I posted a picture of my turkey in the turkey fever thread. So decided I should post the rest of my pictures with the story of what happened. I am super happy with this bird and am hooked on turkey hunting now. The beard measured out at 9.5 inches and the spurs were just over 1.25 inches. Got the fan, beard, and spurs to the taxidermist today. So here is the story everybody enjoy.
May 18
It was a really warm day outside in the mid 80's made it kinda nasty to wear the long sleeves and pants. So I pulled down the road to the two track (windows down) and luckily it was dry enough to get down there with my car. Drove the half mile to the parking spot and got out and geared up. Walking around the gate that gives access to a service path for the power lines I started calling. I would call and wait for a few minutes walk a little more call. Wasn't getting any responses what so ever. I walked the power lines past the first field on my east side. Then I notice that well the power company was in there redoing the lines they clear cut a little half acre field in what used to be all woods between the two massive fields on the east of the power lines. Looking it over it had nice new grass much shorter then the other field. Making a note of this field I keep walking the lines calling passing the next two big fields(one on the east side the other further up the lines on the west side) before I come to the other two track. After seeing those fields had tall grass I worked back to the clear cut field. The field had woods all around it minus the little opening from the path. Walked into the field set up the decoys and got my self set up on the edge of the woods. Called and waited for several hours with no luck. Finally the weather pushed me out as some really nasty wind before a storm came in.
May 19
Today I got to the parking spot around 3 pm, it was a supper change in weather from yesterday. It was barely 50 degrees wind was 10-15 mph and it was cloudy. My plan was to walk to the clear cut field and set up there like the day before. Got all my gear on and started walking to the field. As the day before I would call and wait before moving up the trail. Was getting no responses at all. Getting close to the clear cut field the woods open up a little to where you can see into the field. Well luckily I stopped and looked over the field that's when a red head stuck out in the grass in the field. I dropped down to my knees to stay out of sight. Taking my back pack off and setting my chair down I call to the turkey. He just looks my direction then turns away and just lays there in the grass not interested at all. At this point there's 50-75 yards between me and the main opening to the field. There aren't very many trees lining the path on the field side. This resulted in me belly crawling the path to the opening calling occasionally. Getting to the opening of the field there is now about 60 yards between me and the tom. He had not moved at all probably thinking he was well hidden laying down in some taller grass in the field. At this point I crawl a little bit further and get in the field 10 more yards before hitting the laid down timber. Having no real option other then to slowly get up and do a squatting walk I got my gun ready. Slowly getting up and walking a few steps that way its not really working so stand up completely. I had my safety off and gun ready after standing up. Gobbler finally looks my direction but doesn't move (must not of seen me right away). Turning is head away again I just started slowly walking at him. After a few more steps he gets up and looks at me and gets ready to bolt. That's when I pulled the trigger dropping him right there. Ending my 2015 turkey hunt with my first ever turkey. It was a quick hunt but still was exciting and an amazing experience. Thanks to God for the opportunity to take one of these beautiful birds and also thanks to my family for putting up with my hunting obsession. Here are the pictures.
May 18
It was a really warm day outside in the mid 80's made it kinda nasty to wear the long sleeves and pants. So I pulled down the road to the two track (windows down) and luckily it was dry enough to get down there with my car. Drove the half mile to the parking spot and got out and geared up. Walking around the gate that gives access to a service path for the power lines I started calling. I would call and wait for a few minutes walk a little more call. Wasn't getting any responses what so ever. I walked the power lines past the first field on my east side. Then I notice that well the power company was in there redoing the lines they clear cut a little half acre field in what used to be all woods between the two massive fields on the east of the power lines. Looking it over it had nice new grass much shorter then the other field. Making a note of this field I keep walking the lines calling passing the next two big fields(one on the east side the other further up the lines on the west side) before I come to the other two track. After seeing those fields had tall grass I worked back to the clear cut field. The field had woods all around it minus the little opening from the path. Walked into the field set up the decoys and got my self set up on the edge of the woods. Called and waited for several hours with no luck. Finally the weather pushed me out as some really nasty wind before a storm came in.
May 19
Today I got to the parking spot around 3 pm, it was a supper change in weather from yesterday. It was barely 50 degrees wind was 10-15 mph and it was cloudy. My plan was to walk to the clear cut field and set up there like the day before. Got all my gear on and started walking to the field. As the day before I would call and wait before moving up the trail. Was getting no responses at all. Getting close to the clear cut field the woods open up a little to where you can see into the field. Well luckily I stopped and looked over the field that's when a red head stuck out in the grass in the field. I dropped down to my knees to stay out of sight. Taking my back pack off and setting my chair down I call to the turkey. He just looks my direction then turns away and just lays there in the grass not interested at all. At this point there's 50-75 yards between me and the main opening to the field. There aren't very many trees lining the path on the field side. This resulted in me belly crawling the path to the opening calling occasionally. Getting to the opening of the field there is now about 60 yards between me and the tom. He had not moved at all probably thinking he was well hidden laying down in some taller grass in the field. At this point I crawl a little bit further and get in the field 10 more yards before hitting the laid down timber. Having no real option other then to slowly get up and do a squatting walk I got my gun ready. Slowly getting up and walking a few steps that way its not really working so stand up completely. I had my safety off and gun ready after standing up. Gobbler finally looks my direction but doesn't move (must not of seen me right away). Turning is head away again I just started slowly walking at him. After a few more steps he gets up and looks at me and gets ready to bolt. That's when I pulled the trigger dropping him right there. Ending my 2015 turkey hunt with my first ever turkey. It was a quick hunt but still was exciting and an amazing experience. Thanks to God for the opportunity to take one of these beautiful birds and also thanks to my family for putting up with my hunting obsession. Here are the pictures.
