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Started By
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Let’s hear some turkey tales
Posted on 3/30/26 at 7:50 pm
Posted on 3/30/26 at 7:50 pm
Alabama opener was last Wednesday. Hunted close to the camp because of obligations later in the morning. No gobbles. No turkeys seen or heard. Entertainment consisted of watching two coons then later a fox. Thursday I went to some land away from the camp and heard gobbles. Got a ridge away from the closest and settled in. Bird steady gobbled from 630 to 730 but didn’t seem to be getting closer or moving at all. I got up and creeped to the ridge to see if he was strutting or with hens and he was still in the tree. From the limb he saw me. Didn’t really spook just flew down slightly out of range and walked off tonking. Lesson learned. Turkey one me zero.
Friday I was close to that spot and heard nothing. About 830 I was fixing to leave and saw a hen walking up, clucking now and then. After she wandered off I waited until about nine and was getting ready to leave again when one gobbled pretty close down the hill. I yelped and he didn’t answer but I sat tight. After what seemed like thirty minutes but was probably fifteen I slowly reached down to pick up my box call and yelp again. You can guess what happened. Loud putt from my right and there he goes running off. Turkeys two me still zero. Another lesson I should have learned long ago.
Saturday was windy as all get out and I heard nothing and the only two I saw were running down the dirt road while driving back to the camp. Sunday I hunted a different property and heard several but nothing close enough to matter. Sunday was the best weather day - still, clear early, and cooler than it had been. I thought that would be the day. But game set and match to the birds.
Friday I was close to that spot and heard nothing. About 830 I was fixing to leave and saw a hen walking up, clucking now and then. After she wandered off I waited until about nine and was getting ready to leave again when one gobbled pretty close down the hill. I yelped and he didn’t answer but I sat tight. After what seemed like thirty minutes but was probably fifteen I slowly reached down to pick up my box call and yelp again. You can guess what happened. Loud putt from my right and there he goes running off. Turkeys two me still zero. Another lesson I should have learned long ago.
Saturday was windy as all get out and I heard nothing and the only two I saw were running down the dirt road while driving back to the camp. Sunday I hunted a different property and heard several but nothing close enough to matter. Sunday was the best weather day - still, clear early, and cooler than it had been. I thought that would be the day. But game set and match to the birds.
5
Posted on 3/30/26 at 10:23 pm to Wavefan
Took my son Saturday AM for our first hunt of the year. Had trouble sleeping the night before for whatever reason so 5 AM came quick. I was kinda out of it and just trying to get out of the house.
Got all the way to the gate and my son asked me for the shells. I reach in the back of the truck to hand him the box. Shells wouldn’t fit. I looked and I accidentally put the 3-1/2’s in my bag.
My gun wont take but 3’s. Strike one!
I rode up to the camp and thankfully had a couple shells laying in the gun cabinet. Got problem one resolved.
Then we drove to our spot to owl call. Windy as hell. I hooted several times and nothing. Couldn’t hear more than 100 yards anyway so they may have been going off, but we wouldn’t have known.
I reached into the back of the truck to get my vest and calls.
Yep… I left the vest on the kitchen table and all my calls were in the pocket. I had to listen to my son rag me for the next 30 mins. Nice job dad. Strike two!
We walked in and just sat up on a plot for about an hour with no call and just winged it. No luck.
I will say the Hardee’s biscuit by 8AM and the nap afterwards was on point though.
Good times!
Got all the way to the gate and my son asked me for the shells. I reach in the back of the truck to hand him the box. Shells wouldn’t fit. I looked and I accidentally put the 3-1/2’s in my bag.
My gun wont take but 3’s. Strike one!
I rode up to the camp and thankfully had a couple shells laying in the gun cabinet. Got problem one resolved.
Then we drove to our spot to owl call. Windy as hell. I hooted several times and nothing. Couldn’t hear more than 100 yards anyway so they may have been going off, but we wouldn’t have known.
I reached into the back of the truck to get my vest and calls.
Yep… I left the vest on the kitchen table and all my calls were in the pocket. I had to listen to my son rag me for the next 30 mins. Nice job dad. Strike two!
We walked in and just sat up on a plot for about an hour with no call and just winged it. No luck.
I will say the Hardee’s biscuit by 8AM and the nap afterwards was on point though.
Good times!
Posted on 3/31/26 at 6:08 am to Wavefan
1988 Louisiana turkey opener
Elm Park, West Feliciana, LA
Set up before daylight in some hardwoods at the top of a hill. Heard wings flapping, hit the slate about 4 times, out walked a gobbler at 20 yards. Busted his head with 2&3/4 Winchester double X mag #6 (latest and greatest at the time) through a full choke Mossy 500. First turkey kill and still the best.
Elm Park, West Feliciana, LA
Set up before daylight in some hardwoods at the top of a hill. Heard wings flapping, hit the slate about 4 times, out walked a gobbler at 20 yards. Busted his head with 2&3/4 Winchester double X mag #6 (latest and greatest at the time) through a full choke Mossy 500. First turkey kill and still the best.
Posted on 3/31/26 at 6:26 am to Wavefan
Took my daughter out Saturday and Sunday for youth here in St Tammany. Saturday was a bust but Sunday there was lots of gobbling happening. Around 9 a lone hen came strolling by. She saw the decoy and immediately ran over to it and challenged it. She puffed up, stuck her fan and wings out and even slapped the decoy once or twice, super cool to see. Wish I knew how to post a video. She's begging to come with me on the opener so I think I have myself a little turkey hunter.
Posted on 3/31/26 at 8:48 am to BMax12
quote:
Wish I knew how to post a video
You could always upload it to YouTube and then link that
Posted on 3/31/26 at 1:02 pm to Wavefan
Novice turkey Hunter I was dropped off by my brother-in-law on a field in Alabama at his brother in laws property. This spot that had a tall crown on it. It’s a long field like a
Ridge running the length that was planted , was told to set the hen decoy with the Jake behind it and it was tall purple clover so I set the decoys down went and sat against a tree well with the crown of the hill and the tall grass I couldn’t see my decoys I should’ve moved, but I held held my spot. I have never heard while hunting a gobble and only seen hens in the past. I was pretty bored. Was doing minimal calling a few soft yeps every 20 minutes. It was probably an hour as I just sat then I hear it sounds like someone dropped a box full of books on a stone floor a big thud! Got my attention looking around did a tree fall ? then again thump! what the hell finally figured out something was attacking the Jake decoy. I staring looking gun up on my knee, then see big blue head with bright red waddle pop up in that tall clover. It was a gobbler head , crap head ducked down. I get the gun ready if pops up again I will shoot. Seems like forever then pops up 10 yards , I shoot 10 inches below the head trying to get the neck shot. Well modified choke with TSS Shell was very tight at that range. I hear Nothing no flopping sound I am very excited must have blown its head off. Had been four to five seconds later turkey launches, it’s a freaking 747! It was flying a little quartering away from me. I am shocked how big it is. I shoot at it on the wing , I am more of a wing shooter ducks , Pheasant and Woodcock so get lucky knock it down it goes over the top of the hill. I jump up, well try to. It was a rocky soil on a slope and I eat it. My gun goes One Direction I’m flat on my face. I jump up again had Cut my knees all up run grab the gun run over the hill. Realize that by taking my vest off earlier I got one shot left. turkeys was flopping around. Figured if I miss my last shot will use gun like a baseball bat and start swinging. It was trying to fly probably five feet in the air. I’m worried it was going to gain its feet and run so can’t wait. I finally shoot it’s and still flopping , why won’t it die! so step on his neck get a few scratches on my boots and I finally relax.
My brother in law was hunting with my father in law and they heard one shot and was excited for me then five seconds later another shot and then 40 seconds later the third shot. He was thinking I suck at shooting so texted me what happened ? I told him what happened. They were impressed I wing shot a turkey.
They hunted another hour and picked me up sitting with a smile and my 1st Turkey. Good beard 9 inches short spurs 3/4 inch. 17 lbs
It was almost like a guided hunt I was told were to go and to not call much. Mistakes were made and got lucky. Wish I was in position to see it Attack the Jake decoy and get a clearer shot. I know purist will say was not true hunt more like deer hunting. Well I am trying to learn to stalk and call and once locate bird sit an hunt it.
Don’t go very often so may be my only bird.
It counts to me and a fun story for me to remember.
Ridge running the length that was planted , was told to set the hen decoy with the Jake behind it and it was tall purple clover so I set the decoys down went and sat against a tree well with the crown of the hill and the tall grass I couldn’t see my decoys I should’ve moved, but I held held my spot. I have never heard while hunting a gobble and only seen hens in the past. I was pretty bored. Was doing minimal calling a few soft yeps every 20 minutes. It was probably an hour as I just sat then I hear it sounds like someone dropped a box full of books on a stone floor a big thud! Got my attention looking around did a tree fall ? then again thump! what the hell finally figured out something was attacking the Jake decoy. I staring looking gun up on my knee, then see big blue head with bright red waddle pop up in that tall clover. It was a gobbler head , crap head ducked down. I get the gun ready if pops up again I will shoot. Seems like forever then pops up 10 yards , I shoot 10 inches below the head trying to get the neck shot. Well modified choke with TSS Shell was very tight at that range. I hear Nothing no flopping sound I am very excited must have blown its head off. Had been four to five seconds later turkey launches, it’s a freaking 747! It was flying a little quartering away from me. I am shocked how big it is. I shoot at it on the wing , I am more of a wing shooter ducks , Pheasant and Woodcock so get lucky knock it down it goes over the top of the hill. I jump up, well try to. It was a rocky soil on a slope and I eat it. My gun goes One Direction I’m flat on my face. I jump up again had Cut my knees all up run grab the gun run over the hill. Realize that by taking my vest off earlier I got one shot left. turkeys was flopping around. Figured if I miss my last shot will use gun like a baseball bat and start swinging. It was trying to fly probably five feet in the air. I’m worried it was going to gain its feet and run so can’t wait. I finally shoot it’s and still flopping , why won’t it die! so step on his neck get a few scratches on my boots and I finally relax.
My brother in law was hunting with my father in law and they heard one shot and was excited for me then five seconds later another shot and then 40 seconds later the third shot. He was thinking I suck at shooting so texted me what happened ? I told him what happened. They were impressed I wing shot a turkey.
They hunted another hour and picked me up sitting with a smile and my 1st Turkey. Good beard 9 inches short spurs 3/4 inch. 17 lbs
It was almost like a guided hunt I was told were to go and to not call much. Mistakes were made and got lucky. Wish I was in position to see it Attack the Jake decoy and get a clearer shot. I know purist will say was not true hunt more like deer hunting. Well I am trying to learn to stalk and call and once locate bird sit an hunt it.
Don’t go very often so may be my only bird.
It counts to me and a fun story for me to remember.
Posted on 3/31/26 at 2:04 pm to Wavefan
Took a young friend this past Saturday morning and as predicted the wind was blowing and it was heavily overcast. Still, we managed to get two turkey stops gobble when I hooted. They were maybe 100 yards in a familiar roost area.
We dropped back down into a long food plot that allowed us to escape some of the wind and placed a single semi strutter Jake out. I called too much and too loudly....they answered every call and about 10 minutes after flying down appeared at in the ridge road at the top of the food plot. Already holding the high ground, they wasted no time and quickly came charging down the hill, jumping two small ditches in the process.
The duo actually came too fast, forcing my young hunter to make a very good shot on a bobbing and weaving head. One of them got a free ride back to the house.
Here's a tip for taking young hunters, especially those small ones who may have difficulty moving the gun. Put a hen decoy out with the Jake. In my experience during early season it can slow the incoming gobblers down to a walking pace, making it a little easier to get a shot.
We dropped back down into a long food plot that allowed us to escape some of the wind and placed a single semi strutter Jake out. I called too much and too loudly....they answered every call and about 10 minutes after flying down appeared at in the ridge road at the top of the food plot. Already holding the high ground, they wasted no time and quickly came charging down the hill, jumping two small ditches in the process.
The duo actually came too fast, forcing my young hunter to make a very good shot on a bobbing and weaving head. One of them got a free ride back to the house.
Here's a tip for taking young hunters, especially those small ones who may have difficulty moving the gun. Put a hen decoy out with the Jake. In my experience during early season it can slow the incoming gobblers down to a walking pace, making it a little easier to get a shot.
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