turkey hunting

[J. A. EARLY]

Charlie and all,

Two gobblers in the trees before good light gobbling. Got as close as I dared and gave them my best, and they flew down about 100 yards away. Hens would not let them come to me, as they will do, in fact carried them the other way, as they will always do if possible.

Heard another. It was the same bird I had fooled with four mornings this week. Saw him Wednesday at 10 a.m. Could not get across swamp. Daybreak Thursday set up in his strut zone at 6:08 a.m. Five hours. He never called (very cold). Walked two miles to him Friday, and he shut up when I got there. Got to him this morning in good time, 8 a.m. After thirty minutes of courtship, here he came, big white head and all puffed up.

Went to my right which made it difficult. I aimed carefully at his head. Twenty-five yards and a big 10 gauge. Easy. Knew I had him. Trouble is the sights and rib were on his head, and the right barrel full of number fours was headed to a maple tree ten yards away. Second shot, well he was hauling a__ over the hill so it was wasted into the ground from what I could see.

Had I been using a single-barreled gun, dead bird. Had I thought about what you see down the rib is not what is going to happen if there is a tree off to the side, a dead bird. My second bird is safely in the woods I am guessing, not a single feather could be found.

I don't think he will respond to that call again.

[10 bore]

[QUOTE=Jerry Harlow;137360]

the right barrel full of number fours was headed to a maple tree ten yards away.
maybe 2's next time?? Can't wait for our season to open on the 3rd

[J. A. EARLY]

[QUOTE=scott kittredge;137425]

Originally Posted by Jerry Harlow

the right barrel full of number fours was headed to a maple tree ten yards away.
maybe 2's next time?? Can't wait for our season to open on the 3rd

Yep. Had I shot the left barrel, he would be in the freezer now. Had spent about $45 with shipping getting a 10 pound bag of nickel plated number 4s to my house from Precision Reloading. Loaded an ounce and a half in the 10 gauge hull and the pattern was perfect at 40 yards. Wanted to try them out so I did, and they sure can kill a tree.

Good luck. There are more turkeys here than for many seasons. Theory is even though we had a wet spring last year which is supposed to kill a lot of them, there were so many high-protein cicadas around, they thrived. But with so many hens it is tough to get them to come to you.