Another Trophy Turkey

[Treerooster]

Following the lead of ticklishtompro in his post here. viewtopic.php?f=86&t=16581

I got me a trophy turkey the other day. I haven't hunted too many fall birds but this one was a goodun.

It was raining believe it or not. 3 months of drought and the day I go turkey hunting it rains! I didn't have much to go on as far as fall hunting as I didn't scout the area and really didn't know too much about where the turkeys hung out. Didn't hear nothing early when the birds might call from the roost so I just went trolling as I would in the spring. I lost yelped and used kee kees to try and get a response.

After about an hour and a half I thought I heard a turkey. I had just started to move and there were a bunch of Blue Jays (seen a flock of about 30) going off so I wasn't sure. I called again and got a kee kee run back. It was close so I just sat down in the dirt right where I was and did a kee kee. I didn't even take time to put my face mask up. The bird came right to me kee keeing with a yelp now and then all the way in. I didn't see the bird until it was about 15 yards away and I shot it at 12 yards. The whole interaction lasted about 2 minutes. Pretty exciting hunt and my heart was a thumpin'.

The hunt reminded me of a day in the spring woods when they aren't gobbling and you just strike one all of a sudden...real close...and then he comes in drumming all the way.



I have said before that the true measure of a trophy can't be determined by a tape or scale....maybe I am wrong.
That scale measure 3 1/2 lbs...now that is going to be a trophy meal...eh?

[WillowRidgeCalls]

Good goin Gary, that will be a sweet tasting bird for sure.

[ylpnfol]

way to go fella, i'm glad to see that folks can get excited about fall turkey hunting, i've been doing it a long time, and love it, bow season starts next monday here [ turkey and deer ], never got one w/ a bow, they pick me off in the tree everytime.....but there's a first time for everything.....gun season starts around the 26th....good luck to you on your adventures this fall, be safe.....

[allaboutshooting]

Hey Gary,

I'm glad you had a good hunt. That should be a tasty meal! I really love the fall hunts. Ours is longer this year, 8 days and Doris and I will be out the first day. It's possible here to see large flocks...or none at all. We just hunt where they have been in the past and try to locate them. It's always fun.

Have a great fall.

Thanks,
Clark

[ticklishtompro]

Congrats Gary!! Some people are probably thinking these guys are nuts, they are just little jennys!! But as you said the heart starts pounding when they start coming in and talking back just as if it was a big thundering gobble. Enjoy that meal, cause they don't get much better tasting!!

Randy

[dewey]

The one thing I have always said is do you know what they call a young bird/deer? Tender.

Congratulations Gary.

Dewey

[Cut N Run]

Congratulations on your successful harvest. I wish we had a Fall season to hunt. That looks like some seriously good eating on the scale.

Jim

[rsmithpa]

Congrats and enjoy that fine table fare......wild turkey!

[Turkeybuster]

Congrats. Gary that's good eating and there harder to hit.

Jon

[charlie elk]

They're getting bigger fast in WI so if you want to repeat that trophy you best get up here. We'll have fine time for sure. Even a little of that rain that follows you around will be OK.
This informal competition to see who can shoot the smallest trophy turkey is a kee-keeing good time.