After the ice storm

[coyote101]

The ice storm messed up the opening of the second week of the fall firearms turkey season. I couldn't get out to hunt Saturday or Sunday so I gave it a try this morning.

The temps got near or above freezing yesterday and last night and a lot of the ice melted off of the fields. The ice remained in the woods and walking quietly was impossible, so I decided to stick to the edge of a field where I knew the turkeys had been pitching down last week.

I had a particular tree in mind where I was going to set up and wait for the birds to fly down. As I walked along the edge of the woods to get to there, I could see turkeys roosted in the trees right at the edge of the woodline. I had expected them to be a little deeper in the woods. When I got to my spot I could clearly make out two turkeys roosted in the tree I was going to use. (As it turned out. there were actually six) It was about an hour and a half before sunrise and it didn't appear as if I had disturbed the birds so, time to change plans.

A narrow strip of trees approaches to about forty yards, perpendicular to the block of woods where the turkeys were. I crossed that narrow gap and moved another twenty or so yards away from the turkeys along that strip. I set my decoy out a few yards into the field and set up on the ground in some weeds. I was only sixty or seventy yards from the turkeys, but it was still early and they hadn't made any noise, so I thought I might still have a chance. And then I waited.

As it slowly got lighter, I could count at least fifteen turkeys roosted right at the edge of the woods that I had walked along to coming in. I knew if I could see them they would be able to see me, so I tried to move nothing but my eyes.  I sat like that for nearly an hour before the first bird flew down about sixty yards in front of me.

Normally I would call a time or two to get their attention and hope they spotted my decoy, but I didn't want to attract any attention to myself and I knew they couldn't miss my decoy anyway. A couple of minutes later, here they come. There were probably thirty to thirty five of them and they all flew down near the same spot, just a little out of range. And they started to walk farther away.

Then a couple of hens spotted that decoy and just couldn't resist checking it out. They got to about thirty five yards and one of them gave me a clear shot and BANG.......she won the lottery. 

Mossberg 835 strikes again


I was set up just inside those scraggly weeds behind me


This ends my fall firearms turkey season, but I still get to try for one more with the crossbow. 


Normally I just filet the breast out, but I skinned this little hen, stuffed her and cooked her in one of those oven roasting bags. It turned out way better than I expected.

I'm going to take a friend of ours out in the morning and see if we can't get him a shot at one. Wish us luck.

Pat

[Okanagan]

You are GOOD at hunting, not just turkeys.  Good read.  Thanks.

[slagmaker]

Luck.to you both pat.

And congrats on the hunt today. Thanks for taking us along

[nastygunz]

Sigh...longgggggg time till the spring hunt.

[possumal]

Great story, great pictures. Kudos to you Pat.

[centerfire_223]

  Great story, I remember when we use to have a fall season. That was 20 years ago, then they done away with it and have never brought it back and we have tons of turkeys.

[gravesco hunter]

nice bird and good story congrats,there were only five taken here in graves co sat

[Carolina Coyote]

Way to go Pat, like Ronnie said down here no Fall hunt and only Toms.  cc

[HaMeR]

Good job once again Pat!! Nice looking bird!! Congratulations & Good Luck!!!!!!!   

[Hawks Feather]

Pat,

Seems you are turning into a turkey magnet.      Being able to sit for over an hour and not move anything but your eyes is an accomplishment.  The only way I can do that is when I am in a recliner and it is called sleeping.  Anyway, nice bird you have there and should be good eating.

Jerry

[shaddragger]

Sigh...longgggggg time till the spring hunt.

Ditto, but way to go Pat!

[KySongDog]

Pat,

Seems you are turning into a turkey magnet.

Way to go, Pat!      Weedwalker is the coyote magnet and you're the turkey magnet.   All you need now is a hat!   

[kyfuzzyface]

WTG Pat Congrats, The weather here has been a little rough also. Maybe I can get out before season closes.

[Frogman]

WTG!!  Pat!

Jim