Killminister
Well-Known Member
Before you read:
FIRST of all, the stories are pretty long, but I included them for those of you who are interested in the details. Also, All birds taken with 870 super mag, MAD Max choke .665, 3 � Hevi Magnum Blends 5,6,& 7�s.
SECONDLY, I started Turkey hunting 5 years ago. Since that time, I have only used Win Supremes or Fed flight controls to save money, and have done fairly well, but have always wondered if I should upgrade to a high end load. This year, I decided to break the bank and go with 3 � Hevi Mag blends. On a whim, I bought them Friday before opening day, and shot 1 time. Where my Win�s put 22 pellets in a very conservative kill shot area in the head and neck at 40 yards, the Magblends put 51 in the same area, same distance�(Over 2 times as many pellets in a 10� circle on that shot, and I even pulled bad to the right on the magblend shot). There was NO comparison. As a result, I firmly believe it was the best decision I made all year. The range, knockdown, and even the extra confidence it gave me was undeniable. No doubt I was able to tag out in less than two weeks as a result. 2 -51 yard shots and some of my decision making were evidence of that. Just food for thought.
#1: Opening day public land bird: 3-31-12
Opening day started with a bang (pun intended). I decided for the first time to spend my opening morning on public land. It wasn�t a popular move with my buddies, but since I had watched a tom in this area several mornings, I wanted to give myself the best chance to bring him home. As a result I got to that spot 2 hours before daylight. I wasn�t a minute too soon because a truck pulled in behind me to park. He and his buddy got upset and left. Then I had two more hunters walk in toward me about an hour later, but moved on when I flashed my light at them. They stuck around till after the hunt and were great guys. Happened to be two TnDeer members I got to meet for the first time�ImThere & Nimrod. Anyways, at daybreak, heard several gobbles. I was set up overlooking a field with my back to the river and just a single hen decoy placed 20 yards in front of me. Ended up having a Tom roosted right behind me gobbling at 30 yards, I watched him for about 20 minutes before he decided to pitch down about 80 yards to my left, into the field. 10 or so hens followed him. I eventually saw a group of 20 or so birds that had now moved about 120 yards or so away from me. As I continued to call, I was able to break a group of 4 jakes off and call them in within 25 yards multiple times. I bet they probably made a 300 yard round trip, back and forth� but the toms were hen�ed up, strutting and satisfied. I watched this for about 2 hours, until I had to leave. Calling birds in is by far my preferred choice of hunting, but since the birds were going to bust me if I stood up, I decided I may as well back out to the creek bed in the tree line and try to put the sneak on them as they were only about 40 yards off the tree line. It took me about an hour to quietly move toward the birds, lots of stops and belly crawling. I made it to the edge several times, but the birds were never within 60 and moving gradually away from me. I moved once more and decided to give it one more shot. The birds were about 65 yards from me and slowly moving away� BUT.. I didn�t realize I was extremely close to a hen who was nesting by herself. I alerted her..she putted, and flew over me, across the tree line. Then 1 by 1 each and every hen, and jake begin to put and fly off. I thought for sure the hunt was over, but to my amazement, the Toms never flew. As a matter of fact, they begin to walk toward and across me toward the trees.. When the first got to what I thought was 45 yards, I put him down. Turned out to be a 51 yrd shot. 9� Beard, 1 3/16� spurs.
#2: Private Land bird: 4-4-12
What a great morning. Went to a private farm this morning at about 5:15 a.m... just wanted a quick hunt before going into the office. I happened to see a bird walk into the wood line the evening before around 5 p.m., so I figured I would return to that spot hoping they may have roosted there. I placed my hen decoy (she mobile) about 12 yards in front of me in the field and sat down next to the wood line... I never owl hooted or crow called, instead decided to let the woods wake up on its on. At 5:59 a.m., I heard the first gobble about 200 yards behind me, on other property. I waited and about the 5th gobble from him, a bird gobbled directly just above/behind me. I wasn't expecting at all and It was so close and so loud, I jumped and thought that I may have spooked the bird. I didn't have a gun up or my slate ready, just my mouth call (the preacher). The bird was either in the same tree i was sitting at or directly behind it, but couldn't have been 20 yards from me. I decided to stay quite since I was so close, but then a hen started calling aggressively behind me in the woods on the other side of the tom. I decided to just do a series of 3 soft yelps on my mouthcall, hoping it would get his attention and he would see the decoy. It worked. He gobbled at it and I shut up. I heard his wings open..Once I heard him pitch, and I saw him over me in my peripheral, I raised and aimed... He sat down 32 yards from me locked on the decoy. Feet weren't on the ground 5 seconds and I pulled the trigger at 6:13 a.m. 10" beard, 1" spurs,... Bird in the fridge, spurs & beard in my man cave, showered, Hardee's drivthru, and at the Office by 8:15 a.m....
#3: Private land bird: 4-9-12
Got #3 of season this morning @ 6:42 a.m. Hunting by a tractor in the middle of a private farm. I had seen birds strutting there the previous week, so I thought I would give it a try. Nothing was roosted anywhere close, so I repositioned a few times... Around 6:30, I heard a bird gobble around 150-200 yards off... Thought there was no way I would work him in, but as I continued to call, he would cut me off and finally he started coming. As soon as he broke in the field, about 75 yards off, he started running. He then broke about 45 yards out and instead of going in front of me to my decoy, he went behind me (behind the tractor). I knew he wasn't spooked, so I looked back behind me, and I had another tom with hens that came in quite to me, but behind the tractor. I had such a difficult time taking a shot. Was so afraid I was going to blow out one of the tractor tires. Even though I had the birds at 30 yards, I had to wait till one of the Toms crossed me at what I thought was 45-50 yards. Turned out to be a 51 yard shot. 9� Beard, 1 3/16� spurs,
#4 Private land bird: 4-13-12
This particular morning I set up in a private farm I had never hunted before. I had known birds were there, but didn't know where they were roosting. It is basically a bowl of about 15 acres or so of field surrounded on 3 sides with thin hardwoods. I set by the biggest tree in the middle of the field. I had several birds gobbling but too far off. I finally heard a bird straight in front of me, uphill in the center of the bowl, about 200 yards away (150 yards of field and 50 yds of woods prob). I wasn't sure if the land owner wanted me up that direction, so I decided to stay put, never thinking the bird would cut that kind of distance. I had my B mobile and she mobile up in the field though, and felt like If i could just get him to the edge, he would come in. He gobbled his head off, so I knew he didn't have any hens with him. I started to work on him with my slate, where he continued to cut me off. Sounded like he was pacing back and forth, but never committing. This went on for about 45 minutes with several periods of me going quite for 10 min or so, and him gobbling the whole time. I finally decided to mix it up with my Red Wasp, and he went nuts... After a few series on the red wasp, I decided to cut real hard on my slate... he gobbled again, and then within seconds gobbled at 150 yards off, and I knew he was in the field, behind a few scattered trees. I finally saw him strutting around 120. Another couple yelps on the red wasp and he gobbled and broke. Came in to 60 yards. I've had 2 51 yard shots this season, but decided not to try 60. I think he was a little intimidated by B mobile and was figuring out if he wanted to pick a fight or not. Anyways he stood there at 60, gobbled a few times and then began to WALK AWAY! I was heart broke. Second guessing myself. He made it to 70 yards.. Then to 75. I purred, nothing. I yelped softly, nothing. Then... I remembered reading a post from REN the other day where he spit and drummed and the bird came in.. So last ditch effort. I spit and drummed and that joker stopped in his tracks and immediately strutted... I spit and drummed again, he broke strut and cut 30 yards in seconds. I put him down at 49 steps. 1 1/8 spurs, 11" beard.
Extremely thankful to the Lord for safe and blessed season. Got in the woods 6 times, killed a longbeard on 4 of the hunts and passed on multiple jake opportunities the other two� Couldn�t have been better. Hope I didn�t get to spoiled this year. NOTHING like Turkey hunting� Hope everyone has a safe and successful remainder of the season. Keep posting your stories as I love reading them and have learned and profited from them greatly over the last few years.
FIRST of all, the stories are pretty long, but I included them for those of you who are interested in the details. Also, All birds taken with 870 super mag, MAD Max choke .665, 3 � Hevi Magnum Blends 5,6,& 7�s.
SECONDLY, I started Turkey hunting 5 years ago. Since that time, I have only used Win Supremes or Fed flight controls to save money, and have done fairly well, but have always wondered if I should upgrade to a high end load. This year, I decided to break the bank and go with 3 � Hevi Mag blends. On a whim, I bought them Friday before opening day, and shot 1 time. Where my Win�s put 22 pellets in a very conservative kill shot area in the head and neck at 40 yards, the Magblends put 51 in the same area, same distance�(Over 2 times as many pellets in a 10� circle on that shot, and I even pulled bad to the right on the magblend shot). There was NO comparison. As a result, I firmly believe it was the best decision I made all year. The range, knockdown, and even the extra confidence it gave me was undeniable. No doubt I was able to tag out in less than two weeks as a result. 2 -51 yard shots and some of my decision making were evidence of that. Just food for thought.
#1: Opening day public land bird: 3-31-12
Opening day started with a bang (pun intended). I decided for the first time to spend my opening morning on public land. It wasn�t a popular move with my buddies, but since I had watched a tom in this area several mornings, I wanted to give myself the best chance to bring him home. As a result I got to that spot 2 hours before daylight. I wasn�t a minute too soon because a truck pulled in behind me to park. He and his buddy got upset and left. Then I had two more hunters walk in toward me about an hour later, but moved on when I flashed my light at them. They stuck around till after the hunt and were great guys. Happened to be two TnDeer members I got to meet for the first time�ImThere & Nimrod. Anyways, at daybreak, heard several gobbles. I was set up overlooking a field with my back to the river and just a single hen decoy placed 20 yards in front of me. Ended up having a Tom roosted right behind me gobbling at 30 yards, I watched him for about 20 minutes before he decided to pitch down about 80 yards to my left, into the field. 10 or so hens followed him. I eventually saw a group of 20 or so birds that had now moved about 120 yards or so away from me. As I continued to call, I was able to break a group of 4 jakes off and call them in within 25 yards multiple times. I bet they probably made a 300 yard round trip, back and forth� but the toms were hen�ed up, strutting and satisfied. I watched this for about 2 hours, until I had to leave. Calling birds in is by far my preferred choice of hunting, but since the birds were going to bust me if I stood up, I decided I may as well back out to the creek bed in the tree line and try to put the sneak on them as they were only about 40 yards off the tree line. It took me about an hour to quietly move toward the birds, lots of stops and belly crawling. I made it to the edge several times, but the birds were never within 60 and moving gradually away from me. I moved once more and decided to give it one more shot. The birds were about 65 yards from me and slowly moving away� BUT.. I didn�t realize I was extremely close to a hen who was nesting by herself. I alerted her..she putted, and flew over me, across the tree line. Then 1 by 1 each and every hen, and jake begin to put and fly off. I thought for sure the hunt was over, but to my amazement, the Toms never flew. As a matter of fact, they begin to walk toward and across me toward the trees.. When the first got to what I thought was 45 yards, I put him down. Turned out to be a 51 yrd shot. 9� Beard, 1 3/16� spurs.
#2: Private Land bird: 4-4-12
What a great morning. Went to a private farm this morning at about 5:15 a.m... just wanted a quick hunt before going into the office. I happened to see a bird walk into the wood line the evening before around 5 p.m., so I figured I would return to that spot hoping they may have roosted there. I placed my hen decoy (she mobile) about 12 yards in front of me in the field and sat down next to the wood line... I never owl hooted or crow called, instead decided to let the woods wake up on its on. At 5:59 a.m., I heard the first gobble about 200 yards behind me, on other property. I waited and about the 5th gobble from him, a bird gobbled directly just above/behind me. I wasn't expecting at all and It was so close and so loud, I jumped and thought that I may have spooked the bird. I didn't have a gun up or my slate ready, just my mouth call (the preacher). The bird was either in the same tree i was sitting at or directly behind it, but couldn't have been 20 yards from me. I decided to stay quite since I was so close, but then a hen started calling aggressively behind me in the woods on the other side of the tom. I decided to just do a series of 3 soft yelps on my mouthcall, hoping it would get his attention and he would see the decoy. It worked. He gobbled at it and I shut up. I heard his wings open..Once I heard him pitch, and I saw him over me in my peripheral, I raised and aimed... He sat down 32 yards from me locked on the decoy. Feet weren't on the ground 5 seconds and I pulled the trigger at 6:13 a.m. 10" beard, 1" spurs,... Bird in the fridge, spurs & beard in my man cave, showered, Hardee's drivthru, and at the Office by 8:15 a.m....
#3: Private land bird: 4-9-12
Got #3 of season this morning @ 6:42 a.m. Hunting by a tractor in the middle of a private farm. I had seen birds strutting there the previous week, so I thought I would give it a try. Nothing was roosted anywhere close, so I repositioned a few times... Around 6:30, I heard a bird gobble around 150-200 yards off... Thought there was no way I would work him in, but as I continued to call, he would cut me off and finally he started coming. As soon as he broke in the field, about 75 yards off, he started running. He then broke about 45 yards out and instead of going in front of me to my decoy, he went behind me (behind the tractor). I knew he wasn't spooked, so I looked back behind me, and I had another tom with hens that came in quite to me, but behind the tractor. I had such a difficult time taking a shot. Was so afraid I was going to blow out one of the tractor tires. Even though I had the birds at 30 yards, I had to wait till one of the Toms crossed me at what I thought was 45-50 yards. Turned out to be a 51 yard shot. 9� Beard, 1 3/16� spurs,
#4 Private land bird: 4-13-12
This particular morning I set up in a private farm I had never hunted before. I had known birds were there, but didn't know where they were roosting. It is basically a bowl of about 15 acres or so of field surrounded on 3 sides with thin hardwoods. I set by the biggest tree in the middle of the field. I had several birds gobbling but too far off. I finally heard a bird straight in front of me, uphill in the center of the bowl, about 200 yards away (150 yards of field and 50 yds of woods prob). I wasn't sure if the land owner wanted me up that direction, so I decided to stay put, never thinking the bird would cut that kind of distance. I had my B mobile and she mobile up in the field though, and felt like If i could just get him to the edge, he would come in. He gobbled his head off, so I knew he didn't have any hens with him. I started to work on him with my slate, where he continued to cut me off. Sounded like he was pacing back and forth, but never committing. This went on for about 45 minutes with several periods of me going quite for 10 min or so, and him gobbling the whole time. I finally decided to mix it up with my Red Wasp, and he went nuts... After a few series on the red wasp, I decided to cut real hard on my slate... he gobbled again, and then within seconds gobbled at 150 yards off, and I knew he was in the field, behind a few scattered trees. I finally saw him strutting around 120. Another couple yelps on the red wasp and he gobbled and broke. Came in to 60 yards. I've had 2 51 yard shots this season, but decided not to try 60. I think he was a little intimidated by B mobile and was figuring out if he wanted to pick a fight or not. Anyways he stood there at 60, gobbled a few times and then began to WALK AWAY! I was heart broke. Second guessing myself. He made it to 70 yards.. Then to 75. I purred, nothing. I yelped softly, nothing. Then... I remembered reading a post from REN the other day where he spit and drummed and the bird came in.. So last ditch effort. I spit and drummed and that joker stopped in his tracks and immediately strutted... I spit and drummed again, he broke strut and cut 30 yards in seconds. I put him down at 49 steps. 1 1/8 spurs, 11" beard.
Extremely thankful to the Lord for safe and blessed season. Got in the woods 6 times, killed a longbeard on 4 of the hunts and passed on multiple jake opportunities the other two� Couldn�t have been better. Hope I didn�t get to spoiled this year. NOTHING like Turkey hunting� Hope everyone has a safe and successful remainder of the season. Keep posting your stories as I love reading them and have learned and profited from them greatly over the last few years.
with my current setup I would feel uneasy shooting one at 40 yards. I like the security of a close shot though.
