As I finish up, I was told that since this was The St. Jude Hunt, we had permission to tell the stories, this was a shotgun hunt.
I settled into the new position, I do not remember calling, just scrathing in the leaves as I settled in the new position. Some time later, I heard 'not a gobble', but what I thought was a gobbler yelp across the highway. I picked up my slate call gave two soft yelps, two purrs, laid the call down, scrathed in the leaves, laid my hands on my weapon. A sound off to my left, a slight move of the head and a roll of the eyes----there is gobbler standing 12 yds off my left shoulder. It happened FAST!!
Although, I did not see it, the bird had to have ran in, to have gotten there that fast. He is now on alert, probably that slight move of the head; turns left and is leaving, I pick him up, blot out his head and he is down at about 42/43 yds. A good, what we decided, 3 year old bird, 21/22#, 10" beard and good hooks.
Moral of the story: Listen to Ray! Ray knows his property and Ray knows his birds. Although I left Ray script, I managed to get back on track and into my turkey hunting mode, and with some luck----took a nice bird. Thanks Ray and Mike.
Now, does Ray have turkeys? Yes. Can you take a turkey at Ray's? Maybe/yes. If you have turkey hunting experience and have taken some birds, you can probably do it on your own; but, listen to Ray advice on where to go, how to set-up and how to call. If you want to learn turkey hunting, con, beg, plead, Ray or Mike to take you out. You will have a great time and learning experience.
The rest of the hunt was great also, did a little hog hunting Sat. evening, no sighting, but I did manage to lose a #250/300.00 pair of glassess. I called in a hen Sat. morning, but she did not bring a gobble with her. Mike (SB) helped me get a BD blind up Sat. afternoon, saw two hens that evening and got caught in a bad thunderstorm.
Great to meet everyone; Thanks Larry, Ray and Mike (SB). Great food. I will be back down for the hunt March 30, 31, April 1; will be using the bow more for the turkey hunt and trying to get into the hogs.
Good Hunting to All, Dennis
Topic: Gettin' Excited - Ray Hammond's Hog Heaven (Read 3673 times)
