Whats going on

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

Great story and congratulations!
I know what you mean about fearing moving your eyes. When I have non-shooter turkeys or deer that are too close for comfort, I'll close my eyes altogether and only take the occasional peek.

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I just lower my head and peek under my hat brim.

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Originally Posted by eriedukr

Got a nice tom wed. afternoon . Set out a hen decoy in a winter wheat field 15 yrds from bush line. Sat down and open a bottle of water. I usually wait 30 minutes to call after I set up to let things settle a bit. Well I had only taken two sips of water when in come two hen birds. They are purring at my decoy and looking around . They are so close that I was scared to even move my eyes. Then another hen comes in, then another. Four hens are 15 yrds from me purring and chasing one another. Then in comes a tom in full strut, along with a fifth hen and a subordinate tom with a nice beard but not displaying at all. Well they put on a dandy show for me. First time I've ever heard the "spitting and drumming " sound that tom's can make. They hang around for ten minutes. I'm real nervous as I'm afraid any movement will make them take off. They start to move away and as the tom turns and hides his head behind his fan I slowly shoulder my gun. A few of the hens catch me but don't raise an alarm, just look at me. When the tom comes off strut I drop him with one shot. 20 steps from where I was sitting. 20 lbs. 9" beard. longest spur just under an inch. Benelli Nova 12 ga. Win. Longbeard 3.5" #6, Carlsen's Longbeards choke tube.

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Nice !!! With your setup at 20 paces, it would nearly take his noggin off !

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

I just lower my head and peek under my hat brim.

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Me too, or look down toward their feet :)
Hope to get out tomorrow morning.
Best of luck to those still chasing

I've been out a number of days. Seeing lots of adult birds but only one jake. Other then my son getting one on opening day most times the tom's seem very disinterested... gobble and strut way out of range or just cruise by. Things will get better as the days go.
This bird on opening day just wandered a little to close while it was feeding in the field. He had no interest in calls or decoys.
My son's first bird on his own licence after being an apprentice, now if I just can get him to pay for them.
https://i.imgur.com/iDSTu33.jpg

Apologies for the scruffy looking bird,, it was pouring rain.

Congrats every one . Great stories.

Congrats to both of you, well done!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

Nice !!! With your setup at 20 paces, it would nearly take his noggin off !

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I just about did Rick. Throat and bottom beak gone!

That looking under the brim technique really does work. Less eye contact and more time to sight the bird. I used to harvest my second bird. Thanks Rick.

This is my first year hunting and what an amazing experience. I have a great and patient mentor who I am learning the ropes from. Have a great permission to a 50-acre parcel and another 150-acre parcel, both are full of wildlife - Turkey, Deer, Geese, Wood Ducks and plenty of Coyotes.

The first morning out, set up in the 50-acre parcel in the cool and rainy weather. Just before legal hunt a mangey coyote darts in at the hen decoy and darts back into the bush realizing it was plastic. 20min later I hear my first gobble from the woods. Then all goes quiet....... Then I see my first bird walking in slowly, with a small strut. Couple more yards he gets closers and BANG, my mentor takes him down. My newness I committed my first real amateur move, my gun was laying across my lap while keeping my hands warm. My mentor who was beside saw my predicament, and that I wasn't going to successfully shoulder my gun. He was apologetic, but I was super happy for him and to see the whole show (and learn).

Been out a couple more times hearing gobbles, but they just won't come in. Went on my first solo hunt last Friday, set-up heard the gobbles thundering from all directions (heart jumping out of my chest), Gun at the shoulder and ready (quick learner). All went quiet for 45min, I do a quick couple calls and suddenly I hear gobbles over my right shoulder - Damn 2 giant Toms coming in from another field and behind me. I work these 2 for over an hour, they just wouldn't come around or in close, they also don't give me a chance to re-position (I am also working with a torn MCL in my knee). They start making their move into gun range, and a flock of geese come in and 2 Toms wonder off into the bush. Captured all the gobbles and calls on my GoPro... What fun to listen to these 2 responding to this amateurs calls.

So no Turkey to claim for myself yet, but I am just having an amazing time and experience. I am heading out Friday and Saturday and have grand plans for tagging out, having a great meal and celebrating with my mentor.

Great forum to learn from and see everyone else's successes!

Hey Karks,

This is indeed the spot to learn tactics, techniques and above all, find out you're not the only one making the same blunders....don't feel bad at all, we've all been there and have a few mistakes under our belts...I was 7 years before I harvested my first bird, but haven't looked back since. I think only one season I've been skunked since 2006 when I shot that first Tom...

Reach out to guys on here whenever you're stumped, everyone on here wants to help other hunters be successful, though some better at it than others....

Good luck on the weekend, pack a thermacell with the heat and bugs....

TurkeyJohn