Rhino Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 To say my hunt with Tim & the crew was memorable would be an understatement. The hunt for my 1st bird will go down as one of my all time memorable hunts that I'll never forget. Here's the story. 1st Day - I set up near the SW corner of a field in the dark with a jake & 2 hen decoys set out. As dawn broke to a mostly cloudy sky a bird starting gobbling to the SW...then another to the SE...then a group (no idea how many) fairly close to the NW. When I knew they were on the ground I started dishing out my turkey talk. Couldn't tell if they were gobbling at me or at each other. Some wild gobbling action! Couldn't resist gobbling back which stated a gobbling contest. One got close but opted to head SW where the other gobbling birds were headed. While I'm contemplating a move, a hen appears to the N. Gotta wait & see if a gobbler's in tow. She came to establish a pecking order with my hen decoys. Pecked the devil out of the 1st one...then the 2nd. When she finished putting a whipping on my decoys she went SW toward the gobbling birds. After letting her clear the area...couldn't stand it. Sacked up the decoys & left them there & took off toward the gobbling birds. After crawling up from a low spot to see...there they are...4 full fans in the S field with multiple hens. I belly crawl to the closest tree, set up & begin calling. Right away here comes a full fan strutter. At ~40 yards he steps into the open. Couldn't believe it. Jake beard on a full fan gobbler. I pass him. He eases back to the others. Call him back a 2nd time to 15 yards. A 2nd gobbler with a mature beard hangs up at ~60 yards behind brush. The other 2 stay with the hens. I shut up & they ease back to the hens and I wait for an opportunity to close the distance. They finally ease away allowing me to belly crawl ~35 yards to a tree closer to the field. Here we go again but they just won't quite come close enough. Then...another bird gobbles N of me. The birds I'm on are to the SW so I ease to a position where if needed I can shoot left handed to the NE or right handed to the W side. The N bird gobbles closer causing all the hens to start easing into the woods toward him. It's about to happen but I only have 1 clear hole to shoot through in the timber to the W. All the hens clear & here comes the gobblers. The 1st passes behind an obstruction beyond my 40 yard or so hole. The 2nd steps into it...a pencil bearded gobbler so I pass waiting for the 3rd bird. The pencil beard bird takes a step forward with just his body left in the hole. The 3rd bird steps in between us. Can't shoot without hitting the body of the back bird...gotta wait. Unfortunately, the pencil beard bird doesn't move while the shooter gobbler is in the hole. DANG!!! They all ease toward the N gobbler. Waiting (impatiently) the N gobbler gobbles further away. Time for gorilla warfare! I back out to the SE & swing around using a dry creekbed to cover my movement to the N. When I arrive at the NW field, they are already 80 yards out there. I crawl into position to start round 4. Now there are the 4 long beards, 6 jakes, & 4 hens out there. About the only response I get is a look in my direction. Great show with the birds strutting for the hens & an occasional pecking order chase with a long beard or 2 after the jakes whenever they got too close. 1 gobbler heads NW to the neighboring property & disappears. The other 3 stay with the hens that eventually head NE. The hens finally lead them out of there heading...yep in the direction I started out. After they clear, I swing back around to where I started & beat them there. Gobbling has dropped off now though. I call but they hang up N of me inside the timber. The last gobble indicates they are heading back W. Here we go again. Back to where I was in the NW field. When I arrive & crawl up to look there's just 2 jakes there so far. After the jakes ease into the N timber line I ease to what turns out to be the killing tree. About 15 minutes pass & no gobbling. I check my watch...it's 11:15. I decide to give them 30 minutes. Maybe 5 minutes goes by when a lone gobbler steps in from the timber line to the N. At ~250 yards I call...he raises his head letting me know he heard it. He starts easing my way...we're in business. I glass him...nice beard! From that point I dish out soft clucks & purrs until he gets to ~100 yard line. Time to go into kill mode. I ease my gun up & settle in as he slowly comes into range. At ~30 yards I let the big dog eat. This is where the weird stuff starts. My gobbler slams to the ground. I lower my gun...he gets up running...toward me. I try a 15 yard head shot on this running bird off the back of my left shoulder...then a another attempt at a head shot behind me on him still running. All I hit is...air. Gotta reload. I'm to my feet trying to reload & stay with him. He decides to hit the woods toward the creek. I'm finally reloaded after my fumbling moves. The gobbler disappears down the creek bank...I rush to the edge & my gobbler is now swimming across the creek...neck stretched out. The 4th shot is delivered...great pattern from the splash all around his head neck area. Finally...he's done. I find out quickly...the water is too deep to get my turducken. I fish him out with a LONG branch. Oh boy...this wet bird's going to look good for the pics. I reach for my iPhone to call Mark...it's not there! A 15 minutes search...no luck. I'll look later. Time to haul my 23.5# gobbler (maybe part duck) with 1 1/8" spurs & 10" beard out. (Pics in Tim's thread in the pro staff room...after he dried out some). BTW...no luck finding my iPhone later. 2nd Day - I had hauled in & left my decoy sack at the killing tree during the iPhone search. Figured it was a good place to start the next morning. Set out the 3 decoys well before daylight. At dawn a bird gobbles to the NW...then another to the NE...then another to the W...then another to the SE along with some weak sounding gobblers. Then a group starts gobbling their heads off N of me. Good spot! Right after flydown gobbling drops off. The birds to the N gobble some...heading away. Their gobbling gets fainter. With it being a little windy I opt to dish out some gobbling. Loudest call I had with me anyway. A few minutes after my 1st gobble they gobble closer...I gobble back. A few minutes later they gobbler even closer...I gobble back. Same thing...but this time it sounds like they are just inside the wood line. Maybe 5 minutes goes by & nothing. Man they were right there! As I'm reaching for my gobble call a bird appears. I glass him...no...2 gobblers...then a 3rd. Same 3 gobblers that ran me around the 1st day. They see the decoys & come running. At about the 150 yard line they slow to walk strutting then break into a run again. At ~75 yards they slow to a fast walk...all 3 right together. They come into range...still all together & stay together until they all reach my jake decoy at 15 yards. 2 begin to put a whipping on my jake decoy. The 3rd & best bearded bird is behind them. He finally steps out to the left offering a clear shot, neck stretched out & gets slammed down...stone dead at 7:10. Didn't even twitch. My 2nd bird is a 19.5# 2 year old with a 9 7/8" beard & 3/4' spurs. Stick a fork in me...I'm done in Kansas...tagged out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Great story Al !!!!!!!! CONGRATS !!!!! Ever find your phone ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 awesome.... definitely sounds like a good time. I think the turkeys are probably looking at your phone getting all the secrets to dodge you guys next season! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Ever find your phone ?? Nope...my 2nd gobbler didn't have it under his wing either. Needed a new one anyway. I think the turkeys are probably looking at your phone getting all the secrets to dodge you guys next season! lol LOL to them...no secrets in it. If it's in one's hip pocket, he might get a surprise out of it being on silent mode though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Well, this is awesome! Sounds like a load of fun Al! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Heck of a story !! Sounds like a blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Great story Al. Seen plenty of turkeys wade in the water but yet to see one swim, didn't know they did swim. Congratulations again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Great story Al. Seen plenty of turkeys wade in the water but yet to see one swim, didn't know they did swim. Congratulations again. Another 1st I learned this year too William. It was probably his only option to attempt to escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it! Great story Al!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 That was a great story. Congrats on the birds. Sorry you lost your phone. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Always enjoy your stories. Congrats on the birds! Good luck in mizzou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Congrats Al..too bad about phone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Congrats Al..too bad about phone Needed a new one anyway Martin. Got a new iPhone 5s Monday morning. Got most of my contacts in it now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 congrats--enjoyed the story! todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorado bob Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 That story gets better every time I hear it. It was a good time in Kansas. See you there next April. I just sent my deposit in for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Congrats Al sounded like a fun hunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Congrats Rhino! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 sounds like quite a great time for all. way to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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