jlmustain
Well-Known Member
Left the office at lunch and headed to a WMA. I had no luck at all this morning, but as I was heading to the office, the sun started shining. I've never killed a turkey, but I study the heck out of anything I do, and from what I could tell, turkeys like sunshine. I couldn't get that off my brain, so when the lines started filling up in fast food drive-thrus, I headed to public land and decided to be as quiet, soft, and patient as I could.
I chose not to locate, but instead chose to listen, and within ten minutes of walking away from the truck, I heard a gobbler. I moved in, set up, and listened. Nothing. Sat there for 30 mins, but nothing. I moved closer, and he gobbled again. This time it sounded like he was moving away from me (and he was already pretty far off to begin with), so I didn't set up. I kept moving slowly until I got near the top of a ridge. I knew I had to be back at the office by 1:00, so I set up and told myself I wasn't going to move again until leaving time. Not long after that I heard the last gobble - still way off.
I threw the diaphragm in, then grabbed the pot to purr a little. Nothing. Purred more. Nothing. Soft yelping. Nothing. I wanted to move, but I'd told myself I wasn't going to. Something just felt right. I know it sounds goofy, but it was like I could imagine that he was coming even though he wasn't calling back.
I heard some rustling to the south, and there they were. I thought it was one, but it was two. They'd come in stealthily, and I instead of being all worked up like I thought I'd be, I was calmly proud that my first bird was going to be a basically-silent public land bird. I lined my bead up, and the rest is history.
I listened to y'all. I read all I could. I went to seminars and such at the convention, and watched all the turkey hunting I could. I know he's a jake (dull, 3/4" spurs), and I know his beard isn't very long 6-7", but I'm proud either way.
First bird: down
I chose not to locate, but instead chose to listen, and within ten minutes of walking away from the truck, I heard a gobbler. I moved in, set up, and listened. Nothing. Sat there for 30 mins, but nothing. I moved closer, and he gobbled again. This time it sounded like he was moving away from me (and he was already pretty far off to begin with), so I didn't set up. I kept moving slowly until I got near the top of a ridge. I knew I had to be back at the office by 1:00, so I set up and told myself I wasn't going to move again until leaving time. Not long after that I heard the last gobble - still way off.
I threw the diaphragm in, then grabbed the pot to purr a little. Nothing. Purred more. Nothing. Soft yelping. Nothing. I wanted to move, but I'd told myself I wasn't going to. Something just felt right. I know it sounds goofy, but it was like I could imagine that he was coming even though he wasn't calling back.
I heard some rustling to the south, and there they were. I thought it was one, but it was two. They'd come in stealthily, and I instead of being all worked up like I thought I'd be, I was calmly proud that my first bird was going to be a basically-silent public land bird. I lined my bead up, and the rest is history.
I listened to y'all. I read all I could. I went to seminars and such at the convention, and watched all the turkey hunting I could. I know he's a jake (dull, 3/4" spurs), and I know his beard isn't very long 6-7", but I'm proud either way.
First bird: down
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