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Fall turkey

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Illinois has a 9 day fall turkey season in some counties. I took my Grandson out last weekend, and he got a nice young turkey on the last evening. I let him shoot first, but wasn't able to get a shot at one of the flock with my flintlock.

I was able to go the last 2 days of the season. Saturday morning I had turkeys all around, but not close enough. Same thing Saturday evening. I hunted deer with my longbow Sunday morning and killed a fine doe. Sunday afternoon, I was back after the turkeys with the 12 gauge flintlock.

I set up just inside the woods a couple hundred yards from a known roosting area, hoping the turkeys would come my way. About 5:30, I spotted a flock coming across a field, heading toward me. As they came into the woods, the flock scattered, and began working toward me. Just before they came in range, they moved to my left, where I couldn't see them. I had to raise up to shoot, and of course they spotted me. I had just a second or two to pick out a bird and shoot at about 25 yards.

I could only see about 20 heads over the edge of the hill, so I picked out one and fired. At the shot, the flock scattered, and then silence. I couldn't see if I had hit a bird and thought maybe I had missed until I heard some flapping. Turned out to be a nice fat hen that will be very appreciated on Thanksgiving.

I used 80 grains 2f and an equal measure of #6 shot. I use 2 card wads over powder and 1 card wad over shot. I built my 12 gauge using a 30" barrel off a single shot modern gun.

2017 fall by okawbow, on Flickr

2017 fall by okawbow, on Flickr
 
Well done! :thumbsup: Looks like the group meets at your house for Thanksgiving!! :wink: :applause:
 
Great story and the gun looks good. ..please tell me how you cut and breeched that barrel.
 
The barrel started as a 32" 12 ga. Single shot break open shotgun. The chamber was cut until there was less than 1/2" to the forcing cone.

The breach plug was made from 1 1/8" round steel. An 1/8" shoulder was left to mate up to the barrel. The threads are 5/8" long and I believe are 7/8" X 14 diameter. I soldered on a lug and rod thimble.

I think the choke is a little less than full. I get good patterns out to 35 yards. I've taken 6 turkeys in 4 years with this gun.
 
Congratulations, very nicely done! :bow: That is a fine looking fowler you have made. Do you pluck your turkeys or skin them? I tried plucking, (a big PITA), now I skin them. Keep yer powder dry.......robin
 
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Depending on how I want to cook the bird and how old it is, I skin and sometimes pluck.

I like to make turkey sausage out of the old birds and roast the young ones. I find I use all the meat when making sausage.
 
Tsaan Wookkuh!!!
(Good Job -Comanche/Shoshone)

Man I wish I lived where there were more Turkeys!!

Thanks for sharing your story and pictures!!
 
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