Shouldn't have expected more

[catman529]

Finally found a bird this morning. Only gobbled once in a private field. Lost him after a while so I took a good nap in the woods. Around midday I checked the field and saw 2 hens on my side and one hen and the tom up in the upper half of the field.

Well he left his hen and came to my 2 hens and then got bored with them and went back to the other hen. Lost sight of him behind some trees. I made some yelps and waited a bit.

After nothing happened, I was about to get up and leave for the day, and here he comes across the field headed straight toward me. Now I was about 10 yards from the field edge and the boundary, and well covered in a dead cedar. When he got close I got the gun ready. At 15 yards I had him in the ghost ring but waited for him to get closer. He never saw me. I kept him in the ring the whole time, with the front pin on his neck. He finally got to the 10 yard mark and I shot a load of #6. and he took off and flew away. I couldn't believe it. But then again that's how I shoot. I went back to camp and carried an empty #10 can into the woods and shot the bottom of the can at 10 yards and was maybe an inch or two off center, but still would have been a dead bird with a baseball sized pattern. Fact is I can't shoot straight half the time when a gobbler is standing there. Oh well should have expected it. I'm pretty pissed off. But the good thing is I checked my 16 limb lines on the way back and took 8 big channel catfish and have over 12 pounds of fillets in the cooler now. So I won't have an empty cooler at least.

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[Rob-HC Hunter]

We all miss them from time to time. Nice mess of fish. What do you do with the row?


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[catman529]

We all miss them from time to time. Nice mess of fish. What do you do with the row?


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I saved it because I hate to throw that much away but last time I tried it was on the chewy side. So I'm not sure what I'll do with it.


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[ImThere]

Good deal on the fish. Sux on the bird. Maybe you will get another chance!


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Sit drag, Ernie's outdoors linesman belt,
At 20' up

 

[fairchaser]

Sounds like a great weekend. Too bad about the miss though. You might try a red dot scope. Your head does not have to be down on the scope like a bead. If the dot is on your target your good. Nice filets too btw. I wish I had your patience.

 

[Andy S.]

Hate to hear that Cat, but you did everything right except connect at close range, which is easier said than done. What kind of choke and constriction you shooting? Do you think you'd benefit from a more open and forgiving choke? Unless you routinely shoot over 45 yards, I'd say you would. You know your hunting style and habits better than anyone, so do what's best for your. That's just something to consider. Congrats on all the filets and thanks for sharing your story.

 

[scn]

You got the fun part of the deal! Congratulations for hanging in there and getting one in close like that. And, yes, you will remember the ones that get away more than the ones that get a truck, or in this case, a boat ride.

Enjoy the fish!

 

[catman529]

Hate to hear that Cat, but you did everything right except connect at close range, which is easier said than done. What kind of choke and constriction you shooting? Do you think you'd benefit from a more open and forgiving choke? Unless you routinely shoot over 45 yards, I'd say you would. You know your hunting style and habits better than anyone, so do what's best for your. That's just something to consider. Congrats on all the filets and thanks for sharing your story.

my pattern is more open than most. 40 yards is absolute max and I prefer 30 or under. At 10 the patterns like a baseball maybe a hair bigger. I just can't hold it steady I guess. Considering a trigger job or a lighter spring for the trigger. It pulls real heavy as it is. Even thought it might be time for a red dot site. But I know that won't fix my shooting problem. Something about a big tom standing there right in front of me


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[Spurhunter]

I was also going to suggest a more open choke, but sounds like you are already trying that. Truth is, at 10 yards any full or tighter choke is going to be a pretty small pattern. I know you swore you'd never have a scope on a turkey gun (probably due to the fellar suggesting it oke: ) but it might be worth a try. I've never tried red dots or speed beads or ghost rings, and I don't see the need. A good turkey scope is almost foolproof.

 

[catman529]

I was also going to suggest a more open choke, but sounds like you are already trying that. Truth is, at 10 yards any full or tighter choke is going to be a pretty small pattern. I know you swore you'd never have a scope on a turkey gun (probably due to the fellar suggesting it oke: ) but it might be worth a try. I've never tried red dots or speed beads or ghost rings, and I don't see the need. A good turkey scope is almost foolproof.

you're not the only one to suggest a scope but I am too stubborn to put a scope on a shotgun that I use for all kinds of hunting. I will say it won't fix my flinching or turkey fever although it may be the most accurate sight. I'm considering a used Burris but first will probably lighten the trigger because I know I've caught myself flinching when pulling the 1700 pound trigger a few times. Then again I almost always kill a target but when a turkey is standing there it's a different story.


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[bloodtrailing]

Try not to let them get within 20.

 

[scn]

I was also going to suggest a more open choke, but sounds like you are already trying that. Truth is, at 10 yards any full or tighter choke is going to be a pretty small pattern. I know you swore you'd never have a scope on a turkey gun (probably due to the fellar suggesting it oke: ) but it might be worth a try. I've never tried red dots or speed beads or ghost rings, and I don't see the need. A good turkey scope is almost foolproof.

you're not the only one to suggest a scope but I am too stubborn to put a scope on a shotgun that I use for all kinds of hunting. I will say it won't fix my flinching or turkey fever although it may be the most accurate sight. I'm considering a used Burris but first will probably lighten the trigger because I know I've caught myself flinching when pulling the 1700 pound trigger a few times. Then again I almost always kill a target but when a turkey is standing there it's a different story.


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A scope mounted on one of the side-saddle mounts makes the other shotgun hunting pretty much a nonissue. With the side-saddle system, you can take it off as soon as the turkey season is over. Then, right before the next turkey season, mount it back and check the zero. It shouldn't take much adjusting from year to year after you do it the first time. It would take you about five minutes or less to swap the scope on or off.

Harold Knight convinced me to get a scope for my turkey hunting many years ago, and it was the best thing shotgun wise that I have done. It really makes a difference when the time comes to pull the trigger.

 

[Gravey]

Sounds like a great hunt and some good catfish to go with it. Next time maybe kill him at 20 yards and don't let them get so close. Just a thought.

 

[Spurhunter]

A scope mounted on one of the side-saddle mounts makes the other shotgun hunting pretty much a nonissue. With the side-saddle system, you can take it off as soon as the turkey season is over. Then, right before the next turkey season, mount it back and check the zero. It shouldn't take much adjusting from year to year after you do it the first time. It would take you about five minutes or less to swap the scope on or off.

Harold Knight convinced me to get a scope for my turkey hunting many years ago, and it was the best thing shotgun wise that I have done. It really makes a difference when the time comes to pull the trigger.

That's what I use. Mine is a B-Square. Weighs mere ounces. Does Harold Knight use a scope himself? I've seen some of his videos and I don't recall seeing one but it's been years.

 

[catman529]

Sounds like a great hunt and some good catfish to go with it. Next time maybe kill him at 20 yards and don't let them get so close. Just a thought.

20 yards he was definitely on private property I couldn't hunt. I had to let him get to my side before I could shoot.


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[scn]

A scope mounted on one of the side-saddle mounts makes the other shotgun hunting pretty much a nonissue. With the side-saddle system, you can take it off as soon as the turkey season is over. Then, right before the next turkey season, mount it back and check the zero. It shouldn't take much adjusting from year to year after you do it the first time. It would take you about five minutes or less to swap the scope on or off.

Harold Knight convinced me to get a scope for my turkey hunting many years ago, and it was the best thing shotgun wise that I have done. It really makes a difference when the time comes to pull the trigger.

That's what I use. Mine is a B-Square. Weighs mere ounces. Does Harold Knight use a scope himself? I've seen some of his videos and I don't recall seeing one but it's been years.

I don't know if Harold uses one on his personal gun or not.I doubt that he needs to. He told me that he put one on his "client" gun after hunters that he was guiding missed four birds in a row due to lifting their head off of the stock to see the bird flop. He said after putting a scope on that same gun, that he had not had another miss. That was strong enough for me to try the same. I hadn't missed one at that point, but was certainly all ears for any advice that came from Harold. I have the utmost respect for him and David Hale. For me, they "wrote the book" on turkey hunting. I never got the chance to turkey hunt with them, but was honored to spend some time in a goose pit with them on a few occasions. In between the geese, there was always some turkey talk that I could learn something from them.

 

[Gravey]

Sounds like a great hunt and some good catfish to go with it. Next time maybe kill him at 20 yards and don't let them get so close. Just a thought.

20 yards he was definitely on private property I couldn't hunt. I had to let him get to my side before I could shoot.


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Gotcha. Makes sense.

 

[Andy S.]

My two recommendations:

1. Definitely lighten your trigger if at possible (new sear spring, trigger job, etc). My dedicated turkey gun pulls at a smooth 3.5 lbs. A lighter, smoother trigger eliminates a lot of that jerkiness that increases the odds you pull your head up off the gun and miss (the culprit 95% of the time).
2. When 15 yards and under with your pattern the size of a baseball, and the turkey's head is up, aim half way between the beard and waddles (black feathers). It increases your margin of error to make a lethal shot, the beard will be intact, and no pellets in the breast.

Don't sweat it Cat, we've all been there, more than once, and we have all overcame it with due time. Go kill one, and it will be a faint memory of the past.

 

[Bone Collector]

A good turkey scope is almost foolproof.

True, unless you do like me and don't get him to stick his neck up and think you have it in the bag...

Personally I would have shot at 15. Even 15 is too close for a double full IMO, but the closer they get the smaller your pattern gets.

Hope you get another chance. I missed one this year at 15 yds, so I know it stings a bit.

 

[Roost 1]

A scope mounted on one of the side-saddle mounts makes the other shotgun hunting pretty much a nonissue. With the side-saddle system, you can take it off as soon as the turkey season is over. Then, right before the next turkey season, mount it back and check the zero. It shouldn't take much adjusting from year to year after you do it the first time. It would take you about five minutes or less to swap the scope on or off.

Harold Knight convinced me to get a scope for my turkey hunting many years ago, and it was the best thing shotgun wise that I have done. It really makes a difference when the time comes to pull the trigger.

That's what I use. Mine is a B-Square. Weighs mere ounces. Does Harold Knight use a scope himself? I've seen some of his videos and I don't recall seeing one but it's been years.

I don't know if Harold uses one on his personal gun or not.I doubt that he needs to. He told me that he put one on his "client" gun after hunters that he was guiding missed four birds in a row due to lifting their head off of the stock to see the bird flop. He said after putting a scope on that same gun, that he had not had another miss. That was strong enough for me to try the same. I hadn't missed one at that point, but was certainly all ears for any advice that came from Harold. I have the utmost respect for him and David Hale. For me, they "wrote the book" on turkey hunting. I never got the chance to turkey hunt with them, but was honored to spend some time in a goose pit with them on a few occasions. In between the geese, there was always some turkey talk that I could learn something from them.

X2