deerhunter93
Well-Known Member
After being unsuccessful with the bow for the past few years I was ready to grab the shotgun again. I was planning on hunting second season but I decided not too after watching the weather forecast and being pretty tired from traveling to California for a track meet. My brother shot one the Saturday of second season so that got me fired up and ready to get in the woods. Here is his bird from this year, a double bearded bird to boot! Here is the link to the story of his hunt: http://www.outreachoutdoors.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5849
Friday rolled around and I had the afternoon off from school so I bought my tag and headed south to check out a public spot that looked decent from a map. Two mushroom hunters who were familiar with the area greeted me and pointed me in a direction so I headed that way. I didn’t see or hear anything but it was a beautiful evening and I got to scout out a new spot.
I couldn’t get out Saturday due to running in the Drake Relays but I was getting texts from buddies saying birds were active. Sunday rolled around and I was up at 3:30 am and headed south to a new public spot. After forgetting my maps and directions in my dorm room I was fortunately able to remember how to get there. At 4:55 am I was starting my mile walk back in. When I hit the first field at 5:05 am a gobbler sounded off 200 yards directly across from me. He kept gobbling while I debated whether or not to stick to my original plan and in doing so, changed my decision.
I snuck down the field edge under a bright moon and setup roughly 150 yards from him while he was still gobbling his head off. I setup at a hay bale and stuck my hen decoy out 15 yards from me. I let him know I was there with a few purrs but for the most part I was silent. The fog rolled in and I got nervous that it might shut him up but he remained vocal. At 5:55 am he flew into the field and I called again. His next gobble was noticeably closer so I got ready and he soon appeared over the hill through the fog. He came strutting directly at me and put on a show at 10 yards. When he committed to the decoy I clucked and dropped the hammer at 6:05 am! My quickest turkey hunt ever. He gobbled more in one hour than any turkey I’ve ever heard.
This was my first successful hunt while being at college so it was a great learning experience and I am extremely pumped. With that being said, my favorite hunts are when I'm with my Dad or brother and I wish I could have shared this one with them.
The numbers:
21 pounds 9 oz.
10.25-inch beard
1 1/8 inch spurs
Here is the setup. I was at the hay bale with my decoy (left) and tom both about 11 yards away.
It was a beautiful morning!
Friday rolled around and I had the afternoon off from school so I bought my tag and headed south to check out a public spot that looked decent from a map. Two mushroom hunters who were familiar with the area greeted me and pointed me in a direction so I headed that way. I didn’t see or hear anything but it was a beautiful evening and I got to scout out a new spot.
I couldn’t get out Saturday due to running in the Drake Relays but I was getting texts from buddies saying birds were active. Sunday rolled around and I was up at 3:30 am and headed south to a new public spot. After forgetting my maps and directions in my dorm room I was fortunately able to remember how to get there. At 4:55 am I was starting my mile walk back in. When I hit the first field at 5:05 am a gobbler sounded off 200 yards directly across from me. He kept gobbling while I debated whether or not to stick to my original plan and in doing so, changed my decision.
I snuck down the field edge under a bright moon and setup roughly 150 yards from him while he was still gobbling his head off. I setup at a hay bale and stuck my hen decoy out 15 yards from me. I let him know I was there with a few purrs but for the most part I was silent. The fog rolled in and I got nervous that it might shut him up but he remained vocal. At 5:55 am he flew into the field and I called again. His next gobble was noticeably closer so I got ready and he soon appeared over the hill through the fog. He came strutting directly at me and put on a show at 10 yards. When he committed to the decoy I clucked and dropped the hammer at 6:05 am! My quickest turkey hunt ever. He gobbled more in one hour than any turkey I’ve ever heard.
This was my first successful hunt while being at college so it was a great learning experience and I am extremely pumped. With that being said, my favorite hunts are when I'm with my Dad or brother and I wish I could have shared this one with them.
The numbers:
21 pounds 9 oz.
10.25-inch beard
1 1/8 inch spurs
Here is the setup. I was at the hay bale with my decoy (left) and tom both about 11 yards away.
It was a beautiful morning!
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