- Details
- Category: Turkey
- Published: Saturday, 19 April 2014 14:26
- Written by Greg
Run and Gun
Finally we could see the turkeys up ahead poking around the sage, junipers and pinyon pines; it didn’t appear as if they would come any closer. It was now or never…
As we pulled into camp Friday afternoon, the day before the opener here in Utah, the flock of 30 turkeys feeding in a nearby clearing really got us excited! We sat and watched the group feed and strut for about 25 minutes until it was time to break out the tent and set up camp.
While sitting in our lawn chairs eating an early dinner, two turkeys flew overhead and in through the big cottonwood trees that encircled our camp. Just like that we settled on a plan for the morning, we’d set up about 50 yards to the east near some of the biggest cottonwoods where we hoped the turkeys might roost for the night.
Our homemade turkey decoy Evening before the opener hanging out at camp
Our alarm sounded at 5:51 a.m. We made our way 50 yards from camp when we spotted the dark silhouette of a roosted turkey. Far enough, we dropped straight to the ground and slipped up against some brush to help conceal our presence. Seconds later we spotted several more roosted turkeys and then the thunderous gobble of the mature tom, we had made right into the middle of their bedroom! All we could do was to be patient and wait for the fly down. Fifteen minutes passed and the turkeys began to vocalize like crazy, so we joined in the fun. As we yelped, the turkeys immediately answered back. All of the ruckus garnered the attention of the many hunters who had been constantly pouring into the area as morning arrived. Pressure from the north was making the roosted birds nervous. Oh no, would the birds fly down straight into our laps? Nope, it wasn’t to be.
As the first hen left the roost, she soared right past us and landed 30 yards to our right, along with every other bird.
As the nervous flock huddled on the ground, I softly called making a few yelps along with some clucks.
Several of the hens seemed interested in our calls, but not the cagey tom.
We sat without moving for five minutes as the three hens had us pinned down, all the while the tom slinked away unseen.
For the remainder of the day, all we ended up seeing were hunters.
As we sat in camp at last light contemplating our strategy for the next morning, a nearby gobble snapped us to attention. I looked at my watch, 8:16 p.m.
It sounded as if we’d have at least one turkey roosting close by.
The next morning proved to be tough. We did hear a few toms gobbling from the roost in front of us, but we never did see them. And once they hit the ground they seemed to move away from our calling location. At 6:20 p.m. everything changed. Finally we could see the turkeys up ahead poking around the sage, junipers and pinyon pines; it didn’t appear as if they would come any closer. It was now or never...
The blast from Dallas’ shotgun startled me as peered through my binoculars at a tom. Total chaos ensued. Within seconds not a turkey was in sight and the rather long shot certainly was not lethal. “Run” I shouted. Immediately I started calling. 20 yards ahead another blast, but Dallas again took off running. Boom…boom…Dallas raised his hands into the air, he had his spring gobbler!
Dallas with his gobbler Back to camp with nice tom