catman529
Well-Known Member
So I was the first to this spot on public land and as I was unloading the car getting ready to head, another truck pulled up and an older guy got out. He was going down the trail and to the right, and I was going down the trail and to the left, so it worked out fine. Another truck came in but saw our vehicles and did a U turn.
Once it started to light up in the east I could see some birds on the roost in the same trees I watched when I scouted the place. Thought they might be hens though, couldn't tell. After hearing a lot of gobbling (mostly jakes) a few hundred yards to the right, I headed down that way around sunrise.
I set up in a tree line on the west side of the field. I couldn't see the birds in the trees where I knew there were jakes but I had heard plenty of them. By this time I was starting to hear a gunshot or two.
I did a bit of soft calling to let the birds know....
Out of nowhere, 2 hens flew down from the tree line across the field, straight towards me, and landed 5 yards in front of me on the field edge and then walked away to the left.
A bit more calling, and then without warning a jake came in silently and was about 5 yards in front of me where the hens were. I could barely make out the 1 inch beard when I saw him. I did't have time to get the gun up, and when he saw there was no hen there he started putting and walked away.
A few minutes later I decided (and still regret it) to scratch the leaves. As I put my hand in the ground and messed with the leaves I saw a head pop up... a couple jakes were inside the tree line only 10 yards from me coming straight in. They were just becoming visible from behind the bushes.... well, of course they saw me mess up the leaves and headed the other way.
Later on, after a lot of hiking, listening, setting up, calling, etc, I ran across a couple of guys two times who were basically walking across the whole place with their guns and a box call in hand. They told me they hadn't seen anything... I wonder why. I had already seen plenty, before they came in and had a good stroll through the woods.
Also went by one guy's setup, he had a jake and hen decoy. I thought that was a bit risky. Took me about 2 seconds to realize they were decoys but someone else could have shot at them.
After all that, I came across a lone gobbler, I am pretty sure he was a longbeard, and ended up spotting him in the middle of a big field. I got down prone and called just a little, but probably too much, because when he didn't see the hen he didn't seem interested. He went behind a group of trees in the field at which point I snuck closer. That's the other thing I regret... I did not sneak as close as I should have. I could have hugged the trees and had him pop out around the corner at 30 yards. Instead I was at least 50-60 yards and took 2 shots that did nothing but waste ammo and make the bird run off. It was definitely a desperate last attempt...
To sum it up, I am already learning the ways of turkey hunting that can only be learned through experience. I have learned pretty much everything else through Tndeer, youtube videos, and other online resources. But now I know better how to set up for a bird so I am not caught off guard and end up spooking a bird and missing a good close range shot.
Now the big question... Can I, or will I, get up early tomorrow? When I get off work tonight I probably won't feel like it. Maybe I will drive down there after work, park and sleep in the car until legal shooting hours to get a few extra hours of sleep. I definitely saw most of the birds right off the roost before other hunters came in and started bumping them around.
Once it started to light up in the east I could see some birds on the roost in the same trees I watched when I scouted the place. Thought they might be hens though, couldn't tell. After hearing a lot of gobbling (mostly jakes) a few hundred yards to the right, I headed down that way around sunrise.
I set up in a tree line on the west side of the field. I couldn't see the birds in the trees where I knew there were jakes but I had heard plenty of them. By this time I was starting to hear a gunshot or two.
I did a bit of soft calling to let the birds know....
Out of nowhere, 2 hens flew down from the tree line across the field, straight towards me, and landed 5 yards in front of me on the field edge and then walked away to the left.
A bit more calling, and then without warning a jake came in silently and was about 5 yards in front of me where the hens were. I could barely make out the 1 inch beard when I saw him. I did't have time to get the gun up, and when he saw there was no hen there he started putting and walked away.
A few minutes later I decided (and still regret it) to scratch the leaves. As I put my hand in the ground and messed with the leaves I saw a head pop up... a couple jakes were inside the tree line only 10 yards from me coming straight in. They were just becoming visible from behind the bushes.... well, of course they saw me mess up the leaves and headed the other way.
Later on, after a lot of hiking, listening, setting up, calling, etc, I ran across a couple of guys two times who were basically walking across the whole place with their guns and a box call in hand. They told me they hadn't seen anything... I wonder why. I had already seen plenty, before they came in and had a good stroll through the woods.
Also went by one guy's setup, he had a jake and hen decoy. I thought that was a bit risky. Took me about 2 seconds to realize they were decoys but someone else could have shot at them.
After all that, I came across a lone gobbler, I am pretty sure he was a longbeard, and ended up spotting him in the middle of a big field. I got down prone and called just a little, but probably too much, because when he didn't see the hen he didn't seem interested. He went behind a group of trees in the field at which point I snuck closer. That's the other thing I regret... I did not sneak as close as I should have. I could have hugged the trees and had him pop out around the corner at 30 yards. Instead I was at least 50-60 yards and took 2 shots that did nothing but waste ammo and make the bird run off. It was definitely a desperate last attempt...
To sum it up, I am already learning the ways of turkey hunting that can only be learned through experience. I have learned pretty much everything else through Tndeer, youtube videos, and other online resources. But now I know better how to set up for a bird so I am not caught off guard and end up spooking a bird and missing a good close range shot.
Now the big question... Can I, or will I, get up early tomorrow? When I get off work tonight I probably won't feel like it. Maybe I will drive down there after work, park and sleep in the car until legal shooting hours to get a few extra hours of sleep. I definitely saw most of the birds right off the roost before other hunters came in and started bumping them around.
