- Details
- Category: Turkey
- Published: Wednesday, 12 November 2014 21:53
- Written by Greg
Triple Play
Last weekend found us in southern Utah again, this time for turkeys. Utah held its first fall turkey hunt in modern times and three in our family held turkey tags. The boys and I arrived at our destination well after dark, but the bright illumination of the full moon made our tent setup easy.
Nice way to start the morning, a couple of the bufflehead ducks Woodie with a nice drake mallard
We awoke at dawn to find three bufflehead ducks on the nearby water. So we took full advantage of the opportunity and bagged all three, one duck a piece. Thirty minutes later we reached our turkey hunting destination. The morning duck shoot caused us to miss the roosting turkey fly-down, as evidenced by the feeding toms across the way. We attempted a stalk, but these five birds quickly joined up with a huge flock of 100+ turkeys, which had another destination in mind. 100 yards was as close as we got before the turkeys meandered their way into the safety of the thick stand of cedar trees.
Just afternoon we came upon a flock of twenty-five or so turkeys, feeding. But 50 yards distance was apparently too far for our #2 steel shot loads. Lesson learned, stick with # 5 lead shot 3 ½ inch loads.
Hours later as the sun set behind the hills to our backs, we spotted another big flock of turkeys feeding out into the open. This bunch had silently appeared from beneath the dense underbrush 150 yards to our left. It was time to put the creep on.
We had crept to within 70 yards when suddenly the entire flock jumped up and flew parallel to our position, back from where they had come. The culprit…pressure from fellow hunters. However we still had several things working in our favor, we knew exactly where the turkeys had landed, the turkeys were unaware of our presence and we were a couple hundred yards closer to the turkeys than the other hunters.
As quickly as possible we backtracked and took cover up against a steep canyon wall. Only 100 yards to the north and slightly up around the bend, the entire flock had landed on the semi-steep rocky face. We excitedly sneaked to within 35 yards. As we peered around the thick brush from the bottom of the draw, we could see several big turkeys perched in the rocks. Dallas and Colton eased into the opening, just enough room for the two of them…one, two, three, boom…their tags were filled!
As we headed back to the truck, turkeys draped over the boys’ shoulders, Dallas spotted the 100+ turkey flock feeding across an opening. The oblivious mass was headed directly toward a large stand of nearby cottonwood trees. It was now or never, time to make my play. Silently I slipped into the cover of the cottonwoods and disappeared. Ten minutes later I was in perfect position to intercept the advancing flock. Anxiously I waited and watched as the turkeys moved closer and closer, 70 yards and closing. Boom, a shot rang out…but it wasn’t mine. Turns out the hunters from earlier were pursuing the same bunch of turkeys as me. If only the hunters had waited a few more minutes the turkeys would have been right on top of us, not to be. Seconds later several more shots rang out, the turkeys scattered.
Luckily for me, a single tom flew my way and landed 30 yards behind me. I spun and shot…my 12 gauge Benelli completed our triple play!