turkey hunting

[charlie cleveland]

yesterday i loaded up my gun and shells and chair into the side by side and took off to my bottom land a hunting turkeys...i set my decoys up i tom and 2 hens...put my chair and gun and calls under the shooting house a natural made blind of briars and hedge bushes...i set back and enjoyed my view of the sorrounding things...i called aboyut every 15 to 20 minutes....i sat there till 630 pm never heard a pip from anything...but i never cared because what a great evening i had not a care in this world for a few moments...could have been a better hunt but i cant remember when..gona be the old 8 gauge parker s turn to hunt next time i go....charlie

[King Brown]

The hunt is everything, as you say, Charlie. If you get a bird, that's a premium.

[Mills Morrison]

Dad got one this morning. They are out and about

[Gerald McPherson]

Yesterday I hunted from before daylight until 11am never heard anything. Got up this morning and fixed a cup of coffee and went out on the back porch. Guess what was standing in the yard. Yep a turkey.We saw each other at the same time.

[charlie cleveland]

i took the 8 ga davenport single barrel out of the safe...i then opened the game bore box of black powder shells that were given to me by someone on the forem here to kill a turkey with...this was a none opened box...these shell are almost to pretty to shoot...best looking shell i have...i loaded up the old 8 ga into the 4 wheeler then got my calls and shells and headed off on about a 2 mile trip...i would go about 1/4 of a mile and call and listen for about 15 minutes...boy was it hot must been about 85 degrees...i forgot to say it was about 2 oclock in the evening when i started this hunt..i hunted till 6 oclock but i had no luck hearing a bird..so oft to the house i went so tommorrow me and the old 8 is gona try it again... hey mills your dad got a nice one...now its harry and your turn to get a good one....be expecting to see ya lls picture soon....charlie

[Mills Morrison]

It is a frustrating sport for sure. But fun and addictive too

[charlie cleveland]

i m fixing to go and get the 4 wheeler and cut out...the 8 ga is already in the over head ravk and the shells in the pocket tray...now if i dont forget my hat and calls i m leaveing it to you guys to put me on a big tom....charlie

[charlie cleveland]

i made it back home just as the sun was going down..me and the old davenport had a nice queit evening nothing heard but things are looking up i seen a fresh set of big gobbler tracks and fresg hen track...now i guess i ll have to start going to bed eary where i can get up early to see them big toms...guess i ll take the parker 8 gauge the next trip hunting....charlie

[Mills Morrison]

Harry and I went back out Sunday and they eluded us. We will have a rematch this Saturday.

[Dean Romig]

Yep, you’ve got to be sitting out there 45 minutes before sunrise.

...and there’s still no guarantees.




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[Mills Morrison]

He missed Saturday . . . . They have been more cooperative this year than the last few years

[Jerry Harlow]

A cousin called up two birds at one location but his sons could not get shots. He took them somewhere else and these are the results on youth day!

[charlie cleveland]

good for them...my turkey aint showed up yet......charlie

[Kent Nickerson]

Sat all day yesterday. Nothin'. I thought I heard one gobble. But he never came. Those birds sure are dumb.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=790&pictureid=12684

[charlie cleveland]

thats a good picture..looks like the turkey has done sneaked up on this fellow gona peck him on the head....charlie

[ED J, MORGAN]

Our season here in N. West Illinois starts tomorrow Monday. Rain and high winds forecast.
Tues. weather looks better. good luck to everyone. Ed PS> Happy Easter.

[Kent Nickerson]

Alas....I'm done for this year. Time to plant the sweet corn and tomatoes.
Good hunting, everyone!
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=790&pictureid=12685

[Phillip Carr]

Way to get it done. Great picture.

[Jerry Harlow]

I have a nice flock across from my house and have watched them all week. Thought it would be a great opening day. But I forgot that no kid is in school and over half of the adults are drawing unemployment being paid now to hunt.

I have never heard so many crow calls and then constant turkey calls at the edge of our property trying to lure the turkeys across the line. They had to be sitting right on it, and then after they tired of calling every five minutes the two of them went to the truck and rode back and forth stopping to scan the field from the highway. A little later, back again.

I think the Dept. of Game should require the Chinese Virus six foot separation, from the property line. It is not going to be a good season competing all week with my normal Saturday and Sunday turkey road hunters.

[Dean Romig]

Parker Brothers sure had the right idea!

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[Garry L Gordon]

After a visit to the farm for our traditional pre-dawn and sunrise service, Elaine and I went home and did some chores in the yard. About 1:30 pm a Tom sounded off just across the road, about 50 yards from where we were working. He gobbled for about 20 minutes, and finally called up another gobbler that joined him in gobbling their little heads off. I went into the barn and got a mouth call and gave them my best "come hither." They went berserk, and I thought they were going to fly into the yard when a farm truck went by and spoiled our fun.

Our season starts a week from tomorrow. I may sit on the deck with decoys in the yard.

[Randy G Roberts]

After a visit to the farm for our traditional pre-dawn and sunrise service, Elaine and I went home and did some chores in the yard. About 1:30 pm a Tom sounded off just across the road, about 50 yards from where we were working. He gobbled for about 20 minutes, and finally called up another gobbler that joined him in gobbling their little heads off. I went into the barn and got a mouth call and gave them my best "come hither." They went berserk, and I thought they were going to fly into the yard when a farm truck went by and spoiled our fun.

Our season starts a week from tomorrow. I may sit on the deck with decoys in the yard.

I should stay home and hunt as well Garry. Had 2 Toms right behind the house this evening just gobbling away.

[charlie cleveland]

i ve been out hunting the last 2 evening but no luck as of yet...been carrying my 8 ga davenport single barrel and a borrowed stoger 12 ga....aint used my long barrelled over and under yet....hope every body else is having good hunts....charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

i ve been out hunting the last 2 evening but no luck as of yet...been carrying my 8 ga davenport single barrel and a borrowed stoger 12 ga....aint used my long barrelled over and under yet....hope every body else is having good hunts....charlie

Charlie, I sure wish we could hunt in the afternoon, but in Missouri we must quit at 1:00pm, the idea being that hunters will not be as likely to disrupt nesting hens. I've never seen any data that shows that nests are disrupted in those states that allow all-day hunting, though.

[Dean Romig]

I've walked right by hens on nests within 10 feet and in my experience they just flatten and sit tight.





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[Mills Morrison]

Harry went with my brother Comer and they had 5 out in the field with a big gobbler putting on a big show. Here is him next to the tree where he set up and the field in front of him. They were 70 yards away so he didn't shoot.

Dad and I went to a different location and heard several but never saw them

[Garry L Gordon]

I've walked right by hens on nests within 10 feet and in my experience they just flatten and sit tight.
.

While surveying a thinning project on our tree farm with my local Conservation Dept. private lands specialist, we flushed a hen from a nest. I took photos of the nest and we marked its location (she was obviously laying and not setting as there were only 4 eggs). The PLS called the State turkey biologist (our farm is in one of the State's turkey focus areas, so the turkey biologist was familiar with our farm which they'd scouted to trap turkeys for putting location collars on them for their study). He said that turkey hens will not revisit their nest if pushed off it. The PLS and I were skeptical, so, after waiting the appropriate time (and getting the OK from the turkey biologist), I went back to check the nest. The eggs -- the same number we found upon flushing the hen -- had obviously been predated by something -- probably a coon or 'possum. Another time Elaine and I flushed a hen from a nest while surveying our access trails. We noted the number of eggs and went back much later to check. Eggs were there (same number), but no sign of the turkey. Our last check of the nest indicated that the nest had been abandoned. That's a tiny sample size, I know, but based on those experiences and what the turkey biologist said, I'm inclined to believe that scaring a hen from her nest is the end of that nest.

But, Dean, I agree with your observations, at least in the two or three instances where I saw the hen on the nest but she did not flush. We observed one hen on multiple occasions and she sat tight. As far as we could tell, she raised a brood from that nest.

BUT, I would still like to hunt turkeys in the afternoon. We are in the woods roosting them, and there is no prohibition against that. I have had many a chance at an otherwise unhuntable Tom while waiting near his roost in the late afternoon/evening. Plus, you don't have to get up early!:whistle:

[Dean Romig]

Harry went with my brother Comer and they had 5 out in the field with a big gobbler putting on a big show. Here is him next to the tree where he set up and the field in front of him. They were 70 yards away so he didn't shoot.

Dad and I went to a different location and heard several but never saw them

Looks like a couple of jakes at the edge of the woods...





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[charlie cleveland]

i wish you could hunt turkey in the evening...i enjoy the evening hunt.. i dont get out early much more i stay up to late waching gun smoke...now i know why my dad didnt get up early in his old age and go hunting with me....old age....it use to be for me to want to get a shot at something but now its just about the hunt....charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

i but now its just about the hunt....charlie

So true, Charlie, so true...

[Jerry Harlow]

He said that turkey hens will not revisit their nest if pushed off it. The PLS and I were skeptical, so, after waiting the appropriate time (and getting the OK from the turkey biologist), I went back to check the nest. The eggs -- the same number we found upon flushing the hen -- had obviously been predated by something -- probably a coon or 'possum. Another time Elaine and I flushed a hen from a nest while surveying our access trails. We noted the number of eggs and went back much later to check. Eggs were there (same number), but no sign of the turkey. Our last check of the nest indicated that the nest had been abandoned. That's a tiny sample size, I know, but based on those experiences and what the turkey biologist said, I'm inclined to believe that scaring a hen from her nest is the end of that nest.
:

Gary,

Last year I let my clover and grass field grow until the end of June. I was sure all birds had hatched. As I made the last round with the bush hog a hen that I had observed the whole spring flew and I stopped the tractor. I left the tall hay intact. Checking often the next week, she never came back. I felt so bad that I had caused six or more birds to not hatch and she was so close. It is the second week of July usually for us in your old home state. I won't do that again.

[Dean Romig]

Jerry, that was probably a late or second nesting because the first nesting had failed. It’s unfortunate but a fact of life.

We have a swan on the Shawsheen flats here that due to very high water, has had to make a new nest and lay more eggs a few times in the last several years.



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[John Dallas]

Mich season opened yesterday. First time I've hunted turkey at 32 degrees. Grouse drumming, geese honking, cranes cackling, and pileated woodpeckers pecking. The spring woods are much more interesting than during deer season. Oh, BTW no turkeys heard

[charlie cleveland]

but aint it nice just to be out and alive......charlie




.....

[Garry L Gordon]

I went scouting this morning on a farm about an hour SW of us. The road to our Tree Farm is not passable, so I'll save it for the second week. I heard 2 or 3 gobblers this morning, all just on the edge of the property. I'll be ensconced in the brush overlooking a couple of decoys tomorrow morning. I just hope I get to "see a show" as Pop used to call a Tom's strutting. Elaine got me a Garmin watch to go with our dog tracking collars. It also gives me my heart rate. I can't wait to see just how high it goes if a big one strolls in to my calls.:corn:

[John Dallas]

A body of mine shot one this AM with a 36" 10 gauge H&R 10 gauge. Charlie, you should have been there

[charlie cleveland]

yes i should have been there maybe next time...them 36 inch barrel 10 ga s will reach out and touch them for sure....charlie

[John J Sundelin]

Gary,

Last year I let my clover and grass field grow until the end of June. I was sure all birds had hatched. As I made the last round with the bush hog a hen that I had observed the whole spring flew and I stopped the tractor. I left the tall hay intact. Checking often the next week, she never came back. I felt so bad that I had caused six or more birds to not hatch and she was so close. It is the second week of July usually for us in your old home state. I won't do that again.

We have kicked many turkeys and even ducks off their nests while cutting hay. A couple hens went through the mower conditioner, that was messy. I was raising poultry at the time and have several large incubators so I would grab the eggs and put them in the incubator. Most usually hatched so I would raise them for a few months having minimal contact with them and feeding non medicated feed. They always managed to get out and join their family flock of 40-60 birds that lives around here. They roost across the road in the pines then feed through the cow pasture in the mornings and afternoons.

[Kent Nickerson]

Have filled my tags for the year, but it's fun to look around and see what's going on out there. Scouting FPV from the drone I found this fellow still out and about two days ago. (small dot in strip at left). Happy hunting, ya'll.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=790&pictureid=12713

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Don't know whether I'm good or just lucky . Probably just lucky! Set up Mon. morning, birds gobbled down below me, made 1 series of yelps, and laid the box call down. 6:40 and done for the day, birds were still carrying on, so took the gobbler back to the truck and exchanged gun for thermos of coffee and some oatmeal raisin cookies. Sat there in the sunshine listening to them carry on, no doubt I could have called in another , but only 1/day. Then caught a stringer of bluegills and crappies--my version of a Blast and Cast! Been back in the area for the next 3 days lugging around the Beast--a grade 2 12ga hammer gun with 30" F/F chokes--damn, I need a sling on that thing. Not the gun I want when I have to run and gun the logging roads, but really want to shoot a turkey with it. Maybe tomorrow.

[Garry L Gordon]

Don't know whether I'm good or just lucky . Probably just lucky! Set up Mon. morning, birds gobbled down below me, made 1 series of yelps, and laid the box call down. 6:40 and done for the day, birds were still carrying on, so took the gobbler back to the truck and exchanged gun for thermos of coffee and some oatmeal raisin cookies. Sat there in the sunshine listening to them carry on, no doubt I could have called in another , but only 1/day. Then caught a stringer of bluegills and crappies--my version of a Blast and Cast! Been back in the area for the next 3 days lugging around the Beast--a grade 2 12ga hammer gun with 30" F/F chokes--damn, I need a sling on that thing. Not the gun I want when I have to run and gun the logging roads, but really want to shoot a turkey with it. Maybe tomorrow.

Sounds like a day to remember! Pictures if you have any.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Sure Garry, I got pictures- but not of that one. Got this one today with the Grade 2 hammer 12 with 30" F/FF, ser 34275. No action early morning, and was half asleep in a lawn chair when one gobbled over the hill. Put the decoy out quickly and he popped into the field 250 yds out. Came right in, and at 100 yds, laid down the box call, cocked the hammers, and just used my natural voice to bring it thr rest of the way in. Thought he was at 25 yds, but was 32yds. Shooting 1 1/8 oz of #7's with 23 gr of 7625 in a Rem hull. Went down real hard.
Two year old with 10" beard and 1 " spurs, probably 20 lbs. Very happy with it. My first Parker turkey--pictures to follow, have to download off my phone.
Hey Garry, didn't you live in Ohio for a while??-flushed a grouse in strip pit area, made me quite happy!!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Pictures

[Dean Romig]

Nice bird Harold.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Gun was made in 1883, 137 yrs old and still kickin'

[Jerry Harlow]

Gave a Trojan to my cousin's grandson last week. Let turkey walk by him and never saw it. This week after ninety minutes of cold calling, well, you can guess what happens. So much for a photo for the Parker Pages.

I'm carrying a new to me 20 ga A5 all wrapped up (so don't jump on me about it!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq6ONiiPDYA

[John Dallas]

Had a tom and two hens come in to me, and as they came around the corner, the lead hen saw my decoy. She didn't like it, and told the old man. I understood her to say "what's she got that I don't have?" End of today's hunt.

[Garry L Gordon]

Sure Garry, I got pictures- but not of that one. Got this one today with the Grade 2 hammer 12 with 30" F/FF, ser 34275. No action early morning, and was half asleep in a lawn chair when one gobbled over the hill. Put the decoy out quickly and he popped into the field 250 yds out. Came right in, and at 100 yds, laid down the box call, cocked the hammers, and just used my natural voice to bring it thr rest of the way in. Thought he was at 25 yds, but was 32yds. Shooting 1 1/8 oz of #7's with 23 gr of 7625 in a Rem hull. Went down real hard.
Two year old with 10" beard and 1 " spurs, probably 20 lbs. Very happy with it. My first Parker turkey--pictures to follow, have to download off my phone.
Hey Garry, didn't you live in Ohio for a while??-flushed a grouse in strip pit area, made me quite happy!!

Harold, that is a beautiful Tom and a wonderful gun to take him with. Yes, I did live in SE Ohio (Athens) for a while, and ventured back to grouse hunt for many years until the bottom fell out. I sure miss those days. I killed my first turkey in Ohio during one of their very first seasons back in the late 1970s. I wish I had the energy and desire I had then.

You've inspired me to take my EH 10 tomorrow morning. I tagged my first bird last Wednesday (with a gun not to be mentioned on this site!). I know where 6 gobblers are having a party every morning about an hour away. Their set-up is perfect for them (and not for a hunter), but we'll see what can be finessed...if it does not rain as predicted.

Thanks for posting your pictures, and letting me know that there is still at least one grouse in Ohio.

Take care an be safe,

Garry

[Garry L Gordon]

Had a tom and two hens come in to me, and as they came around the corner, the lead hen saw my decoy. She didn't like it, and told the old man. I understood her to say "what's she got that I don't have?" End of today's hunt.

Women! Whadaya gonna do??!!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Garry, were you at Ohio University? Had 2 yrs there, 72-74, before going on to Ohio State. The grouse I flushed was in Jefferson County, and the next day heard one drumming there. Man, that sure made my day!! Yes, grouse hunting in eastern Ohio was as good as anywhere. I was hunting the UP then also, and always said the hunting was not better in the UP, just a whole lot easier--no steep hills, no multiflora, or greenbriar.
Do you remember the name Nelson Groves, a grouse hunting legend from that area( Nelsonville).

[Reggie Bishop]

I was sitting on the edge of an alfalfa field Saturday morning at daybreak. The turkeys must have been practicing social distancing. I had the Oregon 20 gauge with me.

https://i.imgur.com/qWuGyrP.jpg

[Dean Romig]

That’s a great picture Reggie - Home Page quality.





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[Garry L Gordon]

Garry, were you at Ohio University? Had 2 yrs there, 72-74, before going on to Ohio State. The grouse I flushed was in Jefferson County, and the next day heard one drumming there. Man, that sure made my day!! Yes, grouse hunting in eastern Ohio was as good as anywhere. I was hunting the UP then also, and always said the hunting was not better in the UP, just a whole lot easier--no steep hills, no multiflora, or greenbriar.
Do you remember the name Nelson Groves, a grouse hunting legend from that area( Nelsonville).

Harold, yes I attended OU from 1977-79, and continued to return to hunt there until the early 2000s, mostly hunting from out of Nelsonville. I also hunted in NE Ohio when we went to visit Elaine's parents. I loved hunting in Ohio, as much as anywhere else I've ever been. The cover was great on all of the public land once upon a time. I'm surprised that I never met Nelson Groves, but did run into some unique characters over the years, interestingly, very few were grouse hunters.

Take good care of those birds you found. Maybe one of the imported tree scourges will knock back growth enough to bring back the grouse. Hey, we can always hope.

[John Dallas]

My office this AM. Remnants of an old chimney from a halfway house which burned down in about 1930. It's about 100 yards from my cabin. 30 degrees this AM. The birds chose to not get out of bed. Sorry about the rotation

[Mills Morrison]

Harry and I could not get into our favorite WMA this weekend between water and downed trees. The birds are pretty educated too. My brother went out at Dad's place and did not hear anything.

[Garry L Gordon]

John, that's a neat old building remnant. Looks like a great place to explore.

I got up at 2:30 am to drive an hour to where I know there are at least 6 Toms that hang out together. I had planned an in-the-dark sneak across a large field and through a wet bottom so that I could take advantage of their movement patterns...and so that I would not flush any hens on my way in. Just as I was leaving the truck the heavens opened up and it rained hard and steady. Back home by 5:30. Will try tomorrow, but rain is predicted again. That's turkey hunting for you!

[Randy G Roberts]

Turkeys have been really quiet since season opened on the 22nd. Not much gobbling on the roost and it gets quiet shortly after leaving the tree. I have not even been hearing the occasional bird that gets lonesome in the afternoon.

[charlie cleveland]

i went hunting this afternoon every thing was queit no gobbling...i think they got the lock jaw as my dad use to say...i did see a fresh hen track...gona try to hunt every evening for the rest of the season...ours goes out may the 2nd...always glad to see the new season come in and glad to see it close....may get something done around the house then...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

Harry and I are giving it another try this afternoon.

[Gerald McPherson]

Lots of gobbling this morning but could not get them to cross a large clear cut. I don't know what I AM DOING..

[charlie cleveland]

i went this evening it was very quiet except for the wind blowing in the trees...i think all my turkeys flew north....charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

At 3:00 am I checked the weather -- 25 mph winds and light drizzle. Thank goodness! I went back to sleep and pledged to go tomorrow. We have a week and and half left in our season, and I have a bird in the freezer...but I'd sure like to get one of the 6 Toms that have been gobbling at me for the past week. We'll see tomorrow. Thank goodness, there's a tomorrow.

[Jerry Harlow]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0NP2vwNDhI&feature=youtu.be

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Garry, I have always hated the early mornings required for turkey hunting. Now, I never sleep in, have always got up at 6:00am, but just don't function well if I have to get up at 4:00. I have killed a lot of birds by not getting into the woods until after 8:00 am. Let them hen up, but by 9-10:00 the hens will leave them, and they will be on the prowl again. This past Sat., I was half asleep in an old lawn chair I had put up in the field, when a bird gobbled a couple hundred yds away and woke me up. He saw my decoy, heard my calls and later became my first turkey killed with a Parker- at 10:15 am.

Hey jerry, are those 3" TSS shells? Looks like they certainly did their job?

[George Lang]

Charlie if they want to come North they will need web feet. Between snow, rain and tonight/tomorrows monsoons tomorrows turkey opener would be best done from my duckboat. Good luck to all and stay safe.

[charlie cleveland]

tomorrow is the last day of the turkey season for us in Mississippi...I will try to go to see if mr tom is going to cooperate one more time...will go back to my job of clearing a 5 acre field I let grow up and now trying to reclaim it... charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

One of the great things about hunting is that I get to see and experience new things each and every season. This turkey season was no exception. I finally managed to get set-up correctly on some gobblers I've been hunting this season. Although I think Harold and Mills are spot-on regarding the improving chances one has by waiting until later in the day to call a Tom, I chose the opposite strategy and went in extra early. The problem was that the birds were roosting in some isolated timber in a drainage that was surrounded by large open fields. There was also a deep and treacherously muddy creek that precluded a more direct approach. So, to avoid trespassing on the adjacent landowner, I had to take a circuitous route that made my trek in over three miles. I also had to go in under the cover of darkness, thus the extra early walk in. I set up as close as I could to what I hoped was their roost with about an hour and a half before shooting light. As dawn approached, and just from where I'd hoped he would be, a bird gobbled at a barred owl's call...and then continued to gobble until fly-down.

Here's the "new experience" part of this hunt. There were two Toms roosted together, and they continued to gobble at each other for about 30 minutes, just over a slope in the field that kept them out of sight. Finally, one of the birds shifted over the crest of the slope and started to move my way. I had given only a purr and cluck to them just after fly-down to let them know there was a hen in my direction. Too much calling here would not work as my set-up spot had only sparse cover and I was sure a bird would see me before he got close enough to shoot if he was looking in my direction for a hen. I just wanted to coax them my way.

The Tom strutted and drummed closer, and then at about 50-60 yards the periscope went up and I could tell he was scanning my cover. He stepped a little closer and I chanced a shot. He went down quickly. The other Tom gobbled at the shot and did not fly away, although I still could not see him. I decided to wait to see what the other bird would do. In 45 years of hunting turkeys I've had three instances of other Toms jumping on a bird I'd shot. They are so programmed to fight off rivals, they don't care about the noise of a shot. This time when my bird flopped in his death throes, the other Tom jumped him and started pecking away. He finally left, but came back again and again as my bird would shudder every now and then. I watched this for about 10-15 minutes. I'm sure the Tom would have continued to attack my bird, but I finally decided my back and legs just needed to be stretched, so I got up. The Tom ran off and I went to retrieve my bird. Since the downed bird was just at the slope of the field, I could only see his wings thrash from my vantage point, not being able to clearly see all of him. I was surprised to find that the other Tom had plucked most of the feathers from my bird's neck. I now wonder if I'd not stood up and spooked off the other bird, if he would have completely plucked my bird for me.:whistle:

Every day's a new day in the field...

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Great hunt and story Garry, congratulations, you really earned that bird! I looked at the picture first, and wondered what the heck happened to its neck, figured you must have carried it out of the woods by the neck. Your strategy of getting in super early is a good one--I just hate getting up that early in order to do that--of course, you need to know where the turkeys are roosting. My best friend uses your strategy, he is always settled in long before daylight.
What were you shooting? Well, at least you can sleep in tomorrow. When does the season end for you?

[Dean Romig]

In VT we can shoot 2 bearded birds in the spring and one of either sex in the fall. In the spring we can shoot both birds on the same day. Twice I have killed my second bird while he was thrashing my downed bird.





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[Randy G Roberts]

Way to go Garry. I do not recall ever having a bird thrashed that I had taken with a gun although it may have. Archery killed birds are another story as I have had that happen numerous times. They will hang in there for the most part and abuse the downed bird about as long as you can endure the show.

On another note I like to take the breast and cut it into chunks not to thick, say about 1/2" max. Cube it with a hand held cuber, marinate over night in Zesty Italian dressing, right out of the marinade into your favorite flour or breading and then cook over medium heat. Tender and yummy. :bigbye:

[Garry L Gordon]

Way to go Garry. I do not recall ever having a bird thrashed that I had taken with a gun although it may have. Archery killed birds are another story as I have had that happen numerous times. They will hang in there for the most part and abuse the downed bird about as long as you can endure the show.

On another note I like to take the breast and cut it into chunks not to thick, say about 1/2" max. Cube it with a hand held cuber, marinate over night in Zesty Italian dressing, right out of the marinade into your favorite flour or breading and then cook over medium heat. Tender and yummy. :bigbye:

Randy, you have my mouth watering(!) I'll give it a try.

Dean, now that the statute of limitations has passed, I can admit that many years ago I mistakenly shot a second bird while he was "giving what for" to my already shot bird. I was lying in a logging road and after my first shot I thought the bird had only been wounded and was getting ready to run off...so I shot again and when I stood up, there were two dead birds.:eek: The first one shot was a Jake, the second one weighed 27 pounds and had 5 beards. I'm still chagrined that probably my best turkey was not taken more "appropriately." :nono:

Harold, I was wide awake at 2:30 am this morning. Once I get into the early morning pattern, my internal alarm clock goes off on its own. I could not get back to sleep. It also frustrates Elaine because the sleep pattern also means I go to bed at 8:30 pm. :banghead:

Charlie, good luck with getting your chores done. Hey, our squirrel season opens at the end of May, so if you lived in Missouri, you'd have another excuse to not do chores.:rotf:

[Garry L Gordon]

P.S. I cannot in good conscience reveal what I was shooting, but I did not want to cross that creek in the pitch black dark lugging my 9 pound EH 10 gauge. I'm sure I'd be banned from the Association if I told what I was shooting.:crying: Let's just say it was my "creek crossing" gun.:corn:

[charlie cleveland]

my creek crossing gun will be a 8 ga davenport single barrel today...I don't get up to early anymore I hunt the evening shift now...good luck and don't fall in the creek...charlie

[charlie cleveland]

well I made it back across the creek...not a bird did I see or here...a turkey had been there I saw his fresh track I guess you could say turkey season ended without a bang....charlie

[Dean Romig]

There’s always next year Charlie.

(I often tell myself that consolation.)





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[Garry L Gordon]

well I made it back across the creek...not a bird did I see or here...a turkey had been there I saw his fresh track I guess you could say turkey season ended without a bang....charlie

From your posts I'd say your season was a good one. It's a wonderful time of year to be out with a gun.

[Dean Romig]

There’s always next year Charlie.

(I often tell myself that consolation.)
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And now I’m telling my grandson, Cam, that. That young man is frothing at the bit for me to take him turkey hunting in VT, NH or MA but just about any public land we can hunt on is swarming with hikers and cyclists and tree-huggers so hunting undisturbed is out of the question... there’s always next year.:crying:





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Garry, my favorite turkey gun is my Rem 870 Wingmaster 12 ga that I bought with my money made by throwing hay bales in the summer( $1.00/hr) when I was 17.
It now sports a 21" barrel with a turkey X-Full choke, and a 2X Weaver scope. Put the crosshairs on the wattles and down goes the bird. More importantly, it has a sling, making it much easier to get around when moving. I shot my first bird this year with it--the second bird was with the Grade 2 hammer gun.
Sure killed a lot of deer with that gun also, with a rifled choke tube in place, and still have its original 28" barrel.

[Dave Tatman]

Harold, as a fellow Buckeye, I loved your shirt in your earlier photo. While there are huge questions as to what this season may look like, I have faithfully paid my money for what will be our 40th season of season tickets to Buckeye football!

Best to you, my friend.

Dave

[John Dallas]

OhowIhateOhioState :rotf:

[Richard Flanders]

Some of us "Parker guys" were hunting birds in South Dakota a few years back and we kicked up a few turkeys in a patch of pine trees in a ravine. I wandered over to have a look and found that they clearly had been chowing down on a very dead compadre. Anyone ever seen that one before??

[Dean Romig]

Being ground-feeding scavengers they'll eat about anything... especially if there be maggots in it.





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[Richard Flanders]

I suppose it's best then that none of you turkey hunters expire while in the woods, eh..? :eek:

[Dean Romig]

Speaking of turkeys being ground-feeding scavengers -

1/4 mile from my house is the local Frito Lay distribution warehouse.
On their breaks during the normal workday employees there throw all sorts of 'unsaleable' damaged product out on the back parking lot next to the woods. The turkeys there, known locally as the "Frito Lay Flock" seem to know exactly when break time is.
We can always tell the regulars from the newcomers because the regulars' upper beak is pretty well worn off from pecking pavement.

If hunting were allowed in the adjacent woods I wouldn't need any of the customary hen and jake decoys - I'd just spread out a fake blacktop mat sprinkled liberally with Fritos...

I'll bet those birds would taste good... especially with stuffing made from Lays products.

If you're wondering why there are no turkeys in the pictures... I took the pictures at break time.


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[Garry L Gordon]

Garry, my favorite turkey gun is my Rem 870 Wingmaster 12 ga that I bought with my money made by throwing hay bales in the summer( $1.00/hr) when I was 17.
It now sports a 21" barrel with a turkey X-Full choke, and a 2X Weaver scope. Put the crosshairs on the wattles and down goes the bird. More importantly, it has a sling, making it much easier to get around when moving. I shot my first bird this year with it--the second bird was with the Grade 2 hammer gun.
Sure killed a lot of deer with that gun also, with a rifled choke tube in place, and still have its original 28" barrel.

Harold, I think the 870 has some pretty fine history, and most certainly a wide following. My first turkey gun was a 36" H&R 12 gauge that my wife bought me back when we were in college in Athens (and were both on food stamps). She bought it at a local pawn shop, and I killed quite a few Toms with it for a number of years. Your 870 also has the added attraction of a great personal history as well. That makes a gun special.

At the risk of ridicule, I was carrying my Mossberg pump gun. It's got a sling, doesn't weigh all that much, has luminous sites...and shoots Winchester Longbeard shells accurately to pretty significant distances. One of my goals for this Fall is to take a turkey with my EH 10. I bought it just for such hunting.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Cold, rainy morning. Slipped out back of the house at 11:00 am, and set up against some round bales in a hay field . No response to calling, waited a half hour and a bird gobbled just over the crest of the hill--less than a hundred yds away. Thought he was coming right in, but then he turned and walked out of sight while gobbling to every thing I thru at him. Darn!
Was carrying a nice little Lefever G grade Damascus 16 F/F with 1 oz RST 6's.
May try again tomorrow, or might go fishing--or hey, might do both. This quarantine thing is really complicating my life.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Strolled out the back door at a leisurely 9:00am yesterday, and spotted 2 longbeards and 2 hens at the edge of the hayfield 300+ yds away. Snuck around the back of a line of round bales, crawled in-between 2 and set up. Wanted to put a decoy out, but they would have spotted me instantly. Called a few times and they gobbled back, got them to within 150 yds, but then the hens steered them off. Nice weather, enjoyable show, packed up and went fishing-brought back another nice string of bluegills , crappies, and had a 3 pound bass flip off just as I went to lip him.
So today, walked out the back yard at 7:30 in the rain and sat up where the gobblers were yesterday, and spotted them 100 yds in back of where I was set up yesterday. Was able to sneak around the crest of the hill and get a nice set up against the round bales on the other side of yesterday. I set a decoy up 30 yds in back of me where it would be easily spotted. The birds were on property I don't have permission to hunt, so I needed to call them over the property line. I yelped a few times and 2 red heads popped up on the horizon--and just laid the call down. There were 2 big longbeards and 3 hens, and figured the hens might give me trouble. They could see the decoy and slowly worked in . The gobblers put on quite a show for me at 25 yds--could have killed them both with 1 shot, and maybe a hen to boot. Finally one stepped thru the farm lane into the field, at 15 yds. Wow , 7 1/2's , are devastating at that range. 10 1/4" beard, 1 1/8" spurs, didn't weigh it, but at least 20 lbs.
Had the Lefever 16 and a Parker 16 hammer gun laid out, but because of the rain, grabbed the scoped 870, wished I'd grabbed one of the doubles.
Done for the season now, turkey for dinner tonight.
Oh, BTW, was about 50 yds off my back yard fenceline.

[Dean Romig]

Nice bird Harold. We live vicariously through you and others who post of their success.





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[Jerry Harlow]

for taking young hunters the last week. Relative has three daughters whom he wants me to take next week. Finally got number three. A tough season. Found this bird last Friday, busted him trying to get too close. Set up on him on Saturday not getting too close. Came to 75 yards in strut. Took a long hard look, probably at decoy in woods, went on. On Monday got to within 50 yards on the roost. Flew down the other way and two hours later he skirted me gobbling as he went by. Tuesday went on an evening hunt, busted a bird at 6 pm already roosted, called two others in that I spooked as they came in behind me about 7:30. Don't know which was the gobbler. Wednesday let him rest. Thursday slept late and went out after him in a 20 mph wind, and at 12 I got him to gobble every time I called. Passed on a 50 yard shot even though I had the artillery to do it. But finally at 35 yards feeding and gobbling number three for the season is in the bag. Started with a Parker Trojan, then jinxed went to a Franchi 912 that missed, to the Beretta Xtrema that scored, to an A5 20 mag that did not get a shot, to a Beretta 686 20 gauge that scored, and finally with a difficult bird to get into range on a windy day the Xtrema with TSS #9s at 1:20 p.m. Enjoyed the fellow members' successes.

[Dean Romig]

Good one Jerry! What a season you’ve had!





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[Garry L Gordon]

Harold and Jerry,

Thanks for the recap of your seasons. Harold, you have the "hay bale sneak" down to a science:bowdown:; not to mention the later morning strategy. And Jerry...there must be some voodoo in your gun selection. I'm clumsy enough that I have to carry guns with the same kind of safety or I'm lost at the moment of truth:crying:.

Like Dean, I've enjoyed everyone's accounts of their seasons. Here's hoping that the Fall season will find us in the field safe...and out of the woods with this darned pandemic.:bigbye:

[Rick Roemer]

Hi, what shells/loads are you folks using in the vintage doubles for turkey? I recently had a very unfortunate incident with a Model 21 3” gun using Winchester Long Beard ammo. Wanted some advice for dependable turkey ammo that is safe to use in a fine condition, steel barreled, older shotgun. Thx

[Dean Romig]

Rick, I have never found it necessary to use anything heavier than 2 1/2” or 2 3/4” standard velocity 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of #6 shot. Every turkey I have shot at, except 1, have gone down with 1 shot. That 1 that didn’t was apparently a clean miss.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

I agree with Dean. I loaded 1 1/8oz 7's to shoot my Grade 2 hammer gun turkey..
Yesterdays bird with the 870 was 1 1/4 oz 7 1/2's. I have had great success with smaller shot on turkeys, The dense pattern on those head shots is devastating--of course you have to watch your range.
With my 16 ga, I settled on RST 7 1/2 in the right barrel and 6's in the left--both 1 oz loads.
I remember a TV show with Wayne Fears, where he shot at a turkey with a 3 1/2" magnum--knocked him flat on his back,and he is a big guy--he swore he would never shoot another! More is not always better. In regards to your mishap, I am so surprised, those guns are built like tanks.

[Rick Roemer]

Yeah I guess I learned my lesson. This was a 3 inch magnum gun and I guess wrongly assumed it could shoot 3 inch magnum shells with modern ammo. Choke was .032. I just never considered RST for this particular gun. I use for all my other vintage guns, 2 1/2 lite.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Still, I would not have thought it would be a problem in that gun.

[Jerry Harlow]

Yeah I guess I learned my lesson. This was a 3 inch magnum gun and I guess wrongly assumed it could shoot 3 inch magnum shells with modern ammo. Choke was .032. I just never considered RST for this particular gun. I use for all my other vintage guns, 2 1/2 lite.

Rick,

I feel sure that gun could handle some of the original 3" 12 gauge loads in pure lead, like the 1 5/8 ounce loads that first came out. You should still be able to find them. But a best choice is the lead 2 3/4" 1 1/2 ounce loads that are regular or even copper or nickel plated lead shells that the gun could easily handle, in my opinion.

[Rick Roemer]

OK and thanks for the suggestion at first I feared a wad obstruction but after talking to three different gunsmiths all say that it was a load issue. I don’t have Any experience with blowups thankfully but evidently obstructions will cause the barrel to bulge way more than this one did and more in the center of the barrel. this was right at the choke.

[John Dallas]

I'm sure no expert, but I don't understand how the load could cause the failure at the point where pressure is substantially lower than near the breech.

[Mills Morrison]

My season is all but over. No turkey to show for it, but some good hunts and Harry missed one. They were much more active this season than the past few years and I hope that continues. Now, on to fishing

[Randy G Roberts]

Hi, what shells/loads are you folks using in the vintage doubles for turkey? I recently had a very unfortunate incident with a Model 21 3” gun using Winchester Long Beard ammo. Wanted some advice for dependable turkey ammo that is safe to use in a fine condition, steel barreled, older shotgun. Thx

Rick RST makes a 1 1/4 oz 1200 fps load that I think is comfortable to shoot. if we ever get to Elk Creek at the same time remind me and I will bring you a handful to sample.

[Jim Wescott]

Our old reliable Parkers got quite a workout this spring. With little guiding due to border closure there was much more time to hunt. Cooperative toms made for many thrilling hunts across several New England states. We finished in Maine, Last Man Standing Day being June 6. While we didn’t lay eyes on a moose, four black bear, numerous fox, coyote and whitetails were spotted. Bobcat and drumming grouse were evident also. There is some excellent early antler growth on the bucks and we’ve encountered ten hen turkeys with poults. Conditions are perfect for an outstanding hatch of ground nesting birds. Save for a few early season warning shots, marksmanship was excellent. Maybe we just needed to warm the barrels up a bit. Like Mills stated, it’s on to fishing now. Fall turkey starts in Maine in mid September. Hope to take the last week of September off for our four consecutive moose hunt, drawing Saturday June 13.

[Dean Romig]

Those were obviously some very memorably hunts Jim.

Those early season shots are just for blowing the cobwebs out of the tubes anyway!





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[Jim DiSpagno]

Way to go Jim. Great photos as usual. Thanks for posting

[Garry L Gordon]

Excellent! I hope your hatch is indeed a good one.