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Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

Well-known member
I went out this morning in hopes of a close personal encounter with one of theses guys.

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I actually put the plan in motion the night before. After driving 2 hours to get there I still had an hour of legal time so I hoofed it thru the woods and up the hill. A hen turkey was in the field so I crept in behind some pines and waited. She soon moved on and I set my blind up on the edge of the field.

This morning I set out some decoys and slipped into my blind. Just before legal time I dug out my call and let loose with a few yelps and was rewared with a couple gobbles. They sounded a ways off but I was limited in where I could set up so I just hoped for the best and mentally prepared myself to wait them out. I didn't hear anything for a while and the last gobble I had heard seemed like he was moving the opposite direction.

All of a sudden I see three birds approaching across the field coming from the west. They are hot footing in right in. I can't decide if I have time for the camera or just need to grab my gun and get ready. The three are covering the ground at almost a run. A gobbler, a jake and a hen with the gobbler in the lead. I take one quick picture then trade the camera for my gun. Yes, 20 yards out but the hen is too close to him and I can't shoot or I'll take out the hen as well. Finally the hen takes a step away at the same time as he raises his head. BOOM , it's all over except the tagging. He is down and not going anywhere.

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I am one happy camper and it is now time to go add some Trout to the days bag.
 
Congrats Dave! Is Iowa a 1 bird state as well?

I'll be hunting southern MN next week. Hoping for similar results
 
Good morning, Dave~

Congratulations! Everything sure worked according to plan. We open on Friday (May 1) - hope we can follow up with our own tale.

All the best,

SJS
 
Phil,
Thanks I did end up getting a limit of trout before I ventured home, but NOT before it started raining.
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Al,
I took my Cannon and a 70-200 lens hoping the rain would hold off till I had a chance to use it. The clouds didn't help, but the sun managed a quick peek thru as I was taking these shots.
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Jeffrey,
It was a fun time for sure.
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Andrew,
Iowa has both spring and fall seasons. The spring seasons are divided up into 4 separate seasons. You can get a license for two seasons but one of those has to be season four. I shot this bird during season three. I also purchased a season four tag and will be able to take another during the fourth season. If I buy a tag this fall, I could take a yet another so in total, Iowa allows a hunter to take three birds a years with the proper tags.
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Steve Sanford/Stanford or what ever ;>)
Thanks, and good luck to you. I'll be hunting again on the 2nd and 3rd in hopes of filling my 4th season tag. I am trying to talk my son-in-law into turkey hunting.
 
Tod,

Thanks and good luck to you. Is you son going to join you in the blind? The wood on that call is Maple. I saw the call on Ebay one day and just like the looks. I was pleasantly surprised that it sounded as well as it looks. I really did not expect that.
 
Tod,

Thanks and good luck to you. Is you son going to join you in the blind? The wood on that call is Maple. I saw the call on Ebay one day and just like the looks. I was pleasantly surprised that it sounded as well as it looks. I really did not expect that.
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Gus will get out a couple times... I was trying to convince him to try to shoot one with his .410, but he doesn't want to break the law and I won't lie to him that it is legal. If I roost birds and think I can get a blind placed I'll get him up early, otherwise, I usually take him out on my sleeping in mornings and hunt the 8-noon shift.

The call looked like maple, that way why I was asking, but I figured it wasn't since I didn't think it was often used. Good to hear it sounds as good as it looks - it obviously looks (but then again calls seldom sound as bad as real hens).
 
Nice going Dave, I've only chased turkeys a couple times but thought that it was the very best way to spend time in the woods in the spring. Now there are turkeys in the twin cities and have even had some in my yard. Maybe next year.
 
nice dave! question: do you take the breast out or clean the whole bird? i've never done that but thinking of trying it this year.

bruce
 
Tom,
Thanks,
“[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Now there are turkeys in the twin cities and have even had some in my yard. Maybe next year. “[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica] I'll be sure to send a card to your jail cell, if you shoot those backyard turkeys. :>) :>)[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Bob, Thanks [/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Bruce,[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Most years I have breasted the bird plus saved the thighs. This year I skinned it whole and will be giving to my daughter to prepare.[/font]
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Congratulations Dave! Beauty of a bird you've got there. I like your turkey "house". I've sometimes wished I could get pictures of my birds as they were coming in (especially the strutter this year), but without a house like yours (and I do far too much walking usually to bother with one, though they are VERY nice to have if you know you have a spot the bird will come to sometime during the day) I'd just scare away the turkeys so I just "deal with it" and shoot with the gun first :)

Good luck with your next bird. Hunting the same place? Get any trout?
 
Dani,

Yes and yes

I did come home with a limit of trout. I do believe I will be setting up in the same place come this weekend for fourth season. If not here, then another spot just 3/4 mile away. Ya a blind is nice at times, down side to that is harder to move quickly from spot to spot. Some times I will go with just a turkey vest and one or no decoys especially when I am hunting the timber.
 
Kyle,

Thanks, your story is good too!

Ahem, did I read that correctly that the only reason you got your bird was because your buddy missed? You should be thanking him. hehe :>)
 
Kyle,

Thanks, your story is good too!

Ahem, did I read that correctly that the only reason you got your bird was because your buddy missed? You should be thanking him. hehe :>)
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Ha! You read correctly and I have thanked him about as many times as I can without mentioning that detail. He's a good guy and hopefully I can return the favor next by calling a hoss into his lap... this time I guarantee his red dot scope will be dead on opposed to off. :)
 
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