Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, All~
I guess this is NDR - because it involves Turkeys and other non-webbed birds....
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 07.JPG
Silent (almost) Spring
This morning was a perfect day for hunting "the Sultan of Spring". There was almost no breeze, the air was dry - in the low 40s when I left the house - and the sky showed both a low half moon and lots of stars.
It was my third morning in the woods since our May 1 opener. Gobbling was all but absent on the other mornings - when my goal was to put a longbeard in front of a new hunter. We heard none at all on Day 1 and a single, half-hearted gobble late in the morning on Day 2.
Today was my first morning solo. And so, it was the first day I carried a gun - my Dad's venerable Winchester Model 50. He had me paint it camouflage in the 1970s. It shines much less than my "everyday gun" - my 1925 Model 12 - and so it's better in the spring woods against these eagle-eyed Toms.
I got in place by 4:45. Robins and Song Sparrows were already calling. Wood Thrushes and Veeries soon added their voices. A Snipe winnowed north of me. I ensconced myself in a "blind" of sorts. Yesterday afternoon I took a break from re-siding our car barn and spent some time on the Massey-Ferguson. I picked up some big Hemlock logs and arranged them in a little corral at the base of some big standing Hemlocks. The idea is to provide a bit more protection from prying eyes whilst I sit listening for Turks.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 04.JPG
Ovenbirds soon began singing, and the Great Crested Flycatchers let go with their explosive "reep, reep" from high in the trees. I heard Black-throated Green Warblers for the first time this year. But, no gobbling from any quarter.
In many years, I can hear gobbling from 3 or 4 roosts. I only hunt our 67 acres - and so the roosts may not be within the borders. Nevertheless, I always hope to lure some overly trusting and lovelorn male to within my grasp. Finally, though, I detected a single gobble from the north and east. Not very hearty - perhaps a Jake - but worth my attention. I got down onto my cushion and completed my attire: facemask, fingerless gloves, hood up. It was still early so I did not call. However, I did spot a promising shape up in a tree, about 75 yards to the east. Sure the enough, the "possible squirrel nest" had 2 legs and then turned its head.
I watched the roosting turkey for about 45 minutes. I put my binoculars on it numerous times but could never be certain of its gender or age. The stern looked adult - when the tail was either fanned or hanging low. Try as I might, no beard could be seen on the bow. I was thinking a Hen without a nest. Since the bird seemed to ignore my seductive calling - on both box and diaphragm - the Hen Hypothesis gained weight. And, when I began to hear gobbling from another roost - way to the south - this bird was not moved to join in.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 06.JPG
My goal for the morning was to watch the bird fly down. I was very disappointed that my New Hunter was not along to watch. Several minutes before it sailed, I began to hear a ruckus from my left - to the west. It sounded like a woodpecker knocking on dead limbs - but not quite. There was lots of noise and I could not help but wonder if other Turks were afoot.
Sure enough, within moments of the "rooster" gliding down - toward me but on the other side of a low rise - I began to hear at least 2 Hens cackling up a storm. And, as I slowly turned my head to the west - in their direction - I immediately spied a big bird. Perhaps 18 yards away, I thought I saw a bright blue-and-red head. My next surreptitious gaze saw the bird much closer, with a nice long beard jutting out. It was walking slowly north and soon was strolling behind a downed tree. I could see plenty of its head and neck and had the safe off and the bead in the right spot. But, I did not want to shoot just the head of a gobbler.
Although he had probably come to my call originally - and offered a superb shot had I known he was there - he now had another goal in mind. One of the cacklers strolled left to right at about 30-35 yards. I think she was joining the bird I watched fly down - most likely another hen. Strolling Tom was now focused on the real thing. (And, I finally heard a gobble. Not from him - but from behind him, down in a hollow.) When he finally emerged from behind the downed tree, Strolling Tom was in Full Battle Dress. Tail fanned, wings dragging, head tucked - moving in that "dreadnought" style that always amazes - both gunners and lady turkeys.
I followed his every step with the bead. It was a longer shot than I usually take - and I really had hoped to have New Hunter on the trigger - but the perfect morning sunshine was shining on his armor and I knew my Dad's gun and Kent Fasteel 3s were sufficient.
They were.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 09.JPG
Photo session is over and now the feathers will fly - readying Tom for a dinner with friends.
SJS
I guess this is NDR - because it involves Turkeys and other non-webbed birds....
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 07.JPG
Silent (almost) Spring
This morning was a perfect day for hunting "the Sultan of Spring". There was almost no breeze, the air was dry - in the low 40s when I left the house - and the sky showed both a low half moon and lots of stars.
It was my third morning in the woods since our May 1 opener. Gobbling was all but absent on the other mornings - when my goal was to put a longbeard in front of a new hunter. We heard none at all on Day 1 and a single, half-hearted gobble late in the morning on Day 2.
Today was my first morning solo. And so, it was the first day I carried a gun - my Dad's venerable Winchester Model 50. He had me paint it camouflage in the 1970s. It shines much less than my "everyday gun" - my 1925 Model 12 - and so it's better in the spring woods against these eagle-eyed Toms.
I got in place by 4:45. Robins and Song Sparrows were already calling. Wood Thrushes and Veeries soon added their voices. A Snipe winnowed north of me. I ensconced myself in a "blind" of sorts. Yesterday afternoon I took a break from re-siding our car barn and spent some time on the Massey-Ferguson. I picked up some big Hemlock logs and arranged them in a little corral at the base of some big standing Hemlocks. The idea is to provide a bit more protection from prying eyes whilst I sit listening for Turks.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 04.JPG
Ovenbirds soon began singing, and the Great Crested Flycatchers let go with their explosive "reep, reep" from high in the trees. I heard Black-throated Green Warblers for the first time this year. But, no gobbling from any quarter.
In many years, I can hear gobbling from 3 or 4 roosts. I only hunt our 67 acres - and so the roosts may not be within the borders. Nevertheless, I always hope to lure some overly trusting and lovelorn male to within my grasp. Finally, though, I detected a single gobble from the north and east. Not very hearty - perhaps a Jake - but worth my attention. I got down onto my cushion and completed my attire: facemask, fingerless gloves, hood up. It was still early so I did not call. However, I did spot a promising shape up in a tree, about 75 yards to the east. Sure the enough, the "possible squirrel nest" had 2 legs and then turned its head.
I watched the roosting turkey for about 45 minutes. I put my binoculars on it numerous times but could never be certain of its gender or age. The stern looked adult - when the tail was either fanned or hanging low. Try as I might, no beard could be seen on the bow. I was thinking a Hen without a nest. Since the bird seemed to ignore my seductive calling - on both box and diaphragm - the Hen Hypothesis gained weight. And, when I began to hear gobbling from another roost - way to the south - this bird was not moved to join in.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 06.JPG
My goal for the morning was to watch the bird fly down. I was very disappointed that my New Hunter was not along to watch. Several minutes before it sailed, I began to hear a ruckus from my left - to the west. It sounded like a woodpecker knocking on dead limbs - but not quite. There was lots of noise and I could not help but wonder if other Turks were afoot.
Sure enough, within moments of the "rooster" gliding down - toward me but on the other side of a low rise - I began to hear at least 2 Hens cackling up a storm. And, as I slowly turned my head to the west - in their direction - I immediately spied a big bird. Perhaps 18 yards away, I thought I saw a bright blue-and-red head. My next surreptitious gaze saw the bird much closer, with a nice long beard jutting out. It was walking slowly north and soon was strolling behind a downed tree. I could see plenty of its head and neck and had the safe off and the bead in the right spot. But, I did not want to shoot just the head of a gobbler.
Although he had probably come to my call originally - and offered a superb shot had I known he was there - he now had another goal in mind. One of the cacklers strolled left to right at about 30-35 yards. I think she was joining the bird I watched fly down - most likely another hen. Strolling Tom was now focused on the real thing. (And, I finally heard a gobble. Not from him - but from behind him, down in a hollow.) When he finally emerged from behind the downed tree, Strolling Tom was in Full Battle Dress. Tail fanned, wings dragging, head tucked - moving in that "dreadnought" style that always amazes - both gunners and lady turkeys.
I followed his every step with the bead. It was a longer shot than I usually take - and I really had hoped to have New Hunter on the trigger - but the perfect morning sunshine was shining on his armor and I knew my Dad's gun and Kent Fasteel 3s were sufficient.
They were.
View attachment sm 2018 Gobbler 09.JPG
Photo session is over and now the feathers will fly - readying Tom for a dinner with friends.
SJS
