Turkeys

IMG_1201.jpeg Went out for a mid day hunt that coincided with the few hours of sunlight. Somehow found myself on a steep hill in the middle of 3 or 4 birds gobbling their heads off. One snuck up within 20 yards of me but I never got a shot due to the terrain. I then circled around to be on the same elevation as the uphill bird, he took a few steps towards me, gave me a shot and that’s all she wrote.
 
Getting my a$$ kicked in Idaho panhandle and bitterroot area of MT. In gobblers daily but can’t get to come onto public (or to legal public). Same story different year. I’ll kill a mountain gobbler someday.
 
Also, all of my bear bait roads are closed or covered by downed trees so can’t say it has been a successful trip this far. But I have been in the mountains so success is relative. Head home Tuesday and I’m ready for KY springtime.
 
Had a great year, with pretty nice Gobblers for all three tags this year. Probably one of my best years across the board in total size. I didn't draw a spring bear tag for the first time in quite a few years, but I sure had fun out chasing turkeys!
#1 had a little over an 11" beard making him probably one of my biggest single bearded gobblers
2026 OR Spring Turkey #1.jpg2026 Turkey #1 (11 inch beard).jpg
 
I live below sea level -40 ft in the Imperial Valley California. Drove up to the North Rim Grand Canyon to hunt Merriam’s at +8,000 ft.
Arrived the afternoon before opener and drove around not seeing anything until about an hour before sunset. So close to sunset I figured they’d be roosting nearby so I camped about a half mile away.
Didn’t set an alarm clock so I woke up with just enough time to get dressed and slam down half a bottle of iced coffee.
Temperatures were freezing.

Walking towards where I saw them last a raven called out and got them gobbling. Made a beeline towards the gobbling until I didn’t want to risk getting closer but still 2 or 3 hundred yards away. Set up a hen decoy and tried to call using a diaphragm but my mouth was so dry I couldn’t get it to work so I called with my mouth and got an immediate response.
After about a half hour he wasn’t sounding any closer. Just when I thought nothing was going to happen a satellite gobbler came in silently and boom it was over.

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