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Favorite Hunt Ever

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bvoss

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I know this one is hard to answer, but if you had to pick one, what is your favorite hunt you've ever been on in the turkey woods?

Here's mine:

In 2002 I had promised that I would take my little brother turkey hunting. He was with me the year before when I tried to get him on a big longbeard but his gun messed up so I ended up killing the bird (the first longbeard in our family after 4 years of hunting the birds). Needless to say he was upset ( He was only 9 that year) so i promised him over and over all summer, fall and winter that I would get him a bird that next spring before I ever pulled the trigger.
On opening morning we drove to the same farm that I killed my bird on and got after them. We hunted hard that morning but by 11:00 my little brother was in major need of a change of scenery.
We headed back to the home and decided to go try to strike up a bird on the farm behind our house. We got up on the ridge and cutt a few times and one hammered on the neighboring property, but he was WAY off. We decided he was too far and headed away from the bird cutting and running every 100 yards or so until we got to the opposite side of the property. By this time my little brother was wore out, his legs had had about all they could take and he was ready for a rest.
We headed back out the way we had came in and when we got about 100 yards or so from where we were started something told me to stop and call before we got back there. I did. And he HAMMERED!
I knew he was coming in because he had already came over 300 yards through the woods to get to where he was now. I sat my little brother up and his youth model twenty gauge was pointed in the right direction. I let out a couple of soft yelps and the bird hammered back. Even closer.
I was sitting right behind my brother looking over his right shoulder and he was leaning against me. All of a sudden I heard that old familiar "TK-VVVVVMMMMMMMMMMMMM"" and saw his fan comming over the ridge at about 20 yards away.
The bird was too far to the right for my brother to get on him immediately so we got to watch him make his way to our left in full strut. When he lined up in front of the barrel, My brother let him have it! That was 9 years ago and we've been wearing em out together ever since!
9 in beard
3/4 in spurs
20 lbs
And my favorite turkey hunt ever.
 
I took my wife on her first evening hunt, at the time we were still dating, her dad had told her evening was no good but I convinced her to go anyway. We literally got out of the truck, walked down through the woods to the field edge, spotted a tom with some hens and within 5 minutes I was carrying the bird back up to the truck after she made the 38 yard shot on it, pulled the same thing off with the next year set up calling in a roosting area
 
My favorite would have to be my first turkey hunt ever because I killed a bird first time out, well here is the story, I was about 8 or 9 at the time and me and my dad had been squirrel hunting that previous fall when we heard what sounded like a stampede coming, so we waited it out to see what it was coming, over 100 turkey literally starting pouring off the ridge scratching and tearing up the leaves as they went, so after this we decided we were going to try turkey hunting that spring, we did little to no research on turkey hunting so we were practically clueless on how to hunt them and how much to call or even how to call, we bought a lohman pump yelper because it seemed the easiest to use, well we go back in the woods about an hour before daylight on opening morning, I was dressed in old army camo and tennis shoes lol, we sat up in an old pine tree that fell, the birds were gobbling all morning from every direction, at around 7 am, 2 toms came to our setup and were gobbling only 40 yds away nonstop, but our blind offered very little viewing so we couldn't ever see them, so we got discouraged when they left but we didn't give up, around 9 am, those same 2 turkey I assume came back to our setup again, this time I had a little 1 foot opening where I could see them strutting, I slid my 12 gauge new englander out the whole and whispered to my dad " can I shoot now?" He gave me the go ahead, I let the 12 gauge sing, killed him dead in his tracks, I has the happiest kid on earth that day, we took pictures, then drove him into town to go show the family, this was the day before easter so we ate him at our family get together that next day, I have killed 9 gobblers since then, that was 10 years ago and I am still as hooked as I was the day I killed my first turkey
 
Spring of 99
Hunted in Ohio with my dad
Opening day made a good shot on a
24lb 12" 1.25
Dad had done his homework and put me right on him
Really a fun week
 
my first and only turkey was just a jake but me and big8's doubled up that day.

I had went and sit with him the year before on my property in ky but just couldnt ever get into it. the next year me and him went out there about 3 days before season just scouting and seen 20-30 turkeys and that got me fired up. i decided then i was buying my license.
opening morning me and him split up but only sat about 30 mins and it came a flood. we left and the rain finally let up to a drizzle about 12. we headed back out about 1 and seen a few walking in. didnt hear any gobbles so we just sat up at a place we knew they crossed from a corn field to my grass field. we had been sitting over an hr or so with no luck and decided we were going to move to another place. big8's just happened to look behind us as we were standing up to put the blind down and he said dont move. my blood got to pumping and he told me 3 jakes were coming in. i looked and they had just crossed a creek and walked within 5 yards to my left straight to the decoys. i could have shot but wanted to let them get in front of us so we could both shoot. about the time they got in front they knew something wasnt right but it was to late. i shot first and big8's right after and we had 2 jakes down at 10yards. it wasnt an awesome hunt and i havent taken a turkey since.

................................

Last year on the same property me and big8's were there on opening morning again. we heard a few gobbles but couldnt get anything to work. about 8 we walked down to the spot we had killed our turkeys 2 years before and seen a longbeard out in a cornfield. we started calling trying to work it onto our property and thought we had him working. then 5 jakes come in and jump his butt and take his hen. this all happened about 400 yards away and was neat to watch. the 5 jakes went up to the front part of my property and i told him if we hurry we might can cut them off. so off we go and we make it across the property pretty quick and walk out in a field. i was hitting the slate call seeing if i could get one to commit but with no luck. we were standing there just watching some deer feed when we hear a gobble. we immediately drop down. were in the middle of a field, no masks on or anything. we have to sit back to back to stay comfortable and finally after 15 mins have to 2 longbeards commit and come out in the field at 30 yards. big8's lays the smackdown on him. i think he had an 11'' beard. that was an awesome hunt too because we were totally unprepared for that with no masks on and just posted up in the middle of a field.
 
juvi hunt last year!!! my son and i worked on a group of gobblers from 6-2.30 they finally broke and came at 2.30 to the strutting jake and my then 8 yr old son had his first gobbler i was so proud he hung with me all day waiting on those birds
23lb
10.5in beard
1in spurs
Ajtpg1.jpg
 
Well this all started back around the VOUS last year. I had been trying to get the wife in the woods with me for some time to show her why I invested so much to spend time in the woods.

With the help of Outdoor Lady & Feisty RedHead, I got her talked into it. She took her hunter safety course last spring to give hunting a try. Usually in the past when I watched hunting dvds, she paid little if any attention. Things changed when talking turkeys for her first hunt. She watched every second of every dvd I played. Oh how she had the fever!!

The opening weekend of season was a bust due to heavy rain and wind. Me being familiar with the property and birds, knew they never did much in those conditions, so to hunt there was about pointless. Needless to say, she was heartbroken when we had to drive home empty handed, cold, and wet.

At the VOUS, bigB invited us out to turkey hunt with him later on in the spring. A few weeks into season, I got a call. After some arrangements were made, Mrs. Grizzly & I were set to partake in a weekend of hunting in Chapel Hill.

I hunted with bigB on Friday as the Mrs. was at work and scored a heavy bird..... we almost doubled. Saturday came and it was Mrs. Grizzly's time to take the shot.

BigB told us where to set up and wait for daylight. We did and after daybreak several hens lightly yelped and made us aware of their presence. Suddenly, a thunderous gobble rang out through the morning stillness. Mrs. Grizzly sitting against my right side, nearly jumped out of her skin. Hearing her first real turkey gobble in person made her heart pound, I could feel it through our arms touching.

Soon after some soft yelps, the hens flew down about 30 yards in front of us. The tom gobbled as the hens fed in front of us. One hen still in the tree flew down, and for some reason...... maybe the hen decoy surprised her, but she flew right back up and over the treeline where she had been sleeping.

I told the Mrs. to just be still and soon the toms flapping wings let us know he was coming to join the party. He landed left of us and the hens were on our right. I told her that this was perfect as he should strut right by us going to the feeding hens. He did just that and at 40 yards she rolled him.

She jumped up and went out to see him stopping about half way. She had to catch her breath. She was so excited and relieved she had made the shot and not missed!!! She started to cry from excitement. BigB soon joined us and she told her story to him and showed off her first turkey.

Without Tndeer and some really great friends, this wouldn't have been possible!!

21 pounds, 10.5" beard, 1/2" spurs

IMG_1324.jpg
 
knightrider said:
great story grizz i cant wait till spring
Click to expand...

Thanks, I know it was a long read. I like to include the little details because it puts more meaning into a story.

We are already looking forward to turkey season!!!
 
i got to my hunting area one morning at the end of a very stormy night. as i sat in the truck watching the lightning flash across the sky i wonder what i am doing there. the sky starts to lighten up and the storms appear to be on the out. i got out of the truck and shut the door when 2 different birds gobbled. a rumble of thinder and 4 different birds gobbled. train whistle blows and several more birds sounded off. best i could figure, there were 7 different birds in 7 different directions. so while trying to guess which one was the stupid bird, i pick one of the closer ones to try. i was in the bottom of a hollow and could see 2 toms strutting and gobbling about half way up the ridge. they went out of sight(ignoring my calls) around the end of the ridge so i RAN up the ridge to where they had been strutting and started calling. i had one at 20-25 yds waiting on it to clear a downed oak when the 2nd tom, who had snuck in behind me, sounded the alarm. that is the ONLY time i have gone turkey hunting and not wished i had gone fishing instead.
 
It would be hard for me to pick a favorite turkey hunt...I love them all. I have called in first birds for two friends that were pretty cool hunts. One of them killed three with one shot (one 3 year old and two 2 year olds) and they were spread out pretty good. I still have trouble understanding how he hit all three of them. I was itching to double up but when he shot the one on my side just dropped. That was the second time he had been turkey hunting and the first time he had shot at one. I called another buddy's first in for him off the roost one morning, one of them loud-mouthed 2 year olds, and made him wait to shoot with the turkey at 20 yds. I kept cutting at him and he was literally gobbling non-stop. The guy was shaking so bad I could hear the forearm on his pump gun shaking. He drilled him as he was getting romantic with the decoy. I love turkey hunting
 
Originally Posted By: rem270
my first and only turkey was just a jake but me and big8's doubled up that day.

.............I shot first and big8's right after and we had 2 jakes down at 10yards. it wasnt an awesome hunt and i havent taken a turkey since.

................................


just to clear things up i meant to say it was an awesome hunt. thanks for catching that grizzly!!
 
My very own special hunt had to be my first longbeard called in and taken all by myself.

It started 4 years ago when a coworker kept telling me about turkey hunting and how challenging it could be. I had never hunted or even seen a turkey in real life at that time.

So he said that I could go with him and he would call while I shot. I went through the steps of getting prepared and opening weekend came and we were on a bird right after daybreak. I told him I wouldn't be the cause of a missed shot. If I had no shot, he was to shoot if he had the chance. Well as fate would have it, I had no shot and he dropped him at 30 yards.

A few weeks went by with no luck. Then finally my coworker and I rounded up two birds in two weekends, both of which I shot. The second being my best spurred bird to date with 1.5" spurs.

That was all fine and good, but by year three I was ready to try it solo. I bought an 870sm turkey gun from WalMart and a Kicks .665 choke tube for it. My first solo bird was a jake with a 4" beard that came in to investigate my hen decoy. I was shooting a new gun and if I missed using just the bead as a sight, I for sure didn't want to miss a nice longbeard.

A week later I was in some woods that are private but semi public at the same time. Other hunters hunt there too so I knew I would have competition around me. At daybreak, a gobble shattered the stillness lingering in the awakening woods. My heart started pounding and I quickly but quietly closed the distance to his tree. I got within 100 yards from his location and sat up against a nice tree with a deadfall to my right. I gave him some seductive hen yelps and he answered back several times. Then I heard wingbeats and a bird land in front of me. The woods are thick in places and I couldn't see the bird to know, but all doubt was gone when that thunderous gobble rumbled in my direction.

My heart was pounding and my breathing was short and rapid. Oh this feeling inside was tearing me up, my senses were on high alert. I was afraid to call too much and scare him, but I didn't want him to lose interest either. I gave him a few more yelps and scratched in the leaves. He gobbled again and I was sure he was on his way. A few seconds later, I saw a white head, then his tail fan easing through the trees. I started purring with my mouth and he turned to my direction. My hands got hot and the damp morning air was cool on my neck. He just kept coming, as if on a string, and I was pulling him right to me. Finally, I knew he was getting a little too close for comfort. At 15 steps, the 870 thundered back and my very first longbeard lay flopping in the leaves...... total time from locating him to laying him down was 20 minutes. The feeling of accomplishment rushed over my soul and I knew then, I was a turkey hunter.

For those who are new to the sport of turkey hunting, those that have experienced it will tell you too...... THERE IS NOTHING, I REPEAT NOTHING, LIKE HAVING A TURKEY GOBBLE IN YOUR FACE AT 20 YARDS AND HIS VOICE RESONATING THROUGH THE MORNING WOODS.

IMG_0798.jpg
 
Grizzly Johnson said:
My very own special hunt had to be my first longbeard called in and taken all by myself.

It started 4 years ago when a coworker kept telling me about turkey hunting and how challenging it could be. I had never hunted or even seen a turkey in real life at that time.

So he said that I could go with him and he would call while I shot. I went through the steps of getting prepared and opening weekend came and we were on a bird right after daybreak. I told him I wouldn't be the cause of a missed shot. If I had no shot, he was to shoot if he had the chance. Well as fate would have it, I had no shot and he dropped him at 30 yards.

A few weeks went by with no luck. Then finally my coworker and I rounded up two birds in two weekends, both of which I shot. The second being my best spurred bird to date with 1.5" spurs.

That was all fine and good, but by year three I was ready to try it solo. I bought an 870sm turkey gun from WalMart and a Kicks .665 choke tube for it. My first solo bird was a jake with a 4" beard that came in to investigate my hen decoy. I was shooting a new gun and if I missed using just the bead as a sight, I for sure didn't want to miss a nice longbeard.

A week later I was in some woods that are private but semi public at the same time. Other hunters hunt there too so I knew I would have competition around me. At daybreak, a gobble shattered the stillness lingering in the awakening woods. My heart started pounding and I quickly but quietly closed the distance to his tree. I got within 100 yards from his location and sat up against a nice tree with a deadfall to my right. I gave him some seductive hen yelps and he answered back several times. Then I heard wingbeats and a bird land in front of me. The woods are thick in places and I couldn't see the bird to know, but all doubt was gone when that thunderous gobble rumbled in my direction.

My heart was pounding and my breathing was short and rapid. Oh this feeling inside was tearing me up, my senses were on high alert. I was afraid to call too much and scare him, but I didn't want him to lose interest either. I gave him a few more yelps and scratched in the leaves. He gobbled again and I was sure he was on his way. A few seconds later, I saw a white head, then his tail fan easing through the trees. I started purring with my mouth and he turned to my direction. My hands got hot and the damp morning air was cool on my neck. He just kept coming, as if on a string, and I was pulling him right to me. Finally, I knew he was getting a little too close for comfort. At 15 steps, the 870 thundered back and my very first longbeard lay flopping in the leaves...... total time from locating him to laying him down was 20 minutes. The feeling of accomplishment rushed over my soul and I knew then, I was a turkey hunter.

For those who are new to the sport of turkey hunting, those that have experienced it will tell you too...... THERE IS NOTHING, I REPEAT NOTHING, LIKE HAVING A TURKEY GOBBLE IN YOUR FACE AT 20 YARDS AND HIS VOICE RESONATING THROUGH THE MORNING WOODS.

IMG_0798.jpg
Click to expand...
great story,and yes i only deer hunt to pass time till turkey season im eat up with turkey flu,i will agree 1000% there is nothing like having one gobble so close your ears ring and you can smell last nights supper on his breath he is so close, dang grizz all these stories have got me ready to go hunt one
 
Thanks for the kind words. I am ready for some turkey hunting myself!!!

I have hunted many a critter in my life. I never would have dreamed of falling for turkeys like I have.... the greatest quarry for me.
 
Grizzly Johnson said:
My very own special hunt had to be my first longbeard called in and taken all by myself.

It started 4 years ago when a coworker kept telling me about turkey hunting and how challenging it could be. I had never hunted or even seen a turkey in real life at that time.

So he said that I could go with him and he would call while I shot. I went through the steps of getting prepared and opening weekend came and we were on a bird right after daybreak. I told him I wouldn't be the cause of a missed shot. If I had no shot, he was to shoot if he had the chance. Well as fate would have it, I had no shot and he dropped him at 30 yards.

A few weeks went by with no luck. Then finally my coworker and I rounded up two birds in two weekends, both of which I shot. The second being my best spurred bird to date with 1.5" spurs.

That was all fine and good, but by year three I was ready to try it solo. I bought an 870sm turkey gun from WalMart and a Kicks .665 choke tube for it. My first solo bird was a jake with a 4" beard that came in to investigate my hen decoy. I was shooting a new gun and if I missed using just the bead as a sight, I for sure didn't want to miss a nice longbeard.

A week later I was in some woods that are private but semi public at the same time. Other hunters hunt there too so I knew I would have competition around me. At daybreak, a gobble shattered the stillness lingering in the awakening woods. My heart started pounding and I quickly but quietly closed the distance to his tree. I got within 100 yards from his location and sat up against a nice tree with a deadfall to my right. I gave him some seductive hen yelps and he answered back several times. Then I heard wingbeats and a bird land in front of me. The woods are thick in places and I couldn't see the bird to know, but all doubt was gone when that thunderous gobble rumbled in my direction.

My heart was pounding and my breathing was short and rapid. Oh this feeling inside was tearing me up, my senses were on high alert. I was afraid to call too much and scare him, but I didn't want him to lose interest either. I gave him a few more yelps and scratched in the leaves. He gobbled again and I was sure he was on his way. A few seconds later, I saw a white head, then his tail fan easing through the trees. I started purring with my mouth and he turned to my direction. My hands got hot and the damp morning air was cool on my neck. He just kept coming, as if on a string, and I was pulling him right to me. Finally, I knew he was getting a little too close for comfort. At 15 steps, the 870 thundered back and my very first longbeard lay flopping in the leaves...... total time from locating him to laying him down was 20 minutes. The feeling of accomplishment rushed over my soul and I knew then, I was a turkey hunter.

For those who are new to the sport of turkey hunting, those that have experienced it will tell you too...... THERE IS NOTHING, I REPEAT NOTHING, LIKE HAVING A TURKEY GOBBLE IN YOUR FACE AT 20 YARDS AND HIS VOICE RESONATING THROUGH THE MORNING WOODS.

IMG_0798.jpg
Click to expand...

Awesome Story Grizzly. It's hard to top the experience of killing that first long beard by yourself. Thanks for sharing.
 

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