new to the flock Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 I step outside this morning as the sun was breaking, to the smell of a promise of rain. Great as I have been planning to hunt turkeys today on the opener. Thought about it a while as I made the boys lunches and decided that even if it was going to rain I would give it a go for part of the morning. Made another lunch and packed the truck. Got the kids off to school and drove to the Inlaws farm. The fields around me are all still in plow and as I can not walk any great distance yet I wanted a place that I could drive most of the way to a set up. Out through the corn stubble and down to the hedgerow and parked the truck. As I stepped out there was an east wind blowing around 10 klicks and the sweet sound of a gobbler. Unfortunately the gobbles were coming from the far side of the creek, and turkeys are notorious for not crossing water. Grabbing my pack and gun I walked down the hedge to the bottom of the field, a hike of about 500 yards, and found a nice blowdown right up against the creek to use as a hide. This offered a nice field of fire in front and was well hidden from the back and sides. Placed out the decoy and was settled in nice and comfortable by 9am, making my first series of calls on this years home made box call. Was answered from across the creek again and was thinking that it was going to be a very frustrating morning with a bird hanging up on the far side. I was even considering moving incase a shot across the creek presented itself , but decided to sit tight and see what unfolded. Another set of calls and again an answer clear from across the creek and what sounded like one from up in the top end of the wood on my side, so maybe a good hunt was to come. Sat back and waited and decided that the camo was in good working order as a jay landed a meter over from me and started to scream insults at the decoy , but was completely unaware of myself sitting there. Ten minutes later a flock of 5 wood duck mallards landed with that sploosh sound they make hitting the water. Again completley unaware of myself sitting less than 5 meters from them. The ducks proceeded to feed along the creek and worked their way around the ben and out of sight. Another 10 minutes and I gave another series of calls which were answered by a thundering gobble just behind on the other bank. Slowly cranning my neck around I could see through the hide that there were two toms standing there looking at the decoy out front of me. I decided to give them a couple of yelps and all of a sudden both of them flighted across the creek to land on the bank behind me and off to the left. While they were climbing up I raised the gun to the opening and pulled the hammer back into the firing position to wait with my heart beating in my ears. Ten seconds later both birds climbed the bank and started around the brush to enter the field. Both birds were identical so it was a matter of which bird would present the shot first. They slowly worked around the weeds and entered. After what seemed an eternity they seperated out and the back bird entered into the shot window and stretched his head to look at their lady love. I squeezed the trigger and at the sound of the shot I harvested the first of a two bird limit at 10:15 am. The second bird startled at the sound but did not leave instead he came over to look at his lost partner, another indication that they had no idea as to where the danger lay. He did not linger long though as soon as I snapped a picture he was gone as I moved that little bit. The bird I harvested did not even flinch at the shot, a perfect head and neck shot with him smack dab in the middle of an Imperial High Brass number 4 load. Here he is with this years home made box call "Widow Maker" and the 12 guage Stevens single shot full choke, gun that I favour at this time of year. The rain was still holding off, so after walking up and getting the truck, I drove down loading eveything in and then proceeded to eat an early lunch on the bank watching two mated pair of Canada gueese swim by. Just as I left the field the showers started making a nice cool drive home to a hot cup of coffee. I hope to be back in that spot early next week with my Oldest Little and call in another bird for him to harvest his first turkey. The bird weighed in at 19 pounds 3 ounzes and was shot at 16 meters NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Well done NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Well done Nttf What sound doe's your "Widow Maker" imitate?? Do you swing it back and forth and it sounds like a Turkey?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 The call imitates the sounds of a hen turkey by drawing the paddle across the sound chamber. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Nice one m8, keep the stories and pics coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Brilliant write up. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death from below Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Bit bigger than the ones down my local tesco's.....thought it was a little sparrow until the picture with the shotty. Nice one DFB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
young airgunner Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 sounds a great morning out and a nice little story, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holland&Holland Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 congratulations Nice story, good to see other types of hunting and shooting. Liked it a lot. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Excellent mate! Must be extremely satisfying to call in quarry with a handmade call! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 interesting read, well done NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaser Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Great hunt,and good pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Class pics and story again NTTF, it must be hard doing all this hunting/fishing/trapping/shooting (Delete as applicable). Good on yer SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegeta Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 great story, nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 The bird weighed in at 19 pounds 3 ounzes and was shot at 16 meters NTTF Thats one fat Turkey bud, I hate to say it but well done you old woodsman you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 I enjoyed that write up & pics Dan ........................I was almost sat in the hide with you!!!!!!!!! Presuambly the gobblers in the states are similar to ours and make good eating?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Nice Gobbler NTTF - very good write up. Hope your little 1 gets the other next week. Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Thanks all Paul in North Links, Our wild turkeys are excellant table fare. They are always a great bird to harvest as they can pin your location down to 3 square meters from 3 kilometers...1 1/2 miles away, and can see you move your finger at 50 meters if you screw up. A very challenging bird . I filleted the breasts off this one, and jointed the legs, so I think the first meal will be 1/2 a breast baked in a white wine and mushroom sauce Just need to harvest a few wild leeks and some morel mushrooms now. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 on the way what time is dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Good report and some nice pics Dan. There is every chance I may see a turkey , or two, as I chase the turkey season round a few US states in the next few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Thanks all Paul in North Links, They are always a great bird to harvest as they can pin your location down to 3 square meters from 3 kilometers...1 1/2 miles away, and can see you move your finger at 50 meters if you screw up. A very challenging bird . NTTF Gee Whiz they sound smarter than most Canadians I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Good report and some nice pics Dan. There is every chance I may see a turkey , or two, as I chase the turkey season round a few US states in the next few weeks. B) Good Luck Cranners, there is no other hunting like it Thanks all Paul in North Links, They are always a great bird to harvest as they can pin your location down to 3 square meters from 3 kilometers...1 1/2 miles away, and can see you move your finger at 50 meters if you screw up. A very challenging bird . NTTF Gee Whiz they sound smarter than most Canadians I know Pavman you should not talk about The Last Engineer that way NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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