Could Have Been Bad

[hunter22]

I have to tell this on myself. I am not sure how many of you have hunted the swamps down south but when you get into them everything starts looking the same. One afternoon I went out by myself into an area that had a creek and some big hardwood bottoms and a lot of swamp muck. This seems to be where the turkeys like to hang out down in Mississippi. I walked in about a half mile and found a beautiful spot and started calling. It was beautiful and I was just enjoying the afternoon. Suddenly the wind shifted and thunder started tolling up the creek. Perfect for making a gobbler sound off. I sat there about 30 more minutes and realized it was getting ready to storm so I took off for the truck. I had walked in without my GPS and only carried a compass. My truck was parked on a dead end road and all I had to do was walk west to get to the road. Well, I walked south of my truck and did not hit the road. 30 minutes later I realized something was bad wrong. By now it had started raining. I kept walking west though as it started lightning and hailing. I had golf ball size hail hitting me and knocking my hat off. I got under a big oak tree and put my vest over my head. The ground was completely white covered in hail. It was about 30 minutes till dark and I was soaking wet and realized I better make plans to spend the night in there. I walked upon a piece of private property that lies inside the WMA. Using my compass I walked to the southwest corner of the property. I knew my truck had to be northeast of this line. I found a trail and took off in that direction. About 15 minutes later I saw my truck. Needless to say I sure thanked the man upstairs for getting me out of that mess. All I can say is carry those GPS's when you go into the woods.   

[AlabamaDave]

Im glad you made it out of there in one piece!...That hail was in Alabama too...Worst ive ever seen!

[Gobbler Commander]

Rickey glad you didnt make a wrong turn i know its easy to .When in the woods im always
  thinking .when i hear a gobble at a distance and make move on him il mark the bird and the rd .

[hunter22]

Dave,

Where I was at the hail was golf ball size. At Jackson, Mississippi, which was not far away, there was record size softball size hail which damaged houses and hundreds of vehicles. I never dreamed in my lifetime I would be in the woods during a hail and lightning storm. I have to admit I was scared.

[AlabamaDave]

It wasnt that big here...but big enough...I was in my house,and i was A little scared!LOL....Kinda makes ya wonder if any turkeys are ever killed by hail!...It wouldnt take much,just one hittin him just right in the noggin!...Did it dent up your truck?

[West Augusta]

You got lucky Rickey.  Very Lucky.  Glad you are OK.

[hunter22]

Dave,

My truck is covered in the green pine pollen that falls down there each year about this time so I have not looked at it real close yet but I did not see any damage. But I sure cannot see how there are not some dents. My truck bed was full of hail stones when I got back to it. I know they were sure clanging off my gun and my head until I got the seat cushion off my vest over my head.

[jmck]

ya get down in those bottoms where you cannot see distance or a horizion, and its very easy to get lost.
Glad ya found a way out Rickey---spending the night wet would not have been good at all !!!!

[Silverspur]

Glad you made it out and found your truck!

[Mjc21706]

glad your ok rickey I woulda taken care of your calls if you never found your way out.

[Porter]

I went after a deer last season at dark and thought.. no need to take my gps...  It got completely dark and I lost orientation and it took me forever to get out of the woods

I know what you mean and I will never go out without my gps again!!!  Glad you made it out and that would be scary...

[Shadetree Callers]

Sage advice ! Glad you found your way !

[Pixie Dust]

 Space Blanket is good Insurance.. Light ..Takes up no room and it will save yO Booty .. Glad I get to read more of your Posts Rickey....    

[Blackfalcon]

Glad you made it out safely Rickey! Real easy to panic a bit in those situations which can only make things worse

[Turkeybuster]

Good to hear you are OK this type of senario can happen quick with weather conditions. It's common in the big woods up here too.

Jon