bigbore442001
50 Cal.
I have been hunting the big birds since I was in high school. When you think of turkey hunting you really don't think of Massachusetts. In fact when you mention the Bay State you generally think of the opposite of hunting. Granted there are better places but if you learn a particular locale you can do well. I have shot a number of big birds in my life with a modern shotgun as well as a modern bow. Today was a day of firsts. I shot my first wild turkey with a muzzleloading shotgun.
I arose from my blissful slumber at 3:55 AM and got ready. A tab of lisopril and my Emergen C vitamin water along with dressing up to start the morning. It had been very rainy and dreary for a lack of a better term. I had cleaned my TC Black Mountain Magnum cap lock the night before and now I took it out of my front door to fire a couple of caps to clear and dry the channel and bore. The echo of the two caps was an odd sound across the south facing pond I live on. I loaded the TC with a measured volume of 1 3/8ths ounce of H777 with a 2 ounce charge of no. 5 shot over it.
I donned my camoflage attire and headed out the door for the drive to an area around Mount Wachusett in the north country of Worcester County. In the early hours of the day the traffic on 395 and 190 was not very much and soon I found myself in the area I wanted to hunt. Bear in mind I was pretty much going in blindly. In the past when I worked in the area I learned where to hunt after work so I based my strategy on past knowledge.
After walking around the lowland area I crossed a swampy brook at proceeded southward. Soon I heard gobble. I knew it. It seems that the birds have always retreated after the maddening crowd of opening day to this thick, swampy area. I walked as quietly as possible and sat at the base of a large white pine. Although it appeared that I was the only one, you never know. Generally I am not nervous about hunting but turkey hunting makes me somewhat cautious.
I set up at the base of a hill with the swampy brook to my back. I say and then made some yelps on my Quaker Boy diagphram. Soon I got a response. I figured that the birds were pressured on this area thus I tended to be very conservative in my calling. I figured it is best to play " hard to get".
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0193.jpg
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0192.jpg
After sitting for an hour and a half I became aware that this gobbler was henned up. He and the flock were going to the right of me on the ridge above. I figured that my best bet would be to not disturb them and see if I can go to another spot to set up and hope they wander into range. As I went back to the edge of the swamp I noticed something odd. If Massachusetts ever opens a moose season I know where to go.
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0198.jpg http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0196.jpg http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0194.jpg
As I reconoitered the swamp I had noticed a hen walking on the ridge that I was going to set up. Sure enough I was right. In fact I should have set up at that spot as I went into the woods but in the past I had shot a nice gobbler where I was originally set up. I guess you need to go with your gut instinct.
As I walked through the woods I had wandered about looking for turkey sign as well as chaga in the white birch that is somewhat prevalent in the area.
After that I headed to the infamous black Ranger and headed a bit north to another spot that had always produced birds. I walked through some fields and the down a long dirt road. As I walked I noticed some turkey tracks in one sandy spot. I looked around then let out a couple of yelps. Nothing. I figured I would walk further on. I figured I was a good mile and a half from the truck when I heard a gobble. Hmm. My senses peaked. The bird was less than 100 yards distant. I figured since the woods were rather wet I could get pretty close and then set up the decoy and sit up against a tree. As I walked stealthily forward I saw a nice hemlock tree that would make a great impromtu blind. At that moment I heard another gobble. I set up the jake decoy and then sat against the tree. The reason that the gobbler was talking was that there were some crows that were cawing in the area. I made a few yelps. At that point I got a response. The bird was no more than 75 yards to my front. The gobbler was in some thick woods with some fallen white birch. I was on the opposite side of the dirt road and at best could see no more than thirty yards. The bird gobbled a few more times then I spotted the infamous blue head. I got ready . I had set up a jake decoy and I figured that if the bird sees the rival it may walk my way. Sure enough the bird was about twenty yards distant but due to some overhanging branches I was unable to shoot. As soon as the gobbler spotted the interloper he puffed up and strutted in front of me. I had the bead on his head and pulled the trigger. At the shot the bird disappeared in a cloud of white smoke. Shortly it cleared and on the ground about eighteen yards lay my prize.
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0199.jpg
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0201.jpg
I was elated. At that moment I had said a prayer of thanks to God for such a wonderful moment in my life. A great first for me. A nice gobbler with a muzzleloading shotgun.
I arose from my blissful slumber at 3:55 AM and got ready. A tab of lisopril and my Emergen C vitamin water along with dressing up to start the morning. It had been very rainy and dreary for a lack of a better term. I had cleaned my TC Black Mountain Magnum cap lock the night before and now I took it out of my front door to fire a couple of caps to clear and dry the channel and bore. The echo of the two caps was an odd sound across the south facing pond I live on. I loaded the TC with a measured volume of 1 3/8ths ounce of H777 with a 2 ounce charge of no. 5 shot over it.
I donned my camoflage attire and headed out the door for the drive to an area around Mount Wachusett in the north country of Worcester County. In the early hours of the day the traffic on 395 and 190 was not very much and soon I found myself in the area I wanted to hunt. Bear in mind I was pretty much going in blindly. In the past when I worked in the area I learned where to hunt after work so I based my strategy on past knowledge.
After walking around the lowland area I crossed a swampy brook at proceeded southward. Soon I heard gobble. I knew it. It seems that the birds have always retreated after the maddening crowd of opening day to this thick, swampy area. I walked as quietly as possible and sat at the base of a large white pine. Although it appeared that I was the only one, you never know. Generally I am not nervous about hunting but turkey hunting makes me somewhat cautious.
I set up at the base of a hill with the swampy brook to my back. I say and then made some yelps on my Quaker Boy diagphram. Soon I got a response. I figured that the birds were pressured on this area thus I tended to be very conservative in my calling. I figured it is best to play " hard to get".
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0193.jpg
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0192.jpg
After sitting for an hour and a half I became aware that this gobbler was henned up. He and the flock were going to the right of me on the ridge above. I figured that my best bet would be to not disturb them and see if I can go to another spot to set up and hope they wander into range. As I went back to the edge of the swamp I noticed something odd. If Massachusetts ever opens a moose season I know where to go.
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0198.jpg http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0196.jpg http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0194.jpg
As I reconoitered the swamp I had noticed a hen walking on the ridge that I was going to set up. Sure enough I was right. In fact I should have set up at that spot as I went into the woods but in the past I had shot a nice gobbler where I was originally set up. I guess you need to go with your gut instinct.
As I walked through the woods I had wandered about looking for turkey sign as well as chaga in the white birch that is somewhat prevalent in the area.
After that I headed to the infamous black Ranger and headed a bit north to another spot that had always produced birds. I walked through some fields and the down a long dirt road. As I walked I noticed some turkey tracks in one sandy spot. I looked around then let out a couple of yelps. Nothing. I figured I would walk further on. I figured I was a good mile and a half from the truck when I heard a gobble. Hmm. My senses peaked. The bird was less than 100 yards distant. I figured since the woods were rather wet I could get pretty close and then set up the decoy and sit up against a tree. As I walked stealthily forward I saw a nice hemlock tree that would make a great impromtu blind. At that moment I heard another gobble. I set up the jake decoy and then sat against the tree. The reason that the gobbler was talking was that there were some crows that were cawing in the area. I made a few yelps. At that point I got a response. The bird was no more than 75 yards to my front. The gobbler was in some thick woods with some fallen white birch. I was on the opposite side of the dirt road and at best could see no more than thirty yards. The bird gobbled a few more times then I spotted the infamous blue head. I got ready . I had set up a jake decoy and I figured that if the bird sees the rival it may walk my way. Sure enough the bird was about twenty yards distant but due to some overhanging branches I was unable to shoot. As soon as the gobbler spotted the interloper he puffed up and strutted in front of me. I had the bead on his head and pulled the trigger. At the shot the bird disappeared in a cloud of white smoke. Shortly it cleared and on the ground about eighteen yards lay my prize.
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0199.jpg
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/bigbore442001/?action=view¤t=101_0201.jpg
I was elated. At that moment I had said a prayer of thanks to God for such a wonderful moment in my life. A great first for me. A nice gobbler with a muzzleloading shotgun.
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