T Bone
Well-known member
Two birds down in South Dakota so far.
Bird #1- The first was a big mature bird taken in the Black Hills near my house. This particular area burned last summer. The birds are in the burn area thick as flies. They like the new green up I suspect. This bird was the boss bird of a bachelor group of 5 birds that I called in from about 200 yards. I took my time and enjoyed the show of them in full strut gobbling their fool heads off. At 30 yards I ended the show.
I was by myself so the photos were self-timered on an off balance rock.
Bird #2- Spring is in the air and I'm itching to go hiking, exploring, scouting for deer. Turkey hunting is fun, but I tire of it quickly. I decided to poke around the area where I killed the 4x5 muley last year, as I'd seen old turkey sign while there last fall.
Turkey season in this area is either sex, and rifles are legal so I took my 223. A buddy and I hiked in the dark and didn't hear anything but coyotes at dawn. Not any turkeys around. But a few bachelor groups of deer. They had about an inch or two of antler growth.
We found no fresh turkey sign, so went in further which was lower elevation toward some private agriculture. We were stopped short in the bottom of a brushy draw when a gobble sounded nearby. We called and a mature tom came running in. We had him at 40 yards, but offered no shot due to the brush. My friend tried to reposition to get a clear shot, and the bird got out of Dodge. We went a little further and got a good view of the agriculture area. Deer, antelope, and turkey thick as flies as far as you could see......But the land was very clearly posted no trespass, so we sat and watched for a while. We ate lunch, bumped around the hills some more looking for more deer and sheds and located a dandy ambush spot for deer season.
As the sun was dipping low we headed out as we had 5-6 miles to go. As we topped a knob I spotted 2 turkeys feeding about 500 yards out. We snuck in and glassed them, both hens. I laid down with my pack for a rest and aimed for a hi-thigh shot. Oscar said to always aim for a hi-thigh shot placement.
The bird flopped, the other hen took off running and my friend gave chase and bagged her too.
I have a suspicion as the higher area greens up the birds will move up off the private land. I have two turkey tags still unfilled. One in this prairie unit and the other a archery tag. I'll get out a few more times. Hopefully turkeys 3 and 4 will follow.
Bird #1- The first was a big mature bird taken in the Black Hills near my house. This particular area burned last summer. The birds are in the burn area thick as flies. They like the new green up I suspect. This bird was the boss bird of a bachelor group of 5 birds that I called in from about 200 yards. I took my time and enjoyed the show of them in full strut gobbling their fool heads off. At 30 yards I ended the show.
I was by myself so the photos were self-timered on an off balance rock.
Bird #2- Spring is in the air and I'm itching to go hiking, exploring, scouting for deer. Turkey hunting is fun, but I tire of it quickly. I decided to poke around the area where I killed the 4x5 muley last year, as I'd seen old turkey sign while there last fall.
Turkey season in this area is either sex, and rifles are legal so I took my 223. A buddy and I hiked in the dark and didn't hear anything but coyotes at dawn. Not any turkeys around. But a few bachelor groups of deer. They had about an inch or two of antler growth.
We found no fresh turkey sign, so went in further which was lower elevation toward some private agriculture. We were stopped short in the bottom of a brushy draw when a gobble sounded nearby. We called and a mature tom came running in. We had him at 40 yards, but offered no shot due to the brush. My friend tried to reposition to get a clear shot, and the bird got out of Dodge. We went a little further and got a good view of the agriculture area. Deer, antelope, and turkey thick as flies as far as you could see......But the land was very clearly posted no trespass, so we sat and watched for a while. We ate lunch, bumped around the hills some more looking for more deer and sheds and located a dandy ambush spot for deer season.
As the sun was dipping low we headed out as we had 5-6 miles to go. As we topped a knob I spotted 2 turkeys feeding about 500 yards out. We snuck in and glassed them, both hens. I laid down with my pack for a rest and aimed for a hi-thigh shot. Oscar said to always aim for a hi-thigh shot placement.
The bird flopped, the other hen took off running and my friend gave chase and bagged her too.
I have a suspicion as the higher area greens up the birds will move up off the private land. I have two turkey tags still unfilled. One in this prairie unit and the other a archery tag. I'll get out a few more times. Hopefully turkeys 3 and 4 will follow.
