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Bird Dog
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:50 pm Posts: 2650 Location: central Va
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Two Firsts
Two firsts Got out with my cousin John Friday morning at his Grandmothers (My Aunts) farm. It is on the market and although he has taken deer and small game there his whole life he had not taken a turkey. We had done some work there before the season and found good sign so he was excited about the prospect. We finally found a morning we could both go and found ourselves walking up the lane on about the most beautiful spring morning I’ve seen. Cold but with a brilliant moon and soon a Gobbler announced his pleasure as well. We hurriedly set up under some large oaks on a wide forgotten fencerow that ran away from the corner of beautiful hardwoods. We let him know we were there and didn’t have to wait long till I thought he was on the ground. I hesitated to call as I wasn’t sure and then with no more gobbles I winged a flydown. I called soon after and waited. John had a better view than I and he saw the gobbler strutting up the hardwood edge and cutting toward us under the hill. I however could only imagine as he broke a stick just down the slope so I stayed still and quiet. After hearing nothing else I called and was answered to the right beyond John near the open part of the field. I called quickly back and I thought He may be caught out of position but saw him transition the gun. From there only scratched leaves were needed as a gobble and then drumming advised his location. I thought I would be able to see him but John’s shot surprised me and a big smile told me the rest. First gobbler on the farm. 20lbs 5oz 9” ¾ spur. Saturday I had the pleasure to hunt with the Grandson of good friends who’s family farm I have hunted for 30+ years. Zach had become interested in turkey hunting and we were eager to get him up here to hunt. They were waiting for me at the barn at 5:30 and after some quick introductions and hearing an early gobble ( the first he had ever heard), were hurrying across the field to beat the building daylight. We circled in to a small field at the end of a pine woods as several gobblers sounded off. Some of those Gobblers and hens had gone this way on the only morning I had hunted here this year. We set a decoy and tree called to get multiple replies but they were roosted from the middle to the far end of the pines. After gobbling only once on the ground our calls were unanswered and we waited to see what would appear. Nothing did so I told Zach lets go find them. We eased around the wooded slope to get up the hill, and cut across a small opening to access the woods only to spot turkeys in the fields across the creek. We sat tight and watched several strutting jakes and some hens and another lone strutting longbeard meander the hillside. We tried to make our extraction but they were alerted and scurried toward the creek and out of sight. We quickly made it up the hollow and on the ridge and sat silent to let things calm for about 45 min before calling softly and scratching occasionally. About 9:00 we heard a gobble in the distance and responded. The gobbler gobbled again and we repositioned over and up a hill before calling again. He answered good and came to about 75 yds but would not advance further. Zach and I talked about what was in range and when to move and also about how to hold on the gobblers neck. I was about to drop back to call going away when he got silent. Zach said “I need to move” but I cautioned him that we needed to be still right now. He said “my butt really hurts” but I could hear walking and told him now is the time to tough it out. He did and soon a hen appeared crossing the slope about 60 yds below us. Some soft yelps and more footsteps and gobbler heads appear at 35 yds. Jakes. They stopped and studied the decoy before advancing and we had repositioned Zach’s gun down the slope after the hen passed. The lead gobbler was stepping down right into his line and I said shoot when you’re ready. Zach made a good shot and another turkey hunter was born. We got to the gobbler and I held up my hand and asked "was that worth a sore butt for a few minutes"? With a high five he said "Oh yeah"! We headed back to the house to meet his parents, show and tell, and have a big breakfast of home grown sausage and eggs. Oh yeah! [/URL]
Last edited by Bird Dog on Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:46 am |
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cut_un
King of Spring
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:53 am Posts: 364 Location: Central Va.
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Re: Two Firsts
NICE!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing the great times in de turkey woods
_________________ Chasing Feathers, it's a way of life!
Enjoy the journey & share you passion, take a Kid hunting!
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:53 am |
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Gobblenow
Co-Owner/Dog Feeder
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:20 am Posts: 3806
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Re: Two Firsts
You certainly have done good on making us some new turkey hunters this spring, Wonderful stories and pictures. Congratulations to you and the boys. I think what you are doing is the most rewarding hunting there is for some of us--taking youngsters and taking birds in new places - good as it gets.
_________________ "even after almost a half-century of hunting of the noblest game bird I am going to confess that I am still in the kindergarten; and I doubt if any human being ever acquires a complete education in this high art."
- Archibald Rutledge
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:59 am |
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Strutin
Longbeard
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:53 pm Posts: 103 Location: Clarke County
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Re: Two Firsts
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story.
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:51 am |
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CavMan11
Longbeard
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:02 pm Posts: 160
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Re: Two Firsts
Congrats to all. Way to tough it out. Its tough to do when your just starting out turkey hunting
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 3:15 pm |
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jstchln71
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:40 pm Posts: 488
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Re: Two Firsts
Nothin like it! Congrats man! Don't ya just love that smile they give when they understand what they have done!! I still just smile ear to ear when I think of the young man I got hooked to turkey hunting now!! Awesome!!
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:59 pm |
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netman9
Jake
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:27 pm Posts: 43
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Re: Two Firsts
The only thing better than reading your stories is being a part of them. Again, thanks for another great read and congrats to the two hunters on their hunts.
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Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:29 pm |
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Freddy
Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:50 pm Posts: 3138 Location: Goodview, VA
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Re: Two Firsts
Congrats man! Great experiences for both of them... and you too!
_________________ "You have to pay for every bird you kill and the coin you use to pay for them is time." - Tom Kelly
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Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:38 am |
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beardbuster84
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:48 pm Posts: 790 Location: Westmoreland co. Va
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Re: Two Firsts
Ur rolling maybe start a guide service Awesome turning on hunters to their first'sss...
_________________ "If the good Lord is willing and the creeks don't rise." Hank Williams
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Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:58 pm |
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Doug
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:25 pm Posts: 2092
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Re: Two Firsts
congrats on 2 great hunts!!
Doug
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Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:43 pm |
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