I missed!!!!!!!!!!!

bamaranger · April 6, 2010, 03:18 AM

Called a tremendous gobbler in today, watched him come through thin open hardwoods, clearly visible for 100 yds, DOWNHILL, only to miss him at 32 steps.

Lessons learned: ( I already knew this, but got a painful reminder this AM)

-don't shoot at a walking turkey
-don't shoot at a turkey that does not have his neck extended a fair degree
(putt if you have to to stop him and get his head up)
-pick a clear shot. I failed to see a fair size honey locust sapling half way to the bird, which did not help at all.

Lessons learned: the good news.

I was pretty bummed. I've been scouting and hunting like a mad man. I wanted to go home and cry myself to sleep, which I needed (sleep).

I did not. I walked back to the truck, got a snack and watered up.
Drove to another spot, where I'd located birds prior season. It was 10:00AM. Hot, way hotter than it should be for early April. I passed three trucks coming out on my way in. Told myself I'd listen and cover ground for an hour, then hunt back to the truck. (quitting time on public land is 12:00 noon).

At 10:45 a bird gobbled at a live crow. I closed in and called the first time at 11:00. No answer. At 11:20 he gobbled again, on his own. I called again, switching things up a bit with a mouth call. No answer. At 11:45, I tickled the homemade slate, a gift from my best friend, one more time and he ANSWERED, at half the distance from before! He WAS coming. Gun up, foot steps in the distance. There! Freeze, track, freeze, track. Then a blind spot behind a big tree. When he stepped out, I made DARN sure he was clear and lined up CAREFULLY.

Bang! Dead as a hammer at 40 yds. It was exactly 12:00 noon. Not as big as the one I'd missed, but......redeemed. I didn't mind the walk back to the Bronco in the heat all.

b.roberts · April 6, 2010, 08:08 AM

Good job on the second turkey! Spring season opens up here in nine days. Can't wait!

crghss · April 6, 2010, 07:23 PM

Nice recovery.....callin' two Tom's in one day. That's pretty good.

hogdogs · April 6, 2010, 07:48 PM

Good huntin' to ya'!!! I couldn't call in 2 hens with my sexiest voice and a fifth of Wild Turkey 101!!!

Brent

bobelk99 · April 6, 2010, 08:21 PM

Your note sure reinforces my view that one should not hang it up at 9am.

I have had more fair shots between 11 and 1 than 7 to 9.

danbnimble · April 6, 2010, 08:37 PM

that's why they call it huntin' and not gettin'...
good call, good shot

TXGunNut · April 6, 2010, 10:01 PM

The hens get better looking about halfway thru the bottle of WT101, hotdogs. My funniest turkey hunt almost ended when a jake gave a very comical "wazzzup!" to my decoy spread. Venue was the Mason Mountain exotic game ranch and the African plains game wandering thru was amazing too. Something about a 400 lb antelope with 30" horns within 20 yds was a bit unnerving, especially since youngsters were present.
And no, never called in a gobbler I wanted. Good job on calling TWO in, bamaranger!

April 6, 2010, 03:18 AM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	I missed!!!!!!!!!!! Called a tremendous gobbler in today, watched him come through thin open hardwoods, clearly visible for 100 yds, DOWNHILL, only to miss him at 32 steps. Lessons learned: ( I already knew this, but got a painful reminder this AM) -don't shoot at a walking turkey -don't shoot at a turkey that does not have his neck extended a fair degree (putt if you have to to stop him and get his head up) -pick a clear shot. I failed to see a fair size honey locust sapling half way to the bird, which did not help at all. Lessons learned: the good news. I was pretty bummed. I've been scouting and hunting like a mad man. I wanted to go home and cry myself to sleep, which I needed (sleep). I did not. I walked back to the truck, got a snack and watered up. Drove to another spot, where I'd located birds prior season. It was 10:00AM. Hot, way hotter than it should be for early April. I passed three trucks coming out on my way in. Told myself I'd listen and cover ground for an hour, then hunt back to the truck. (quitting time on public land is 12:00 noon). At 10:45 a bird gobbled at a live crow. I closed in and called the first time at 11:00. No answer. At 11:20 he gobbled again, on his own. I called again, switching things up a bit with a mouth call. No answer. At 11:45, I tickled the homemade slate, a gift from my best friend, one more time and he ANSWERED, at half the distance from before! He WAS coming. Gun up, foot steps in the distance. There! Freeze, track, freeze, track. Then a blind spot behind a big tree. When he stepped out, I made DARN sure he was clear and lined up CAREFULLY. Bang! Dead as a hammer at 40 yds. It was exactly 12:00 noon. Not as big as the one I'd missed, but......redeemed. I didn't mind the walk back to the Bronco in the heat all.

April 6, 2010, 08:37 PM	#6
danbnimble Junior Member Join Date: March 26, 2010 Location: frostbite falls Minnesota...bullwinkle's just down the road a piece Posts: 5	huntin' huntin' huntin' that's why they call it huntin' and not gettin'... good call, good shot

April 6, 2010, 10:01 PM	#7
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	The hens get better looking about halfway thru the bottle of WT101, hotdogs. My funniest turkey hunt almost ended when a jake gave a very comical "wazzzup!" to my decoy spread. Venue was the Mason Mountain exotic game ranch and the African plains game wandering thru was amazing too. Something about a 400 lb antelope with 30" horns within 20 yds was a bit unnerving, especially since youngsters were present. And no, never called in a gobbler I wanted. Good job on calling TWO in, bamaranger! __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

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April 6, 2010, 08:08 AM	#2
b.roberts Junior Member Join Date: March 6, 2010 Posts: 7	Good job on the second turkey! Spring season opens up here in nine days. Can't wait!

April 6, 2010, 07:23 PM	#3
crghss Junior member Join Date: July 1, 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 537	Nice recovery.....callin' two Tom's in one day. That's pretty good.

April 6, 2010, 07:48 PM	#4
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Good huntin' to ya'!!! I couldn't call in 2 hens with my sexiest voice and a fifth of Wild Turkey 101!!! Brent

April 6, 2010, 08:21 PM	#5
bobelk99 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Central KY Posts: 220	Your note sure reinforces my view that one should not hang it up at 9am. I have had more fair shots between 11 and 1 than 7 to 9.