Second Spring Turkey for 2011 Season

Funny how a bad day can end up good….I started out with good spirit, and a positive attitude, and wound up limping in on the way to where I thought the turkeys would be. Damned old hellacious, heel spur started paining me, so I slowed down the pace. As I did, I started noticing the signs more, and the signs said “recent dusting for turkeys”. I figured, “good idea”, and started looking for a place nearby to set up an ambush. A spot along the edge of the swamp was a good hide, and a good clearing to boot, so I started calling and settled in. Since I only have one ear, I have to call the birds to where I want them to be, since I can’t tell where they are coming from when they gobble or yelp. So I make the set-up where they have to take “center stage” or I won’t get a shot.

I finally tired of remaining frozen, for over an hour or two, and stood up to leak, and as I did, two gobblers that were in shotgun range raced off. That was discouraging, because if I had seen them, at least one would have been in my bag. But discouragement is something to overcome, so I called from where the gobblers had been, and acted like I was a hen and a gobbler or two. The birds that had run off, had done so quietly, so that at least, was a good thing. (they could have made some “alarm putts” and alerted all the turkeys in the area) Then I moved back to where I had been, and just waited….thinking that any gobblers that came in would look at where I had BEEN, not where I WAS.

Didn’t have to wait more than a half hour before a gobble came from within thirty yards of me, almost made me jump out of my skin. I “threw” (made them sound like they were coming from another place) a few excited responses back at him, and shut up. Then the bossy old gobbler stepped right in to center stage and I had him….

Like I say, whenever it seems like things aren’t going right, is the times they turn around and go real goooood……

Congrats Jes – bet it will be good eating.

Thanks folks! Funny how a little turkey can mean so much to a fellows confidence and self esteem. LOL!