JRA
Well-Known Member
I think my biggest challenge as it relates to hunting is work schedule and trying to be a good husband and dad. Therefore, my hunting opportunities are primarily limited to short early morning hunts.
Yesterday afternoon I saw a big tom strutting and following around 1 hen at one of the places I hunt. It is a HUGE pasture surrounded by woods. I can't hunt the woods and the pasture is home to 7 horses. I left work yesterday afternoon a little early, saw the tom out there and tried to stalk him and get into position. The hen led him out into the open and away from me into the woods. But it excited me because the pattern there has been if he is following a hen in the afternoon he will show back up the following morning. So I go out there early this morning and set up a couple of decoys (I do this primarily because calling is difficult there because it is near an interstate.)
This is when things get interesting. I knew this would eventually happen...this morning I get set up and here come the horses. They start harassing the decoys and won't leave them alone. At the same time here comes that lone hen flying down into the pasture about 200 yards away. The horses wouldn't leave and I knew there was no way birds were gonna come that way. For the most part the turkeys and horses avoid each other. Long story short I got so aggravated at the horses and the fact that I haven't gotten a bird this year that I just said forget it...I jumped up and ran toward the horses yelling and swinging a stick...I'm sure I looked like a crazed monster in all my gear. Of course the hen got out of there quick...I picked up my decoys and left...I headed to the gym and now I'm about to start work.
The life of a turkey hunter...I do believe I hate horses now.
My wife enjoyed the story and had a good laugh...of course now I'm chuckling about how crazy I must have looked out there...haha
Yesterday afternoon I saw a big tom strutting and following around 1 hen at one of the places I hunt. It is a HUGE pasture surrounded by woods. I can't hunt the woods and the pasture is home to 7 horses. I left work yesterday afternoon a little early, saw the tom out there and tried to stalk him and get into position. The hen led him out into the open and away from me into the woods. But it excited me because the pattern there has been if he is following a hen in the afternoon he will show back up the following morning. So I go out there early this morning and set up a couple of decoys (I do this primarily because calling is difficult there because it is near an interstate.)
This is when things get interesting. I knew this would eventually happen...this morning I get set up and here come the horses. They start harassing the decoys and won't leave them alone. At the same time here comes that lone hen flying down into the pasture about 200 yards away. The horses wouldn't leave and I knew there was no way birds were gonna come that way. For the most part the turkeys and horses avoid each other. Long story short I got so aggravated at the horses and the fact that I haven't gotten a bird this year that I just said forget it...I jumped up and ran toward the horses yelling and swinging a stick...I'm sure I looked like a crazed monster in all my gear. Of course the hen got out of there quick...I picked up my decoys and left...I headed to the gym and now I'm about to start work.
The life of a turkey hunter...I do believe I hate horses now.
My wife enjoyed the story and had a good laugh...of course now I'm chuckling about how crazy I must have looked out there...haha
