Post by BIG FOX on May 18, 2015 7:58:03 GMT -5
Well this past week could not have been much better in the woods..
On Tuesday, I was able to turkey hunt with a buddy of mine Andy in Southern MD. We met up early that morning and I was greeted with a bag of asparagus that he grew in his garden. Off we went to the turkey woods with bow in hand. We hunted the morning and had several birds around us gobbling and carrying on but none would come all the way in to present a shot. It was a wonderful learning experience for me. I have tried turkey hunting over the years but hunting with guys that know what they are doing can teach a newbie like me life lessons I will not soon forget. The morning was spent with a great guy and the stories and hunting were great. Just no turkey would cooperate. But that is hunting.
I was off on that Friday so my good buddy Stoner and I had talked about getting out in the turkey woods. We met up early and headed over to a buddies place for an early morning sit. The birds have been acting funny from the intel Stoner had but they were there. We got up close to the woods and it wasn't long before we heard the gobbles from the roost. We moved in and decided on a set up and were greeted but 2 birds on the roost within 100 yards. For the next 30 min or so the birds were very vocal and we had no less than 5 gobblers sounding off and calling back and forth. Stoner was on the call and when he was pretty sure they hit the ground (about 545am) he began his sweet calling and the birds responded. He knew they were heading our way and told me to get ready. Wasn't long before I seen the movement of 2 nice long beards making their way in our direction. I was in position and was able to watch them work down the old logging road right towards us. One of the birds decided to peel off at about 40 yards and I worried that he would drag the other bird with him. I let Stoner know what was going on and he confirmed with me to take a shot if I got one. I was in position and when the first bird stepped into a clearing I let the 3 1/2 inch #5 do its thing out of the Benelli Nova.. He went right down and the high 5-ing was about the take place. A very nice bird and one I could not be happier with. 1 inch spurs and a 10 1/2 inch beard, tagged up and done at 6am.. We tried to locate another bird but as they do, they went quiet on us. We packed up and headed out to try a different spot. Stoner decided to head to a different spot down the road so we went our separate ways, him to continue to hunt and me to take care of my bird.
After taking care of my bird and doing a plethora of chores around my house I had to get ready to head over to my Eastern Shore Hunting lease at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. My 12 year old son has been going with me the past few times to cut grass and I let him know we would take our hunting gear so we could hunt after we were done working. We got to the property about 6am and there were gobblers in the roads strutting.. I told him we had to wait till after work so we got busy with the other members on getting grass cut and everything down. About 930am we were finishing up and I looked down one of the roads and there are a couple jakes showing off. We get the gear packed up and switch to our hunting gear and head down where we seen the majority of the birds that day. We get set up with a single hen decoy and us about 25 yards away on the side of the road. It was about 45 minutes and I was doing some soft calling now and then. We hear one putting and clucking CLOSE.. I told Dylan to get ready as we both heard this hen coming our way and I told him she could have a gobblers with her. She comes right down the road to us and is talking to the decoy. It was so cool to hear those turkey noises so close and see how she interacted with our decoy.. She walks around a bit and heads off into the woods. Very cool experience for us both. About 15 minutes later I look over at Dylan and his eyes look like dinner plates and he whispers to me "Daddy hear comes one!!" I peek down the road and see a turkey standing in the road eye balling our decoy. I get the gun up and we are ready when all the sudden 2 more pop out into the road.. I told him to be ready and we wait for what seems like FOREVER.. They are strutting and walking back and forth but not closing the distance. I pick up the call and hit them with a purr cluck a couple times and about that time the breeze kicks up and our decoy moves ever so slightly and the birds could not take it and start our way... Dylan is ready and I tell him I will let him know when they are in range.. He had one small tree in between him and the birds.. I tell him they are in range and to shoot when he is ready.. He whispers to me "2 more steps.... OK he's done!!!" and BOOM goes the Nova.. The turkey crumples in the road and I am on my feet and out in the road before I knew it.. Dylan jumps up and we hug and high 5... He has killed his 5th turkey of his life.. (THE SAME AS ME, he is 12 and I am 38) and he has a nice jake with a 4 inch beard and spurs that were just showing.. What a great hunt shared with one of my best hunting buddies..
I still need to get my other son Austin out and it will have to be an evening this week to try and get him his first bird ever but what a great weekend of hunting and sharing the woods with 3 great people... I really hope my kids see how special these times are and how hunting brings these great friends together. I hope I get the chance to hunt with all these guys more and more because it truly is a blessing to share the woods with them.
Big thanks to Andy and Jerry (Stoner) and my son the stone cold assassin Dylan for spending time with me and really making my day, week, and weekend....
On Tuesday, I was able to turkey hunt with a buddy of mine Andy in Southern MD. We met up early that morning and I was greeted with a bag of asparagus that he grew in his garden. Off we went to the turkey woods with bow in hand. We hunted the morning and had several birds around us gobbling and carrying on but none would come all the way in to present a shot. It was a wonderful learning experience for me. I have tried turkey hunting over the years but hunting with guys that know what they are doing can teach a newbie like me life lessons I will not soon forget. The morning was spent with a great guy and the stories and hunting were great. Just no turkey would cooperate. But that is hunting.
I was off on that Friday so my good buddy Stoner and I had talked about getting out in the turkey woods. We met up early and headed over to a buddies place for an early morning sit. The birds have been acting funny from the intel Stoner had but they were there. We got up close to the woods and it wasn't long before we heard the gobbles from the roost. We moved in and decided on a set up and were greeted but 2 birds on the roost within 100 yards. For the next 30 min or so the birds were very vocal and we had no less than 5 gobblers sounding off and calling back and forth. Stoner was on the call and when he was pretty sure they hit the ground (about 545am) he began his sweet calling and the birds responded. He knew they were heading our way and told me to get ready. Wasn't long before I seen the movement of 2 nice long beards making their way in our direction. I was in position and was able to watch them work down the old logging road right towards us. One of the birds decided to peel off at about 40 yards and I worried that he would drag the other bird with him. I let Stoner know what was going on and he confirmed with me to take a shot if I got one. I was in position and when the first bird stepped into a clearing I let the 3 1/2 inch #5 do its thing out of the Benelli Nova.. He went right down and the high 5-ing was about the take place. A very nice bird and one I could not be happier with. 1 inch spurs and a 10 1/2 inch beard, tagged up and done at 6am.. We tried to locate another bird but as they do, they went quiet on us. We packed up and headed out to try a different spot. Stoner decided to head to a different spot down the road so we went our separate ways, him to continue to hunt and me to take care of my bird.
After taking care of my bird and doing a plethora of chores around my house I had to get ready to head over to my Eastern Shore Hunting lease at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. My 12 year old son has been going with me the past few times to cut grass and I let him know we would take our hunting gear so we could hunt after we were done working. We got to the property about 6am and there were gobblers in the roads strutting.. I told him we had to wait till after work so we got busy with the other members on getting grass cut and everything down. About 930am we were finishing up and I looked down one of the roads and there are a couple jakes showing off. We get the gear packed up and switch to our hunting gear and head down where we seen the majority of the birds that day. We get set up with a single hen decoy and us about 25 yards away on the side of the road. It was about 45 minutes and I was doing some soft calling now and then. We hear one putting and clucking CLOSE.. I told Dylan to get ready as we both heard this hen coming our way and I told him she could have a gobblers with her. She comes right down the road to us and is talking to the decoy. It was so cool to hear those turkey noises so close and see how she interacted with our decoy.. She walks around a bit and heads off into the woods. Very cool experience for us both. About 15 minutes later I look over at Dylan and his eyes look like dinner plates and he whispers to me "Daddy hear comes one!!" I peek down the road and see a turkey standing in the road eye balling our decoy. I get the gun up and we are ready when all the sudden 2 more pop out into the road.. I told him to be ready and we wait for what seems like FOREVER.. They are strutting and walking back and forth but not closing the distance. I pick up the call and hit them with a purr cluck a couple times and about that time the breeze kicks up and our decoy moves ever so slightly and the birds could not take it and start our way... Dylan is ready and I tell him I will let him know when they are in range.. He had one small tree in between him and the birds.. I tell him they are in range and to shoot when he is ready.. He whispers to me "2 more steps.... OK he's done!!!" and BOOM goes the Nova.. The turkey crumples in the road and I am on my feet and out in the road before I knew it.. Dylan jumps up and we hug and high 5... He has killed his 5th turkey of his life.. (THE SAME AS ME, he is 12 and I am 38) and he has a nice jake with a 4 inch beard and spurs that were just showing.. What a great hunt shared with one of my best hunting buddies..
I still need to get my other son Austin out and it will have to be an evening this week to try and get him his first bird ever but what a great weekend of hunting and sharing the woods with 3 great people... I really hope my kids see how special these times are and how hunting brings these great friends together. I hope I get the chance to hunt with all these guys more and more because it truly is a blessing to share the woods with them.
Big thanks to Andy and Jerry (Stoner) and my son the stone cold assassin Dylan for spending time with me and really making my day, week, and weekend....