Rhino Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 One great aspect about turkey hunting is experiencing something new. This was one of those hunts Thursday morning I decided to get to the spot where I killed my 3rd bird last year. I arrived at the very tree I set up on last year with just enough light to see the ground. About 15 minutes passed before the 1st bird sounded off in the distance. Moments later a bird gobbled from his perch about 150 yards away. Just a few gobbles later I had that momentary thought, this might be a flash hunt. Then the hens began to chime in around him, between us, and behind me. This one’s going to take some work after all. A few more gobbles in the tree then the tell tale signal of ground gobble signaled the start of the hen calling war. WOW…I did some serious trash talk with the hens. We were all mimicking each other's trash talk. The gobblers were going nuts. Yep turned out to be 2 gobblers roosted there instead of one and they were hammering down. I saw at least one hen pitch down to the boys. Then hen another cranks up her trash talk behind me while coming in. Fortunately I was hidden well but I had to shut down my trash talk while she came through. No mind...let her do the work. She passed by my left side about 10 yards out talking trash the whole way. After she passed, I switched strikers on the Madhatters slate call I was using that proved to be the perfect match to that hen’s tone. When she went out of sight toward the gobblers I recommenced my trash talk (lots of hard cutting & load clucking). Here’s where the new experience occurred. Suddenly a hen flew up in a pine tree about 100 yards north of me & just west of where the gobblers were at that point. My first thought was something had come in and spooked the birds. As I began to go into a slow burn, the gobblers crank up in the same spot. As I’m looking at the hen in the tree trying to access the events that just happened I see a 2nd hen in the same tree. Now it dawned on me the boss hen had just put that hen in her place. We all know there’s a pecking order with the birds but I’d never seen a hen sent back to the limb to wait her turn to be serviced. The other hen in the pine tree had obviously already learned her place in the pecking order. Now I’m obviously stuck on that tree to wait them out since those 2 hens are sure to ruin the show if they bust me. The gobblers crank down their gobbling activity to dance for the hen (s) in hand while the others wait on the sidelines. They gobbled just enough to give away their back and forth movement. About an hour goes by when they crank their gobbles back up strong again. The 2 treed hens fly down to them and I commence my trash talk again. They did manage to come my way but stayed just below the top of the ridge where I was sitting inside the wood line of a small (about ¼ acre) field. Their gobbles from their echoed across the ground. A minute or 2 later they gobbled back to the east again. Their gobbling activity dropped off again while they strutted for these hens. Thankfully, these hens must have been more anxious to be serviced from waiting their turn in the pine tree. About 30 minutes later the gobblers cranked up again cluing me to start my trash talk again. Within a minute they gobbled signaling to me they had closed the distance in half. Seconds later I began to hear Pffft..doooooooom. No need to call now just aim where you expect to see them. Drumming continues to get loader and loader…then the top of the first bird’s fan appears through the brush. He slowly struts into the entrance to this small field. His entry point puts him just inside the 40 yard line. Now the greedy side of me says “shoot the big one!” I continue to wait for the 2nd bird while the lead bird slowly struts toward me. The 2nd bird stops short of giving me a good look, turns around and starts walking off. Dang. The lead bird now turns and sees his buddy leaving so he drops into a half strut and starts to leave too. A load of Nitro 4x5x7’s stops him in his tracks. A true trophy hunt and great show and I was rewarded with a nice 2 year old gobbler with an 8 ½” beard, & 3/4” and 7/8” spurs. Here he is my ice breaker bird with the Madhatter call that performed the trash talk, both strikers, and my turkey weapon. [/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Great story and pic, Al! Congrats once again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoythunter37 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Awesome story. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Great story Al! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAMABUCKS Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Great read...felt like i was there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Great story and gobbler Rhino, it did make me feel all warm and fuzzy too:D. I am amazed when watching them breed as well, the hens know there place and time and when they ty to cheat they are usually met with a quick scolding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Congrats and way to go!!! Good stroy too! I am pumped! Nice bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Al, you are one turkey story telling fool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 congrats, Rhino!!!! good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 You did the right thing! When they drop out of strut and turn, you better be ready to pull the trigger! I'd have done the same in your situation. When they drop out of strut and turn that's almost always a sign they aren't coming closer. You're real fortunate to have converted that hunt with a bird in a tree nearby. They can really see well from that higher vantage point and will often peg you and blow the whistle. A hen in a nearby tree is incredibly stressful. They are like a watchdog breathing down your neck! You did good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 SWEET!! Great story and pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Take me hunting!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rookieee Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Great story,congrats on the gobbler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Way to go Al, congrats buddy. Nice bird to go with a great story! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Excellent hunt rhino! It's always cool to experience something new in the turkey woods. Congrats bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Nice story Rhino..... congrats on the bird... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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