"Happiness is a Naked Turkey!"
May 3, 2014 22:10:50 GMT -5
Woody Williams, featherduster, and 1 more like this
Post by HighCotton on May 3, 2014 22:10:50 GMT -5
That's what my buddy Jamie proclaimed as we finished skinning his gobbler! I posted last week that he felt so excited about his first hunt even though no shot was fired.
We hit the same woods this morning. I was again calling/guiding and all I could raise for him with locator calls was songbirds. About shooting light I switched to the slate and still nothing. I whispered to Jamie that this might just be a sit and wait, then run and gun hunt. But we gave it a little time. I decided to switch to the mouth call since I can get more distance with the Screamin Lady (though I rarely use it). Immediately, we had 2 gobblers answer. Over the next few minutes or so, I talked a jake and Tom right to us...like they were on a string...coming to my hen dekes!
Now the problem was they were coming in close. Less than 10 yards. Since I saw them coming, I whispered to Jamie to move slow and when they got close, make sure the strutting Tom's fan blocked his head so he get make his move. He played it out text book perfect. I gave a few soft purrs on my DJ custom slate. Ole Tom stretched the neck and I whispered, "Now Jamie! Take H.. (BOOM!!) Him" Man, he rolled that dude at 14 yards.
Then came the hugs, high fives, jubilation! We talked things through for 10-15 minutes. And then some pics. Jamie was still shaking so hard we had to wait for him to calm down for a good pic. He said, "I cant believe how I'm shaking...It ain't like I'm cold!"
I told him, that's what it's all about!
We got back to his house, after checking in and celebrating with some buds at The Outdoorsman and I walked him through dressing his bird, and that's when he exclaimed the happiness of a naked turkey!
Turned out to be a really nice bird. 24 lb 8 oz, both spurs exactly 23 mm, and a 10-1/4" beard!
Here he is with the prize:
And one more toting the turkey out!
We hit the same woods this morning. I was again calling/guiding and all I could raise for him with locator calls was songbirds. About shooting light I switched to the slate and still nothing. I whispered to Jamie that this might just be a sit and wait, then run and gun hunt. But we gave it a little time. I decided to switch to the mouth call since I can get more distance with the Screamin Lady (though I rarely use it). Immediately, we had 2 gobblers answer. Over the next few minutes or so, I talked a jake and Tom right to us...like they were on a string...coming to my hen dekes!
Now the problem was they were coming in close. Less than 10 yards. Since I saw them coming, I whispered to Jamie to move slow and when they got close, make sure the strutting Tom's fan blocked his head so he get make his move. He played it out text book perfect. I gave a few soft purrs on my DJ custom slate. Ole Tom stretched the neck and I whispered, "Now Jamie! Take H.. (BOOM!!) Him" Man, he rolled that dude at 14 yards.
Then came the hugs, high fives, jubilation! We talked things through for 10-15 minutes. And then some pics. Jamie was still shaking so hard we had to wait for him to calm down for a good pic. He said, "I cant believe how I'm shaking...It ain't like I'm cold!"
I told him, that's what it's all about!We got back to his house, after checking in and celebrating with some buds at The Outdoorsman and I walked him through dressing his bird, and that's when he exclaimed the happiness of a naked turkey!
Turned out to be a really nice bird. 24 lb 8 oz, both spurs exactly 23 mm, and a 10-1/4" beard!
Here he is with the prize:
And one more toting the turkey out!
