DSGB Posted March 28, 2005 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 I went out Saturday morning for my second turkey hunt ever. Didn't hear a bird all last weekend. I got out there before first light and parked the truck as far from the hunting area as I could. I walked down the road to a hilltop, just before the road goes into a bottom. I pulled out my barred owl hotter and gave it a try. Gobble-obble-obble. I actually got a response! My first thought was, "Okay, now what?" LOL The bird sounded like it was roosted in some oaks at the top of the hill I was on, but about 100 yards to my right. There was no way I could sneak in there, so I set up a couple rows back in some pines, just off a 1/2 acre green field that was on the hill. I got out my Magnum double-sided slate/glass call and started with some soft yelps. Gobble-obble-obble. Waited a few minutes and called some more. Gobble-obble-obble. He was gobblin' every time I called. Thirty minutes went by and he was still in the same spot. The sun was up by now, so I did my best fly-down cackle with a few clucks, when I heard Gobble-obble-obble. He was closer now, probably 75-80 yards. He would be coming in from my right, so I got out my mouth call and got into position. I let out some clucks and a few yelps. Gobble-obble-obble. He was really close now. I clucked a few times and tried a couple purrs and clucks. Gobble-obble-obble. Those clucks had him goin'. Then I saw his white head bobbing at the edge of the road. He stepped out in the road, and I gave him a few clucks and yelp-yelp-yelp. Gobble-obble-obble. Yelp-yelp-yelp. Gobble-obble-obble. I was actually talkin' turkey! He strutted back and forth, throwin' that head out when he gobbled. My heart was racin' so fast I woulda swore it was buck fever. I would call and he'd gobble and strut, but wouldn't come any closer. I guess he could see that there weren't any turkeys in the field. He strutted back and forth in the road for about 15 minutes and then started goin' the other direction. I called some more and he'd gobble. Still gobblin' as he rounded the bend in the road and dissappeared. I gave a few clucks and purrs. Gobble-obble-obble. This continued for another half hour until he shut up. I stayed put for another hour, calling every 15 minutes or so. He never came back. I tried walking in the direction he went, yelping every so often to see if I could get him or another bird to gobble. No luck. It rained later that afternoon, and I was out there as soon as it stopped, but didn't hear the first bird. It was raining pretty hard yesterday morning, and I had plenty of places to go for Easter, so I couldn't get out there. It was a fun hunt, because that's the first turkey I've ever called in and he really had me excited. I thought for sure when I saw him come out in the road he'd be dead. He was about sixty yards to my right and there was a bush next to me, so there was no way I could've turned for a shot. He was too far anyway. I couldn't see his beard, but that would've probably made it harder, given the excitement level I was at already. LOL Had I had a decoy set up in the field, he probably would've come in. My uncle, being the generous guy he is, gave me a hen decoy and a vest he didn't use. Lesson learned, I'll be ready next time. I am officially HOOKED! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted March 28, 2005 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 Re: Close, but no cigar yep---I think your hooked. Exciting story--you got me shakin' good luck next time--you might think about trying a hen decoy in the opening next time! todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted March 28, 2005 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 Re: Close, but no cigar Great story and a good hunt. They don't have to die for it to be fun, do they? Your senerio sounded much like mine, if we'd just set up off the road, if we'd just had a decoy. Oh well, turkey huntin' full of ifn's. Good luck next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RatherBowHunt Posted March 28, 2005 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 Re: Close, but no cigar i agree with redbeard just being out there among those screamin' gobblers gets my heart racing to no end....awesome hunt sounds like ya had a good time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Re: Close, but no cigar Yep your hooked now. I can't think of anything else better for you to be hooked on this time of the year though. Good luck next time and keep after them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeviShot Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Re: Close, but no cigar That is the reason they call it Turkey Hunting and not Turkey Killing.Great story.Go back to that same area and he will probably still be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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