Gobbler Down

[garyb]

Day 3 of spring turkey season. The gobbler came in again this morning. This time he had 2 hens with him as they fed toward me, they brought him in. I watched him for 2 1/2 hrs and called. Sometimes I would purr, cluck or even gobble to make him think he might have competition. He would gobble back to me most of the time, but never left the hens. I also had one gobble up hill to the north of me and another down hill to the south of me. I had a jake decoy on one side of me and 3 feeding hen decoys on the other side of me. Good set up.


As I was trying to bring in the bird with the 2 hens, I had 3 jakes and another long beard come in to my hen decoys. They were the birds I heard gobble from the south of me. I passed on the jakes, but the long beard was nervous and never gave me a close shot.


One of the hens with the gobbler I shot, went around me and fed with the hen decoys. I lost track of her. The other hen headed toward the jake decoy, causing the gobbler to go toward the jake. My gobbler calls had made him mad and he did not like the jake there. Big mistake. My TC Encore 12ga turkey barrel did the job again. 9" beard, 1" spurs, 19 lbs.


Now I know that I have another gobbler around. Going back out tomorrow with a buddy.

[gb6491]

Congrats on a successful hunt!
Regards,
Greg

[muggsy]

Congrats. I like my with yams and broccoli. What time is dinner? :)

[garyb]

LOL, thanks guys. He is in the freezer now. The tail, beard and spurs are drying in dry preservative in preparation for a wall plaque for the garage turkey wall. Getting up at 4:30 to hunt these birds is tiring and makes me feel like a zombie all day. Time for lunch and a nap now. Gotta get rested up for bird #2, tomorrow. I usually call one in for my buddy every year, so I know he'll be excited to get out early and pound the woods. We usually cover a lot of ground. I'd say I'm getting too old to hunt turkey, but he is 10 yrs older than me....so I'll keep quiet and let him think I'm out doing him....LOL.

[bsmith712]

Good job. Back out next week myself for round two.

[Ikeo74]

My son is a Turkey hunter. I live in the country. This is my view out of my office window. He was out hunting this AM but the turkeys didn't show. I have seen these outside in my yard 3 different days. One day there were 3 Toms all displaying at the same time.

These photos were taken through the window while working at my computer.

[Longitude Zero]

Good eatin.

[AIRret]

garyb, great, great, great!

I'm sure you've shared your story, "in detail with the grandkids" (especially the one)!

How do you prepare them? You don't have to respond right away, get some rest!

What's the limit?

[AIRret]

Ikeo 74 great photos, thanks

[garyb]

garyb, great, great, great!

I'm sure you've shared your story, "in detail with the grandkids" (especially the one)!

How do you prepare them? You don't have to respond right away, get some rest!

What's the limit?



Limit is 2 spring gobblers. I spoke to my grandson last night about my opening day. He gave me the idea of putting the jake decoy on one side of my house for the fighting gobbler, hens on the other side of the house for the lover gobbler, and hens on the side of the house. I asked him where I should be so I can see them all. He said that I need to build a platform over the house so I can see them all. I told him that I have a tower blind that I can do that with. He said, "Try it PopPop....I'm telling you it works". Now understanding that he has never turkey hunted or even gone turkey hunting, I got a chuckle from his confidence. But I tried it and I'll be darned if it worked. I tried to call him today, but their family must have been busy. I will try right after dinner tonight. We are headed down to FL to my son-in-laws graduation from engineering school next week. I will get to see the grand kids then.


To prepare wild turkey, I cut off the wings and throw them away. I cut off the legs (very dark and tendon) and she makes a turkey stew out of them, by first cooking the legs in the crock pot slowly, then cutting off the meat. She makes it with vegetables and dumplings. Very good. The rest of the breast stays on the bone as you would with a regular turkey. She injects the breast with garlic and butter. She puts the turkey in a brown-in-bag...just like a regular turkey. They taste just like a regular turkey, but no fat. Good, healthy wild game meal.


I wish my grand son was here to be part of the event. Just seeing and hearing the gobbler, gobbling and coming in. He would have been so excited.
Best.

[AJBert]

I know you said "turkey barrel", but does it have a choke? If so, which choke size? Also, what shot size did you use? Just curious as what it takes to put on of these birds down.


I've always said a .22 in the head would do the job but I don't know if that is even legal. I know at 25-30 yards I can put a .22 inside of a quarter.

[knkali]

good job

[AIRret]

Limit is 2 spring gobblers. I spoke to my grandson last night about my opening day. He gave me the idea of putting the jake decoy on one side of my house for the fighting gobbler, hens on the other side of the house for the lover gobbler, and hens on the side of the house. I asked him where I should be so I can see them all. He said that I need to build a platform over the house so I can see them all. I told him that I have a tower blind that I can do that with. He said, "Try it PopPop....I'm telling you it works". Now understanding that he has never turkey hunted or even gone turkey hunting, I got a chuckle from his confidence. But I tried it and I'll be darned if it worked. I tried to call him today, but their family must have been busy. I will try right after dinner tonight. We are headed down to FL to my son-in-laws graduation from engineering school next week. I will get to see the grand kids then.


To prepare wild turkey, I cut off the wings and throw them away. I cut off the legs (very dark and tendon) and she makes a turkey stew out of them, by first cooking the legs in the crock pot slowly, then cutting off the meat. She makes it with vegetables and dumplings. Very good. The rest of the breast stays on the bone as you would with a regular turkey. She injects the breast with garlic and butter. She puts the turkey in a brown-in-bag...just like a regular turkey. They taste just like a regular turkey, but no fat. Good, healthy wild game meal.


I wish my grand son was here to be part of the event. Just seeing and hearing the gobbler, gobbling and coming in. He would have been so excited.
Best.


I figured that your Grandson would come into the story. He must be a natural
hunter, that was some strategy he came up with!!!

Give our congratulations to your Son in Law on his graduation!

And finally, thanks for the recipe I'll have to copy those ideas down.

[leftysixty]

But! but! I thought that you was spos'ta shoot 'em when they was fying:rolleyes:


Congratulations! Sounds like fun, job well done! :D:D

[garyb]

I know you said "turkey barrel", but does it have a choke? If so, which choke size? Also, what shot size did you use? Just curious as what it takes to put on of these birds down.


I've always said a .22 in the head would do the job but I don't know if that is even legal. I know at 25-30 yards I can put a .22 inside of a quarter.



TC makes a turkey barrel which comes with FO sights and a ported turkey choke tube. There are various market turkey chokes on the market. Each one is slightly different. I am not sure what the choke is on this particular tube, but it was probably an aftermarket choke tube that TC puts on their barrel. A turkey choke is tighter than a full choke tube. You must pattern every gun and ammo combo so you get a good tight group. I use Win 12ga 3", 2 oz, 4's or 6's. Both work fine. I have used other shotgun brands, but prefer the 2oz lead. More holes.


You shoot a turkey in the head and neck, so there is no real magic. You do not shoot a turkey in the body with a shotgun. We eat the body and who wants shot in their meat. Besides, a gobbler's breast is quite large an thick. Not a good place to put a #4 or #6 shot. Exception to shooting them in the body, is using a bow for a body shot. But even then, some guys prefer specially designed broadheads with a wide 2 -2.5" diameter cut to sever the head and neck.

As for .22LR for turkey...might work, but not legal. To me it would be like using a 9mm on a deer. Not a wise choice. You may hit a quarter at 25-30 yrds, but a turkey head is always moving and moving erratically. Some might want to say they have tried it but they would not want to say it here....catch my drift. It is illegal because you are more likely to wound the bird. A shotgun is more ethical. It is not as easy to call in and kill a turkey as you may think. You need to talk their language, know how to set up for them, what calls to make at certain times, cover a lot of ground, tree them just before dark so you can call them off their roost, etc... It is a hunting sport in itself. They have excellent eyes and although they are not intelligent, they can be very wary. Some days they are hot and gobbling. Other days, like today, they are quiet and hung up some place. Some days they lock up with hens and you can not call them in unless you talk the hens in.

[100percent]

WE have been trying to reestablish a wild turkey population on our farm. This is the first year that we have heard toms. This afternoon while I was working my wife went fishing. One of your dogs came up to her while she was fishing with a turkey egg in her mouth. Still warm. The dog left and came back with another egg. My wife followed the dog after that and my wife found the nest with a 10 eggs in it yet. The eggs were replaced and the fishing adventure was done for the day.

We have at least one breeding pair on our property. Yeah....!

[knkali]

funny we have so many turkeys roaming our area that animal control has to round them up a couple times a year and remove them due to the damage these critters cause. The baby chicks are cute as can be though. One fell into an open sewer pipe and we were able to fish it out. Mama bird was squawking and crying and would not leave that pipe till her baby was returned to her safe and sound. Thanks for listening.....

[AJBert]

TC makes a turkey barrel which comes with FO sights and a ported turkey choke tube. There are various market turkey chokes on the market. Each one is slightly different. I am not sure what the choke is on this particular tube, but it was probably an aftermarket choke tube that TC puts on their barrel. A turkey choke is tighter than a full choke tube. You must pattern every gun and ammo combo so you get a good tight group. I use Win 12ga 3", 2 oz, 4's or 6's. Both work fine. I have used other shotgun brands, but prefer the 2oz lead. More holes.


You shoot a turkey in the head and neck, so there is no real magic. You do not shoot a turkey in the body with a shotgun. We eat the body and who wants shot in their meat. Besides, a gobbler's breast is quite large an thick. Not a good place to put a #4 or #6 shot. Exception to shooting them in the body, is using a bow for a body shot. But even then, some guys prefer specially designed broadheads with a wide 2 -2.5" diameter cut to sever the head and neck.

As for .22LR for turkey...might work, but not legal. To me it would be like using a 9mm on a deer. Not a wise choice. You may hit a quarter at 25-30 yrds, but a turkey head is always moving and moving erratically. Some might want to say they have tried it but they would not want to say it here....catch my drift. It is illegal because you are more likely to wound the bird. A shotgun is more ethical. It is not as easy to call in and kill a turkey as you may think. You need to talk their language, know how to set up for them, what calls to make at certain times, cover a lot of ground, tree them just before dark so you can call them off their roost, etc... It is a hunting sport in itself. They have excellent eyes and although they are not intelligent, they can be very wary. Some days they are hot and gobbling. Other days, like today, they are quiet and hung up some place. Some days they lock up with hens and you can not call them in unless you talk the hens in.
Thanks for the education, like I said I've only been once. I kind of figured a .22 was illegal as I've never heard of anyone ever using one. I also didn't know about the head moving around constantly. I did know you shoot for the head, that was my thinking with the .22.


I do hunt but this is one area where I really know very little about. Maybe, and a small maybe, I'll try it again but it will be on private property. Too many folks out there that do not identify what they are shooting at 100% before pulling the trigger. Being in complete camo and movement tends to draw rounds in one's direction too many times for my taste.

[garyb]

funny we have so many turkeys roaming our area that animal control has to round them up a couple times a year and remove them due to the damage these critters cause. The baby chicks are cute as can be though. One fell into an open sewer pipe and we were able to fish it out. Mama bird was squawking and crying and would not leave that pipe till her baby was returned to her safe and sound. Thanks for listening.....



Cool story!

[garyb]

Thanks for the education, like I said I've only been once. I kind of figured a .22 was illegal as I've never heard of anyone ever using one. I also didn't know about the head moving around constantly. I did know you shoot for the head, that was my thinking with the .22.


I do hunt but this is one area where I really know very little about. Maybe, and a small maybe, I'll try it again but it will be on private property. Too many folks out there that do not identify what they are shooting at 100% before pulling the trigger. Being in complete camo and movement tends to draw rounds in one's direction too many times for my taste.



Turkey hunters are a special breed of hunters. I'd not worry about getting shot all that much....at least not to the point that I'd not go hunting. After all, small game and squirrel season fall during archery deer season here in NY. If you are truly into the sport, whatever it is, you will learn the tactics you need to prevent harm to yourself and others. I suggest you find someone who really knows how to turkey hunt (in camo) and ask that person to take you out once or twice. Just explain that you have a place to hunt but you have never turkey hunted. I'd bet that someone would be more than happy to teach you his tricks. In fact, my buddy has a neighbor that has never turkey hunted and asked me to take them out when I get back from FL (son-in-law is graduating from engineering school). Of course I will take them out. I've been calling for my buddy for the past 5 years and have forfeited myself taking nice gobblers so that he can enjoy it too. There is something special about calling in a nice Tom for someone new or learning turkey hunting. At some point, you cut the strings and tell them...."It's time you call me in one bud!"

[garyb]

WE have been trying to reestablish a wild turkey population on our farm. This is the first year that we have heard toms. This afternoon while I was working my wife went fishing. One of your dogs came up to her while she was fishing with a turkey egg in her mouth. Still warm. The dog left and came back with another egg. My wife followed the dog after that and my wife found the nest with a 10 eggs in it yet. The eggs were replaced and the fishing adventure was done for the day.

We have at least one breeding pair on our property. Yeah....!



LOL. Those eggs were lucky. Good for your wife! The turkey population suffers most from that kind of thing. Usually a fox, coyote, bear or even crows will take the eggs. If you turkey hunt long enough, you will notice crows following hens around. Crows are smart birds and they know that certain times of the year a lone hen means a nest of eggs. All the crow needs to do is watch where the hen goes to nest. If you ever find bits of egg shells on the ground in the woods, you will know the rest of the story. Certainly PA has a good population of wild turkey, so you will get them soon. (I am watching a lone hen in my apple orchard as I type this).
Have a great day.

[RevRay]

I find all this only mildly interesting ... as I had every expectation of reading about someone taking out a turkey with their CM9.

[garyb]

I find all this only mildly interesting ... as I had every expectation of reading about someone taking out a turkey with their CM9.



LOL. You are not a turkey hunter I guess.

[RevRay]

Actually, I was just kidding. I did find it interesting, though I have not ever hunted turkey before.

[getsome]

Just curious, does wild turkey meat taste any different than say a butterball from the A&P? I've never tried any wild hunted bird but would love to try some as turkey is one of my favorite foods and one of the few meats you can buy reasonably anymore....I love fresh fish and a good steak every now and then but am pretty much priced out of that market now except on special occasions....

Most people down south want to deep fry turkeys and it's ok and easy but I learned a recipe for cooking a bird that is fantastic and easy too....All you do is hand rub on some seasoning of your choice then get a bottle of any kind of white wine you can find the sweeter the better and pour it into the turkey cavity and then wrap it in foil and bake at 375....While cooking the alcohol boils off and the left over wine makes the best gravy you have ever tasted and the smell while cooking will make you crazy....While she's cooking you dip that gravy over the bird and in the end it's the best tasting turkey ever and so moist it will squirt you when you stick it with a fork....Try it sometime...

[RRP]

Most people down south want to deep fry turkeys and it's ok and easy but I learned a recipe for cooking a bird that is fantastic and easy too....All you do is hand rub on some seasoning of your choice then get a bottle of any kind of white wine you can find the sweeter the better and pour it into the turkey cavity and then wrap it in foil and bake at 375....While cooking the alcohol boils off and the left over wine makes the best gravy you have ever tasted and the smell while cooking will make you crazy....While she's cooking you dip that gravy over the bird and in the end it's the best tasting turkey ever and so moist it will squirt you when you stick it with a fork....Try it sometime...

Stop it! Enough of that, already.

You're making me drool.

[garyb]

Just curious, does wild turkey meat taste any different than say a butterball from the A&P? I've never tried any wild hunted bird but would love to try some as turkey is one of my favorite foods and one of the few meats you can buy reasonably anymore....I love fresh fish and a good steak every now and then but am pretty much priced out of that market now except on special occasions....

Most people down south want to deep fry turkeys and it's ok and easy but I learned a recipe for cooking a bird that is fantastic and easy too....All you do is hand rub on some seasoning of your choice then get a bottle of any kind of white wine you can find the sweeter the better and pour it into the turkey cavity and then wrap it in foil and bake at 375....While cooking the alcohol boils off and the left over wine makes the best gravy you have ever tasted and the smell while cooking will make you crazy....While she's cooking you dip that gravy over the bird and in the end it's the best tasting turkey ever and so moist it will squirt you when you stick it with a fork....Try it sometime...

Sounds great. We will try it. Wild turkey tastes very much the same. Drier. Dark meat (legs) are very tendony from running in the wild. Makes them tough which requires slow cooker and getting meat off the bone and into a stew form to make it juicy. White meat needs butter or something like your recipe to moisten it up. No antibiotics. Very lean. Tastes like turkey. ....not chicken...imagine that...LOL.

[garyb]

Actually, I was just kidding. I did find it interesting, though I have not ever hunted turkey before.

LOL. Kind of figured. No problem. Fishing discussions are boring to me. Each his own.

[DavidS]

White meat - quail breast.
Dark meat - dove breast (my favorite!)