turkey hunting

[Phil C]

I got lucky and took a nice bird Wednesday morning. Unfortunately the 8 gauge was just to heavy to hump into the woods were we located him and used a auto. We put a bird to bed at dark the night before using a hoot owl call. Back before sun up but when my brother blew the owl call to locate him he was already on the ground less than 80 yards and busted us. We drove down the road and blew the call again and had 2 birds gobble about 1/2 mile up the canyon. We bailed out and at that point made a decision not to take the 8 gauge. (In retrospect wish I would have taken it. ) Ended up having 5 to 6 toms fired up. George set up below the first birds and I moved up the canyon a little further. I found a small dirt tank about 20 yards across. Placed a decoy and made a few yelps. Gobblers sounded off, but would start to come in and then hold off about 100 yards out. Finally started to try calling the hens when they yelped I called back. When the gobbler called I cut him off with a cackle. Still no good they closed the distance to about 80 yards but still would not come in. The sun came up and about an hour later some light shined on my decoy, I spoted a few hens moving through the trees so I just started purring softly with a few puts. I watched a hen look right a my decoy and started coming in very quickly with 4 other hens in tow. Suddenly there was a race as I watched one tom just tearing it up to catch up with the hens, suddenly 2 more toms joined the race with their beards just a swinging. It has been years since I had the shakes this bad. At 35 yards I sent a load of #5's his way, he went down flopping down the bank into the edge of the water and turkey's scattered every where. I did not have a scale but he is a nice mature bird with a beard just over 9" long. George is still up in the hills hunting, and has had a few chances but no luck yet. I hope to get out before the season ends and this time just take the Parker 8 gauge.