Great Season In Ontario

[Guest NorfolkHunter]

Friday April 25th

(Opening Day)

My friend Mike and I had our friends Craig and Chris (From Nova Scotia) down for a turkey hunt. Craig has hunted with Mike and I in the past killing 3 toms but this would be Chris's first turkey hunting experience.

They flew into Toronto on Thursday so they would be ready for the hunt on opening morning. After scouting our opening day spot a week earlier. Mike and I devised a plan that we felt would be successful.

On opening day Craig and I would be setup along the edge of a known flydown field with our bows. Mike took Chris and setup along a ridge line where we have killed numerous birds in the past.

The morning played out perfectly. With birds sounding off from the roost I had a great feeling that a tag would be filled. One tom flew out into the field and put on a little display. For some reason the tom didn't stick around and exited the field. I then had 4 hens fly down and move into my decoys.

Another tom flew down onto the ridge line. As the gobbles continued to get closer. I knew it was only a matter of time before a shot would be fired. At 6:15am Chris became a successful turkey hunter for the first time.

Chris explained to Craig and I how exciting the hunt was. With Mike working the slate behind him. The tom came running into 20 yards stopped and strutted for the last time.

I had to leave for work and Saturday was another day. We were going to a spot where there are alot of toms. We all couldn't wait for Saturday morning.

Chris’s birds stats 20lbs. 4oz., 1"spurs and 10 1/2" beard.

Saturday April 26th

The 4 of us went to different spots. Craig, Mike and I overlooking the same large field but with different vantage points. Chris was setup along a strut zone hoping to ambush an unexpecting tom.

There were gobbles all around us but not one tom pitched out into our field. After a couple of calls I could hear a tom making his way to our field. When he stepped into the field I knew it was game on. He was gobbling up a storm and was accompanied by two hens. The tom was moving towards Craig's setup so I put the call down and waited patiently.

I knew where Craig was but because of the terrain. I couldn't see the tom or Craig’s setup. As the tom continued to gobble I was thinking he must be right on top of Craig. I was waiting for a cheer of success.

This carried on for at least 15 minutes when I caught movement from Craig direction. The hens were moving back to where they had originally entered the field. With the tom being dragged 40 yards behind them. He was still gobbling and putting on a great display. I was curious as to why Craig didn't get a shot with his Bowtech.

The hens started to leave the field and I was sure he would follow. I picked up my slate call and started to do some aggressive cuts and yelps. Every time I would call he would gobble. This went on for a minute or two when all of a sudden the tom turned and started heading in my direction. I knew he was committed so I reached for my Matthews and got ready.

He was moving in pretty quickly. Not wanting to get busted I came to full draw and waited for him to strut into my shooting lanes. I might have been a little hasty in drawing my bow as the tom worked his way in. I had been drawn for sometime and was starting to get shaky when the strutter entered my first shooting window.

I figured him to be at 20 yards so I placed my 20 yard pin on him and tracked his movement. My best shot was through the window he was in. With the tom still in strut I touched off the release and watched my arrow glance off of him and hit the dirt. I couldn't believe it. Turkey fever had set in and I rushed the shot (misjudged the yardage too). The tom took a little hop not knowing what had happened and started to walk directly away. I quickly reached for another arrow. Without any hesitation I came to draw, making a quick yardage judgment. I placed my 40 yard pin on the centre of his back and sent the arrow on its way. I watched as the arrow flew true and pinning the bird down at 40 yards.

I couldn't believe what had just happened. My first tom with the compound bow. I was pumped. Mike was able to watch the whole thing through his binoculars.

With everyone gathered after the successful hunt. I asked Craig why he wasn't able to shoot. He was shooting Gobbler Guillotines and didn't feel comfortable on shooting the yardage with that kind of broadhead. He figured the bird wasn't close enough for an ethical kill. Upon further review the bird was in as close as 23 yards. Craig will be hearing about this for a few years but he does receive an assist for passing on the longbeard and allowing me to anchor him!!

Bird’s stats 21lbs. 12oz. 1 1/8" spurs and 10 3/8" beard.

Sunday April 27th

Saturday evening we put three toms to bed. On a property that I have hunted deer on for many years but never turkeys. I know the farm very well and I had a pretty good idea where the birds would roost.

Sunday Chris and I would be in one blind and Craig in the other. I was the caller for Chris while Craig would try and redeem himself from the previous morning.

The three toms were deeper into the woods than I had expected. They were gobbling 100 yards behind Chris and my setup. With a few soft tree yelps the toms pitched down and headed our way.

They were gobbling, spitting and drumming maybe 30-40 yards behind the blind. This went on for 30 minutes when finally a hen moved into our decoys. Convincing the toms to have a look. We had thought there were only two toms behind us but when they came in there were three. Strutting the whole time they moved in. Not wanting to get busted Chris sat still hoping for a chance to draw his bow. A shot just never materialized and the birds slowly moved out of Chris's field of view. I was able to watch them at 25-30 yards for another 5 minutes. If I would have carried my bow I would have had a shot. It just wasn't meant to be. We weren't successful in bringing the birds back into the decoys and they moved off. Craig never saw them but they were gobbling all around him.

We packed it in at 10:30am and decided to meet back at my house for an afternoon hunt. We had planned at meeting at 2 or 3pm but they never rolled in until 5pm. Seemed like they had taken an extended nap.

I had a good afternoon place in mind so off we went. I was going to call and Craig and Chris with guns in hand would be the shooters. 100 yards into the woods we hit a nice little opening. With a few cutts and some yelps my calls were cut off with a gobble. I told them to get down and made a few more calls. Another gobble told me the tom was on his way. By 5:25pm the tom was 10 yards from the end of Chris's barrel. A few calls stretched out the birds neck and the hunt was over. The hunt lasted no more than 15 minutes and Chris was tagged out.

Stats 20lbs. 4oz. 15/16" spurs and 10" beard.

Wednesday May 14th

On my way home from work I spotted a tom out strutting in one of the fields that I hunt. I quickly went home and threw on my camo and grabbed my shotgun. On the drive to the farm I had to devise a plan on how I was going to get close enough to kill the strutter.

This farm consists of alot of gullies. There are two gullies that finger up into the field where the bird was strutting. I was able to conceal my movement to the back of the farm where the gullies are. I made my way up the first gully towards where I had saw the tom. The rain really started to come down too.

When I reached the tip of the gully I climbed up into the brush to see if I could spot the tom. Scanning the field I eventually picked up his movement. I tried calling to him but he was still a fair distance from my setup. He would strut every once and awhile as he made his way towards the other gully.

I knew I had to move if there was any chance for me to kill this bird. Back down into the gully I went and made the big swing around into the next gully. This gully has an old tractor trail that run along it. This gave me alot of access points to the field that the tom was in.

I kept making my way up the gully in the direction that I had saw the longbeard. Every once and awhile I would pop my head out trying to spot the bird. Knowing the property quite well I moved along the gully closing the gap between me and the turkey. I caught a glimpse of him 150 yards ahead of me. So I made my last move. Down into the gully again I moved closer until I felt I was within 75 yards where I felt I would be able to call to him effectively.

Climbing out of the gully and belly crawling through the soaking grass I made my way to the field edge. All of a sudden I caught movement 60 yards away. As slowly as I could I sat down and peered over the grass infront of me. There were two hens out in the field but no tom to be seen.

I figured that was the last of my movement so I made a few calls. The hens answered with a few purrs and started heading in my direction. Just over a little knoll I could see the tips of a fan as it crested the hill. The love sick tom was not letting those hens out of his sight. As long as the hens stayed on the same path I would get a shot. The hens walked from my right to my left at 20 yards. With the toms attention on the hens he kept walking right into my shooting lane at a mere 30 yards. A few clucks and the click of the safety. Put an end to this exciting stalk on a rainy day turkey hunt.

I was soaked but I believe the rain helped me in being tagged out.

Stats 22lbs. 10" beard and 1" spurs.

NorfolkHunter

[toddyboman]

what an exciting season!! Way to go! Congrats to all :)

[huntinguide]

attaboy great season

[maytom]

Awesome pic's!!! WTG!!!!!

[HuntnMa]

WooHooooooooo, what a season....congrats