A Heaping Pile of Regret!

So... a couple years ago, my turkey hunting partner (brother) and I shared the biggest screw up of our hunting lives.

We scouted perfectly, we set up perfectly, we called so well that we pissed off a hen who came right to our setup and took over calling for us, eventually drawing in 2 big toms....

The following vid is how we managed to screw it all up. Shared with the world for the first time in 2 years - we've been too embarrassed to tell anyone but our closest friends till now. lol

https://youtu.be/ezcZoZi6vmk

This is what *can* happen when you get caught in the moment and overthink things.
We'd checked out our hunting spot, we stepped out 30 yards, we knew where the birds travelled... and yet once we were settled down in our blind, sitting low to the ground, the little rolls and knolls in the field tricked our eyes into thinking these birds were out at 50 yards.


They were, in fact, sitting at 30-35 yards and begging us to bag a double.


We second guessed ourselves for far too long and then our chance was gone completely.


*facepalm*


It was a hunt we'll never forget!


PS: Sorry about the blue language. When brothers get together, and game species enter their sights... it's only a matter of time until the swears start to fly.

That was brutal, I felt my heart pounding just watching I couldnt imagine what it would have been like in your blind. Live and learn, better you let them go then risk a bad shot. That took nerves of steel though. Great set up and calling though.🖒

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

Good video! I wouldn't call that much of a screw up. Just an incorrect yardage estimate. Lots of people screw up on the other side of that all the time. They shoot thinking it's 30 or 40 yards and ot turns out to be 60.

Too bad. That's why I always bring a range finder with me.

Good video,shhhitt happens.

Think you made the right call. From what I saw I wouldn't have taken the shot either. If it wasn't the hen, shrubbery, or the other Tom never had a clean shot.

Great video. In my opinion at about the 14.20 mark I would have stopped calling .thy were cl8se enough to see the decoys and can tell were the call is coming from . once thy see the decoys stop calling and let the decoys work for you.still gets the heart pounding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dutchhunter

Great video. In my opinion at about the 14.20 mark I would have stopped calling .thy were cl8se enough to see the decoys and can tell were the call is coming from . once thy see the decoys stop calling and let the decoys work for you.still gets the heart pounding.

---

I don't know. With a hen in play going silent may have let the her slip to the toms and all exit stage left. Think the calling kept the hen from wandering away.

Ya been there done that, still an experience I'll never forget. TFS


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JMatthews

Too bad. That's why I always bring a range finder with me.

---

Range Finders are for pussies.
Or bow hunters.
;-)
I'm neither. No, but seriously, had he come 5ft closer we'd have been "OH! He's right there!" Where he was just tricked both of us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Think you made the right call. From what I saw I wouldn't have taken the shot either. If it wasn't the hen, shrubbery, or the other Tom never had a clean shot.

---

Otto11 was on the gun, I was on the camera. The twigs weren't as bad as the camera made them seem. I don't think i'd have been very concerned with them even shooting my 20ga.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

I don't know. With a hen in play going silent may have let the her slip to the toms and all exit stage left. Think the calling kept the hen from wandering away.

---

This was our thoughts. Less about the toms and more about keeping that hen engaged and upset about this mystery hen on her turf. There were other jakes and toms nearby too, so there was always a possibility that keeping her angry would bring in more.