myboomisdoom
Well-Known Member
This morning started off similar to the hunt last weekend. We had the birds roosted and were set up 30 minutes before daylight broke. We set up on the back side of a ridge where we would cut off the birds if they decided to head into a field. As luck would have it, the turkeys went the opposite direction and after a short 10 minute gobble session they shut up. At this point, we decided to split up. I was going to walk the farm and dad had decided he was going to walk home. The birds fired up between us again and we set up on either sides of the turkeys hoping that one of us would get a chance. Shortly after I was in position, the turkeys again went silent. 10 minutes later my dad appeared to say he spooked the birds and was calling it quits. I patiently waited for several minutes before opting to move about 400 yards across a creek on the edge of some cut over. Once in place at the third set up, I planned on listening and giving the birds sometime to settle down. However, this wasn't necessary as one hammered 5 minutes after set up. I used the box elder slate that I purchased at this years NWTF banquet and gave some yelps and occasional clucks every 5-7 minutes. Just before I was going to strike for the third round three gobblers appeared over the ridge and were making a straight line towards us. I was preparing for a chip shot, but about this time the lead of three birds appeared alarmed and began to retreat. I decided that it was now or never and let him have it at 45 yards. After doing a complete front flip and some flopping the bird was finished at 8:53. He weighed 18lbs with an 11 inch beard and 1 inch spurs, not bad for the second bird of the season. This was our (my yankee girlfriend and I) third hunt of the season and the third set up of the morning, I guess that the 3rd times the charm.
