Fall turkey season started for me yesterday about 1pm and closed at 3.30 pm.
I had some things to take care of in the morning, so I didn’t get to the woods until one – I debated on even going out, as I had been watching the radar image of another storm headed this way….
I approached the woods from the N side – passing standing corn – looking at all the deer tracks and turkey tracks in the soft soil – and as I got closer to the trees, I was totally amazed to see how much corn was knocked down and trampled – wow – making mental notes on the way as to where I saw trails coming in to the corn – deer season being 2 weeks away – picked out two stand spots…. 
I eased along the wood/field edge, looking and listening – moving a little – 10-20 ft, and repeat. Rounding a corner, I started back N, and did my stop / start. Did it twice, and on the second stop, it happened – the flapping of heavy wings and there were turkeys flying every which way. I couldn’t have been more than 20 ft away when they flushed.
I shot once in the air to assist with breaking the flock up. But then I saw one of the birds sit down about 30 ft from me – I pointed my shotgun at it – intending on ending the season then and there – and nothing happened. Checked the safety – it was off – ready to fire, then worked the action a bit, and the bolt closed – good to go – and my turkey dinner flushed – deciding it wasn’t healthy place to be.
OK then – I looked for a tree – hunkered down, got out my slate and a diaphram – and looked at my watch – I was going to wait 15min, then start calling. It was about 5 minutes, and then I heard the first set of kee-kees from the flock – I yelped – more kee-kee voices, and then I heard the hen yelp. She was off to my right, and was coming closer. Soon she was in front of me – but I couldn’t see her thru the undergrowth – while the tall trees are loosing their leaves, the brush down low is still very green.
So there Mom and I are, yelping, and all the kids are doing kee-kees. This was getting to me – I could feel my heart rate was way up, and w/ a head net on, all the exhalation from my breathing, along w/ the humudity in the air – fogged my glasses. I shifted my position a bit, trying to get what breeze there was to blow across the lens – it started to work – the left cleared, and then part of the right lens.
Then there was movement in the underbrush and bodies – 1 – 2 then 4 and soon there were 7 birds passing by – but my right lens is still mostly fogged – and I am right eye dominate (shoot right) – and I could barely see the tip of my barrel – much less pick out a bird thru that lens. ARGH!!!
The kids got joined up w/ Mom and the calling ceased – got real quiet. I got up and moved to where Mom had been – nothing – they was gone. It was 1.50.
I started walking again, finished my N fence line, then headed S on a trail to a small field, sometimes there are birds in it – but nothing today. Headed W a short distance to a fence line, then back N, some process – stop – look – listen. Each time I stopped – I added yelps. Busted a roosted bird – this was big – and all by its lonesome – am thinking it was a Tom.
At one point I thought I heard something – but couldn’t tell. Heard crunching ahead of me – saw a white flag – but that is still 2 weeks away. Came to a corner – now along a lush green hay land. Moved along it, and then I heard it – kee-kee. Very faint. Moved further, and then I heard a second voice. Put my head net and gloves on, then started to work closer – yelping every so often. Crossed a small creek, then in to the thick stuff. The rain we’ve been getting has made the woods nice and quiet – didn’t give myself away… Voices are louder now – steady stream of kee-kees – these birds want company.
I knew they were close – and knew that I was on the edge of a grass meadow in the woods, but also knew I was going to have to make a “dramatic appearance” – but that made me think…. Will I make my appearance only to be looking down the bore of a 12ga?
I was the only one to have permission to hunt this ground, but that doesn’t mean anything to a tresspasser….but there was 3 voices – and then I saw a bird close to me – moving thru the brush…. and there were still those differant voices, so I stepped out from behind the bush I was by, spotted a bird and fired. The bird went down and started to thrash.
I got over to it, and unloaded the gun. Looked the bird over – I knew it was a young one (what I wanted – going to be tender in the pan). No spurs or bumps (spurs to be), and no beard. I had a jenny – a young hen.
Got some pics, tagged the bird, then headed for the truck. Almost there and the rain started to fall, got to the truck – stuff in it, closed the doors, and clouds opened up – it poured.
The batteries for the camera need to charge – so I can’t post any at this time…..
UG
