Conclusion: Charge of the Dark Brigade

[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: Charge of the Dark Brigade

When I said, “The birds couldn’t see us yet,” that wasn’t entirely accurate. They had no doubt heard our soft footsteps and saw two dark forms on the forest floor. Of course, turkeys see and hear stuff like that many nights, and if those unidentified shapes pass by, turkeys typically don’t get alarmed. If, however, those blobs sit by roost trees and fidget as it gets light, turkeys usually identify a potential threat, fly down the other way and get out of Dodge.

My friend and I quietly backed out of the area and set up 100 yards from the turkeys. A half-hour later, as daylight neared, soft tree-yelping let me know that the birds weren’t spooked and that we’d made the right choice.

Better, it turned out that we’d set up between several hens and a lonely gobbler. The hens flew down toward us, and the longbeard joined them from the opposite direction — all within 30 steps of my buddy’s barrel. After some nerve-shattering gobbling and a great spitting-and-drumming show, my friend ended the hunt with what’s still one of my favorite opening-day smashes — all because we’d retreated in the dark.

What decision did you make?

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[Bobbyparks]

Well.....dang it!.......I guess I didn't kill this bird


Glad to have you back posting these Chief........Always enjoyed these...and ...going out on a limb....so to speak..with an answer

[Brian Lovett]

Ah, you probably would have, Bobby. That's the fun thing about these scenarios. Who knows how it would have played out if we had chosen the other path? My guess is that the hens would have flown down to the northwest, and the gobbler would have joined them there. We probably would have had to do some fancy low-crawling to get back with them. Then again, had they flown off to the east, away from the gobbler, he might have run to our yelping. We'll never know.

[Bobbyparks]

Ah, you probably would have, Bobby. That's the fun thing about these scenarios. Who knows how it would have played out if we had chosen the other path? My guess is that the hens would have flown down to the northwest, and the gobbler would have joined them there. We probably would have had to do some fancy low-crawling to get back with them. Then again, had they flown off to the east, away from the gobbler, he might have run to our yelping. We'll never know.

Hi Brian...and thanks for trying to make me feel better

Yea it's hard to know..Often there is more than one combination or way...but you make a good point I think in regards that if the birds heard a little too much going on at ground level....they might pitch in the opposite direction or at least be giving it a hard look before flydown....backing out...and maybe a re- positioning would be wise......

Thanks

Bobby