A Bird of Firsts

Falconi

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2022
Messages
165
Location
Columbia, TN
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This is one of the reasons we moved to Tennessee. We have 5 acres in rural Columbia. This bird represents many firsts for me:

  • My first turkey.
  • My first TN big game kill.
  • The first big game kill on my own land.
For many reasons, I wasn't able to spend hours in the field turkey hunting. I have had a couple of hens hanging around the back yard for the past two weeks. Probably have nests nearby. I thought eventually I might see a tom so my strategy was to keep an eye out from the house while I worked, etc.

There were two hens in the yards scratching. I was doing other things, and the next time I looked there were FOUR turkeys there. Two jakes had shown up. They were about 10 yards off the back porch. First, I had to run and grab my shotgun. That made them nervous but they were still at 10 yards. Next I had to open a screen door to get outside. That made a horrible racket. The turkeys all took off. I watched one hen hovering on the perimeter. The jakes were on my neighbors property and about to go out of sight. I could tell they were uncertain of what they wanted to do. At this point the hen came back into the yard. I said to myself, "Those jakes are going to come back." So I sat down on the edge of the porch and waited.

I'm sitting there on my porch, in full view. The hen is at 10 yards again. Sure enough, the jakes start heading back in. I decided not to raise my gun until they were close to the hen. I didn't have much blocking me from their view so I had to chance it. I slowly pulled up the shotgun. That was enough to spook them again, but they slowly wandered off. The two jakes just wouldn't separate. They were now at 20 yards and just about to go onto the neighbor's property. Finally, they separated just enough. One was between two trees while the other was behind one of the trees.

I squeezed off. Remember, I'm sitting on the edge of the deck. The recoil nearly knocked me over from a sitting position, lol. The bird dropped like a stone. Didn't even flop. Later I realized I got a little lucky. My shot was probably high because there were zero pellets in his body. Either that or I executed perfectly. ;)

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I shot him right where the yard ends, between those two trees behind that stump you see.

These aren't town turkeys. I was certain I wasn't going to get one because they usually aren't hanging out in the yard. But it worked out! Thanks for listening.
 

Setterman

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Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
4,973
Location
Knoxville, TN
I have held off commenting on this since you posted it. First, there's no feeling like taking a bird on dirt you own. Congrats on that achievement.

With that said, for a seasoned turkey hunter your story turns my stomach. I love turkey hunting as much as I love drawing oxygen each day. If I were to have yard turkeys they'd absolutely get a pass from me. But that's just me and my own stipulations I apply to myself.

In addition I don't find it funny or cool shooting anything from the porch, the kitchen window or my truck. To me it's just not hunting, it's killing which I've long since outgrown.

Look, I know you're ecstatic and I'm glad you had success but it's extremely difficult for me to pat you on the back and say awesome job given the circumstances. Truly not wanting to be an ass but damn this is so far away from how I hunt and would want to kill a bird that it's basically impossible for me to find joy in your story. In some ways it makes me sad, but at the same time happy for you that you found joy in this experience
 

Henry

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Joined
Nov 15, 2022
Messages
2,126
Location
NW TN
Congrats! It's pretty wild that they stayed around while you went in/out of the house and then still hung after moving away with the gun coming up. That's difficult to pull off once, let along twice.
 

Bone Collector

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Joined
Sep 9, 2009
Messages
19,602
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Congrats!

On the next one, move back into that 5 acres of woods behind your house. Learn to call a little and set up. Listen to the woods wake up and call one to the barrel. I promise if you do and its a tom and he's gobbling and strutting in, your heart will jump out of your chest.

Maury county has probably one of the best turkey populations in TN, so there should be plenty of birds there. The fact you saw 2 jakes, shows that 2 poults survived the hatch last year. Hopefully those hens have nests and all the poults survive. You'll be covered up then.

Again congrats on the first!
 

gasman

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Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
7,899
Location
South Of The Hatchie
I have held off commenting on this since you posted it. First, there's no feeling like taking a bird on dirt you own. Congrats on that achievement.

With that said, for a seasoned turkey hunter your story turns my stomach. I love turkey hunting as much as I love drawing oxygen each day. If I were to have yard turkeys they'd absolutely get a pass from me. But that's just me and my own stipulations I apply to myself.

In addition I don't find it funny or cool shooting anything from the porch, the kitchen window or my truck. To me it's just not hunting, it's killing which I've long since outgrown.

Look, I know you're ecstatic and I'm glad you had success but it's extremely difficult for me to pat you on the back and say awesome job given the circumstances. Truly not wanting to be an ass but damn this is so far away from how I hunt and would want to kill a bird that it's basically impossible for me to find joy in your story. In some ways it makes me sad, but at the same time happy for you that you found joy in this experience
Why not just keep your snarky remarks to yourself. Nobody asked you to pat him on the back. You are a legend in your own mind.
 

Gravey

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Joined
Jul 20, 2005
Messages
38,961
Location
Christiana (Rutherford County)
On the next one, move back into that 5 acres of woods behind your house. Learn to call a little and set up. Listen to the woods wake up and call one to the barrel. I promise if you do and its a tom and he's gobbling and strutting in, your heart will jump out of your chest.
What he said.

Congrats on your first!!!
 

Huntaholic

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Joined
Oct 22, 2000
Messages
4,150
Location
Fer Tick
Why not just keep your snarky remarks to yourself. Nobody asked you to pat him on the back. You are a legend in your own mind.
Id gladly share a camp with him, not so sure about you though. We go through stages in life. Ive been in the kill em all stage but eventually got out of it when I gave the animlas the respect they deserve.
 

gasman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
7,899
Location
South Of The Hatchie
Congrats my friend
Id gladly share a camp with him, not so sure about you though. We go through stages in life. Ive been in the kill em all stage but eventually got out of it when I gave the animlas the respect they deserve.
well y'all go have a bud light together. If the OP is happy with his kill, and it was a legal kill, then so be it. As long as it made him happy that's all that matters.
 

Huntaholic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2000
Messages
4,150
Location
Fer Tick
Congrats my friend

well y'all go have a bud light together. If the OP is happy with his kill, and it was a legal kill, then so be it. As long as it made him happy that's all that matters.
Im a bourbon man myself lol. Lets not get into a peepee contest, ok?
 

Urban_Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2012
Messages
6,748
Location
Hendersonville
I have held off commenting on this since you posted it. First, there's no feeling like taking a bird on dirt you own. Congrats on that achievement.

With that said, for a seasoned turkey hunter your story turns my stomach. I love turkey hunting as much as I love drawing oxygen each day. If I were to have yard turkeys they'd absolutely get a pass from me. But that's just me and my own stipulations I apply to myself.

In addition I don't find it funny or cool shooting anything from the porch, the kitchen window or my truck. To me it's just not hunting, it's killing which I've long since outgrown.

Look, I know you're ecstatic and I'm glad you had success but it's extremely difficult for me to pat you on the back and say awesome job given the circumstances. Truly not wanting to be an ass but damn this is so far away from how I hunt and would want to kill a bird that it's basically impossible for me to find joy in your story. In some ways it makes me sad, but at the same time happy for you that you found joy in this experience
Thought you were just anti-decoy… sounds like you have a playbook we must all follow. Maybe one day we can all be as righteous as you!
 

Huntaholic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2000
Messages
4,150
Location
Fer Tick
I still say close the whole season statewide for 3 years. If you want to know for sure if we as hunters have anything to do with the decline, CLOSE THE SEASON!
 

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