Man oh man.. .it felt so great to get out in the woods yesterday. I've been so blasted busy, I've hit the woods 3 times so far. Not what I am use to or expect from me.
I love fall turkey hunting. It's a passion that drives me crazy!!! We have had some "interesting" weather. Cool to hot to extremely cold. Woke up and wondered, are you serious about going in the 40's. My grandpa always told me, can't shoot one in the bed. That has motivated me multiple times to stay after it.
I have not been able to get a lot of sleep lately. I drove back from a conference Friday, got home about 9, packed my stuff and got to bed about 11. 2 am came way too early :-(
Go down toward the bottom and lean up against a big tree. My teeth were rattling and I was definitely not prepared for this cold. Wind was coming across the creek and right toward my back. I was really thinking... why are you not still in your warm bed for.
About that time... a big ole gobble sounds off as the sun is creeping over the horizon. Right then all the chills left. One gobble turned into two... into three... man that bottom was resonating some sweet sounds :-) I do a few clucks and a very soft yelp. They respond and I knew multiple birds were there.
The sun is up for about 30 minutes and I let out another cluck... I hear a gobble and immediately wing flaps and I see one sail across the field. Thinking man this is going to be a quick morning. I hear another gobble and they all pitch down. They are behind me (it's thick and the creek does not allow me to see more than 5 yards in front of me) and I hear them starting fighting and fighting purrs are everywhere. I am breathing extremely hard as I know they are close. Then as soon as it starts, it quits. I can hear them feeding and I just give them some soft clucks from time to time. A couple of hours go by and I'm about to have to pack up. It's my wife's birthday and I promised her I would be home before noon. I give out some aggressive hen yelps with some jake yelps too.
The woods went completely silent then. Thoughts of me spooking them ran through my head. As I'm looking behind me (trying to spot them) I notice something move out of my peripherals in front of me. About 100 yards in front of me are 6 heads looking and heading my way! Needless to say, I was not prepared to shoot. I slowly put my call down and get my gun in the ready position. They know something is up, but not sure what. I slowly bring my call up, and cluck. Lead bird puts his head down and runs toward me. I know he has closed several yards off, but I'm not real sure of the distance. See I'm terrible at distancing (ask Darleen I convinced him to shoot once way beyond ANY shotguns distance). I know the lead bird is way out there. He passes by and I pass on him, second bird gets the pass, third bird too. Fourth and fifth bird start fighting... Back bird has a huge red neck and I think, I'm going to try and take him. He's focusing on the two fighting. Red dot on ...safety off and I hold at the top of his head and to the right (knowing he's moving a bit). Deep breathe and pull the trigger. Down he went. Jack another shell in and think, tag out, but the other 5 are in the air and gone. I was hoping they would stay around and attack their fallen comrade.
Get up and go over to the bird. I had grabbed my range finder and ranged the distance. 49 yards. Not the happiest with myself for shooting that far, but the Longbeards did their job. 3" #5's dropped him just as easy as any non-toxic shot.
I'm not a big fan of shooting long beards during fall, but there are 3 flocks on this farm and at least 15 long beards running on it. I'm pretty sure I did not hurt my spring chances :-)
Now for those new members that are wondering what is Chaos... that's my call from my good ole friend Morgan. Teak/Ebony hen box. That call cost him a friendship with ole Cox, but created a friendship with me I will always cherish. Always believe the real judges are birds and this box did it's magic for me on this cold Ozark morning.
Oh and yes... I was in trouble with the wife. I was a bit late on my promise
