| Author |
Message |
turlock
| | Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 4:47 pm: | |
This morning, after 16 mornings of excitement, frustration and futility, the turkey gods finally shined down on me. Heard only one bird gobbling. First gobble was @ 5:45. I got set up on the side of a ridge overlooking a creek bottom; he was roosted across the bottom on the side of the next ridge. Gobbled on the roost on and off for the next hour, sometimes gobbling on his own, sometimes to a bunch of annoying crows, and only once or twice to my calling (and I tried a little of everything - box, slates, diaphram, purrs, soft yelps, flydown cackles with a Primos wing, cutts, loud yelps, alot, a little, scratching the leaves - after 16 days, I was getting desparate). Finally, at 6:50, he flew off the roost and started marching up his ridge. Dug around in my vest and pulled out an old diaphram I hadn't used in a while - surprised it wasn't dryrotted. Anyway, as soon as I yelped, he hammered back. After a couple of minutes, I cutt hard followed by a yelp. He hammered back twice, and had cut the distance between us, coming off the top of the ridge. I waited about two more minutes, then yelped again. He hammered again, having halfed the distance again. Finally saw him at 40 yards, coming off the ridge. As soon as he hit the creek bottom, he went into full strut. Let him strut toward me another 10 yards before I administered some 3" #5s. If it hadn't been my 17th morning w/o a feather to show for my efforts, I would have watched him for a while longer. No greater thrill in hunting (although I'm told close quarters with a bugling elk is equally exciting). Mr. Tom was a nice 2 year old, but no limbhanger (only 1 spur). 18lbs, 11 1/8" beard, single spur of 7/8".
What a way to end a memorable season (can't go tomorrow or Saturday). Hunted 4 different counties in tidewater and central piedmont, heard a bunch of gobblers and hens, saw a few of both, took my 8 year old daughter turkey hunting for the first time (she loved it), and helped my 78 year old father get a nice bird (21.5lbs, 10 1/2" beard, 1 1/8" spurs), but thats another story.
Thanks for posting your stories on this site to keep me excited, envious, but mainly motivated to keep after 'em. See you next year. |
knight_va
| | Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 4:52 pm: | |
Hey man!.... I am really glad you got your bird!...Congrads!!!...we would like to here the story about ur Dad's bird sometime!
Max |
GN
| | Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 4:55 pm: | |
YEAHHAW..... |
manybeards
| | Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 5:52 pm: | |
Talk about gettin down to the wire! Good job, congrats. |
HODY
| | Posted on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 8:47 am: | |
congrats on a good hunt. It is amazing how you can sometimes find that right call to bring em in. |
TScottW99
| | Posted on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 12:50 pm: | |
Congrat's and Great Job!!!! Scott |
4DBIRD
| | Posted on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 9:09 pm: | |
What a great way to end a great season! Would love to hear about your hunts with your father and daughter. Congrats!! |
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