Josh B
04-22-2007, 08:48 PM
Today was an amazing day.
After the youth that I had planned to take out yesterday along with his father backed out, and the other youth was out of town, I had a morning to scout.
So scout I did yesterday. I was in the woods by 5am looking and listening for birds. I went to everyspot I know of and put 120+ miles on my truck yesterday alone.
As of 9am I decided I had had enough and headed to the range to pattern the turkey gun.
All morning I had two birds gobble. Both were on posted property that I couldn't hunt. I knew there were always birds so I called from the road and those were the only replies I got.
After working 8 Hours yesterday, I went and picked up one of the kids that was going out with us this morning. He had just arrived back from North Carolina and was looking forward to finding some turkeys. We checked an old and reliable spot, and with my bad luck, we didn't hear or see a thing.
I made a few calls and finally got in touch with the other gentleman that we would be going hunting with in the morning. This gentleman was my middle school science teacher, turned hunting partner. The youths that we were taking were both current students of his, as he was passing on the tradition.
Last year we got Ian a bird, and got Joe a shot at a bird of which he missed. Things changed for the better this year however.
After meeting Ian at 4:30 at the local Dunkin Donuts, we headed off to meet Joe, his father and Dan who had permission to a nice piece of private property. I had hunted there in the past with Dan and we knew there were usually birds there.
Sure enough, at 5:20 while standing in the driveway, the birds started gobbling. They were on FIRE!
We settled in about about 200yds from the bird.
With Ian to my left, and Joe, his father and dan 30 yds to our left and 15yds behind us, we had the area covered. As I covered last minute safety with Ian and outlining the shooting area and how we would work it, Dan slowly walked forward and split the distance between the birds and the guns. After letting out a yelp with the box call, the tom was HOT and on his way in a hurry. After a quick scramble back, the waiting began.
A few minutes later, a lout spit and drum was heard. My eyes, reacting to the sounds pinpointed the gobbler. He was 35yds out and in a full strut. A loud gobble shook the ground and caused a slight jump from everyone in the hunting party. The gobbler walked 25 to 30 yards to our left and out of the safe shooting zone for Ian. I told him to let it go, as it was heading right for Joe, and he had never shot one. At 10 to 15 yards, he put the hammer down, and we had one Gobbler in the bag! The best part was that it was only 6:02 am!!!
Loud hoots and hollers filled the woods as everyone was full of excitement. After checking the safety on both guns, a tag was shortly placed on the bird, pictures taken and Joe and his father were on their way to Hope Valley Bait and Tackle. The gobbler weighed 17.5 lbs, sported a 8" beard and 1/2" spurs.
After letting the woods settle down for 1/2 hour, Dan, Ian and myself headed back in as we heard the gobbling start up again.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/DeadBird-Joe.jpg
Joes Bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/FillingouttheTag.jpg
Putting the information on the tag!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Joe-FirstBird.jpg
Joe and his father after and incredible hunt!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/PostHuntJoesBird.jpg
The recount of the first kill!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/GloryWalk.jpg
Joe and his father walking out to go to the check station!
We got into position about 150 yds further into the woods from where the first bird was shot and we were ready. With the birds gobbling about 150 to 200yds out, Dan went out and made some calls about 60yds out, and then backed up, calling as he moved back towards us, simulating a hen walking away from them. Sure enough, the hen-less toms thundered back and immediately started coming our way.
With a puddle about 50ft across 60yds ahead of us, and down in the small gulley, I hoped the birds would go around to our left and come up the hill straight at us. Instead, the Jake, wanting to avoid a royal beat down by toms following, decided to fly over the puddle to save time. This put him to our right, and with Ian to my left, a shot was not possible.
With Dan doing some soft purring 10yds behind us, the bird came 5 to 8 ft to my right. He kept looking at Ian and I trying to figure out what we were. I think he could see us shaking with adrenaline, and he gave out an extremely loud putt/cluck. Being so close, we both jumped, and he went into a long streak of clucks, and then let out a thundering gobble, shaking the earth below us. With no shot, we sat as motionless as possible and let the bird wander off behind us, gobbling every 30 seconds, looking for the 'hen' that was calling him.
When we were confident that the bird was out of hearing range, Dan snuck up to us and we made a plan to move and circle 250 yds and get infront of the bird. We made our move and got set up in our new location. With the first yelps off the box call, the gobbling began. With the bird about 150yds out, we moved up another 60yds and closed the distance. This time, the bird would not be so lucky.
With the bird closing in at a good clip, I spotted him through the thick pine underbrush about 45yds out. I picked up my slate and made a few soft purrs. This let Dan know that I saw the bird and that he was close. After 3 or 4 minutes of strutting his was towards us, Ian finally located him. With the bird 20yds out and behind a tree, a few last second adjustments were made. The bird closed in to 10 yds, and we he stepped out from behind a rotting tree, Ian put the hammer down on him at exactly 8:20am. The 3.5" load of #5's hit the bird with a crushing blow, knocking him backwards stone dead. As Ian aimed the gun, I looked down the barrell, and watched the events unfold. The bird was so close that the wad even smacked the bird in the head!
A few more hoots and hollers were let out, and we were tickled pink. It was awesome for me to be out in the woods with Dan, the most influential mentor I had growing up. If it was not for him, I most likely would not be an enthousiastic about hunting as I am today. In addition, the most satisfying part was watching these two incredible young men get turkeys on the same morning. I am still young myself, but I may be at the point where its just as fun watching a kid shoot a bird as it is if I was the shooter.
The tag was affixed to the bird and after some pictures we headed back to the truck. More pictures along with high fives followed. Joe and his father had just come back from checking Joe's bird from earlier this morning and more high fives were exchanged.
After a short celebration, we were off to Hope Valley Bait to check in the the jake. He weighed in at 13.5lbs a 4.5" beard and 1/4" spurs. A great end to an awesome morning.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Ian-TheWalkOut.jpg
Ian after walking out with his bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Ian-Success.jpg
Dan and Ian!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IanandTurkey-YouthHunt.jpg
Ian with the bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Mr-1.jpg
Dan, Myself and Ian after the most memorable day I have ever spent in the woods!
This is what it is all about. Getting the youths involved and being successful. Talk about getting some hooked!
Josh
PS: Thanks to everyone that gave me tips on locations. I/we greatly appreciate it. I have to especially thank Dan for sacrificing two of his turkeys for these awesome young men to harvest!
Also, I realize that this should go in the turkey area, but I had to share it with everyone, especially those that may not always go into the turkey area!
After the youth that I had planned to take out yesterday along with his father backed out, and the other youth was out of town, I had a morning to scout.
So scout I did yesterday. I was in the woods by 5am looking and listening for birds. I went to everyspot I know of and put 120+ miles on my truck yesterday alone.
As of 9am I decided I had had enough and headed to the range to pattern the turkey gun.
All morning I had two birds gobble. Both were on posted property that I couldn't hunt. I knew there were always birds so I called from the road and those were the only replies I got.
After working 8 Hours yesterday, I went and picked up one of the kids that was going out with us this morning. He had just arrived back from North Carolina and was looking forward to finding some turkeys. We checked an old and reliable spot, and with my bad luck, we didn't hear or see a thing.
I made a few calls and finally got in touch with the other gentleman that we would be going hunting with in the morning. This gentleman was my middle school science teacher, turned hunting partner. The youths that we were taking were both current students of his, as he was passing on the tradition.
Last year we got Ian a bird, and got Joe a shot at a bird of which he missed. Things changed for the better this year however.
After meeting Ian at 4:30 at the local Dunkin Donuts, we headed off to meet Joe, his father and Dan who had permission to a nice piece of private property. I had hunted there in the past with Dan and we knew there were usually birds there.
Sure enough, at 5:20 while standing in the driveway, the birds started gobbling. They were on FIRE!
We settled in about about 200yds from the bird.
With Ian to my left, and Joe, his father and dan 30 yds to our left and 15yds behind us, we had the area covered. As I covered last minute safety with Ian and outlining the shooting area and how we would work it, Dan slowly walked forward and split the distance between the birds and the guns. After letting out a yelp with the box call, the tom was HOT and on his way in a hurry. After a quick scramble back, the waiting began.
A few minutes later, a lout spit and drum was heard. My eyes, reacting to the sounds pinpointed the gobbler. He was 35yds out and in a full strut. A loud gobble shook the ground and caused a slight jump from everyone in the hunting party. The gobbler walked 25 to 30 yards to our left and out of the safe shooting zone for Ian. I told him to let it go, as it was heading right for Joe, and he had never shot one. At 10 to 15 yards, he put the hammer down, and we had one Gobbler in the bag! The best part was that it was only 6:02 am!!!
Loud hoots and hollers filled the woods as everyone was full of excitement. After checking the safety on both guns, a tag was shortly placed on the bird, pictures taken and Joe and his father were on their way to Hope Valley Bait and Tackle. The gobbler weighed 17.5 lbs, sported a 8" beard and 1/2" spurs.
After letting the woods settle down for 1/2 hour, Dan, Ian and myself headed back in as we heard the gobbling start up again.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/DeadBird-Joe.jpg
Joes Bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/FillingouttheTag.jpg
Putting the information on the tag!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Joe-FirstBird.jpg
Joe and his father after and incredible hunt!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/PostHuntJoesBird.jpg
The recount of the first kill!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/GloryWalk.jpg
Joe and his father walking out to go to the check station!
We got into position about 150 yds further into the woods from where the first bird was shot and we were ready. With the birds gobbling about 150 to 200yds out, Dan went out and made some calls about 60yds out, and then backed up, calling as he moved back towards us, simulating a hen walking away from them. Sure enough, the hen-less toms thundered back and immediately started coming our way.
With a puddle about 50ft across 60yds ahead of us, and down in the small gulley, I hoped the birds would go around to our left and come up the hill straight at us. Instead, the Jake, wanting to avoid a royal beat down by toms following, decided to fly over the puddle to save time. This put him to our right, and with Ian to my left, a shot was not possible.
With Dan doing some soft purring 10yds behind us, the bird came 5 to 8 ft to my right. He kept looking at Ian and I trying to figure out what we were. I think he could see us shaking with adrenaline, and he gave out an extremely loud putt/cluck. Being so close, we both jumped, and he went into a long streak of clucks, and then let out a thundering gobble, shaking the earth below us. With no shot, we sat as motionless as possible and let the bird wander off behind us, gobbling every 30 seconds, looking for the 'hen' that was calling him.
When we were confident that the bird was out of hearing range, Dan snuck up to us and we made a plan to move and circle 250 yds and get infront of the bird. We made our move and got set up in our new location. With the first yelps off the box call, the gobbling began. With the bird about 150yds out, we moved up another 60yds and closed the distance. This time, the bird would not be so lucky.
With the bird closing in at a good clip, I spotted him through the thick pine underbrush about 45yds out. I picked up my slate and made a few soft purrs. This let Dan know that I saw the bird and that he was close. After 3 or 4 minutes of strutting his was towards us, Ian finally located him. With the bird 20yds out and behind a tree, a few last second adjustments were made. The bird closed in to 10 yds, and we he stepped out from behind a rotting tree, Ian put the hammer down on him at exactly 8:20am. The 3.5" load of #5's hit the bird with a crushing blow, knocking him backwards stone dead. As Ian aimed the gun, I looked down the barrell, and watched the events unfold. The bird was so close that the wad even smacked the bird in the head!
A few more hoots and hollers were let out, and we were tickled pink. It was awesome for me to be out in the woods with Dan, the most influential mentor I had growing up. If it was not for him, I most likely would not be an enthousiastic about hunting as I am today. In addition, the most satisfying part was watching these two incredible young men get turkeys on the same morning. I am still young myself, but I may be at the point where its just as fun watching a kid shoot a bird as it is if I was the shooter.
The tag was affixed to the bird and after some pictures we headed back to the truck. More pictures along with high fives followed. Joe and his father had just come back from checking Joe's bird from earlier this morning and more high fives were exchanged.
After a short celebration, we were off to Hope Valley Bait to check in the the jake. He weighed in at 13.5lbs a 4.5" beard and 1/4" spurs. A great end to an awesome morning.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Ian-TheWalkOut.jpg
Ian after walking out with his bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Ian-Success.jpg
Dan and Ian!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IanandTurkey-YouthHunt.jpg
Ian with the bird!
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/Mr-1.jpg
Dan, Myself and Ian after the most memorable day I have ever spent in the woods!
This is what it is all about. Getting the youths involved and being successful. Talk about getting some hooked!
Josh
PS: Thanks to everyone that gave me tips on locations. I/we greatly appreciate it. I have to especially thank Dan for sacrificing two of his turkeys for these awesome young men to harvest!
Also, I realize that this should go in the turkey area, but I had to share it with everyone, especially those that may not always go into the turkey area!