Killed my first bird in '04 a jake. Busted several times since then and didn't go at all last year. Decided to try it again this year. This past Monday was my opening day with not even one gobble. Seen several hens but the woods were quiet.
Got in the woods around 0745 this morning and heard nothing.
Set up were I had seen turkeys during deer season and hit the box call a few times with no response. Tried it again about 10 minutes later and had a gobble back. I know the lease like the back of my hand and figured the bird to be about 400 yds away on the opposite end of the ridge. I decided to stay in my spot and see if I could bring him in this was at 0800. Hit the box call again and he answered back but not any closer. I sat there quietly for about 10 minutes and he gobbled and had cut the distance in half. I answered back and waited. Another 10 minutes or so and three hens came out of some thick brush and I figured he would be with them. Gun ready but no tom. The hens picked their way back toward the tom. I figured he would get with the hens and leave. I hit the box call again and nothing. I tried the mouth call and still nothing. I decided to just wait him out and see what happens. What seemed like forever he finally gobbled again and was about 100 yds out. I answered and put the box call down and got ready. About 5 minutes later I see a red head coming thru the browse. He would stop and strut then stick his head up. Didn't have a clear shot so I picked a small opening about 4 feet in front of him and used my mouth call just lightly and he walked into the clear spot and stuck his head up.....bang , flop and I was one very excited hunter. Ran over to him and he is was still flopping around and I could only just stand there and admire my kill. I worked this bird for about 45 minutes.
25 lbs , 10 inch beard with 1 inch spurs.
Got in the woods around 0745 this morning and heard nothing.
Set up were I had seen turkeys during deer season and hit the box call a few times with no response. Tried it again about 10 minutes later and had a gobble back. I know the lease like the back of my hand and figured the bird to be about 400 yds away on the opposite end of the ridge. I decided to stay in my spot and see if I could bring him in this was at 0800. Hit the box call again and he answered back but not any closer. I sat there quietly for about 10 minutes and he gobbled and had cut the distance in half. I answered back and waited. Another 10 minutes or so and three hens came out of some thick brush and I figured he would be with them. Gun ready but no tom. The hens picked their way back toward the tom. I figured he would get with the hens and leave. I hit the box call again and nothing. I tried the mouth call and still nothing. I decided to just wait him out and see what happens. What seemed like forever he finally gobbled again and was about 100 yds out. I answered and put the box call down and got ready. About 5 minutes later I see a red head coming thru the browse. He would stop and strut then stick his head up. Didn't have a clear shot so I picked a small opening about 4 feet in front of him and used my mouth call just lightly and he walked into the clear spot and stuck his head up.....bang , flop and I was one very excited hunter. Ran over to him and he is was still flopping around and I could only just stand there and admire my kill. I worked this bird for about 45 minutes.
25 lbs , 10 inch beard with 1 inch spurs.
