TWO BIRDS

[huntmaster80]

Well the day started off slow, with a lone gobble in the next galaxy. I called for about 2 hours with no response,  so I decided to try another spot.

Upon arrival at spot #2 I got out of my truck and took about ten steps when I spooked a lone hen from under a pine tree.  As I neared the wood edge I let out a couple yelps and boom two birds, but they were still a ways off.  I attempted to cut the distance in half, when I found a spot I let out a couple more yelps and the birds were now somehow back toward where I had started off.

I set a jake and a hen decoy out and found the best cover I could get, which wasn't good at all.  I sat and called again and the birds were close.  It only took about 2 minutes before I set eyes on the first one, a huge tom with a great bird in full strut.  The second was a bit smaller, so I had my eyes on the bigger one that was showing off for the plastic decoy.  

As the first bird cleared the brush, I could see it was the smaller one, and the bigger one was still strutting a bit behind.  As I looked back at the smaller bird who was only about 15 yards away now, he was standing straight up looking right at me.

I then tried to stand to get a shot at the bigger bird behind the brush, and as quick as they came in they were gone, and I still had all my arrows in hand.  

Well I guess I will try there in the am inside of a blind, hopefully with better luck.  

[59Alaskan]

Sounds like a great hunt!  I am learning I am in no way suited for hunting turkey outside a blind.  They can see my heart pounding at 70 yards I think.

I did have one spot me from a good 50-60 yards off last year and I thought I wasn't moving at all.

You learned quite a bit and thanks for sharing!  Go out and get them!

[Friend]

Kool!!!!!!! Have hunted hard for two weeks and have yet to loose an arrow. Some close but none have broken my 15 yard self imposed limit. Have hunted many years and my predicament is old business. Keep rolling the dice and hunting smart, even on hard hunted public land, and eventually you come up double sixes. Sometimes I find myself rolling dice thru the next season.

Best of luck!

[maineac]

That was a tough one.  At least you had them in range. pretty tough to stand up and have them stay and try to figure what is happening.  They are good at spotting danger and faster at reacting to it.

[59Alaskan]

I had two come with in my 15 yard limit this weekend...both hens though and they didn't bring any stragglers in with them.

Oh well, it's still great to be in the woods with them.

I just try to learn every time I am out there and keep going out.

[huntmaster80]

I really hoping to post a pic on this thread tomorrow. But man it was exciting to even have them close!!!!!!  I have never had a turkey close enough to hear the wing feathers draying in the leaves. What a rush!!!!        

[huntmaster80]

Is it a bad idea to go back in the same area tomorrow. It is only about 50 acres but the birds are always in there?

[KSdan]

Maybe wait, but if tomorrow is your day off- go for it.  Use a different sounding call. . . do things a little different.  Maybe even less calling. . .

[huntmaster80]

All I can say for today was bust!  Two hens that's it. They sat up in the trees forever and when the flew down they flew across a huge field where I am not allowed to hunt.  So im gona give them a couple days to settle down and try again.  This is not easy at all!!!!!!

[Bernie B.]

Isn't this a great sport!  I could feel your excitement and frustration.  I shot right over a jake at 14 yards last weekend and would give a lot to have that shot back!  Luckily I have another tag in hand for next weekend.  Regardless of the outcome it will be exciting to just get out in my turkey woods again!  Thanks for sharing!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[centaur]

Turkeys are tough this spring, at least for me. Birds are henned up,weather has been lousy, and stalking is near impossible. But , there are still a couple of weeks to go.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

First of all, congratulations on a nice morning. You had better luck in one morning than I've had since the season started.

A couple things went wrong with this scene.
#1 was the birds heard you and aswered you so they knew exactly where you were. Rather than "Cut the distance" you should have moved only far enough to find a good place to hide.

#2 You can't try to stand up when turkeys are on ya. If you can see them, chances are they can see you. A turkey has 270 deg. field of vision and they use every singel degree of it to their advantage. With a slight turn of their head they can cover the remaining 90 deg. in a split second, so just pretend like they can see all the way around them.

The blind would be a good idea because you must be in position for the shot before they get right up on ya, the blind would conceal your movement enough that you may be able to get turned on them if they come in from a slightly different direction? But even in a blind you still have to watch how much you move around in there because they can still pick up on movement through the blind windows.

I see you since went back before I replied, I'd let that property cool down for a couple days if you can, don't know how long you've still got in the season? Bumping them out of there too many times will send them packing.
Good thing turkeys can't smell or nobody would ever kill one.

Good Luck!

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Sounds like an awesome morning hunt. It is funny how we learn more from a miss or getting busted then a successful hunt. Might I suggest the Barronet Snake Eye blind. It is 80 inches tall and 80 inches wide. Super nice blind to hunt with traditinal gear. It has a ton of window configurations. I got mine with the Backland Camo on it and it was only $170. Just as good as the double bull but half the price. I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a blind for the db. Next best thing in my oppinion. It helped me bag my frist trad kill yesterday. Check out my post to see what the blind looks like.
I loved it