2 nd day hunt report
 

i did not get to go turkey hunting the first day the season opened in mississippi on friday...first time in my life its ever done this...well went saturday it was a good day no wind and about 45 degree temperature..i heard no gobbling going on early that morning but about 8.30 a m i called and a hen answered me across a small creek it took them about 15 minutes before they flew into the field i was set up in..they really liked the hen decoys one little fellow with about a half inch beard fuzzed up and was rubbing shoulders with her... 2 nd little fellow had no beard that i could see and he could only attemt about a half fuzzed up stance..there was seven of them they finally wondered off after not getting any attention from the hen decoys.. in about 30 minutes 3 long beards came into field at about 2 hundred yards i never could get them any closer...i had to leave at 9.30 so no turkey killed...then went this morning i only heard one gobble and never heard another peep.again left at 8.00 oclock to go to church so will be going early in the morning totin that old ten ga parker... charlie

Darn it Charlie if only you had taken your 8 bore the 200 yard shot would have been easy. Darn the bad luck anyway. I know you are wanting to make it sporting for the turkey and give them a chance to come in closer. Ha...

Dennis

Charlie, we have to wait until May 3rd to Turkey hunt here in NH!!!!!!!!!!! I was at my camp in Pittsburg, NH this weekend getting in a little late riding, and it was -6 this morning when we got up!!!!!!!! Good luck hunting.

I went several times this weekend. For all of our talk on here about long range shots, I had one come up about 5 paces from me. I heard calling and calling and next I knew he darted from behind a tree and almost ran into me. He escaped. I took my son Harry out Saturday afternoon and we heard some but they would not come. We saw them in a small field on the way back and there was about five hens for every one gobbler. Went out this morning and had three gobbling, but then all the hens on Dad's place found them and that was that.

them hens will sure mess a good thing up in a hurry..it s raining hear today i got up early but only heard one hen....

To quote my brother, you can't compete with the real thing. The season is early and Georgia opens up this weekend, so hopefully luck will change.

Such is life sometimes...:rotf::rotf::rotf: He's probably telling that story to impress the hens.

You know, I bet he was doing that Saturday afternoon when I saw them with all the hens.:rotf::banghead::crying:

well i got up at 4.00 this morning fixing too load up the truck and head to the woods...my uncle called me last night said he got a gobbler that weighed 20 lbs and sporting a 9 inch beard...the ve not been gobbling much here nothing was heard yesterday or seen... gotta go... charlie

what a day its been today im tierd and wore out...was in my blind by 6.30 with decoys put out..man was it cold a fella got be part crazy to git out and set and freeze looking for a turkeyany way i heard not a peep...the sun finally poped out about 10.00 but was not warming me up much i had been throwing my best calls into the wind but still no gobble...just then i thought i heard something and i had it was 2 dogs a really running something then i seen what it was 3 deer old does came close enough to have got them with the bird shot...i decided to go and eat at the house this was at 11.00 by 12.00 i had my bycickle loaded up into truck and old single barrel 12 with a rope tied on it for a sling...that bycikle sure let me cover a lot of ground but still no turkey seen...got back to truck and went looking at some large fields using the bino..but no turkey seen by 4.00 i called it a day.... charlie

They don't seem to like cold weather, if Charlie's experience and my cousin's experience last Friday morning are any guide. My cousin went out Friday and did not see anything and that is unusual for him.

yesterday i got up at 4.00 am fixed my breakfastand then got ready togo to the woods...fixing to get into truck and it started raining and the wind was blowing pretty good...i decided to wait a while to see how the weather got..well it finally cleared up a little at 1.00 pm i jumped into the truck and off to thw woods i went...it was still cloudy but wind had died done..got my decoys set up and got in the blind at 2.00 i see a turkey at about 250 yards.. it took it about 30 minutes to come over to check the decoys out it was a big hen...as i watched the hen grazearound the decoys i suddenly heard a growling sound behind me at first i thought it mite be a coyote but it turnrned out to be a small red dog it was growling at my decoys...well i slapped my hands together and little dog got the message and run off...i figured my evening hunt was over but decided to stay with it ...after about an hour oif calling at 15 minute intervals 6 big jakes came onto the field boy was they hungary they payed not a bit of attention to the decoys or me softly calling to them so i just sat back and enjoyed the show....about an hour passed by and then another turkey came onto the field and joined the other group..then another turkey came out and he was the one i was waiting for...i called to him and he just fuzzed up nice and pretty...the turkeys were at about a 100yards i looked at the time it was 6.00... they finally picked up the pace and was coming slowly to the decoys i layed my call down and pushed the safety off that old ten ga parker...big gobbler came by at 20 yards yep the bad boy met his waterloo...the big gobbler was shot with the ph ten ga 32 inch barrels used gauge mates in 12 ga in it...turkey was shot with 3 1/2 inch winchester no 6...turkey weighed 20 1/2 lbs 10 inch beard 3/4 inch razor sharp spurs...the turkey was a 3 year old turkey in my book...i lookes at the time it was 6.25 pm when i killed the turkey..this turkey never gobbled a time only yelped a coupla times.anyway it was a good hunt...... charlie

Good job Charlie! I was all fired up for today, but it is cold as can be outside so looks like tomorrow.

10 inch beard? We won''t see a bird like that in Michigan. There is a story going round that often turkeys up here have their beard frozen to a tree branch while roosting in a wet/rain/snow event, and when he flies down, leaves his beard frozen to the branch

Congratulations Charlie. I think you know we were all rooting for you to kill that bird. Good for you. Can you shoot another one or is the limit just one per season? I envy you for being able to sit in a stand. My limit is maybe an hour and after that I need to get up and look elsewhere.

Dennis

the limit is 3 gobblers per season.... dennis i seemed to have aquired the patience to stay in a blind from my father he could set all day in a blind...still very cool here today. last night it came a hail storm at 3.00 this morning...was about 2 inches of thumb size hail on the ground...i figure them turkeys had it rough last night..i was lucky my wifes car was outside but no hail damage that ive seen yet it sounded bad on the tin roof but no damage to it either... charlie

forgot to say ive added the 2nd turkey for this year as of today...gotout late this morning but set my decoys up anddid a few yelps was nt long here comes a big jake....he was very wary of the decoys did not want to come in so i switched from the box call to one of those finger pushed yelpers i guess the big jake liked the call he came to about 40 yards and the old ten roared to life...that bird dropped to the ground without even a flutter..i used the ph 10 ga again with the gage mates adapters...shell used winchester surpreme 3 inch no 4 lead..distance 40 steps head shot...looks like im finally doing something rite for a change...next hunt i hoefully will be useing the silent auction 8 bore.. charlie

just loaded me up some shells for the old mills 8 bore..winchester hull clear one. a winchester 209 primer. 70 grains of triple 7. aguande plastic wad.with 1 3/4 ounce of no 6 copper plated lead shot...will not get to pattern them this evening its raining again here..will pattern it on jerrys target of the turkey s head at 40 steps...hope it patterns well at that distance it being cly bore.i did not slit the plastic wad so it should a good pattern...charlie

I hope that old 8 gets your last one. That old gun deserves it after the years of rust and neglect. I missed today due to bad weather and stuff going on around here, but tomorrow I am going no matter what.

mills thats the way to go hunting dont matter what the weather like just go hunting...i like to hunt when its raining and hopefully warm..those turkeys like to get in a shallow drainway and look for snails and other critters...im working on the old 8 bore as of today tighting it up a little more..i shot the shells i loaded up yesterday at 45 steps.. old gun holding up well hardly no recoil with even 70 grains of triple 7 powder...only thing wrong with my loadings is ive either got to split the wads im using and make pedals on them or use a wadding with no cup holder for the shot..i shot 3 times and not a hole in the target did i put...then i got a 50 lb empty dog food sack and shot it4 times all i had was 4 nice big holes in it...they would make good slug loads...i had trouble before useing these wads so will just cut the sides off it or switch to remington wads ... i do not see how all the shot is staying in that wad but it does...the no 6 shot is level with the top of the wad then iput a piece of tissue over the shot then use 2 real thin 10 ga over shot cards over the paper tissue then roll crimp the load...i could see how the shot was staying together thus making a slug load if the top wadsover the shot was going down in the plastik wadding but it cant because the shot ius to the top of the wad..has any of you had this problem before... mills hope you get that bird and you other boys... charlie

got up early this morning and was in the woods before daylight..nary a gobble did i hear it was fairly cold had a frost on the grass..its got to warm up before long in the mornings it was nice this afternoon...i went back to the woods about 2.30 at 4.30 a group of 5 turkeys came out on the field i was hunting they paid my decoys and calling no mind..at 6.30 they finally came close enough for me to see them good they were all big hens...they stayed on the field till 7.00 was dark just about time i got home..heh and i had the 16 ga with me still working on the old 8 ga.. charlie

this was a warmer morning than usal..i was in the woods by 5.30 i went to a little hill to listen and sure enough i heard a turkey gobble...in about10 minutes i heard another gobble but it was not the same turkey..he gobblled again and i had a good line of direction on him and after him i went...after a quarter mile of double timing it i stopped and called that turkey gobbled but i bet it was still a quarter of a mile to him...i closed the distance and set up my chair and put the face mask on and yelped a coupla times that turkey gobbled again but it was the last gobble he made. i dont know what happened buti believe he had hens with him and they led him away from the calling... will go after him in the morning if it isnt stormy weather..one thing for sure this 16 ga is a lot lighter to tote than my 8 ga or the 10ga s... charlie

was up early again this morning boy could i have stayed in bed a coupla more hours...anyway got up and done the chores and was in the woods well before daylight.. at 6.30 that old gobbler cut loose he gobbled 8 times in about 15 minutes then he shut up and not a peep did he make... i kept hopeing to see him even though he was silent i gave him the most alluring calls i knew how but he did a no show..but two large jakes did come looking but i let them pass...i want that old gobbler who s been talking these last coupla morning s... will not hunt him tommorrow morning on account of EASTER but will be listening for him monday morning we hope... charlie

Saw a buzzard and eagle get in a fight this weekend. Gobblers on the move, but still lots and lots of hens. You hear one gobble and then about three hens clucking and heading straight for him.

now thats my first to hear of a buzzurd and a eagle haveing a fight...i d say few humans have seen this...mills it hard to do any thinh with a cobbler that s got hens running after him...good luck that birds waiting on you out there.. charlie

todays hunt started early as usul but lord it was foggy...i had the old gobbler figured out i thought each day he has gobbled more and more..only thing i did not figure on was the fog it was so thick you could have cut it with a fork...the fog stayed on till 9.00 and it began to lift..evidently turkeys are not very vocal during a fog i never heard a sound this morning..was going this evening but wife got me started helping her make some girl scout crafts and well here i am tellin ya ll instead of being in the woods...i ll have to see if mr gobbler will talk in the morning...charlie

Charlie, just gotta say I'm getting a second hand thrill from your stories. Never shot a turkey but may have to add that to the bucket list. Had a look at the recipe forum and don't see any turkey recipes. Maybe you could fix that, just in case I find myself having to prepare a wild turkey meal one year. Hope you bring number three home soon. How long is your season?
Cheers,
Jack

thanks jack...our season lasts till may 1 st...im gonna be honest ive killed and cleaned a lot of turkeys but ive got my first one to cook too..im gona have to call on someone else to post a turkey recipe..now come on boys jack and me need some help here..hope you have to cook a turkey someday jack a wild one... charlie

Fajita's baby. Marinade turkey strips in Fajita seasoning and then cook in a real hot cast iron skillet for just a few minutes. If you overcook them they will be tough. If you think they are done yank them out of the skillet right then. Then add a bit of oil to the pan and heat it up again real hot and throw in some sliced onions and sliced red peppers. Get those browned good and then yank them off the heat. Put everything in a warmed flour tortilla and throw in some homemade pico de gallo and some sour cream. Roll it up and eat away. You will think not much in the food world is better then this. PS. Wash it down with some good Mexican beer with a side dish of Charro beans. :)

I like em fried, but then I am from the Deep South.

mills i learnt from a buddy he said deep frying a wild turkey was a bit more difficult to deep fry..said you had to not over cook it or it would be tuff...what do you do... charlie

Take an 18# jake; gut and skin it, put a stick of butter in the gut cavity, slip it into a plastic oven bag, and slow bake it till done. I forget the time and temp and you might want to season it to your taste.

Tom, could you post "Wild Turkey Fajitas" in the Recipes sub forum as well. I don't have any turkey but I'm going to give this a go with some pheasant. I think the cast iron skillet is one of the most versatile pans in a kitchen. My mouth is watering now, so I know what is happening for lunch tomorrow. Just have to pick up some wraps and find some Negra Modelo.

Thanks.
Jack

I'm blind. Where exactly is that forum and I'll post it there as well. Tom

Tom, starting at the home page, click Discussion Forum on the left side. Scroll down to Hunting With Parkers and click. That opens up all the fun threads that we all enjoy reading. Look at the top of the page before all the fun hunting topics listed and you will see

Wild Game Recipes

Click on that and you can add a new thread - your Wild Turkey Fajitas.

This keeps all the recipes in one spot for ease of finding them and enjoying them from time to time.

Thanks again for these fajitas.

Cheers,
Jack

We have a restaurant near my parents' that specializes in fried turkey and they will do it for you. I leave such things to experts.

was up early again this morning walked outside and it had quit raining..it had warmed up during the night so decided not to wear rain gear...turned out i did not need it...i arrived at my hunting spot at 5.30 am got my decoys and chair and loaded the gun and took a pretty good walk 1/2 mile i guess to where i had last heard that old gobbler ...i found the perfect spot it was a little curve in the old road that runs by a little creek..i could see for 50 yards either way i set the decoys out and got in the middle of a black berry patch man what a good blind i had only trouble was i could not see the 50 yards any more..could only see about 20 yards but this was ok it was such a good blind...got the calls out a box call and the thumb operated one throwed out my best calls but no anwser did i get...stayed there till 6.30 all i seen was some wood ducks they seemed interested in the turkey calls...ha i left this good spot and returned to the truck but before i got to the truck i scared up to turkeys it always amazes me how fast these big birds can get into the air..they looked to be hens judgeing by the color of there feathers...and as i got to my truck and was putting up my gear them same to turkeys flew outa trees rite there at the truck...had to cut my dads yard is the reason i came out early but i goit it cut and back in the woods by 3.30...was a nice evening up in the 60 s not much wind.. set the decoys up and stayed till 7.00 no turkey seen or heard..will be there again in the morning that old turkeys in there some where.... charlie

Sounds like maybe the gobblers are with hens now;that will soon change when nesting increases.I know the gobblers are getting more aggressive,even seeing some in town in residential sections in the past week.Only problem is the maple leaves are the size of squirrel's ears,time to go crappie fishing[that and my neighbor that crappie fishes took his boat out today].Decisions.Good luck to you tomorrow.

Harry and I were out today and saw nothing. He is learning how to sit still and be quiet which is progress

this getting up early every morning is telling on me..was up at2.30 this morning could not sleep...cooked me some bacon and eggs and a coupla biscuits and washed it down with some strong coffee and now i m ready to go except it wont be daylight for a coupla hours yet...loaded up my gear in the truck and just finally got tired of waiting and drove too hunting site.. i drove up a old log road till a fallen tree was in the way...got my gear and gun and checked to see if i had my shells and gun yep ok... went a about 3 hundred yards and fpond a place to set up decoys...as i was putting out the decoys i heard a gobbler but he was to far and he only gobbled twice...then another turkey cut loose gobbling sounded like he was about a 1/2 mile this turkey was gobbling good..i made a few loud yelps to him and he responded every yelp.the turkey was a coming to me i got ready checked my face mask looked around to see if any obstructions were around in sight path ...as this turkey kept coming gobbling a turkey gobbled behind me about 3 hundred yards to the back of me about this time crows had spotted this gobbler behind me boy every crow around was giving this old turkey a fit..the gobbler that had been coming to me must not have liked all that racket for he shut up and i heard him no more... that turkey the crows were after had gone further away from me. i should have took off after that turkey while the crows were after him good...but i did not finally the crows got tired of harrassing that old bird...them crows flew rite over the top of me and i raised my gun thinking..no did not shoot for about that time another turkey gave a half gobble about a hundred yards from me...well were he went is anybodys guess... about mid morning i went to the house..as i drove i thought was a real good morning hunt heard 4 differant gobblers and a good crow fight...well went home and cut the daughters lawn got back to the house and ate..told the wife i was tired thought i would rest a spell before going back hunting i looked at the clock it was 1.30pm decided just to set in the recliner for a hour well that hour turned into a few hours when i woke up it was 5.30... so moral of storey either dont set in recliner or else set the alarm clock..ha well gonna get ready to see if i can find that gobbler that was gobbling so much this morning in the morn... charlie