First Turkey Bow Hunt..........

[Vermonster]

Didn’t get anything, but saw a lot, and learned a lot for my first serious turkey hunt. Here’s a run-down, a little long winded, but hey, that’s me, right?

I got to the location that I was told about, shut off the car, and let out a call. Immediately got a distant set of gobbles. Jumped out, and headed in that direction. Let out another call, and got 2 replies, one to the right and one to the left. Decided the one to the left was closer. Headed to the edge of the field, set out my decoys, in between the 2 sets of gobbles, and let out another call. Got a third set of gobbles straight out on the other side of an island of trees. Cool, it’s getting good, fast.

Lesson #1: Turkeys are LOUD. What I thought was closer initially, the ones on the right, were a long ways off, and the one on the left nearly blew out my eardrum, and he was still up in the trees 300-400 yards away.

So, I hit the call, he’d respond, as well as all the others. Did it 3 or 4 times, and I see him busting out of the woods on my left. He ran out, and started strutting, fanning, back and forth, at 200 yards, BUT….

[FONT=[/IMG] [FONT=[/IMG][SIZE=/>[/font][FONT=[/IMG]So,]Lesson #2: Turkeys, as I have heard, definitely DO NOT like to cross a “barrier”.

Unfortunately, there was a 5 ft deep creek bed, with 10 yards of brush on each side, that he didn’t want to cross. So, after strutting for 10 minutes, he walked back to the woods . At the same time, the ones gobbling to my right, had busted into the field, a long way off, and were hightailing it towards the other gobbles on the opposite side of the treeline. Then, after they disappeared, and all gobbling immediately stopped. Nothing, nada, ceased……

So, I head over to where I last heard the larger group. I get to the second opening, and let out a few calls as I walk. Finally, I hear some gobbles way across the field, up on a ridge. I’m thinking, boy, they got out of here quick. So, I set up inside the treeline, and try to call them back. Just then I see something moving across the field.

Lesson #3: Coyotes like turkeys too……

Damn pair of coyotes…. No wonder the gobbling ceased. I let them move out, and then call again. I decided I had to head up on the ridge, so I start across the field. I then see a coyote pop up on a rock (kinda like lion king ) to look where my calls were coming from, and he sees me, and they take off for good.

I make my way into the woods, calling occasionally, and get a distant reply. Sounds like they are moving away from me. I then hear nothing for 10 minutes, so I decide to walk towards where I saw them last. I hit this opening, and walk around a large rock, and….

Lesson #4: Just cause they don’t answer, doesn’t mean they aren’t interested and possibly doubling back…..

I see a few running away from me. Damn. I see at least one up in the trees in a partial fan, so I let them go out of sight, and try to call them back. Nothing. Well, I decide to loop around, and about 45 minutes later, I come across them in a clearing. It’s 6 birds, all with at least 4 or 5 inches of beard past the feathers, and at least 2 really nice ones ( I’d have shot any of the 6) However, they are still at about 65-70 yards, and walking away.

I played with them for over an hour, but could never intercept them. I did get to within 40 yards once, but a couple of them were looking at me while the others fed, and I am not comfortable with a 40 yard shot right now, especially in the thick trees. So, they finally fly over the ravine we were on to another hill, and start feeding up the hill. I tried one more time to cut them off, but to no avail. It was almost 10:30 and time to leave. Never really spooked them, so figured I’d leave it at that.

Anyway, I know it’s a long story, especially for not firing a shot, but it was damn fun, damn addictive, and definitely a learning experience. I will know better when I go out next week….

[Sluester]

Nice Sean.

You need to sight that bow in for 40....or buy one that can shoot that far.

[Vermonster]

Originally Posted by Sluester

Nice Sean.

You need to sight that bow in for 40....or buy one that can shoot that far.

Mine will shoot that far, for sure. I just haven't practiced past 25 or so.

[Kurt]

Nice try bucko. One of these days.


Palomar and Laguna are the exact same distance apart from my place. Within 1 mile, 54 miles.

[Skip Jackson]

Sounds like fun Sean.

Turkeys are fun, but hard enough just to get into shotgun range. With a bow, I'd have to have a blind.

My biggest lesson: #1 - If you're moving while turkey hunting, you're just getting some exercise.

[el Toro]

There is nothing more maddening to hunt than a turkey! Sounds like fun though.