HOYTarcher
05-29-2006, 09:42 AM
Just thought I'd post a couple of pics of my first Turkey.
A big thanks to board member Westslope who pointed me in the right direction and got me into birds over the internet. Not sure if I ended up in exactly the right spot but ended up in the birds.
Not sure exactly how many birds I got gobbling but it was over a dozen. Not bad for two days of hunting. Definitely learned a lot about turkey hunting and how you can become addicted. Can't wait for next year.
The Hunt..........
Followed directions from Westslope to his secret hunting spot near Tippee-Toe Creek BC after leaving Calgary Thursday night. Arrived well after dark and proceeded to get lost so figured I should park for what was left of the night and get a couple hours sleep. Woke early the following morning with a stiff back from sleeping in the front seat of the truck and had to answer the call of nature. Daylight was just starting to break as I got out of the truck in nothing but my boxers and a crow call around my neck. As I stood there contemplating the beautiful scenery and the clear crisp morning I thought I might as well try out the crow call I had brought with me.
Caw Caw Caw...........was still echoing in my ears when.......holy crap.......turkeys were gobbling all around me in the distance. The closest bird answered over 1km away. I couldn't believe how far you could hear them from! Well, since I was standing there in my boxers I figured I better get camo'd up fast. 10 Minutes later I was ready to go. Gave another crow call and once again Turkeys answered! I figured the closest bird was answering from the other side of the highway so hopped in the truck and drove 500 m back to the highway and across the road. Called again and the bird answered from about 800 m to the south. Grabbed my decoys, bow and headed out. Topped a small ridge and crow called again, Gobble gobble, birds were now within a couple of 100 m. Set of the decoys, set up with my back to a tree and hen called with a Primos Freak crystal slate call. Wow......the Tom really cut loose. 15 minutes and a few hen calls later and 4 hens, a Jake and a good Tom were in sight. An eternity later (1 minute) and they were in bow range. Barely moved bow and............turkeys running everywhere....... man do these things have good eyesight.
Back to the truck and back to my campsite. Crow call. Another Tom answers from a different direction. Grab the decoys and bow and off again..............20 minutes of calling and a lone Tom comes in. Full strut, turns away can't possibly see me..........lift the bow..........second Tom I hadn't noticed takes off at mach 8 taking his little brother with him. Turkeys 2 Kevin 0.
Several setups later Turkey 8 Kevin 0. By late afternoon 2:00 woods had gone quite and no other Turkeys were found the rest of the day.
Hunting partner shows up the next morning and once again the turkeys are gobbling. Screw up a few more times and decide its time for the back up bow to come out (Rem. 12 ga. 30" 3" mag). Locate another Tom and set up on a large cut line. Strike the Freak call and we can hear the Tom leave his roost and fly to the ground several 100 m away. Watched him strut down the cut-line for at least 500 m before hanging up just behind some small pines 15 yards from our decoy. Hearts pounding thinking I'm busted again when he finally decides to take the last two steps towards the decoy.
Not the biggest Tom in the worlds, but hard to believe, one of the most exiting hunts I've been on. Can't wait for next year..............taking a blind and will harvest one with my bow......A Turkeyholic is born
A big thanks to board member Westslope who pointed me in the right direction and got me into birds over the internet. Not sure if I ended up in exactly the right spot but ended up in the birds.
Not sure exactly how many birds I got gobbling but it was over a dozen. Not bad for two days of hunting. Definitely learned a lot about turkey hunting and how you can become addicted. Can't wait for next year.
The Hunt..........
Followed directions from Westslope to his secret hunting spot near Tippee-Toe Creek BC after leaving Calgary Thursday night. Arrived well after dark and proceeded to get lost so figured I should park for what was left of the night and get a couple hours sleep. Woke early the following morning with a stiff back from sleeping in the front seat of the truck and had to answer the call of nature. Daylight was just starting to break as I got out of the truck in nothing but my boxers and a crow call around my neck. As I stood there contemplating the beautiful scenery and the clear crisp morning I thought I might as well try out the crow call I had brought with me.
Caw Caw Caw...........was still echoing in my ears when.......holy crap.......turkeys were gobbling all around me in the distance. The closest bird answered over 1km away. I couldn't believe how far you could hear them from! Well, since I was standing there in my boxers I figured I better get camo'd up fast. 10 Minutes later I was ready to go. Gave another crow call and once again Turkeys answered! I figured the closest bird was answering from the other side of the highway so hopped in the truck and drove 500 m back to the highway and across the road. Called again and the bird answered from about 800 m to the south. Grabbed my decoys, bow and headed out. Topped a small ridge and crow called again, Gobble gobble, birds were now within a couple of 100 m. Set of the decoys, set up with my back to a tree and hen called with a Primos Freak crystal slate call. Wow......the Tom really cut loose. 15 minutes and a few hen calls later and 4 hens, a Jake and a good Tom were in sight. An eternity later (1 minute) and they were in bow range. Barely moved bow and............turkeys running everywhere....... man do these things have good eyesight.
Back to the truck and back to my campsite. Crow call. Another Tom answers from a different direction. Grab the decoys and bow and off again..............20 minutes of calling and a lone Tom comes in. Full strut, turns away can't possibly see me..........lift the bow..........second Tom I hadn't noticed takes off at mach 8 taking his little brother with him. Turkeys 2 Kevin 0.
Several setups later Turkey 8 Kevin 0. By late afternoon 2:00 woods had gone quite and no other Turkeys were found the rest of the day.
Hunting partner shows up the next morning and once again the turkeys are gobbling. Screw up a few more times and decide its time for the back up bow to come out (Rem. 12 ga. 30" 3" mag). Locate another Tom and set up on a large cut line. Strike the Freak call and we can hear the Tom leave his roost and fly to the ground several 100 m away. Watched him strut down the cut-line for at least 500 m before hanging up just behind some small pines 15 yards from our decoy. Hearts pounding thinking I'm busted again when he finally decides to take the last two steps towards the decoy.
Not the biggest Tom in the worlds, but hard to believe, one of the most exiting hunts I've been on. Can't wait for next year..............taking a blind and will harvest one with my bow......A Turkeyholic is born