turkey hunting

[Richard Flanders]

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

[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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[Dean Romig]

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





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[J. A. EARLY]

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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[mobirdhunter]

Harold and Jerry,

Thanks for the recap of your seasons. Harold, you have the "hay bale sneak" down to a science; 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.

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.

[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

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by 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

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.

[Tenth Legion]

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]

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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