A Tale of Two Kings

[Erik Nilsson]

A TALE OF TWO KINGS

2008 PA Spring Turkey Season Opener
4/26/2008
Partly cloudy Temp 63* South wind 3-5 mph
Gun: Remington 1100 30" fixed full choke
Ammo: Active Penetrator 2 oz Nickel #5
Calls: Zink 3 reed V cut diaphragm, Powerhen crystal
Location: Western Pa


Spring turkey hunting is one of my favorite outdoor past times. Spending numerous hours hiking in the woods and fields across Western PA in search of that trophy gobbler, I can certainly appreciate what mother nature has given us. With the passage of Winter, warmer temperatures, new buds on the trees and the return of the songbirds greet me everyday that I have been out. Along with this passage, Winter flocks have separated and the hills in PA come alive with thunderous sounds of Gobblers establishing their territories. The hens search out nesting areas across the country side with gobblers in tow often strutting and gobbling as they go. Today was no different.

I located these gobblers several days before working their way out of the roosting area crossing a field to go to their morning strut area. My close friend Dave Rearick, having located several birds was planning to go out in the morning himself so I invited him along this hunt hoping to do a very challenging feat of doubling up on these birds. The area that we hunted had little cover to hide so Dave suggested that we use his double bull blind, something that I had never done.

These birds never used the same route everyday which made it tough to decide where to set up, so the use of 2 decoys was decided to attract these wary birds and hope that they would work the same path as they did the day before. Dave met me very early in the morning so we could get to our spot in plenty of time to get set up. Anxiously we drove to our destination pre planning the hunt and I enjoyed a good cup of coffee. We arrived, unloaded the truck of our gear and set out to the place we determined would be our best opportunity. Quietly we got everything ready to go knowing that soon the sun would begin to make its appearance. Prior to legal shooting time, the Kings gobbled out with authority on their roost almost countless times, letting every bird in the area know that they were all business.

Anticipating legal time, minutes seemed like days and finally it was game on for us. Having reached the ground the Kings continued to answer the soft yelps and clucks of the Queens of the woods. Soon, we were greeted by a pair of hens making their way down a dirt trail, following the same path as they did before so we knew we were in the right position. They continued across the area we were in watching attentively for danger. One more hen appeared and started to loaf on the trail as if waiting for something. A few minutes went by, Dave spotted the two Kings slowly cresting a small rise, they appeared in all their glory . They were true kings of the woods, majestically displaying their fans as if wearing crowns of jewels on parade. Slowly these birds worked their way down the trail heading to the hen still there in waiting. Suddenly, the Kings spotted our strategically placed decoys and made a move in our direction. Guns ready, all we had to do was wait for them to reach within effective gunning range.

Minutes seemed like hours as the birds approached showing off for our deceivers. I slowly shifted my diaphragm call to the corner of my mouth to get ready to call the shot. The lead bird was father out and that was the bird I had planned to take. Softly whispering to Dave that I was going to take the back bird not thinking about the gobbler trailing behind was really the back bird! I whispered that I was going to take him and Dave said go for it. My gun sent a lethal dose of nickel to its mark, dropping one of the kings right in his tracks. Having his bead on the same bird, Dave made a quick adjustment to the other bird who remained steady not knowing what had happened and sent his volume of lead across the terrain to meet its mark as well. Hours went from minutes and minutes to seconds and we were done. With high fives and excited conversations , We set out to pick up the two Kings who lay motionless on the ground. Admiring the greater glory of these birds we recapped the hunt, laughing about our, my, miscommunication and decided it was time to pack up and head on down the road thus ending our 2007-2008 hunting seasons in PA.

Erik Nilsson



Dave and a King



Myself and a King



4 kings aces high



Zink Powerhen

[Ray St. John]

Great way to end the season. Congrats..........very nice birds.

[Jason Mears]

Way to take them guys. Excellent story and congrats to both of you!

[Zach Byron]

Great story! Those are truely some beautiful kings! Congrats on the longbeards, dispite the miscommunication, im sure that breif second of panic made it that much better to come out with both tags filled. And I know Ive said it before, but I hope those Zink calls are on the shelves next year! Way to go guys!

[RICK MACFARLANE]

Congrats guys on two very nice PA Kings! Nice JE Big E , top notch. ZINK calls do it again!Big E I know all the gass and time you put in was well worth it !

[Richie King]

Congratulations fellas! Those are two beautiful, mature Easterns. I just got one on he youth hunt that had an 11" beard. Those are exquisite pictures

[GooseSlayer8]

Congrats, Great lookin birds!

[Nick Westerholm]

very good job guys! those are some nice birds! what camo is that on david's avery hat?

[David Rearick]

Great write-up Erik and hunt. Here are a few more PICS of the birds from a great hunt...

[Greg Owens]

Very nice write up and pictures guys!! Looks like it was a very fun hunt. Congrats!!