Shovelbuck
Active Member
It was a heck of a cold morning today but that didn't stop the turkeys any.
I wasn't sure where they were roosted so I parked on the south end of my shelterbelt and cut through to the blind. Ended up walking right under a bunch. Got set up and waited for day light.
When they flew down they headed away from me so I started calling. Had a pair of toms come in and hang out for about an hour just out of range in thick cover. While they were doing the dance, I had at least seven toms and one jake plus about triple that number of hens wondering around north of my setup about 75 yards. They headed west and the two in front of me finally headed north and out of sight. Not long after that, three toms came in from the east and again hung up just out of range. I'm starting to think they weren't overly impressed with me walking around in the dark under them. These three finally leave and head back where they came.
I was about froze by now and was thinking about leaving when I hear the boss hen from the large group sounding off. I figured I had nothing to lose so I pretty much started an argument with her. After about half an hour of yelling at her, she came in bringing the big toms in tow.
I took a ten yard shot at the first Merriam looking bird but shot over him. There was a little alarm by the troops but not enough to make them leave. I next had another great tom out the other window but that arrow hit a cedar branch and was deflected.
The birds finally left and I went out and found my arrows and headed home.
All in all a fun filled morning.
Maybe next time.
These pics are from the game cam I have just inside the shelterbelt where they were.
I wasn't sure where they were roosted so I parked on the south end of my shelterbelt and cut through to the blind. Ended up walking right under a bunch. Got set up and waited for day light.
When they flew down they headed away from me so I started calling. Had a pair of toms come in and hang out for about an hour just out of range in thick cover. While they were doing the dance, I had at least seven toms and one jake plus about triple that number of hens wondering around north of my setup about 75 yards. They headed west and the two in front of me finally headed north and out of sight. Not long after that, three toms came in from the east and again hung up just out of range. I'm starting to think they weren't overly impressed with me walking around in the dark under them. These three finally leave and head back where they came.
I was about froze by now and was thinking about leaving when I hear the boss hen from the large group sounding off. I figured I had nothing to lose so I pretty much started an argument with her. After about half an hour of yelling at her, she came in bringing the big toms in tow.
I took a ten yard shot at the first Merriam looking bird but shot over him. There was a little alarm by the troops but not enough to make them leave. I next had another great tom out the other window but that arrow hit a cedar branch and was deflected.
The birds finally left and I went out and found my arrows and headed home.
All in all a fun filled morning.
Maybe next time.
These pics are from the game cam I have just inside the shelterbelt where they were.
