3seasons Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 After leaving MS at around 9:00p.m.on Friday we ,Reid and myself, arrived in NM at 2:00p.m. Saturday we bought our licenses and headed up the Mountains. The area we had planed on hunting was full of other hunters so we opted to look for some more land. We found another road that didn’t have anyone else on it so we did some looking down it. We were about 4 to 5 miles down the old logging road when we spotted some birds feeding ahead. The wind was blowing 30 to 40 in the valley below so I don’t know how HARD it was blowing at 9400 ft. but it was BLOWING, plus it was 40degrees. We let the birds feed out of sight then we made our move, we got to within 50yds. of the birds and set up. We made two soft calls and the hens turned and came our way. Then the two gobbles came our way at 20yds. we counted 1,2,3,boom our first two Merriam’s hit the ground. Word to the wise don’t jump up and run up the hill side to retrieve a downed bird, I thought I was going to die. First afternoon double on public land, first Merriam for both of us. Both birds were about the same size 8” beards, 5\8” spurs both broken on each bird, and weighed 14.3lbs. The next Day was tough, the winds didn’t die down any and the birds would not react to a call. The only way we could get them to gobble was with a crow call. So we wound up bumping about 25 birds on the Mountain side. On the second day around lunch I got my second Merriam. 8.5” thick beard, 1” spurs, and weighed 20lbs. Not much of a hunt just a lot of walking. We saw a hen cross the log road ahead of us. When we got to the spot where she crossed we looked down the mountain side for her only to see the dark timber. We had just about given up looking when out of nowhere a huge thunderous gobble came from below. I looked down and about 60 ft below me was a huge gobbler. So I took the shot. Not the perfect hunt one would hope for but I’ll take it. We left on Tuesday morning headed for San Antonio TX. We hunted for two and a half days there. Right after that huge storm blew there Tuesday night. On the second morning I called in this bird for Reid. It was the picture perfect hunt. It took about 5 minutes and 4 calls he came in strutting in the morning sun and gobbling up a storm. He had a 9.75” beard, 1.25” spurs, and weighed 21lbs. On the third and last morning I got this bird. It took a little over 2 hours to get him. He went straight away from our calls. When we caught up with him he was strutting in a field just out of view because of the fog. We managed to get within about 60yds of him. I wound up sitting on my feed and propping my gun on my knee. Reid sat down about 20yds behind me and started calling, the bird would not move. Reid got up and walked away calling. The bird still wouldn’t move. Finally after 30 minutes he walked into an opening at about 60yds. I made a couple of soft yelps and he walked about 8 steps closer then hung up. After sitting on my feet for 30 minutes I couldn’t take it any more. I took the shot and I wish I would have had video of what happened. I fell back after the recoil of the shot. Both legs and one arm had fallen asleep. I couldn’t pump my gun and when I tried to stand up to run to get my bird I fell face first in the sand. I couldn’t help but to laugh. I had to wait for Reid to get my bird. A hunt that want soon be forgotten. My bird had a 10.75” beard, 1 3\16” spurs, and weighed 19.3lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 sounds like you guys where doing alittle road tripin that paid off, congrats on four great birds. 2 towards a slam in one trip not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Fantastic birds and stories, thanks for sharing! Definitely makes me long for a trip to NM or TX. What forest were you hunting in NM? Any tips for a first timer thinking of heading out there after gobblers? And I assume you were on a private hunting ranch in TX(?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Congrats on the trio of Merriams and duo of Rios. Sounds like it was a cold, windy hunt in New Mexico. Several friends of mine take an annual trip to New Mexico to hunt Philmont. They were there last week. They said the same thing about the windy conditions combined with some snow too. They all got their 2 birds but it wasn't easy. That is some of the most beautiful country I've ever turkey hunted in. I'll go back there again someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted May 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Thanks guys, we were hunting the Lincoln NF and yes it was very cold and windy but a lot of fun. As far a preparing for the hunt we did our homework on the area and talked with a few people out there. Also did A LOT of walking although the there is nothing you can do to get prepared for the altitude. It took about a day to get acclimated to the elevation change. You have to take it slow. The place we hunted in TX was a friend of mine's dad land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoyt_hunter Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 sounds like u had an awesome trip, congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 WOw what a trip!! Congrats to you all on some great birds!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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