Turkey success

I was in the woods before first light on opening morning. Not much happening so I went in for lunch at mid day. ....Back out later in the afternoon and spent about an hour trying to sweet talk a pair of gobblers into the range of my smoothbore. The didn't want anything to do with the hen I was imitating because they had a pair of real hens they were trying to impress.

As it got near for the birds to go to roost this guy came through the woods all by his lonesome. A couple of clucks and a purr on the old box call and he gobbled and headed my way. I didn't have to talk turkey to him any more because he was coming to me like he was on a string.

I was sitting with my back to a tree, knees up with elbow's resting on them. My 20ga Fusil de chasse by Centermark was loaded with 80gr's of 2FF behind 90gr's of #5 shot. Then he stopped and was looking straight at me when the hammer fell on the frizzen. Even before the smoke cleared I heard the tell tail flopping noise that told me my bird was down and out. The distance of the shot was about 30yds, not bad for an open bore gun.

Congrats on a very nice bird!
Last weekend was the second weekend of our firearm season.We did not fair as well as you.Our weather has been up and down throughout April and the girls are still traveling with the guys. Pretty hard to call an old tom away from the real thing. Weather is beginning to stabilize and hunting should improve. We have until the end of May.
Once again, nice bird and good shooting.

Take care,
Ed

Good for you Ron!!! :thumbsup:

Thanks for sharing with us.

Just what I needed to see before turning in tonight, as tomorrow morning is our opener. Hoping to coax one just like yours in close.

Congratulations, Skychief

A friend made this walnut turkey box call for me. As you can see this was it's 30th season.

A job well done, and I like the period dress.

NWTF Longhunter said:

A friend made this walnut turkey box call for me. As you can see this was it's 30th season.

Click to expand...

That is great to have a call made from a friend and after all these years you are still using it, and making meat

Congrats on another great bird! :bow:

Out of curiosity... Being dressed in period clothing instead of modern camo, what's your method for staying hidden from those keen eyes? I assume you're not sitting in a pop-up bind from Cabela's... Do you build any system from natural vegetation or just try to find a spot that offers enough concealment naturally?

Even though I use camo, I'm always trying to find that perfect spot with 1) a comfortable backrest and 2) the right balance of concealment and shooting lane.

I have called turkeys in many times, just for fun, as close at 30' and dressed in red plaid and jeans (my wood cutting outfit). The entire secrete to Gobbler success is be absolutely still. They can see you blink at 100yds and if they do, and keep coming, they wont take their eye off you and you will blow it.

Also in "most case" I believe little calling is better. Once you are sure a tom is coming to decoys I just just totally up or possible a slight scratching that I can barely hear.

Amazing.....the turkeys 200 yds off, You call twice and he comes the last 100yds to your exact spot. Be STILL. Raise yer gun when his fans up and he is facing away and yer good to go!

The above for any newbies, the ol geezers here (like me) know all this and do it exactly like me :shocked2: or almost as good :slap: :rotf:

Tsaan Wookkuh !!!!
-Good Job - Comanche

Thank you for sharing! I knew I could rely on you!!

Good luck Skychief!! And any one else working on smoking a thunder chicken!!

Excellent :hatsoff:

B.

I, too, like the period outfit and that wonderful beard goes with it nicely! Flintlock, open choke, turkey dinner ... a shot of Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Nice job again, Ron!!!

I’ve been out a few times here in Mo., with my Trade Gun, but no luck yet! I wish Mo. would let us hunt all day, we have to stop at 1pm.

Nice. Good for you. Our opener was today. Cold and rainy. Might get out tomorrow, but doubt it.
We can't hunt spring turkey after noon here. We'll see what the next week or so brings.

Post meant for NWTF Longhunter

Great job!!! Thanks for sharing your hunt. :hatsoff:

Big Congratulations to ya Sir. :thumbsup:
:hatsoff:

:hatsoff: Great job on Mr. feathers. And good luck to all venturing out for dinner collecting.

Congrats Sir , nice bird and great story of the hunt .

You gotta’ love it when a plan comes together .

Congrats Ron, nice bird and great story of the hunt. Really like the pictures too.

Percy

Congratulations Ron, well done. Way to stick with it. Keep yer powder dry..........robin :bow:

Congrats!!!