LUCKY FIRST DAY-UNLUCKY GOBBLER
 

After giving other people tips on what shot size to use in the short ten for turkeys, I should have heeded my own advice. I was up extra early for opening day, and turkey hunting is just a crap shoot anyway. Sometimes you go where he is, most of the time you don’t. Anyway, I knew not to get too close, and set up 200 yards away. Good thing, another twenty five yards I would have busted a hen, and then the jig is usually up as he knows something is wrong. Anyway, some fool was owl hooting at the gobbler that was gobbling every minute. A few tree calls, and slapping my hat in the leaves like a hen flying down and he was on the way at 6:30 a.m. At thirty-five yards now, it was a full choked right barrel with 1.5 ounces of 6s, or left with the same choke and load of 4s. Right with 6s put him on the ground. I had done things 99% correctly so far, but I did not get off my butt and run to him, only to see him get up and walk off. Now for the second shot with 4’s, and down he went, falling into the creek, only to see him get up and walk off with me running after him, with no shells readily available for they were all in a fanny pack that had just as well been Fort Knox, for I could not get them out. Finally got a shell out and when he stepped up on a log, I missed, and then I was tearing the fanny pack apart for a second shell. Finally a load of 2s in his back put him down a quarter mile from where we started. I had a stress test recently for my heart but today I got another one for free.

I ignored my own advice when turkey hunting. Sixes at thirty-five yards in a low velocity shell (1200 fps) don’t have enough punch. Slow loads need big pellets for enough energy for a big tom. I think I’ll put the story to paper some time in the future for there were more boring details but I’m being called for supper!

Alls Well That Ends Well..nice big bird..Bill

Congrats!
Here is my opening day bird. Trojan 20 gauge with RST 5-SHOT at twenty- five
yards.
[IMG]parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?pictureid=3489&albumid=235&dl=13344582 48&thumb=1[/IMG]

Nice , i hope thats the NEW 10, if so that is the same one i shot a 21 lb bird with last year:) scott

congratulations fellas on the kills....i cannot say the same for myself...i agrree that a load of 6 s is good for the head at 35 yards and closer and that thr big shot is better for the body at longer distances...many years ago the factory would put their recommendations for game on the side of the box...if i remember correctly they listed bb 2 and 4 s for turkey...we can not shoot bb shot for turkey in miss..any more and i loved that shot size for turkey....fill the limits fellas if you can... charlie

Nice tom Jerry. I had my morning hunt spoiled by a father and son who came charging thru the woods heading for the Osceola turkeys me and a friend were hunting. We did evrything right, got set up by 6:30, waithed for the toms to hit the ground. My friend did a great job calling them in and it was over by 7:30. I was waiting with my GH 16ga using RSTs 1oz , # 5 shot.

Yes Scott, that's it. I started to take the one I've got listed for sale, but decided to disguise the gun with a neoprene sleeve over the stock, a handguard on the barrels, and two pieces of camo tape over the freshly "Flitzed" receiver. I took a tumble with the gun trying to run the Tom down, and it could have been a disaster. Now I know why so many vintage doubles have replacement stocks! I'm getting too old for this game.

jerry buy you a eight gaugeand you want have to worry abouttaking the old exercise test...there two heavt to run with i know...good storey this kind of hunt is the one your grand children will remember and tell any hunting trip withdisasters andexcitement in them will be long remembered....thanks for the storey hope i have one to tell before long.... charlie

:banghead:Hope this picture works. I am still a Barney Rubble in a George Jetson world.

pics nice, but tell use about the gun and bird:corn:

very nice bird....you fellas are sure rackin them old toms up im jelous...yep give us a little info on the gun and shot size.... charlie

Jerry's story was so good and I knew my first picture was not going to load! But that was my first Tom with a Parker. I have been bow hunting turkeys for the past three or so seasons. I did take a Parker 12 Gauge last year on opening day as back-up for a friend who had never killed a bird. But this April twenty-first I had neck surgery and the doc said go but no bow. I was excited to take one of my 20 gauge Parkers. Out came the Trojan.
This year I took my buddies son, now eighteen who I took on his first turkey hunt when he was twelve. I had set up a ground blind for us on the edge of a field I had been watching. We had birds gobbling all around us. I called lightly once and stayed quiet until I knew the Toms were on the ground.
We had our first bird walking right to us at 6:50 and told the boy to get ready. Nice bird with 8-10" beard but he did not shoulder the gun in time. Then we had another Jake come in and I had to tell him he had a bird four yards to his right but he did not want a jake. He was so figety all morning. Then a bird fired off behind us and I told him that he was going to be on top of us real soon. He kept the gun on his lap and I just told him to lean back and I took the bird with my left and tightest barrel at twenty-five yards. RST-FIVE SHOT and Dave Smith Decoys. I am sure I tried to get a letter on this as I have on all my guns but Mark did not have info. It is a nice little gun though. Serial # 208449.
...and thank you Charlie. I love reading all of your hunting stories!

Larry
.

well this is my storey for this morning...got up at a lilltle bit after 4 oclock this morning got all of mygear together and was in the woods before daylight..i set my decoys up by using a flashlight boy was i ready...15 minutes after 6 a hen pitched down and came feeding by my decoys ..i just knew would not be long before a big tom would come my way but dont you knowlady luck aint giving me a fair shake thismorning...i set and watched the hen that had come by the decoysto keep from going to sleep she had fed out in the field to about 200yards from my setup...boy all atonce was i woke up i had forgot to turn my cell phone off i believe every thing in the woods heard that phone...got that took care of pretty quick... i went back to watching the hen and time was just dragging by nothing in that big field except that one lone hen and me....she finally started feeding back towards the decoys she sure put on a show cackling and purring at them decoys... she edged up to them decoys like she was the boss on that field feathers raised up like she was mad at them...well this went on for about 15 minutes all of a sudden she raised that head and was really listning about that time i heard a pack of dogs running what was probly a deer...the hen went to the edge of the field and flew across a little creek and she was gone...i stayed in my blind for about 15 more minutes went and gathered up my decoys ..figured it was time to find another spot to hunt came home eat me some grub and now im setting here telling yall about the morning.... glad you fellas done so well...been thinking aboiut using my 16 or 20 ga but just cant seem to get away from that old ten parker.... charlie