Post by Gungnir on Apr 18, 2011 13:33:25 GMT -5
Well it's opening day and what a morning it was! I got into hunting for the first time ever last year...and even though I was unsuccessful, today made up for it.
My cousin had been scouting out a spot for the past couple weeks where they were always seeing birds. So this morning we get out there at 5.30 and by 6am we're setup. About 10 min after setting up the forest just explodes with gobbles, yelps, cackles etc. So i'm thinking game on! We had our decoys setup in the field and i've been practicing my calls for months.
I heard a shotgun blast about 6.30 on the other side of the forest and another about 6.45am. Then its total silence. I'm thinking the birds have gone the other way or are spooked. I called out a couple times and we're waiting. Time goes by. It's about 7:45 and I'm looking down the field not paying attention, when I turn my head and I see two little red heads bobbing towards me across the field. At first I thought it something else then I knew it was two turkeys. So I turn to tell my cousin they're coming and I see 8 MORE heads pop up behind them! At this point they see the decoys and it was like a stampede charge right at them! Within a minute there are 10 birds literally 15-20 yards in front of us moving around the decoys. Talk about cold sweats, adrenalin rush, total freaking out! We worked it so I would take the first shot. So I'm looking to make sure there are no hens in there, cause at first I thought thats all it was. Then I realize it's all jakes and one bird with a little longer beard than the rest. So i set my sites on him and he sticks his head up to come around the decoy, but then ducks right behind it. Another jake comes in around it and at that point it was now or never. So BLAMMO head shot and lights out. The birds jump and wait, my cousin gets his shot off at one that was almost in his lap and again lights out! The birds wait a minute and watch, then we come running out of the woods and the rest fly off. My bird literally dropped where I hit him and didn't move! He flapped once and then it was stone cold! 5 inch beard and half inch spurs.
I get him back home, took off all feathers, skinned him, and chopped him up. Looked like a thanksgiving turkey. my wife wondered if I had done it before, but I guess internet research on dressing a turkey pays off! lol! but man... TALK ABOUT A RUSH!!! That was MY FIRST kill ever.. let alone a turkey! Wow.. definitely a great first day. I still got goosebumps as I type this.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone out there the rest of this season! I hope we all get some safe and successful hunts and may they be as exciting as today! Talk about a kid at christmas time waiting to see santa.... haha! ;D ;D
My cousin had been scouting out a spot for the past couple weeks where they were always seeing birds. So this morning we get out there at 5.30 and by 6am we're setup. About 10 min after setting up the forest just explodes with gobbles, yelps, cackles etc. So i'm thinking game on! We had our decoys setup in the field and i've been practicing my calls for months.
I heard a shotgun blast about 6.30 on the other side of the forest and another about 6.45am. Then its total silence. I'm thinking the birds have gone the other way or are spooked. I called out a couple times and we're waiting. Time goes by. It's about 7:45 and I'm looking down the field not paying attention, when I turn my head and I see two little red heads bobbing towards me across the field. At first I thought it something else then I knew it was two turkeys. So I turn to tell my cousin they're coming and I see 8 MORE heads pop up behind them! At this point they see the decoys and it was like a stampede charge right at them! Within a minute there are 10 birds literally 15-20 yards in front of us moving around the decoys. Talk about cold sweats, adrenalin rush, total freaking out! We worked it so I would take the first shot. So I'm looking to make sure there are no hens in there, cause at first I thought thats all it was. Then I realize it's all jakes and one bird with a little longer beard than the rest. So i set my sites on him and he sticks his head up to come around the decoy, but then ducks right behind it. Another jake comes in around it and at that point it was now or never. So BLAMMO head shot and lights out. The birds jump and wait, my cousin gets his shot off at one that was almost in his lap and again lights out! The birds wait a minute and watch, then we come running out of the woods and the rest fly off. My bird literally dropped where I hit him and didn't move! He flapped once and then it was stone cold! 5 inch beard and half inch spurs.
I get him back home, took off all feathers, skinned him, and chopped him up. Looked like a thanksgiving turkey. my wife wondered if I had done it before, but I guess internet research on dressing a turkey pays off! lol! but man... TALK ABOUT A RUSH!!! That was MY FIRST kill ever.. let alone a turkey! Wow.. definitely a great first day. I still got goosebumps as I type this.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone out there the rest of this season! I hope we all get some safe and successful hunts and may they be as exciting as today! Talk about a kid at christmas time waiting to see santa.... haha! ;D ;D
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