My friend Eric came out today to follow up on a promise to chase birds that we saw at the end of his hunt opening day.
On the opener, we saw about 5-8 birds on a property we had harvested a mighty Tom last year, but Eric's time away home from had expired.
Today, we had permission to go after them. A small country road rolls along side the permission, so we cruised by the property edge to see what was what.
Not only was the small group of birds from last time hanging out, there two herds, with 8 to 15 birds packed together in each bunch. A gobble of turkeys, if you will.
They looked miserable in the cold, damp air. Some were off the ground in trees (small, low scrub, not roosting) and others on the floor, but all looked grumpy and needing to get some warming in the sun.
The day promised some bright rays shortly, so we did a quick u turn and went to the designated parking area. Once the solar furnace starts, the wings dry and they start to feel their oats. They've got to ramble when energized and they were already at the edge of the property- time to get moving!
Eric and I went out light, just camo, rifles and Primos tripods. Oh, binos, range finders and a little bit of luck too.
I won't give you the step by step, but we did get into range and dropped a nice 10 lb hen. Having one more tag open, we swung by another property to take a census of the poultry.
We didn't see anything around, until..... going to pick up one of my game cameras, on the highest bluff
(of course) another gaggle of Turks were observed climbing. Eric is always game for the pursuit, so off we went
https://youtu.be/jej1ILgBcm8
At the top of the steep slippery hill, Eric did get some shots off at the skinny necks of those feathered Thanksgiving dinners, but they escaped to be pursued at another time. Eric stopped by the house afterwards, and we had turkey sandwiches from the bird I got on the opener and an ice cold IPA. Couldn't finish a hunt any better than that.
We'll be back at it soon, and I've got to get some more friends out as well; hope to have more stories to share and more great dinners to eat.
On the opener, we saw about 5-8 birds on a property we had harvested a mighty Tom last year, but Eric's time away home from had expired.
Today, we had permission to go after them. A small country road rolls along side the permission, so we cruised by the property edge to see what was what.
Not only was the small group of birds from last time hanging out, there two herds, with 8 to 15 birds packed together in each bunch. A gobble of turkeys, if you will.
They looked miserable in the cold, damp air. Some were off the ground in trees (small, low scrub, not roosting) and others on the floor, but all looked grumpy and needing to get some warming in the sun.
The day promised some bright rays shortly, so we did a quick u turn and went to the designated parking area. Once the solar furnace starts, the wings dry and they start to feel their oats. They've got to ramble when energized and they were already at the edge of the property- time to get moving!
Eric and I went out light, just camo, rifles and Primos tripods. Oh, binos, range finders and a little bit of luck too.
I won't give you the step by step, but we did get into range and dropped a nice 10 lb hen. Having one more tag open, we swung by another property to take a census of the poultry.
We didn't see anything around, until..... going to pick up one of my game cameras, on the highest bluff
https://youtu.be/jej1ILgBcm8
At the top of the steep slippery hill, Eric did get some shots off at the skinny necks of those feathered Thanksgiving dinners, but they escaped to be pursued at another time. Eric stopped by the house afterwards, and we had turkey sandwiches from the bird I got on the opener and an ice cold IPA. Couldn't finish a hunt any better than that.
We'll be back at it soon, and I've got to get some more friends out as well; hope to have more stories to share and more great dinners to eat.
