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Trade Gun Tom!!!

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What a deal! Had 4 gobbling south of me on the roost, and one way north.
Nothing came my way right after flydown.

I had a red tail hawk hit both my lay down and feeder decoys, scared the heck out of me both times lol!!

But, about 710 or so, a pair of hens were talking to me down in the timber to my north. As we were talking back and forth, this guy fired up to my SE!!! I gave him a dose of yelps from both my VECtor aluminum and slate calls, then layer them down.

He was behind me, where I couldn't see him, but could finally hear him drumming as he worked closer!!

I could finally see a peek of him to my left, thru the side of the dark blind at about 20 yds.

He slowly strutted to the standing hen decoy, but his eyes were on the lay down hen!!

I slowly got the Flintlock Trade Gun up and stuck out the window, pulled back the hammer, and got down on the gun.

I let him get right next to the lay down hen, and couldn’t take it any longer, so I let er bark!! Everything worked as it should have, as this Gun had been loaded since the Tuesday evening of opening week!!!

Those that say, “can’t stop the flop”, should shoot their birds at 8 steps....
This Tom never twitched!!!!

For those that care, this is a replica Fur Trade Era Trade Gun, that would have gone west and were traded for Beaver Furs, and used by the Trappers and Traders. These were found on the Steamboat Arabia, and likely will be found on the Malta!!
I loaded it with 70 gr by volume of 2F real black powder, under 80 gr by volume of #5 lead shot.

The bird weighed 21.5# on the Berkeley fish scales. Spurs are 7/8” and 1”, beard is 9.25”.

This is my 3rd bird with a Flintlock, after 12-15 with a percussion 12 ga Double, but my first with the Trade Gun!!!
What a rush! Can’t wait to do it again!!!
https://imgur.com/gallery/K7eeVbM
 
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At eight yards and SITTING SHOT cannot see any sport in that always said a turkey has a brain has big has a pea, Ok if it was running or flying away :surrender: :td:
Feltwad
 
I would like for you to try to call in or sneak up on a wild turkey to 8 yds and report back. I have done it myself several times. I believe you will have a different opinion once you report back :td:

What a thrilling hunt Brad..... :thumbsup:
 
I am afraid that there is not any wild turkeys in the UK has far has I know . Here we have more sporting birds which provide all sporting shots .Has far has shooting a sitting bird to get a kill I would personally pack in game shooting before turning to that
Feltwad :td: :nono: :shake:
 
What a snob!! It is obvious that you have never hunted turkeys. The challenge, thrill and sportsmanship is not in the shooting of the bird, it is in calling the bird in to within range. Many a hunter has called them in, but it really hard to get it to close the distance to be within range. And to get it within 8 feet is a tremendous feat. Not only do you need the talent to get one to respond and stir up its curiosity, but extreme patience is needed to wait for it to close the range. And then to sit tight while it is in range and wait for it to get that close is amazing. Don't forget that you are convincing the male turkey to do something that is against his nature.. go to the female (in this case decoy). In nature the hen goes to the Tom when she is receptive and that is what the Tom expects to happen. I have gotten them to within 20 yards several times, so my hat is off to someone that can wait for it to be only 8 feet away.

By the way congrats Brad, nice bird and great story.
 
No Deer said:
What a snob!! It is obvious that you have never hunted turkeys. The challenge, thrill and sportsmanship is not in the shooting of the bird, it is in calling the bird in to within range. Many a hunter has called them in, but it really hard to get it to close the distance to be within range. And to get it within 8 feet is a tremendous feat. Not only do you need the talent to get one to respond and stir up its curiosity, but extreme patience is needed to wait for it to close the range. And then to sit tight while it is in range and wait for it to get that close is amazing. Don't forget that you are convincing the male turkey to do something that is against his nature.. go to the female (in this case decoy). In nature the hen goes to the Tom when she is receptive and that is what the Tom expects to happen. I have gotten them to within 20 yards several times, so my hat is off to someone that can wait for it to be only 8 feet away.

By the way congrats Brad, nice bird and great story.

Come on if it needs 8yards to get them within range for a kill then a turkey must have a brain has big has a pea Has for a snob diffidently not just a retired working class chap and not a pot hunter . If that is what you call game shooting come over to the UK and see what working class shooters and the snobs here call game shooting.
Not a snob
Feltwad
 
Feltwad said:
I am afraid that there is not any wild turkeys in the UK has far has I know . Here we have more sporting birds which provide all sporting shots .Has far has shooting a sitting bird to get a kill I would personally pack in game shooting before turning to that
Feltwad :td: :nono: :shake:

"That's why we left"

Capt Miles Standish

MOST DEFINITELY SNOB

BTW Felty it is surely the sport. When you figure guns, powder, decoys, calls, gas, time off work, fighting the wife on the way out the 13th day at 3:00 AM etc. if it was not the sport we would just stop at the grocery and buy a bird for $20.00

I have yet to see a member attack your way of doing things, yet you feel superior enough to come on board and toot yer whistle while calling us down on a sport you admit you know NOTHING about? We can shoot them at 30 yds felty we just wait till they turn their back, fan out, so they dont see us move or "poof" they are gone. Its a feat to get em to 30. That's like us saying yer a old goat for shooting doves on the wing closer than 65 yds out. I'd bet a $100.00 bill you could not call in a turkey to even 50 yds if we gave you a week..... gettin close to the lead box ye are
 
azmntman said:
Feltwad said:
I am afraid that there is not any wild turkeys in the UK has far has I know . Here we have more sporting birds which provide all sporting shots .Has far has shooting a sitting bird to get a kill I would personally pack in game shooting before turning to that
Feltwad :td: :nono: :shake:

"That's why we left"

Capt Miles Standish

MOST DEFINITELY SNOB

BTW Felty it is surely the sport. When you figure guns, powder, decoys, calls, gas, time off work, fighting the wife on the way out the 13th day at 3:00 AM etc. if it was not the sport we would just stop at the grocery and buy a bird for $20.00

I have yet to see a member attack your way of doing things, yet you feel superior enough to come on board and toot yer whistle while calling us down on a sport you admit you know NOTHING about? We can shoot them at 30 yds felty we just wait till they turn their back, fan out, so they dont see us move or "poof" they are gone. Its a feat to get em to 30. That's like us saying yer a old goat for shooting doves on the wing closer than 65 yds out. I'd bet a $100.00 bill you could not call in a turkey to even 50 yds if we gave you a week..... gettin close to the lead box ye are
Well it seems I have ruffled a few feathers but if I relied on a sport where you call a bird in to 8 yards then shoot it sitting is not for me I would have giving it a sporting chance if it meant shooting it flying or running
Feltwad
 
I know as much about game bird shooting in Britain as you do about turkey hunting. :yakyak: However, from watching videos of "driven" pheasant shoots using tame-reared birds and "driven" grouse shoots, I can say that turkeys are free-range and are not driven.

Spend some money and come over and try to call one in. :shake:
 
Really you need to do some research on the native wild turkey in the wild, they are one of the smartest game birds you can possibly hunt, superior eye sight and very woods wise. Not to mention they usually come in flocks so you not only have one set of eyes watching but many. BEN FRANKLIN wanted the turkey to be the national bird for his ability too survive and his cunningness. And the fact you would haunt another hunters successes against a superior woodland creature speaks loudly of fellowship and knowledge as to the sport.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER
 
Good job I would not worry to much about the brit. Perhaps he needs to review his history as to how we AMERICIANS shot British turkeys to gain our country,only difference then was the turkeys were wearing red coats. Same turkey hunting tactics different turkeys.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER
 
R.C.Bingaman said:
Good job I would not worry to much about the brit. Perhaps he needs to review his history as to how we AMERICIANS shot British turkeys to gain our country,only difference then was the turkeys were wearing red coats. Same turkey hunting tactics different turkeys.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER
Strange answer cannot see where redcoats involves turkey shooting ,I take it that you do not care much about the British which is a pity stick to the turkey debate and the shooting of sitting birds .
Over and Out
Feltwad
 
[quote only difference then was the turkeys were wearing red coats. Same turkey hunting tactics different turkeys.[/quote]
Also I think they let those turkeys get so close they could see the whites of their eyes.
 
Tsaan Wookkuh!!!

Good Job!!! - Comanche

It Truly is amazing to have them that close! to Hear them drumming and spitting is something that needs to be experienced to understand!

Thanks for sharing!! :thumbsup:

I tried hunting in Missouri a couple of years ago with my percussion double and the two toms I called in hung up at 60 yards when they saw my decoys! They did not want anything to do with them! Can't wait to get back and try with my new flintlock fowler!!
 
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