Our buddy Keebler enjoyed a nice start to his 2013 Wild Turkey season…check out the story of his hunt:
So my buddy’s land is in between 2 farms. The turkeys travel back and forth throughout the day, but don’t roost there so I opted for a late opening day hunt.
I set myself up and gave one hen assembly call. Normally I make a call, wait a minute or 2 so I can hear any responses then set up my camcorder.
That didn’t work this time. I was just reaching for my camcorder when I heard something walking. A bearded hen came out! I let her go – no sense shooting the poult breeder. She looked for turkeys, but didn’t see any (I didn’t use decoys) and she left.
I waited 3 minutes and assembly called again. Waited 5 more minutes and gave 1 gobble. Nothing in response whatsoever. Since I knew there was at least 1 turkey in the area, I didn’t set my camcorder on. No sense getting busted because I couldn’t see how far she had walked away.
Then I heard more walking coming from the direction in which the hen left. I turned my head cam on and waited.
And out stepped this beauty of a tom. I saw the beard, the redhead, my safety was off and I slowly moved my 12 gauge for a shot. He wasn’t fanned out…just walking with his head pivoting looking for the gobbler (which was me!) He stood there and took a few steps back the way he came, his head was up the entire time looking around. Bang, he was down instantly. 22 lbs 8″ beard 1.25″ spurs. Great colour to him.
Not bad for a 20 minute hunt…
Keebler
