2023 spring turkey
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
KotKotofeich
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa Valley
A couple folks have asked I post the details of my hunt... So here goes!!!
I found this spot via a buddy who I am bear baiting with, it's a very small field (60mx100m) on the way into the 2nd bear bait spot we have set up this spring. When we were going in to bait we flushed 3 Toms & I said to myself that I should come back here & turkey hunt... SO...
I woke up at 3:15am, left the house at 3:30am & drove an hour to the spot. I snuck in and as I approached the field there was a skunk digging around for grubs. I thought to myself, hmmm is this an Omen? Am I just going to sit here & get skunked? Maybe I should set up on the other side of the field... But once I gingerly scared the skunk away, without him spraying I might add, I convinced myself that I should set up where I had originally planned to. So, I placed my decoys (a Jake, two hens & a Gobbler) & got my pop up blind situated. To my surprise, when I was opening some of the velcro shooting ports in the pop up blind, a turkey (I think) took off out of a tree near me. I cursed under my breath a bit thinking, I guess velcro is an unnatural sound lol...
As daylight approached, with legal shooting time being 5:21am, I could hear 3 distinct Gobblers in different locations sounding off around me & I called occasionally with both the slate & push button calls I had, being very careful not to over do it. Not much happened in the first 3 hours, I watched the sun rise, noticed a fair amount of waterfowl about & even had a couple European hares feeding in the field and edges around me.
At around 8:15 I heard a gobble that was closer & I replied quietly with my slate & push button calls. This repeated itself over the next 15 mins as the gobbler made his way towards my location. I put my ear protection in and quietly reached for my shotgun. After a couple mins of silence the Gobbler appeared through the bush to my left strutting, pausing and then fanning out. Almost immediately he rushed in to attack my Jake decoy, hitting it with his wings, spurring & knocking him down. With the Gobbler's back to me & fanned out, I silently raised my shotgun & poked it out the left shooting port. When the Tom turned to his left & raised his head slightly I took the shot at approximately 20 yards & the Gobbler collapsed. It was ~8:30am.
Gun: Winchester SX3
Choke Tube: Full
Shell: Winchester 3.5" Super X with 2oz of #5
Decoys: Jake, two Hens & a Gobbler
Pop Up Blind: Ameristep that I bought years & years ago for $99, worth every penny IMHO!
I found this spot via a buddy who I am bear baiting with, it's a very small field (60mx100m) on the way into the 2nd bear bait spot we have set up this spring. When we were going in to bait we flushed 3 Toms & I said to myself that I should come back here & turkey hunt... SO...
I woke up at 3:15am, left the house at 3:30am & drove an hour to the spot. I snuck in and as I approached the field there was a skunk digging around for grubs. I thought to myself, hmmm is this an Omen? Am I just going to sit here & get skunked? Maybe I should set up on the other side of the field... But once I gingerly scared the skunk away, without him spraying I might add, I convinced myself that I should set up where I had originally planned to. So, I placed my decoys (a Jake, two hens & a Gobbler) & got my pop up blind situated. To my surprise, when I was opening some of the velcro shooting ports in the pop up blind, a turkey (I think) took off out of a tree near me. I cursed under my breath a bit thinking, I guess velcro is an unnatural sound lol...
As daylight approached, with legal shooting time being 5:21am, I could hear 3 distinct Gobblers in different locations sounding off around me & I called occasionally with both the slate & push button calls I had, being very careful not to over do it. Not much happened in the first 3 hours, I watched the sun rise, noticed a fair amount of waterfowl about & even had a couple European hares feeding in the field and edges around me.
At around 8:15 I heard a gobble that was closer & I replied quietly with my slate & push button calls. This repeated itself over the next 15 mins as the gobbler made his way towards my location. I put my ear protection in and quietly reached for my shotgun. After a couple mins of silence the Gobbler appeared through the bush to my left strutting, pausing and then fanning out. Almost immediately he rushed in to attack my Jake decoy, hitting it with his wings, spurring & knocking him down. With the Gobbler's back to me & fanned out, I silently raised my shotgun & poked it out the left shooting port. When the Tom turned to his left & raised his head slightly I took the shot at approximately 20 yards & the Gobbler collapsed. It was ~8:30am.
Gun: Winchester SX3
Choke Tube: Full
Shell: Winchester 3.5" Super X with 2oz of #5
Decoys: Jake, two Hens & a Gobbler
Pop Up Blind: Ameristep that I bought years & years ago for $99, worth every penny IMHO!
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NVM, looked up the videos of how to neatly wrap the tag on the leg
FYI In ontario you dont need the affix the tag to the bird unless you will be leaving it unattended.
Attaching your tag: You are not required to attach the tag if you are immediately accompanying the animal or immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder may carry the notched/invalidated tag in a pocket while bringing the harvested animal out of the bush provided that the tag holder remains with the animal while it is being moved.
However, you must attach the tag if you are not immediately accompanying the animal or immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder must attach the tag if they leave the harvested animal at any time, including:
transporting the animal in one vehicle while the tag holder is in another vehicle
leaving the animal at camp while the tag holder goes out party hunting
leaving the animal at a butcher for processing
You guys are crazy lol after seeing the bloodbath that a 2.75" field/target load #6 did to that Tom, i don't think i will go back to the turkey loads. (My go to was 3" winchester XX)
I will try them in my 24" barrel mossberg 500 though to see how they pattern at 30+ yards. But if you can get the birds in to 20yrds you dont need those big heavy duty super mag loads.
But i do agree, at longer range they definitely make a huge difference! If i were to try a different spot that had more chance of the turkeys hanging up futher away, id probably go back to my old winchester XX shells
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Re: Party hunting for Turkey's in Ontario. It is NOT allowed.
https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary/wild-turkey
"Other regulations
Party hunting is not permitted for wild turkey. You are permitted to call wild turkeys for another hunter after filling your own tag(s), but you must not be in possession of a firearm when doing so."
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
Congratulations Jay!!
We have already spoke, but a great Tom, and some classic BS, so good for You!!!
Terrible rainfall here, so you got lucky on your choice of day. Today was terrible, felt like a poor day for ducks....
Cheers Buddy!!
We have already spoke, but a great Tom, and some classic BS, so good for You!!!
Terrible rainfall here, so you got lucky on your choice of day. Today was terrible, felt like a poor day for ducks....
Cheers Buddy!!
I finally was able to hobble out and into the bush. Took my 1301 comp with me and had several toms gobbling before 2 coons came in and I had to gun whip one before he got onto my lap. With my knee all buggered up I was sitting in a chair as I can't get down on the ground now. Birds kept making a racket then 6 deer bound by followed by a coyote. That stopped every turkey nearby from making any noise. The furthest gobbler kept calling to silence and I let him talk to himself as I could start to see his tail thru the hardwoods. He took a long route to get to me to avoid any water spots. I got the gun up when he broke 40 yards but since he was still coming I let him. At 20 yards from my dekes he went on full strut and charged. I didn't let him make it to my dekes and shot him. Unfortunately I put the bead on his head knowing it would take out his neck. Well his neck was up against his chest and I smacked him in the snot above the breast meat. The far breast tip had several Copper plated BB's on the other edge under the skin. Long slow hobble out I got him home. 25.6lbs roughly 9.5" or longer beard. Spurs of about an inch.
I got the breasts in the fridge before I had to sit down from the pain and swelling. Wife asked me if I regretted it but the high 5 from my lil girl was worth it.
I'd guess the Tom was about 17 yards from me when shot. 28 handicapped paces anyway.
I doubt I'll make it out to attempt to fill my second tag any time soon. I may wait till the last couple days to take my lil girl because I'll need to carry a blind unless I have a buddy set everything up the night before
I got the breasts in the fridge before I had to sit down from the pain and swelling. Wife asked me if I regretted it but the high 5 from my lil girl was worth it.
I'd guess the Tom was about 17 yards from me when shot. 28 handicapped paces anyway.
I doubt I'll make it out to attempt to fill my second tag any time soon. I may wait till the last couple days to take my lil girl because I'll need to carry a blind unless I have a buddy set everything up the night before
Nice! Its always worth it lol
Tagged out today.
Was able to sneak in close to this guy on the roost, but he flew down into the ravine and disappeared.
After a few hours, only bird to come around my decoy setup was a hen. Around 10am I went for a walk through the woods and stumbled on a really vocal gobbler. We went back and forth for a while. He kept getting closer, then backing off. Unfortunately there was a river between us and he was staying on his side.
Stuck it out for a bit longer and decided to call it quits around noon. Packed up, made my way out and sure enough there's a tom hanging out on a nearby field. I have permission on that land as well so I decided to give it a shot. I humped through the bush trying to sneak up to where I thought he was heading. He threw me a curveball and was on the wrong side of the ridge. Busted. He flew down into the ravine but dropped just on the other side of a small river. I was shocked he didn't go farther. Big mistake trying to make the rest of his escape on foot. Dropped him hard, ranged at 45 yards.
1:00pm
22.5 lbs
10" beard
1 1/8" spurs
Was able to sneak in close to this guy on the roost, but he flew down into the ravine and disappeared.
After a few hours, only bird to come around my decoy setup was a hen. Around 10am I went for a walk through the woods and stumbled on a really vocal gobbler. We went back and forth for a while. He kept getting closer, then backing off. Unfortunately there was a river between us and he was staying on his side.
Stuck it out for a bit longer and decided to call it quits around noon. Packed up, made my way out and sure enough there's a tom hanging out on a nearby field. I have permission on that land as well so I decided to give it a shot. I humped through the bush trying to sneak up to where I thought he was heading. He threw me a curveball and was on the wrong side of the ridge. Busted. He flew down into the ravine but dropped just on the other side of a small river. I was shocked he didn't go farther. Big mistake trying to make the rest of his escape on foot. Dropped him hard, ranged at 45 yards.
1:00pm
22.5 lbs
10" beard
1 1/8" spurs
Tagged out today.
Was able to sneak in close to this guy on the roost, but he flew down into the ravine and disappeared.
After a few hours, only bird to come around my decoy setup was a hen. Around 10am I went for a walk through the woods and stumbled on a really vocal gobbler. We went back and forth for a while. He kept getting closer, then backing off. Unfortunately there was a river between us and he was staying on his side.
Stuck it out for a bit longer and decided to call it quits around noon. Packed up, made my way out and sure enough there's a tom hanging out on a nearby field. I have permission on that land as well so I decided to give it a shot. I humped through the bush trying to sneak up to where I thought he was heading. He threw me a curveball and was on the wrong side of the ridge. Busted. He flew down into the ravine but dropped just on the other side of a small river. I was shocked he didn't go farther. Big mistake trying to make the rest of his escape on foot. Dropped him hard, ranged at 45 yards.
1:00pm
22.5 lbs
10" beard
1 1/8" spurs
A true "River Runs Through It" tale! Congrats on sticking with it!
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Tonights dinner was a breast that was cubed out and marinated for 24 hours in the Mrs home brew marinade. It was then slow cooked and smoked with hickory wood pellets in the BBQ. My favourite way to prepare turkey breasts.
The marinade is made by blending the following ingredients in a magic bullet. Amounts are approximate and based on a pound of meat
Balsamic vinegar (1/3 cup)
Olive oil (1/3 cup)
Mustard (teaspoon)
Lemon juice (teaspoon)
Maple syrup (tablespoon)
Rosemary (1/3 teaspoon)
Pepper (1/3 teaspoon)
Salt (teaspoon)
Garlic power (teaspoon)
Onion powder (teaspoon)
The marinade is made by blending the following ingredients in a magic bullet. Amounts are approximate and based on a pound of meat
Balsamic vinegar (1/3 cup)
Olive oil (1/3 cup)
Mustard (teaspoon)
Lemon juice (teaspoon)
Maple syrup (tablespoon)
Rosemary (1/3 teaspoon)
Pepper (1/3 teaspoon)
Salt (teaspoon)
Garlic power (teaspoon)
Onion powder (teaspoon)
Tonights dinner was a breast that was cubed out and marinated for 24 hours in the Mrs home brew marinade. It was then slow cooked and smoked with hickory wood pellets in the BBQ. My favourite way to prepare turkey breasts.
The marinade is made by blending the following ingredients in a magic bullet. Amounts are approximate and based on a pound of meat
Balsamic vinegar (1/3 cup)
Olive oil (1/3 cup)
Mustard (teaspoon)
Lemon juice (teaspoon)
Maple syrup (tablespoon)
Rosemary (1/3 teaspoon)
Pepper (1/3 teaspoon)
Salt (teaspoon)
Garlic power (teaspoon)
Onion powder (teaspoon)
How did i miss the post where you got a bird?? Congrats!
Had 3 buddies go out this weekend, as well as myself with my dad yesterday, nobody had any luck. My dad and i saw hen and heard a gobble way off in the distance. Thay was around 8am, we packed it in at 11am.
Might be a tough go for my 2nd bird but i hope to get out at least one more time before the end of the season.
