Post by Deleted on May 9, 2009 16:28:53 GMT -5
What A HUNT!!!!
I will never forget this one! My buddy and I didn't have any luck early in the morning on Saturday, the 9th at the Whitewater River bottom farm where we started. It was the last chance for both of us. We decided to go back up to the ridge top farm and sit it out and hope for the best. To tell the truth, neither of us was terribly hopeful, and the wind was ridiculous!
We decided we would walk back toward the back of the farm and sit in the woods. On our way there, we looked into the finger of the hay field we were in and saw two toms about 140 yards away. There was a hump in the field between us and the birds so we dropped to our knees. I decided I would try to use the hump to close the distance. I crawled about 40 yards to the crest of the hump and then had to get down on my belly and stay LOW. I belly crawled through the grass as low as I could. I finally got to the point where I could go no further. I could see the birds about 65 yards away. The bigger of the two was alert and I had to freeze. Every time he put his head down, I crawled up another yard. I finally had to stop at 60 yards out. My buddy, who elected not to stalk with me, began to call for me. That helped me close the deal. The smaller of the two birds began to come a little closer and the bigger one followed. I had the gun ready and waited.
The birds got to a dead fall tree and started to go behind it. It was now or never so I decided to take the rather long shot (we later ranged it at 48 yards). My Remington 11-87 barked and I knew I hit him but he started running and then flew! Oh no! I fired at him in flight but missed, I am sure. He flew about 20 yards into the woods and landed in the top of a tree. I began to follow after him and within 10 seconds, I saw him flop out of the tree and thump to the ground...DEAD BIRD!
My buddy and I rejoiced! It was the coolest thing I have done while hunting. I will probably NEVER get the chance to belly crawl 80 yards to a turkey in the field like that again. I honestly believe the high winds helped me in this case.
His stats were 20 pounds, 11 1/8th inch beard, and 26 mm spurs.
I will never forget this one! My buddy and I didn't have any luck early in the morning on Saturday, the 9th at the Whitewater River bottom farm where we started. It was the last chance for both of us. We decided to go back up to the ridge top farm and sit it out and hope for the best. To tell the truth, neither of us was terribly hopeful, and the wind was ridiculous!
We decided we would walk back toward the back of the farm and sit in the woods. On our way there, we looked into the finger of the hay field we were in and saw two toms about 140 yards away. There was a hump in the field between us and the birds so we dropped to our knees. I decided I would try to use the hump to close the distance. I crawled about 40 yards to the crest of the hump and then had to get down on my belly and stay LOW. I belly crawled through the grass as low as I could. I finally got to the point where I could go no further. I could see the birds about 65 yards away. The bigger of the two was alert and I had to freeze. Every time he put his head down, I crawled up another yard. I finally had to stop at 60 yards out. My buddy, who elected not to stalk with me, began to call for me. That helped me close the deal. The smaller of the two birds began to come a little closer and the bigger one followed. I had the gun ready and waited.
The birds got to a dead fall tree and started to go behind it. It was now or never so I decided to take the rather long shot (we later ranged it at 48 yards). My Remington 11-87 barked and I knew I hit him but he started running and then flew! Oh no! I fired at him in flight but missed, I am sure. He flew about 20 yards into the woods and landed in the top of a tree. I began to follow after him and within 10 seconds, I saw him flop out of the tree and thump to the ground...DEAD BIRD!
My buddy and I rejoiced! It was the coolest thing I have done while hunting. I will probably NEVER get the chance to belly crawl 80 yards to a turkey in the field like that again. I honestly believe the high winds helped me in this case.
His stats were 20 pounds, 11 1/8th inch beard, and 26 mm spurs.
