After a number... of years of trying, I'm happy that I finally connected on my first turkey!
Got the chance to visit our deer camp in Merrickville and one of our members secured permission to a good field. Made it in there real early and set up the decoys. My cousin was along for the hunt but since he does not have his turkey credentials yet, he was along for company.
About half an hour before sunrise we counted eight turkeys roosting on the treeline opposite our stand. Within five minutes of legal shooting time a good sized tom was strutting towards the decoys. He stopped about 30 yards from the decoys (about 60 yards from us) and refused to come closer. My heart sunk when he did a 180 and joined the rest of the group of about 8-10 turkeys in the far corner of the field. No amount of calling was enough for any of them to come closer, 10 minutes later they all slowly left the field.
Two hours later I caught some movement from my left. It was a turkey sneaking it's way towards the dekes, no strutting or gobbling took place. I was lucky that there was a thicket of brush to my left, I slowly raised the binos and noticed a distinct beard...game on! I waited for him to get withing shooting distance and fired once, he dropped on the spot! Distance was 37 paces, shell was a Winchester Turkey #5. He weighed-in at 21 lbs with a 7.5" beard and 3/4" spurs.
Here's the video from my camera.
Got the chance to visit our deer camp in Merrickville and one of our members secured permission to a good field. Made it in there real early and set up the decoys. My cousin was along for the hunt but since he does not have his turkey credentials yet, he was along for company.
About half an hour before sunrise we counted eight turkeys roosting on the treeline opposite our stand. Within five minutes of legal shooting time a good sized tom was strutting towards the decoys. He stopped about 30 yards from the decoys (about 60 yards from us) and refused to come closer. My heart sunk when he did a 180 and joined the rest of the group of about 8-10 turkeys in the far corner of the field. No amount of calling was enough for any of them to come closer, 10 minutes later they all slowly left the field.
Two hours later I caught some movement from my left. It was a turkey sneaking it's way towards the dekes, no strutting or gobbling took place. I was lucky that there was a thicket of brush to my left, I slowly raised the binos and noticed a distinct beard...game on! I waited for him to get withing shooting distance and fired once, he dropped on the spot! Distance was 37 paces, shell was a Winchester Turkey #5. He weighed-in at 21 lbs with a 7.5" beard and 3/4" spurs.
Here's the video from my camera.
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