The big Turkey miss....

cdncowboy

cdncowboy

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I'm in a state of depression. I go out turkey hunting this morning... at first light I am calling in a Tom and about 6 hens. After about half an hour of back and forth here they come. The hens come first, within 5 yards... then comes the big Tom... he's at about 25 yards but is staying stride for stride directly behind 2 hens so I can't shoot. Finally the 2 hens stop and he takes a couple steps in front .. I aim at the head/neck and "bang"... he's still standing... I've never had to fire 2 shots before.. so I cycle the pump and "bang" ...shoot again... and he flies away. I'm standing there with a "what the f*#k just happened?" look on my face. I have never missed a turkey before and cannot believe what just happened.

I am attempting to lick my wounds with many a beer tonight........
 
Well don't drink too much bud, you still have to get up in the morning and take another crack at it. Still haven't found a spot here so you're in a better position than me.
 
the weather is definitely not in out favour …. seems like it pours out every spring during the turkey hunt
 
Don't give up cowboy. I would shoot a few targets just to make sure your shots are well around your point of aim.

Shooting a match in Montreal Saturday, then on my way to the Eastern Townships for a Sunday turkey shoot. Good luck everyone!
 
cdncowboy said:
I'm in a state of depression. I go out turkey hunting this morning... at first light I am calling in a Tom and about 6 hens. After about half an hour of back and forth here they come. The hens come first, within 5 yards... then comes the big Tom... he's at about 25 yards but is staying stride for stride directly behind 2 hens so I can't shoot. Finally the 2 hens stop and he takes a couple steps in front .. I aim at the head/neck and "bang"... he's still standing... I've never had to fire 2 shots before.. so I cycle the pump and "bang" ...shoot again... and he flies away. I'm standing there with a "what the f*#k just happened?" look on my face. I have never missed a turkey before and cannot believe what just happened.

I am attempting to lick my wounds with many a beer tonight........
Click to expand...

One of my friend is now in the woods to hunt turkeys, he said there is not much cover so is easily spooked. What is the choke and load you where using? I bought a Jebs Head Hunter (.650) on my SBE II and patterned at 40 yards with Winchester 3 1/2" #5 and #6. It's a bit overkill but I know I have some reach.
 
I had the same issue except I only got one shot and he ran off....WHat are the chances that big ol tom will stay in the area ?(the Hens and the smaller tom were already away in the woods, he was the only one that was spooked...about 300 yards from the roost)
 
If you play this game at all you will miss. I have one on video from a couple years ago that came in on a string at 3pm to 23yds, put the dot on him aaand there he goes. It took a look at the video later on a big screen to see just as I touched the trigger the bird dropped his head. You can see the wad just miss him and my gun has about a 5 inch pattern at that distance.

If you miss, give the bird a week or so and if undisturbed they will usually respond. With a little more caution but they will. I love hunting a big bird after someone else has tried and given up. They are definitely smarter but a little hen music after nesting starts will usually turn his head.
 
Well I left the flock alone today as I didn't want to pressure them any more. Last night there was no sign of them ... they had changed up their nightly pattern ... which was to be expected given they were spooked from my morning blasting :) Tonight they were back to their normal routine, however, and I viewed them with my sighting scope going to roost in the same location. So it appears they aren't too spooked. I am going to sneak back tomorrow morning and I'm going to try a couple decoys as well to change things up. With luck they will come out of the tree see my decoys and forget about the scare from 2 days ago. I really hope to have a picture here tomorrow of the Tom that got away the first time... but not the 2nd time :)
 
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