First Gobbler of the Season

Todd1700 · March 18, 2012, 12:28 PM

Persistence paid off this morning. Didn't shoot this bird until 20 minutes after 9 and he wasn't one of the original 3 birds I had set up on. I had fooled with those birds for 2 hours but they were staying out there about 150 yards gobbling at everything but not coming any closer. This bird slipped in behind me while I was fooling with the other 3. Never knew he was there until he thundered behind me in a thicket. He was probably in gun range the first time he gobbled but I couldn't see but 15 to 20 yards out into the thicket behind me. I turned as far to my right as I could; switched my gun to left hand and waited. Nothing. Eased my slate up against my leg and purred and clucked one time. He thundered just out of sight in the thicket. Got both hands back on the gun and then I saw his outline moving right to left through the brush. When he hit a lane I could shoot the Hevi-13 7's eat him up.

Just a 2 year old but I'll take him. 9 inch beard, 13/16 left spur, 7/8 right spur. Weight 16lbs 13oz.

Keg · March 18, 2012, 12:52 PM

Nice bird....

PoorRichRichard · March 18, 2012, 01:35 PM

Rad! Looks tasty

I've never had wild turkey before. Dow does the taste differ from farm raised turkey?

Todd1700 · March 18, 2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Dow does the taste differ from farm raised turkey?

I mostly cut the beasts in strips, coat it in seasoned flour and fry them like chicken fingers. Stomps store bought turkey all to heck. (store bought chicken as well)

AllenJ · March 18, 2012, 08:15 PM

Nice job Todd, great looking bird.

huntinaz · March 18, 2012, 09:14 PM

Sweet! They sure look tasty, I've never had wild bird either.

Major Dave (retired) · March 19, 2012, 12:38 AM

I been saying #5's, copper plated.

But then I haven't gotten a shot - yet. So what do I know?

What length shell you using?

Todd1700 · March 19, 2012, 01:51 AM

3 1/2 inch Hevi-13 7's.

PoorRichRichard · March 19, 2012, 02:09 AM

Todd, do you use 3 1/2 inchers over 3s because the give you more distance?

Todd1700 · March 19, 2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Todd, do you use 3 1/2 inchers over 3s because the give you more distance?

Denser patterns.

bswiv · March 19, 2012, 07:39 PM

Is the HV Shot in 7 actually, because it is more dense, as lethal as #5 lead.....is that your thinking?

Seems to work.............

Todd1700 · March 20, 2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Is the HV Shot in 7 actually, because it is more dense, as lethal as #5 lead.....is that your thinking?

I'm confident in them to 40 yards. And the pattern they hold to that distance is a death swarm.

March 18, 2012, 12:28 PM	#1
Todd1700 Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2008 Posts: 192	First Gobbler of the Season Persistence paid off this morning. Didn't shoot this bird until 20 minutes after 9 and he wasn't one of the original 3 birds I had set up on. I had fooled with those birds for 2 hours but they were staying out there about 150 yards gobbling at everything but not coming any closer. This bird slipped in behind me while I was fooling with the other 3. Never knew he was there until he thundered behind me in a thicket. He was probably in gun range the first time he gobbled but I couldn't see but 15 to 20 yards out into the thicket behind me. I turned as far to my right as I could; switched my gun to left hand and waited. Nothing. Eased my slate up against my leg and purred and clucked one time. He thundered just out of sight in the thicket. Got both hands back on the gun and then I saw his outline moving right to left through the brush. When he hit a lane I could shoot the Hevi-13 7's eat him up. Just a 2 year old but I'll take him. 9 inch beard, 13/16 left spur, 7/8 right spur. Weight 16lbs 13oz.

March 18, 2012, 12:52 PM	#2
Keg Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2011 Location: Freestone County, Texas Posts: 1,133	Nice bird.... __________________ Hog Hunters never die........They just reload.........

March 18, 2012, 09:14 PM	#6
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	Sweet! They sure look tasty, I've never had wild bird either. __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

March 19, 2012, 12:38 AM	#7
Major Dave (retired) Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2008 Location: Between Dallas and Shreveport, LA Posts: 569	You used #7's? I been saying #5's, copper plated. But then I haven't gotten a shot - yet. So what do I know? What length shell you using? __________________ Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be but a vulgar brawl.

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March 18, 2012, 01:35 PM	#3
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 269	Rad! Looks tasty I've never had wild turkey before. Dow does the taste differ from farm raised turkey?

March 18, 2012, 08:15 PM	#5
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Nice job Todd, great looking bird.

March 19, 2012, 01:51 AM	#8
Todd1700 Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2008 Posts: 192	3 1/2 inch Hevi-13 7's.

March 19, 2012, 02:09 AM	#9
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 269	Todd, do you use 3 1/2 inchers over 3s because the give you more distance?

March 19, 2012, 07:39 PM	#11
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	Is the HV Shot in 7 actually, because it is more dense, as lethal as #5 lead.....is that your thinking? Seems to work.............