the biggest hens I've ever seen. After putting the binocs on them I noticed one even had a 4-5 inch beard...as in bearded hen. I knew an big old BOSS TOM had to be pushing these ladies around, much like a booner herding does during the rut. I waited about half an hour before he finally cleared the rise, in full strut. I had thought the hens were huge until I saw this bird. HOLY CRAP, was he big. When he turned his back toward me, I swear his fan was around 3 feet wide. I know not many measure fan width, but I have over the years, and trust me I know this is a trophy bird. I was jacked up. I tried hard to get the ladies to talk to me, but they stayed quiet. I did manage to get BOSS TOM's attention though and he gobbled once, but could give to chits about my decoys. He eventually pushed his ladies off to his bedroom and I made my way back home a little before 8.
I returned early Friday morning. I awoke at 439 and was all setup before 5. I knew my time was limited due to storms approaching. I figured I had about 2.5 hours to close the deal. First bird gobbled at 535 and it got progressively more crazy every five minutes. Finally at 545 I made my first few calls. It was a little gusty, so I had to do my calling between the gusts. All totaled I heard 11 different birds gobble three were obviously jakes and none were BOSS TOM from the night before.
All the birds were within 250 yds of my setup so my confidence was running very high. I ended up calling about every 10-15 minutes for the first hour. I was hearing different toms gobble at about 5-8 minute intervals...mostly due to random booms of thunder. The thunder gobbles allowed me to keep the locations of all the birds. As I took stock of the situation (approaching storm and movement of the gobbles) I noticed that all the birds were hanging around or heading back towards the big timber where they were roosted. It was getting to be around 645 and I notice 4 hens heading east back towards the big timber (to my SE)...and earlier to my south there was a bird gobbling. He gobbled at them as they walked away, but he seemed to be staying in the same place. So I took advantage of the situation and gave a few clucks. He thundered at me and I had a feeling he was coming in...at this same time the hens that had left him were reaching the big timber. Once the hens got to the timber they really started talking so I got vocal and copied everything they were doing. After three exchanges of copy-cat calling, I see a bird come out of the timber from the point closest to me. I was setup in a high-profile area and knew my decoys could be seen from a long ways away...and subsquently knew this bird was a Tom by the way he'd walk a few yards and periscope to look at my decoys. He was about 200yds away, but coming steadily. As I adjusted to raise my gun, I glanced towards my south and bird was heading up the valley rather quickly. I noticed this bird to the south at about the same time the other tom did too. This was all it took. The race was on and I knew it was about to get really crazy. I reminded myself to stay patient and wait it out.
In less than 15 seconds the South Bird had closed to 40 yds, but was skirting my position to the WSW (I'm right handed and my barrel and decoys were pointing due east, no way was I going to be able to turn on him). In that same time the other tom had went from 200yds to the fence (and under it) at 75 yds. He was heading straight for the South Tom and as soon as he cleared the fence he spit/drummed into full strut and made an aggressive move towards the South Tom. A few moments later they were both due West of me and all I had to go on was my ears. I heard more spitting and drumming and then it got quiet. My mind raced at what could be going on, but I stayed still and just waited. About five seconds later I hear a spit/drum to my NW that seemed like it was really close. I knew the bird was heading toward my deocoys and based on what he did to the south tom I figured he'd make his way to my decoys rather quickly. I heard him do some clicks and pops as he walked directly behind me at 4 yds dragging his wings on the ground. I counted to five before I started to slowly turn my head back from the sw to the east where my gun was aimed at my decoys, and the tom now stood. About halfway turned I heard the Tom "whack" my homemade mock-strut jake decoy...so I sped up my movements.
My eyes settled on him about the same time my gun naturally found its position snug against my right shoulder. I steadied the fiber optic sites on his head/neck line at about the same time he was "craneing" his neck...you know, the move a turkey does as if to say 'take that beeotch'...and squeezed off a 2 ounce load of number Winchester number 5's. The shot was purrr-fect and he only flopped a few times.
I knew I needed to make a good shot, as I was in no condition to run down a wounded bird. He only flopped about 4 times. I looked at my watch and it was 705. Turkey hunting can be a long wait for a few minutes of craziness and this was no exception.
I got back to my truck and measured him up quickly as the storm was coming. He weighed 24lbs, had an 10 7/8 inch beard and matching inch and a quarter spurs. I was able to get pictures and get him dressed before the skies unleashed their fury at 800.
It was a great hunt. Pictures are forthcoming, whenever I get them downloaded.
I did have to wait until the Thursday evening before feeling well enough to make the trip, but once home I ecountered some mid-afternoon thunderstorms. Not to worry though, a little time-killer on the fulltilt poker site (after a visit to weather.com) and all was good. I played cards for a few hours, even managed to win a little money and then hit the woods around 1630. It turned out to be an awesome hunt. I knew birds would be in the area because it's a prime roosting spot, but I didn't go in deep because really I was just on a scouting mission. Around 7pm I saw some birds running around at about 150yds. The first birds of the year and they looked huge. They were three of the biggest hens I've ever seen. After putting the binocs on them I noticed one even had a 4-5 inch beard...as in bearded hen. I knew an big old BOSS TOM had to be pushing these ladies around, much like a booner herding does during the rut. I waited about half an hour before he finally cleared the rise, in full strut. I had thought the hens were huge until I saw this bird. HOLY CRAP, was he big. When he turned his back toward me, I swear his fan was around 3 feet wide. I know not many measure fan width, but I have over the years, and trust me I know this is a trophy bird. I was jacked up. I tried hard to get the ladies to talk to me, but they stayed quiet. I did manage to get BOSS TOM's attention though and he gobbled once, but could give to chits about my decoys. He eventually pushed his ladies off to his bedroom and I made my way back home a little before 8.
I returned early Friday morning. I awoke at 439 and was all setup before 5. I knew my time was limited due to storms approaching. I figured I had about 2.5 hours to close the deal. First bird gobbled at 535 and it got progressively more crazy every five minutes. Finally at 545 I made my first few calls. It was a little gusty, so I had to do my calling between the gusts. All totaled I heard 11 different birds gobble three were obviously jakes and none were BOSS TOM from the night before.
All the birds were within 250 yds of my setup so my confidence was running very high. I ended up calling about every 10-15 minutes for the first hour. I was hearing different toms gobble at about 5-8 minute intervals...mostly due to random booms of thunder. The thunder gobbles allowed me to keep the locations of all the birds. As I took stock of the situation (approaching storm and movement of the gobbles) I noticed that all the birds were hanging around or heading back towards the big timber where they were roosted. It was getting to be around 645 and I notice 4 hens heading east back towards the big timber (to my SE)...and earlier to my south there was a bird gobbling. He gobbled at them as they walked away, but he seemed to be staying in the same place. So I took advantage of the situation and gave a few clucks. He thundered at me and I had a feeling he was coming in...at this same time the hens that had left him were reaching the big timber. Once the hens got to the timber they really started talking so I got vocal and copied everything they were doing. After three exchanges of copy-cat calling, I see a bird come out of the timber from the point closest to me. I was setup in a high-profile area and knew my decoys could be seen from a long ways away...and subsquently knew this bird was a Tom by the way he'd walk a few yards and periscope to look at my decoys. He was about 200yds away, but coming steadily. As I adjusted to raise my gun, I glanced towards my south and bird was heading up the valley rather quickly. I noticed this bird to the south at about the same time the other tom did too. This was all it took. The race was on and I knew it was about to get really crazy. I reminded myself to stay patient and wait it out.
In less than 15 seconds the South Bird had closed to 40 yds, but was skirting my position to the WSW (I'm right handed and my barrel and decoys were pointing due east, no way was I going to be able to turn on him). In that same time the other tom had went from 200yds to the fence (and under it) at 75 yds. He was heading straight for the South Tom and as soon as he cleared the fence he spit/drummed into full strut and made an aggressive move towards the South Tom. A few moments later they were both due West of me and all I had to go on was my ears. I heard more spitting and drumming and then it got quiet. My mind raced at what could be going on, but I stayed still and just waited. About five seconds later I hear a spit/drum to my NW that seemed like it was really close. I knew the bird was heading toward my deocoys and based on what he did to the south tom I figured he'd make his way to my decoys rather quickly. I heard him do some clicks and pops as he walked directly behind me at 4 yds dragging his wings on the ground. I counted to five before I started to slowly turn my head back from the sw to the east where my gun was aimed at my decoys, and the tom now stood. About halfway turned I heard the Tom "whack" my homemade mock-strut jake decoy...so I sped up my movements.
My eyes settled on him about the same time my gun naturally found its position snug against my right shoulder. I steadied the fiber optic sites on his head/neck line at about the same time he was "craneing" his neck...you know, the move a turkey does as if to say 'take that beeotch'...and squeezed off a 2 ounce load of number Winchester number 5's. The shot was purrr-fect and he only flopped a few times.
I knew I needed to make a good shot, as I was in no condition to run down a wounded bird. He only flopped about 4 times. I looked at my watch and it was 705. Turkey hunting can be a long wait for a few minutes of craziness and this was no exception.
I got back to my truck and measured him up quickly as the storm was coming. He weighed 24lbs, had an 10 7/8 inch beard and matching inch and a quarter spurs. I was able to get pictures and get him dressed before the skies unleashed their fury at 800.
It was a great hunt. Pictures are forthcoming, whenever I get them downloaded.
