Turkeygirl Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 I feel horrible...it actually crossed my mind I should quit turkey hunting until I stop messing up shots:poke: Set-up on the gobbler this AM. He flew down and went with hens way over to the other ridge. Well by the time I got over there, he was headed back. I get back near the gravel pit, sitting up on a small hill and he's gobbling and I can hear him spit n druming. Well he finally shows himself but won't commit, I was doing some soft yelps but with no decoy, he thought the hen should come to him, so he struts for about 15 mintues on the hill in front of me about 70 yards or so away. It starts to drizzle and he heads down into the hemlocks below me. I'm up on a hill and to me thought he looked about 30 yards away...I confident with my gun out to 30. Took the shot...and he darted forward into the hemlocks, kinda stubmled for a second then dunno where he went but he putted a couple times and vanished. I walked down to where he was, where he had stumbled/pause, there was some bright red blood....not tons, but I'd guess a 1/2 teaspoon at most. There were a couple feathers, but I could probably count them all on 1 or 2 hands...The bird I missed last year, there were tons of feathers. Well I did some circles outwards from the spot to about 200 yards with no other sign of him anywhere, looked under logs and such as well. It also decided to pour rain for 30 seconds as well. I just pray he's ok, considering the feather sign was very marginal, I don't like the blood but I'm hoping it's something that will heal up and he's not wounded too badly. Such a gorgeous bird and he deserved way better....I also noticed when I shot, I'm not sure if I flinched, or yanked the trigegr or what, but something didn't feel right and I noticed my gun barrel jumped a bit...I blame myself for misjudging the distance and rushing the shot...Was hoping to bring back a turkey for mom for Mother's Day. I guess I'll lay off those woods and see if I can roost a state land bird tonight..... Talk about feeling in the dumps.... What do you guys think? Anyone else wound a bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 Not much you can do, TG. It happens, unfortunately. I think most would admit it happening to them at some point. Been there, done that. I know what I did wrong and that was pointing and shooting without really aiming in all of the excitement. Hopefully, the bird is OK and will show up at another time. Turkeys are pretty tough critters. I think you would have found him had he bit the dust. Put it behind you and move on is the best advice I can give you. Good luck on the next encounter with a rooster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 I did go back and do another search, helped ease my mind. Covered where I'd looked plus some, so better knowing I searched for him in about a 300 yard circle or so. thanks RB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 Never missed or wounded with a shotgun, but I did lose a bird with a bow a couple years back. I heard the contact of the arrow hitting the bird, feathers went everywhere, and the bird took off running through the woods and out of sight. I looked for a long time, even crawling on my hands and knees looking for specs of blood. Turkeys dont bleed like a deer does so it makes it hard. I never recovered it. Alot of people make the mistake of lifting their cheek off the stock trying to watch the bird, which causes them to miss or possibly wound it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 It happens to all of us. I misjudged the yardage on my first bird. I swore that bird was right at 40 yards through some brush and he ended up being 60. He dropped like a ton of bricks then got up and took off I got really lucky that I was shooting 3 1/2" #4's and they did the job I watched him hobble and fly 75 yards to the tree line. In the heat of the moment when the adrenaline is pumping things happen sometimes. Turkey's are pretty tough and he will most likely be fine. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorado bob Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Are u shooting a 12 or 20? #6 shot? If it's #6 you may want to move down to 5's-----I like big pellets----I use to shoot #4's out of my 12 guage-----but this year I moved to 5's more pellets but just about the same size as 4's. I've used 6's but founs too many in the neck feathers just in contact with the skin. Those extra hits don't do anything if they do pentrate. Don't loose to much sleep----it happens to us all. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Yeah I use #5s colorado bob. I think for next year or after the season, might get a better choke than what I have...and sights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Sure I've wounded birds and flat out missed some too. Killed some with pellets in them too. I've only missed/wounded a few since I put a Holosight on my turkey guns though. I recall one bird in particular from past seasons that a friend of mine knocked down and the bird ran off. About 10 days later I killed the same bird. He had some pellets in his breast and the wounds were too fresh to be from anyone else's shot. I killed that gobbler near the center of a 4,000 acre tract of private land where only a few of us had access to hunt. Not much chance it could have been shot by anyone else besides my buddy. I killed that gobbler less than 200 yards from where my buddy missed/wounded him and that bird was gobbling and strutting his stuff like nothing was wrong with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earnhardts12000 Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 it happens my daughters dumped 2 this yr got up flew away i use remington 4x6s in same shell dk if wanna try or not or would pattern good out ur gun but never had prob with my mossberg ya got 4s then 6s comin behind i've used them for 18 yrs now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 It happens to everyone sooner or later. If you feel bad it just shows you have some compassion for the animal you are after. The feeling never goes away as it shouldn’t but you just have to go back out and try again, just learn from you mistakes. I had it happen to me a few years ago in some National Forest here in MS. I shot the bird at 30yds and rolled him, when I was about to stand up he got to his feet and flew over me. I missed him twice as he flew by me. He left a pile of feathers and a blood trail most deer hunters would dream of. I trailed him until the blood stopped hitting the ground because of the pine trees. I looked for 2 hours then hiked out the mile to my truck and then went home 25miles to get my lab. I went back and wound up running into a Park ranger who was more than impressed I was putting forth so much effort in finding a bird. I told him I was sick that I didn’t make a clean shot and owed it to the bird to find him if it was possible. Me and my lab looked for another couple hours with no luck, the pines messed up the blood trail. I think of that bird every season, still don’t know what happened and prob never will. What I did do is I put a Bushnell Trophy red dot scope on my gun and I use the Circle with the dot in the middle for my sight. With the choke I have the outside circle is the size of my pattern. If the turkeys head is inside of the outer circle I have 110% confidence in the shot. I also shoot NITRO shells yes they are $6 a shot but was that bird you just shot and lost worth $6. Yes you can still miss or mess up a bird with them if you make a bad shot but it puts the odds a lot more in your favor. The new Hevi-Shot magblend is nice also and less per shell. Main thing is don’t beat yourself up over this to bad, just get back out there and find another bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSeb53 Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 I wounded a bird last spring and am still disgusted over it. He was a beautiful bird and like you said "deserved better". It won't stop me from turkey hunting however. If anything, it taught me to pick my shots more carefully. I know you will feel bad over it, but I think that making mistakes in the woods makes us better hunters over all. Keep at it and good luck next time. KEEP AT IT!.. oh and keep smiling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Don't beat yerself up too badly, if ya ain't missed a gobbler then you ain't been huntin' long.........you can always tell a good hunter/person though when they come back to camp and claim they missed him clean verses those who brag that they at least hit him. Your concern for the gobbler's health just shows how good of a sportsman you are and don't worry, they are tough birds and I'm sure he'll heal and be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Some Navy Seals walk into a bar..... ....the Seals asked for a round of drinks. They were served a BinLaden; two shots of strongest stuff ya got and a splash of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 it does happen. which is why i put a speed bead red dot sight on my gun. i take all the help i can get. you tried your best. i know you've patterned your gun. it just happens, and then you learn from whatever mistakes you know you've made and keep hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 My Dad has missed a couple birds. Each time it was due to misjudging the distance. It happens and will happen again. You know that its part of hunting. There will always be a human factor that makes it hunting and not shooting. I bought a range finder a number of years ago and find myself using it as much for turkeys as for deer. They help you to be better at judging distance when out hunting in general. As far as #6 shot goes on turkeys...............I am a big fan. We shoot 3 1/2" 12ga Mossberg Turkey Guns with 2 1/4oz. #6s and get awesome results out to 50 yards consistently. My Dad's tom this year was body shot at 30 yards. Upon cleaning, I found over 40 #6 pellets under the skin on the off side of the bird. The pellets went through the bird. The youth in our Learn to Hunt Program hammer turkeys with 3" 20ga #6s out to 35 yards. I personally think matching your gun, choke tube and ammunition is vital to having consistent success killing turkeys. Having confidence in your skills and the capability of your weapon is paramount. When you fall off the horse, get back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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