FairWeather
Well-known member
Today I “punch” my first tag (e-tag), and harvested my first turkey.
I went out last night, and called in this tom. Got him to within 12 yards, but due to property boundaries I couldn’t take a shot. I had set up too close to the edge, and only had one viable shooting lane. The wiley bird crossed into the public land about 50-60 yards to my left, and took me on a chase for about a quarter mile before he disappeared and went silent. I found my first shed during this chase! Sadly, I was so focused on catching that bird that I didn’t notice it fall out of my pocket. That’s 2/2 prizes that got away last night.
Before heading home, I spotted two tons roosting in a tree near by and decided to come back the next morning and try to call them off the roost.
This morning I get there about 15 minutes after sunrise, and I hear the turkeys gobbling and yelling as I’m walking in. I set up near the roosting tree and start call, but to my chagrin, I hear them gobble from much further down the wood line, moving away from me. I keep calling, and then I hear a gobble from the stand of trees that that evasive tom from last night came out of.
I grab my decoy, and move to a new set up against a tall stump to get good shooting lanes at where I think he’ll come to, this time set about 30-35ish yards back from the property line.
Well wouldn’t you know it, it worked!! He came gobbling and strutting right up the lane I had hoped he would, and once he got a good 12-15 feet over the boundary I took my shot.
Got it home, and all processed. Going to try tossing the leg/thigh quarters in the instant pot, that thing will make anything fall off the bone tender. Not sure how I’ll prepare the breasts yet.
I went out last night, and called in this tom. Got him to within 12 yards, but due to property boundaries I couldn’t take a shot. I had set up too close to the edge, and only had one viable shooting lane. The wiley bird crossed into the public land about 50-60 yards to my left, and took me on a chase for about a quarter mile before he disappeared and went silent. I found my first shed during this chase! Sadly, I was so focused on catching that bird that I didn’t notice it fall out of my pocket. That’s 2/2 prizes that got away last night.
Before heading home, I spotted two tons roosting in a tree near by and decided to come back the next morning and try to call them off the roost.
This morning I get there about 15 minutes after sunrise, and I hear the turkeys gobbling and yelling as I’m walking in. I set up near the roosting tree and start call, but to my chagrin, I hear them gobble from much further down the wood line, moving away from me. I keep calling, and then I hear a gobble from the stand of trees that that evasive tom from last night came out of.
I grab my decoy, and move to a new set up against a tall stump to get good shooting lanes at where I think he’ll come to, this time set about 30-35ish yards back from the property line.
Well wouldn’t you know it, it worked!! He came gobbling and strutting right up the lane I had hoped he would, and once he got a good 12-15 feet over the boundary I took my shot.
Got it home, and all processed. Going to try tossing the leg/thigh quarters in the instant pot, that thing will make anything fall off the bone tender. Not sure how I’ll prepare the breasts yet.
