Buddy of mine from college came down to hunt some southern turkeys. We used to hunt together for years back in Indiana for turkey and waterfowl, and then take a trip to North Dakota/Canada to wear out the ducks and geese. Haven't even seen each other in a dozen years, but text a couple times a year to keep in touch. Anyway, Wednesday morning took him and one of my girls to my best spot (again) and (again) the birds weren't in usual spot so we struck out there. Took my daughter home and went to another property and met up with the landowners sons (12 and 8) about 930. Climbed up the ridge and peeked into the pasture and saw one hen. She just quickly fed through the field and we went and set up in a good spot on a point jutting into the field. Sit down and make one call and HAMMER just over the rise of the pasture. One more call and HAMMER again, 20 seconds later I hear drumming and then two strutters come over the top 50yards and closing. I told the 8 year old to keep the red dot on one head and shoot when I say. At 30 yards I see the gun not pointing at them...he's froze! They get to 25 and see something, so my buddy rolls one with his BPS 10ga. The other kinda hangs for a few seconds, but I can't get the boy to line him up so he gets away. He's super pumped and not at all bummed at the missed opportunity, I told him he done good for first time and we'll get him next time.
Get up this morning for a quick hunt before work back at my best spot, except we set up in the OTHER pasture where they were yesterday. Three gobbled great on the roost, but instead of pitching into the field, they hit ridge and gobbled back and forth for about15 min. Finally two hens flew across the creek into the field, so we were ready. Suddenly on my hard right, a strutter appears at 50yds. I start to ease my gun his way when the other two fly across creek where the hens did, so I ease back towards them. They're at 75 yards and closing fast. They get to 40 and I tell my buddy to take the strutter and I'll take the stander...BOOM, BOOM. Double down! 635 and plenty of time to make it to work on time. I finally got used to one of my new diaphragms, and they ate it up...least that's what I'm telling myself!
Good times! Going to try and make this an annual event, but hopefully have more kids lined up to kill.
Get up this morning for a quick hunt before work back at my best spot, except we set up in the OTHER pasture where they were yesterday. Three gobbled great on the roost, but instead of pitching into the field, they hit ridge and gobbled back and forth for about15 min. Finally two hens flew across the creek into the field, so we were ready. Suddenly on my hard right, a strutter appears at 50yds. I start to ease my gun his way when the other two fly across creek where the hens did, so I ease back towards them. They're at 75 yards and closing fast. They get to 40 and I tell my buddy to take the strutter and I'll take the stander...BOOM, BOOM. Double down! 635 and plenty of time to make it to work on time. I finally got used to one of my new diaphragms, and they ate it up...least that's what I'm telling myself!
Good times! Going to try and make this an annual event, but hopefully have more kids lined up to kill.
