| Author |
Message |
Ryan Tucker
| | Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2001 - 8:47 pm: | |
The last few days I have been hunting ducks in a swamp and have seen three longbeards fly down from the same roost. Today they had a deer hunt so I was not allowed to duck hunt. I decided to give the gobblers a try. Sure enouch I had one at about twenty yards and shot and knocked him down. The other two did not spook but only ran off about fifteen yards. Then it took another thirty minutes for them to ease off. I had layed my gun down on the ground as I watched them. When I stood up to retrieve my bird he jumped up and ran away full tilt. I have heard stories like this before, but to be honest the skeptical side of me always said it was hogwash. Today I stand a different and more educated man. I am still almost dumbfounded. I have no idea what happened or why he layed on the ground motionless for so long. All I know is I either lost or scared the crap out of a longbeard that looked to be a jake from last spring. Man, even as I type I can't believe it. Anyone ever had this happen or anything like it. I will no longer see post of similar stories and disregard them that is for sure. The worst thing is I call this past spring the year of the miss. I shot and missed three longbeards this past spring, one in Alabama, one in Texas, and one in Kentucky. I guess the year was running out so I needed to add Virginia to the list. Though I don't think I missed him totally.
Signed,
Mostly Confused |
knight_va
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 2:23 pm: | |
Hey Ryan,
Man, it happens!!...shake it off & go on....I have been in ur shoes....now when the finger comes off the trigger the safety gos on & the feet carry me swiftly to the bird.until a size 12 is on his neck. only then do I relax. Ya live & learn...thats what makes living fun. I am sure u will get him next time!. Happy New year!
Max |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
| | Posted on Monday, December 31, 2001 - 10:22 am: | |
Sorry about your bad luck Ryan... that's tough to swallow. I've heard those stories too and fortunately have never had it happen to me. Keep your head up and stay after them... |
GN
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2002 - 9:59 am: | |
Ryan, you may have heard this from me before, but an acquaintance in Alabama "killed " a bird there , took it to the car, put it in the trunk , went to the coffee shop where all the hunters meet after the hunt, was telling about the bird and as ususal , everbody wanted to see it, so they pop open the trunk and the bird flies out and gets on the ground and runs across four lanes of highway and in to the woods where the guy a nd friend finally caught up with it again...true. I usually break a birds neck if there is any question about it. I can imagine how "dumb" you feel...I feel pretty dumb several times a year when I screw up somehow too. But if there is a way to have a screw up it will happen in the turkey woods. |
Big Bird
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2002 - 12:56 pm: | |
Ryan, sorry about the loss. That really is weird. No flopping or anything? I can imagine the feeling as you watched him run away. How's the duck hunting? I was on Gaston on Monday and had some fun with mallards and wood ducks. Wouldn't you know it, I had four gobblers and a bunch of hens and yearlings hanging around my blind most of the afternoon. Keep after 'em. |
MTNBUK
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2002 - 3:57 pm: | |
Hi, I'm Jim Carawan, new to VA Turkey. I had a similar experience some years back while fall hunting. I shot a bird out of a small gang. All other birds flew off but one. This bird began to "attack" - peck and claw - the gobbler I had shot. To my amazement, the wounded bird got to his feet & then just stood there, looking around.
I decided to get up, ready for a follow up shot. The second bird left the scene while "my bird" stood there. I approached to within 10 yards and half circled him. He appeared aware that I was there but didn't run or fly.
I have rung a few necks in my time but this was a little bizarre. I decided to back off and finish him with a second shot. The downside of that decision was that I'll never know how many pellets made contact on the first shot and possibly unraveled the mystery.
While I've had other birds "attack" shot birds since then, I've not had another "dead" bird revive - in whole or in part!
Jim |
Gobbler Getter
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 8:49 am: | |
Ryan. My best advise is to get on em quick. I know the pros tell you to sit and wait before going to get your bird but I have had 2 occasions during fall seasons where I shot and hit hens, watched them go down and as I waited, they both got up and started running off. I was able to chase down both birds but they liked to have beat me to death with their wings before I could secure them and break their necks. I didn,t like having to do that but once you shoot you have to do what's necessary. It turned out in both cases that only 1 pellet had gotten through. Since then I make sure that I get on the birds as soon as I shoot. Good Luck and stay after em.
Kevin Lee |
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