Turkey Hunting Stories?

[KyFlintlock]

I thought with Turkey Hunting on the horizon (not close enough!), that it might be nice to hear some of y'alls blackpowder turkey hunting stories.

So how bout it? Do you have any turkey stories, they don't have to be successful.

Here is one of mine to get this party started:

I eased out the point and just waited a while, enjoying the wonderful weather and the time outdoors. GOBBBBBBLE!!!! A thundering gobble came from less than 100 yards across the wooded finger. I smiled and backed away, tomorrow morning I would be back (opening day).

I setup across the wooded finger by a heavy thicket of cedar trees and waited for light. At first light he only gobbled a few times before flying down, my heart began to race and I checked my 12ga Flintlock, and pulled out my shell-call. Yelp, yelp, yelp, yelp...... GOBBBBBLE!!! He was just over the hill. I waited a few minutes, yelp, yelp, GOBBBBLE! He cut me off and I knew he was headed my way. I got positioned, and smiled as the shot would only be 15 yards, over the hogback ridge. I could hear him walking in the leaves back and forth. Yelp, yelp, GOBBBBBLE!!! GOBBBBBBBLE!!!! He was too hot and so was I.

He sounded SO close, but why wasn't he coming over to me? I heard him moving to my right, so I decided to drop down and in front of him. I moved into position against a fence and sat down, he couldn't be more than 50 yards off. Yelp, yelp, GOBBBBBLE!!! He was headed right up the fence to me.

About that time a guy stood up that was sitting in the fence and said in a normal voice "You callin' that bird?" I heard the bird run over the hill. "I own the place about 150 yards that way", he said. "Then why aren't you 150 yards over there on your own place?", I asked calmly. My ears began to get hot, but he was a good ol' country boy and I know how the loud gobble of a big Tom can make a man do things he normally wouldn't. We talked a little and he moved back over to his place.

I moved back to the thicket and waited 30 minutes before calling, but the game was over.

That eve I worked my way back out to the end ridge and let out a few yelps. Guess who was sitting in the fence row again? You guessed it, ol' "150 yards". He face turned pale and I could tell he was embarrased, but I thought about jumping him and puttin' the smack all over him. Luckily, I am not as mean as I think, so I just asked him if he had heard any birds ON HIS place. He smiled and left.

I worked a bird across the point for a little while, but he only gobbled once. An hour before dark, I moved toward the thicket and setup, leaning the flintlock across my lap and just admiring the weather. I yelped a few times, waited 10 minutes, then yelped a little more. I stared toward the field opening, then saw him. Standing there as still as a stone, staring my way. He was only 40 yards away and the "Game was back on". He dropped his head and started my way. I cocked the flintlock and tightened my grip. As he passed a large cedar I got the gun into position. He came around a blowdown, then raised his head to search for the lone hen. I pulled the trigger and the 2nd show began. Ker-Flatch- BOOM! Smoke filled the air and so did I! I was up and on him in seconds, but it didn't matter as he was down for good. It wasn't the thundering gobbler from that morning, but I was proud to get him.


As I walked out the road back to the barn, I thanked the good Lord for this bird and for the day. ...And for 2nd chances.

How bout you guys? Tell me a few....

 

[Hota]

This my favorite hunting season. I am still haunted by my excursion two years ago during spring gobbler in Tioga County PA in Asaph. Not a Black Powder story, Mossberg 835 Turkey 3.5SM. But I have to get this off my chest yet again!! Got into the woods nice and early. Set up my decoys and got my gear ready. It was a cold morning so I picked a spot against a tree that had a good thicket cover but gave a nice line of sight and covered up with a realtree fleece blanket. I started making calls about 530AM with no response. By 630 I could here the return gobbles coming in from about what sounded like 150/200 yards away. I had no visual. I was persistent in calling in these birds. By 930 I got my first visual. I felt the rush come on and the heart beat kickin up. They were about 125 yards away. I kept calling but they only advanced laterally and at a snails pace. At around 10:15 the first bird made a left and started heading directly for my position. I was thrilled. I got set and was going to wait until it got to be about 30-35 yards away. As it got to 75 yards, I heard another hunter start calling. I got frantic and hopped on my box and my reed and started calling. NO WAY! Someone is not going to ruin my 4 hours of work here. The bird would come towards me, then him, then me. Back and forth. I tried a whine call and I think that it attracted the Tom because he started towards me. He was still 65 yards away. He was in perfect clear view of me and the decoy when he stoppped dead in his tracks. He stood in that position a while picking from the ground before he turned and started heading the other way. I felt for some reason that he was not coming back so I took the 75 yard shot. I saw the dirt kick up about 15 feet short and the bird flew off. The other hunter finally emerged and walked off. I looked around trying to analyze what could have halted the Tom in his tracks when I noticed my decoy had come off of the stake and was facing completely vertical. Don't know of any turkeys taking that position. I don't know if it was that for sure which scared it off or if it had seen me or the other guy but I still get so mad that I didn't get it. This year will bring one in for sure, yeah right!

 

[Rebel]

Just one question, what were you doing taking a 75 yd shot at a turkey with a shotgun? With a rifle maybe, but that is too far to shoot with any shotugn, BP or modern shellshucker. Not trying to start anything with you, i know that in the heat of the moment it probably didn't even occure to you that you shouldn't take the shot for fear of just wounding the turkey. Just wondered is all.

 

[Hota]

Full Choke, my 50 yard groups with the 3.5SM at the range the previous day fell completey within 8 inches, not a pellet outside of that. I felt certain that at 65 yards the shot was doable. I figured it would catch enough lead to fall. However the Tom was walking away so I estimated later at having taken the the shot at 70 yards. The energy needed to take the Tom would need to be no less than 180 Ft/Lbs on impact for a successfull kill. No4 led shot in a 3.5 inch load provides in excess of the 180 ft/lbs needed to make the kill a that range. I had the shot (although with each step I was losing it), so I took it. I just did not hold over high enough and fell short. I put the flat of the front side on the top of his head as opposed to the about three inches high on his head.

Why do you think that is too far a shot? We qualified in my Army unit at 100 yards with a shotgun. The energy needed to take a human is about 250 ft/lbs on impact and we used 3" mags instead of 3.5 (granted we were using 00). And with my BP, I am shooting it regularly at 100 yards (from a bench) and grouping very well with it. I would not hesititate to take a 75 yard shot with my GPR .50. Would anyone else? and if so why? I haven't tested the remaining energy at 100 yards yet but plan to do that when the weather warms up. I am still building my range data on the GPR. I won't test the E@I until 1. the barrel break in process is complete and 2. the weather warms up to about 60 so I can resume my baseline. I would be interested to hear if anyone has tested the energy on a roundball @ 100 yds.

By the way, why would I think you are starting something? I think you asked a good question. I am not suggesting to anyone on here to attempt a shot they cannot make. I felt as though I could make the shot, took it and missed. Since that day I have practiced with my 835 at both 75 and 100 yds. I can say that the spread of the shot at 100 yards is too great and would not take a shot that far, however it did have the E remaining to make a kill on a turkey. I would take a 70 yrd shot again. My 3 shot groups at 75 yards produced a shot spread group of 13" (Full Choke). I know guys who cant shoot a lever action 3 times in a 13" group. You have got to know your limits. I feel very comfortable with my abilities. I shot competitively for many years and believe that shooting comes down to physics and fieldcraft. Know your variables, plug them into the formula, aim and squeeze. The hardest part is being CERTAIN of your variables. To this day I practice estimating temp, wind, humidity, range, etc. more than anything else because the better you can know your environment, the better you will shoot. A long winded reply but I enjoy talking.

Certainly let me know your feedback.

 

[KyFlintlock]

Holy Mackeral that is too far for me to shoot! I used to limit my modern stuff to 45yards with the extended choked proven loads...

The flinter is limited right now to around 20yards, but I hope to improve that when I can get out and shoot.


Here is another story, from a few years back:

I arrived at my buddies place to hunt, FINALLY!!!
It was the 2nd week of season and I had the flintlock shotgun primed and ready. I setup that morning without a clue (As I did not scout lately) and to be honest can't remember hearing a bird at all that morning. About 10am I peeked out into the CRP field, but didn't see a thing. I moved to the top of the hill and as I was peeking over, saw a red head HAULIN' for the woods, about 150 yards from me. :curse: He had never said a peep all morning and I had blown it.. I backed away and circled the large field (took about 35 minutes) and as I neared the area where I saw the gobbler, The tall weeds were very thick around the field so I slowed way down. I stared into the field periodically trying to make him "appear"... Didn't work. I moved a little closer and saw a stripe. I stared and it moved! He was bent over feeding about 75 yards from me through the tall weeds.

I yelped a few times and he could care less. I waited a few minutes and gave him another dose. "Sorry, don't care" he seemed to tell me. I eased a little closer and got behind a cedar, cutting the distance to less than 50 yards. I waited there for a while, but he just scratched around... I got on the ground and as a buddy of mine says, "CRAWLED ON MY BELLY LIKE A REPTILE" (PRIVATE GROUND ONLY). I cut the distance to 35 yards and ran out of cover. Oh, so close but so far away. I gave a few soft yelps, he ignored me. I looked at my watch and noticed I had to leave in 15 minutes! I had been under 50 yards of him for over 1/2hr!!

I got a little more agressive as he continued to peck and scratch, he looked up then went back to feeding. About that time a hen came by me about 15 yards and went right to him. A tried calling a few more times, but he really wasn't interested.

I sure wanted to shoot him, but it was NOT to be. As soon as I started to back away they bolted....

 

[Rebel]

Hota, what size and kind of shot are you shooting in that thing? If you are getting 13" patterns at 70 yds it has to be some really great shot. I have taken jackrabbits and geese with my Navy Arms double barrel .12 ga out to 40 yds or so, but that is as far as want to push it. I have a Mossberg .500 that i have tried 2 3/4" and 3" #4 buck in, and my patterns are nowhere close to 13" at 70 yds. Now if you are shooting slugs, then that is a whole nuther story. As far as taking a shot with a GPR at 50-75 yds, no problem if the conditions are right and ihad a steady rest.

 

[Huntinfool]

75 yards is too far for a ethical shot even with a 3.5 mag. modern shotgun. This is supposed to be traditional muzzleloading hunting only, with that being said I understand you wanting to tell your story here. But I withhold all of my modern huntin' stories from this forum.

And comparing military practice to hunting is like comparing apples and oranges. In the first place in the military a wound is better than a kill most of the time.

In a hunting situation a clean humane kill is the goal not just a hit. We hunters hold ourselves to a higher standard than any military sharp shooter.

I know the temptation to tell any good story is great but I suggest you post them in the general section. It takes will power not to post modern huntin' stories here just as it does not to shoot 75 yard shots.

No offence just my opinion! Hota you do as you please if Claude or the moderators don't stop ya you're OK!

YMH&OS, :redthumb:
Chuck

 

[shmrck1]

Hota,
:bull: makes for a nice story as fictional
as it may be. 75yd s/g shot :huh: WHY kyflintlock
you wanted a turkey story hota just gave you a whopper snake-eyes :m2c: eace: :thumbsup:

 

[KyFlintlock]

Ok, we are over that, now for some turkey stories?

There has to be SOMEBODY out there with a blackpowder turkery story?????

:thumbsup:


I have seen a few pics, so I know there is. Help a guy out that needs an OUTDOOR Fix! :RO:

 

[BLAHMAN]

Ok, we are over that, now for some turkey stories?

There has to be SOMEBODY out there with a blackpowder turkery story?????

:thumbsup:


I have seen a few pics, so I know there is. Help a guy out that needs an OUTDOOR Fix! :RO:

Never been turkey hunting. :cry:

 

[silverfox]

As I see that story there must be a few hundred world champion trap and sheet shooters running to his door. That is unless he is using PRB in his shotgun. The US Trap Champion would be happy to get a 30" pattern at 40 yards and have an advantage over the rest of the field with it. It's not possible to get 70 yd. 8" patterns with a shotgun using shot. Nuff said.
Fox :crackup:

 

[Hota]

It's not possible to get 70 yd. 8" patterns with a shotgun using shot. Nuff said.

Two corrections need to be made. One, I never claimed the above. and Two, after pulling my comp targets, my group was 13" @50 not 8" @50. My bad. I am always around to go shooting with anyone who is interested in the SE PA area, to have fun or compete. I don't want any ill will from my new friends on this forum. Will keep all future posts in the BP genre. eace: eace:

 

[sniper68]

Although I haven't hunted turkeys in 10 years or so, spring turkey was my passion. Lost most intrest in shooting them, got more enjoyment from calling them within range and or taking newbes and introducing them to the sport. NOTHING better than being in the woods that time of year and watching the woods come alive! Plus tou get to see all the deer that you thought wern't there in the Fall & Winter :: I ain't too good at story tellin or typing , however if I could be of any help I would be glad to try and answer any questions or give my opinions. Turkey hunting(Spring) is a never ending learning process :curse:

 

[KyFlintlock]

Sniper68

Thanks for the reply. I think one of the reasons I enjoy it so much is the FRESH COLOR too. Everything is turning green, the stuff is blooming the air is so good. :RO:

Who am I kidding, I love to hear those birds rattle off!

 

[sniper68]

KyFlintlock; As I used to tell all my first timers,it dosen't make you a bad person or non hunter but if the hair on the back of your neck don't stand up when that bird explodes with an early morning gobble, this game ain't for you Ain't never had anybody want to take thier toys and go home :: That even included a Congressman(republican) and a couple of Generals :thumbsup: