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Dale
King of Spring
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:27 am Posts: 1907 Location: Roanoke, VA
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First VA Late Season Turkey
I think it was 21 degrees this morning with a heavy frost as Freddy and I walked the road to the listening post. The ground crunched as we made our way to the field edge. As we reached our destination, Freddy said take a look behind you. The Lord had blessed us with a beautiful red sky as the sun was trying to peak over the ridgeline. We both admired the view as we listened to the morning woods come alive. It couldn't have been 5 minutes when we both heard the tree yelp some 150 yards down the hollow from us. A smile on both our faces told the story better than words. Some quiet conversation about whether to move while the light was still sparse or wait for them to fly down before moving. We opted to sit tight for awhile and wait for flydown. We gave them enough time to flydown but didn't hear them do so. We opted to backtrack some 100 yards along the ridgeline and drop down into the hollow and try to approach with the creek as cover. Making our way in the bottom, we pull even with our higher listening post and pause to see if we can hear the birds. The creek sounds were much, much loader in the bottom, making for difficult hearing of the birds. Then the yelp was clear and gave away their location. The plan was hatched and 15 minutes later, we were above them just below the top of the ridge. Pausing at a white oak, we listen for a few minutes and I pick up walking in the leaves just over the ridge. Our backs firmly to the oak, we are among small pines so this is going to be one of those up close and personal ordeals if it unfolds. Closer and closer they come, seemingly headed right at our location. At about 40 yards, even though they sounded much much closer, they suddenly get quiet. Not three minutes pass with no sounds when I hear what sounded like 10 deer coming down the next ridge over behind us and into the bottom. I whisper to Freddy that we're going to get stampeded as the deer make their way up the ridge right behind our location. Deer behind us and turkeys in front of us, this should be interesting. I told Freddy previously that I really wanted that experience of busting up the flock and calling them back in our conversations about the hunt, but it was clear that this was a small group of birds, most likely gobblers as the ground talk was very, very sparse. We agreed that if I got the chance, I'd take the shot without a bust. Freddy gave some small talk as the birds stood just out of sight silent. Having heard the small talk and the running in the leaves, they must have decided that it was time to see the other turkeys just out of sight. Here they came through thick stuff to my left. I catch glimpse of one bird working across the top of the ridge quickly not 20 yards from us and it seems the whole gang is going to travel to my hard left. Freddy says, there they are, gobblers, kill them! I cannot see them and whisper so to Freddy, but them I pick up the lead bird coming to my left hard. I swing on the bird and it seemingly stops in the one and only semi-clear lane I have. BOOOOMMMM! and I see the bird flopping as the other six or seven birds take flight. I can't believe it. I've taken a bird on VA"s first late turkey season. Freddy and I go to the bird and admire it's beauty. High Fives it is and the replay of the hunt begins. Aside from flock vocalizations, this hunt had it all. I love the excitement of hearing birds but not seeing them, especially when they get close. As we're admiring the bird, Freddy notices that the bird had frost on its back and tail feathers. Look closely at one of the pics below and you'll see the frost. What an amazing hunt! One I will treasure as long as this old brain can retain the details. A jake with about a 4" beard, nubs and weighted 13 lbs 5 ozs. This was only my second fall bird ever (my first came with TScott some five years ago now). Thank you Lord for the health to hunt, the turkey to pursue and good friends to share the experience with!
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Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:47 pm |
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TScottW99
Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:59 pm Posts: 2851 Location: Roanoke
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congratulations my friend!!! A great story, felt like I was there with both of you!!
_________________ "What gets us jangly is the suddenness of everything. We hunt turkeys because we want to hear them gobble, watch them strut and all that, and we hunt them with shotguns because we want to be close to them when those things occur." - Jim Spencer
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Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:41 pm |
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Doug
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:25 pm Posts: 2092
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Great job Dale and a great story to go along with it!!
Doug
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Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:14 pm |
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Econo
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:09 pm Posts: 2070 Location: Buena Vista, Va.
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congrats Dale, nice pics, and story. Glad it all came together for you !
_________________ If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:26 pm |
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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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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congrats Dale, Jake in the fall/winter is the perfect bird to me.
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:43 am |
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hawglips
King of Spring
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:13 pm Posts: 393 Location: Garner, NC
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Sounds like a load of fun. Congratulations!
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:18 am |
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Bigmeat
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:23 am Posts: 670 Location: Hagerstown, MD
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Turkeys in duck season, Congrats!
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:00 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: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congrats again man! It was fun to get back out there and fool with fall birds again. What a great morning to be out!
_________________ "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 Jan 17, 2012 1:34 pm |
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barry
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:44 pm Posts: 2720 Location: Bedford, VA
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Sounds like a great hunt...Congrats!!!
_________________ "Do not let what you can not do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:16 pm |
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huntingwhoas
King of Spring
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:27 pm Posts: 462 Location: Augusta County, VA
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congrats! Great story too!
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:50 pm |
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STRIKER1300
King of Spring
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:33 pm Posts: 938 Location: BIG LICK VA.
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
good job Dale, you have become a great turkey hunter brian
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Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:36 pm |
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WVBOY
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:33 pm Posts: 3038 Location: Powhatan, VA
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Very Nice.. congrats man..
_________________ RB
Take me Home Country Roads.
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Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:41 am |
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Vic
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:40 am Posts: 2706 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Way cool!
_________________ Vic
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)
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Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:16 pm |
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HokieGobbler
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:23 am Posts: 891 Location: Luray, VA
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Congrats Dale! Great pics!
_________________ Lovin the Hokies!!!
Ryan
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Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:24 am |
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roscoe
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:23 am Posts: 306
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Re: First VA Late Season Turkey
Awesome. Nothing like hunting them in the fall, if they come into the calling then take the shot. I only bust up a flock if I have to anymore.
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Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:26 am |
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