Its been 6 years since ive killed a gobbler. Yesterday afternoon, me and Isaac set up a blind on a ridge-top logging road where we have seen alot of birds in the past. I got in early, and around 6 AM, a gobbler started gobbling off to my left. About 10 minutes later, another one started hammering behind me. Then the hens started up. I did some soft tree yelps and sat tight. After all the birds pitched down, the woods went quiet. At about 7:30, i got out of the blind and headed southwest, towards another ridge. I sat where i could see a ways, and hit my Primos Jackpot call with my Wood Wise striker a few times. After a few series of cuts, i had a gobbler and a hen go off to my left a few hundred yards. I got up and made a quick ninja sneak through the woods towards the birds. I found a decent tree where the ridge-top got skinny (about 70 yards across). After a few clucks, a few cuts and some purrs, i had a gobbler go off at about 70 yards down over the hill. A few minutes later, i saw 2 red heads pop up at 50 yards. I brought my binos up but couldn't tell if they were Jakes or Gobblers, and after they scanned the horizon, they went back down over the hill. At this point i was getting a little impatient, so i clucked loud, did some sharp cuts and followed it with some high pitched yelps. Boom! A gobbler went off 60 yards to my right. This is where i knew i had to make a decision, i could stay the way i was, and risk not getting a shot to my right but stay in position for the birds i did see before, or i could move. I went with the move. I spun around the tree, and put out some cuts foll wed by a few purrs. He couldn't resist. About 5 minutes later i saw the white head. He was coming in SLOW and silent, taking a few steps and looking around. I know if i would have had decoys he wouldn't have came in, these birds are pressured and very call/decoy shy. The fact that he couldn't see the hen was too much for him, and he eventually came out on the logging road at 20 yards. Click...BOOM! He went down, started thrashing and i knew it was over. The euphoria of finally getting that bird of my own was one of the best feelings i ever had in the woods. Ive called in alot of birds for my friends/family, but ive never called my own in until today. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/Cay4redneck/2010 Turkey season/DSC06344.jpg Me and dad scoring him: As he looked live: I had the camera with me in the blind, but i didnt get him on video when i moved. And yes, he is a shotgun bird. Also, the big double beard is still alive, ill be going after him on Friday morning.
Killing that first turkey that you called in on your own is a great feeling! I remember my first that way like it was yesterday! Whenever I go out with my Dad I still let him do the calling though, because I think he enjoys having a hand in my success. Congrats again!
Ive been the caller since 2006 for my family/friends. I love it. I recently switched from primarily mouth calls to Slate calls this year. I leave the mouth call in just in case though. Box calls stay home.
Excellent,that takes heap of pressure off I'm sure.Had only a 1yr gap for me but it was driving me crazy. Congrats!
