One I’ll remember

[Zutt-man]

Congratulations on a fine hunt, rifle and bird. I realize populations are down about everywhere but taking a newbie out can fire up someone else to enjoy what you enjoy, and become active in the conservation of the turkey population as well. It was sport hunters that have brought dwindling populations of game animals out of near extinction from the market forces and it is our efforts that continue to do the same. Another bird or two by those you are adept at teaching won't deplete the flock nearly as much as the coyotes, raccoons and other predators that hunt the birds and eat the eggs, which I've been led to believe is the main concern for the decline of the turkey populations.

Again, very glad for your success with the long gun of your crafting. It appears to be a beautiful weapon.

I’ve taken a newbie out for the last 5 years. Just a lot to consider getting another bird off the landscape and disrupting breading patterns. Tons of things are going wrong with turkey populations, including predators and nest predators, but habitat, imo, is the key.

 

[Zutt-man]

Back in the early 60's they tried stocking pheasants in Western Kentucky but the birds would not stay there for some reason. Be gone in a year and no one could figure out why.

Wild or pen raised?

 

[Zutt-man]

congrats!

(that tears it ... i was thinking about something else, but my next gun is a .58 smooth Kibler colonial)

I have the rifle and the smoothie. VERY pleased with both

 

[Zutt-man]

Beautiful bird. Congratulations!
Was not aware of declines in turkey populations. Would not know it from seeing them around here.
On the other hand, decades back this area was thick with pheasant. In the space of a year or two that population crashed and never recovered. Much too abrupt for the usual suspects such as predators or habitat. It is still unexplained, and stocking them has not worked. Likely because the farmed birds have zip, zilch zero survival skills.

You cannot stock with farm raised pheasants. What people need to do is reestablish habitat (for turkeys as well)

 

[mushka]

I think they came out of Illinoise. Wild, Pen raised I don't know. long time ago, memory isn't what it used to be.

 

[2 shots]

 

[Penske]

Give thanks for a great ending. Flintlocks rule!

 

[RyanGeiler]

Beautiful pics, beautiful gun. Hell of a memory, good work!!

 

[hanshi]

Major turkey with a gorgeous flintlock; how can it get better than that?

 

[Zutt-man]

Great hunt and great photos!

I’d be interested in hearing about your load and how the 58 patterns. I’ve thought hard about building a similar Colonial for turkey hunting.

I’ll be out on Saturday for the Michigan opener armed with my T/C New Englander. Next year my goal is to take one with a flintlock.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/shot-patterns.160172/
Load #10 is what I went with

 

[Zutt-man]

Major turkey with a gorgeous flintlock; how can it get better than that?

I have a particular quest with this gun. Hopefully in a few springs it’ll be complete

 

[TDM]

Great Tom, great gun! Congratulations!

 

[Yewbender]

Congrats on a fine Jelly Neck!

 

[64Springer]

Great bird and story, OP.

The only turkeys I've seen in my area were at the grocery store.

 

[Ol Bob]

Congratulation! Loved the video btw!!!

 

[bushytail]

Congratulations on a nice bird!

 

[Buckskinn]

Great hunt! Nothing like whacking game with a flinter...
I am surprised you got away with that much movement!!! Seems like
I've been busted in the past for blinking...

 

[Zutt-man]

Great hunt! Nothing like whacking game with a flinter...
I am surprised you got away with that much movement!!! Seems like
I've been busted in the past for blinking...

I get away with a lot hunting. I think it’s mostly picking your spots and times to move, reading the animal’s emotions and demeanor. That bird was locked into the decoy. I had a quick shimmie right as e was getting ready to flog it, which likely was why he stopped. It was too late by that time

 

[Zutt-man]

UPDATE!

I did get back out to this spot to get my son on his first ever gobbler. We spent 3 days hunting evenings without much luck. Birds were very quiet and had locked up with hens it had seemed. So we took off (very late) from the house one mid May Saturday morning and he knocked down his first ever bird. He was really nervous as I could feel his indecision and anxiousness sitting behind him. We sat only 75 yards from where I harvested my bird. Very proud of him!

 

[zerosprk]

Nice!!!