Conclusion: Tussle With Russell

[Brian Lovett]

In "Decision Time," Editor Brian Lovett shares a scenario from his 20-plus years hunting turkeys. Each hinges on a critical decision. Post what choice you would have made, and then see how things actually turned out.

Conclusion: Tussle With Russell

There was no choice. If I didn't try to get on those gobblers immediately, they'd be gone in a heartbeat.

There was an x-factor, however. Remember that 25-mph wind? It had everything in that sparse woods blowing back and forth like a carnival ride. I waited until the lead longbeard's head poked behind the only tree on the knob and then shouldered my gun. The trailing bird caught the movement, of course, but with the entire woods in tumult, he wasn't quite sure what he'd seen.

Before he could decide, the red-dot found his neck, and my first Missouri gobbler was flopping next to the decoys.

I've tried to make that move several times in the 15 years since that hunt, and it usually results in lots of putting and some cussing. Maybe Russell was a good luck charm. Or perhaps I'd just been fortunate that the circumstances were perfect that breezy Missouri day.

What decision did you make?

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[TeocTom]

Awesome! I would have froze up. Sometimes that 25 mph wind pays off!

[dewey]

Like Brian said the wind probably made the turkeys less alerted at the movement where on a still day they are gone. I have had a similar situation before and 3 toms were 10 yards from me and I was waiting for them to move apart just far enough to shoot (only 1 tag) the biggest of the three. I move a little bit here and there but they were so intrigued by the decoy I think they almost ignored me.

Dewey