Rhino Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Opening morning came with an overcast sky and a light mist. It had drizzled rain for about 1 ½ hours before daylight. No real excitement to speak of that morning except I did see a gobbler on the roost 100 yards from where I set up that never gobbled. He stayed in the tree for an hour past daylight. The rest of the morning was fairly uneventful getting a glimpse of a silent bird in the distance and some gobbling birds across a creek on the neighbors property. Had fun messing with them anyway. That afternoon on my second set up I decided to sit off the edge of a field to call blind. About 10 minutes after the 1st series of calls I hear pft..dummmmm. The drumming gradually got louder and louder until I finally coursed it behind me. The gobbler was coming up a dirt road behind me that was flanked by briar thickets. I switched to south paw shooting position and finally caught a glimpse of the top of his white head and top of his fan. No shot offered. The bird then decided to move in behind me off my right shoulder. I could see the outline of this gobbler's body and beard hanging shadowed though the sun lit young leaves in the brush as he moved in. Just a few more steps and he’d be in an open hole. Then he’s there periscope up at only 25 yards. I squeeze the trigger only to realize in my excitement of the moment I still had the safety on. Oops now shooting a right handed shotgun left handed means wrapping my hand around the trigger guard to take off the safety. That slight movement is all it took for that gobbler to walk off clucking. Obvioulsy I should have clicked the safety off while he was still behind the cover of leaves. Oh well, another dumb mistake in my list of turkey hunting goofs. That encoutered had me kicking my own rear end back to my cart. That was the only close encounter I’ve had so far but I did get to enjoy watching some hung up, hened up birds strutting their stuff out of range during the past few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterDWL Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. hate to hear that been there my self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. They never fail to humilate us, do they Rhino? Reckon that's what make it such a challenge. I have no doubt we'll be seein' more of that bird just the same. Good luck bro. On the drummin' note, went scouting last Saturday and heard drummin' twice. Ain't nuthin' like it. Never did see the bugger tho, but I will..............good Lord willin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] They never fail to humilate us, do they Rhino? Reckon that's what make it such a challenge. I have no doubt we'll be seein' more of that bird just the same. Good luck bro. [/ QUOTE ] Yep and he sure did a good job of it too. I'm pretty sure that was the same bird that walked by me inside the 20 yard line a week before the season started so he still may make it to the frying pan. Gotta love those drumming turkeys though. Sure is exciting stuff!!! Every time it happens it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Delta_Hunter Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Keep after him and you will be able to light that cigar. Sounds like he might be willin to take ride in your truck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Other than the weather, it was a pretty uneventful four days for me too Rhino. I can't for sure say that I even heard a gobbler...I thought I did but I was not absolutely sure. After raining Thursday, the winds blew 25-35 mph all day Friday. The temps were in the low 30s Saturday and Sunday morning so it wasn't optimal turkey hunting conditions. It's suppose to warm up this week so they better watch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobblengrunt_jenks Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Thas enuff to make somebody sick.... I hate it for you man but you got a lot of days left!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exturkinator Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] I squeeze the trigger only to realize in my excitement of the moment I still had the safety on. [/ QUOTE ] OK Rhino - you have just made my day cause now I know that I'm not the only one that does this sorta thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I squeeze the trigger only to realize in my excitement of the moment I still had the safety on. [/ QUOTE ] OK Rhino - you have just made my day cause now I know that I'm not the only one that does this sorta thing... [/ QUOTE ] Hey Exturkinator...it should be the last time I make that mistake this year. Next year or even later...all bets are off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Go get em' Al .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAMABUCKS Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Been dealing with henned up turkeys myself. Thursday morning sounded like yours...nothing going on. For the past 4 days have been trying to figure out what to do with a big tom that has 13 hens around him all to himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] Other than the weather, it was a pretty uneventful four days for me too Rhino. I can't for sure say that I even heard a gobbler...I thought I did but I was not absolutely sure. After raining Thursday, the winds blew 25-35 mph all day Friday. The temps were in the low 30s Saturday and Sunday morning so it wasn't optimal turkey hunting conditions. It's suppose to warm up this week so they better watch out. [/ QUOTE ] That's about how it's been for me. I did bump one out of a tree, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Hey Rhino, I actually squeezed to trigger on one at 25 yards just to find out I never loaded the gun. By the time I got a shell in the over and under, that bird was a 4 steps. I still can't believe that one came home with me.LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] Hey Rhino, I actually squeezed to trigger on one at 25 yards just to find out I never loaded the gun. [/ QUOTE ] Never have made that mistake....yet, but have had friends and a hunter I guided do it once but those birds lived past that day anyway. I could tell a funny story about a friend of mine that guided a hunter that forgot to load his gun too and still killed the bird but I'll save that for another day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Rookie mistakes................. If that'd have been me, I'd have given myself an out-loud chewing out the whole way back to the truck. I'll go and do something on a bird dumber than I shoulda been doing 20 years ago and I'll start talking to myself. Go get him tomorrow. He won't even remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. LMBO at you Strut. If my foot would have been turned around backwards that rear end kicking I was giving to myself would have really hurt. BTW your call brought him in from the backside too Strut. Guess I need to turn it around eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borch Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. I'm sure you'll thump him next time. You always do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HoppeMan Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. Aww, thats gotta kill!!! Well, there are always more gobblers in the forest Take care, Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. [ QUOTE ] BTW your call brought him in from the backside too Strut. Guess I need to turn it around eh? [/ QUOTE ] You didn't tell me you didn't have the call facing the right way!! I thought everybody knew which way to point a round slate call. I guess if I'd have known you were not privy to that knowledge, I'd have put something special for you in the instructions sheet. Give it a turn and call him in the right way next time. P.S. Don't turn it too far or he'll come in walking backwards and you won't be able to get a shot at his noggin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Close but no cigar. I know all to much what your going through Al. Maybe you luck will change. But at least for now you can live by your Sig. Good luck on your next hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.