Turkey hunting,,,,,,,,,,, not really

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

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Took a boat ride down the river this morning with the intent on doing some turkey hunting. I could not find a decent location along the river bank, where I could tie up the boat and get myself up over the river bank. Back up plan was to do some fishing. Pays to have a back up plan. My consolation prize was a 22 inch male Walleye.
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Huntindave McCann said:
Took a boat ride down the river this morning with the intent on doing some turkey hunting. I could not find a decent location along the river bank, where I could tie up the boat and get myself up over the river bank. Back up plan was to do some fishing. Pays to have a back up plan. My consolation prize was a 22 inch male Walleye.
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That looks like a great alternative!

I've wondered about drifting or using a trolling motor and calling for turkeys from the boat if that would work. You could have the decoys on posts that could be adjusted to match the elevation.
 
Shot a gobbler at 6:30 ,but it walked away. I know the arrow hit it from the whamp sound. Obviously didn't hurt it very bad, but I'm about to go see if it expired and if I can find it. They don't leave much of a blood trail and in the tall grass it's going to be tough to find the bird. The grass/weeds are above my waist but it varies and it is sparce.

Found feathers, found my arrow, no blood. That stinks that I missed everything but feathers, but it also means no damage was done to the turkey.

The tom gobbled once or twice after flying down from the roost. I was hoping he would come investigate. He walked in silently and it looked like he was going to walk on by.
I picked up my call and gave a cluck, which stopped him.
Guess I just miss judged the yardage or my aiming point. Chit happens. I doubt he comes back today.
 

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Dave, Had the same thing happen last year in the Black Hills except I was using a 12 gauge with a red dot sight and 9 shot tss. The shot was about 50 yards long, which admittedly is a bit much but not for that load. He was headed for thicker cover which influenced my decision to shoot early. Anyway I knocked him down, ran up to get him like any good pheasant hunter, and he was gone! No blood, not even a feather. To this day I have no idea what happened. Richard
 
tod osier said:
That looks like a great alternative!

I've wondered about drifting or using a trolling motor and calling for turkeys from the boat if that would work. You could have the decoys on posts that could be adjusted to match the elevation.
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I set up for ducks last fall under some tall pines on the river bank and there must have been 25+ turkeys roosted in the trees above and behind me. We have a fall season, and they'd have been legal to take, but all the ones who flew down in range were before legal shooting. Had to chase the rest of them out because they were making enough noise about my presence to flare the ducks that were flying.
 
tod osier said:
That looks like a great alternative!

I've wondered about drifting or using a trolling motor and calling for turkeys from the boat if that would work. You could have the decoys on posts that could be adjusted to match the elevation.
Click to expand...

I have actually had pretty good luck drifting in a kayak down rivers thru some of my wmas. I drift (sometimes calling, sometimes not) until I hear a gobble then tie off and chase the bird who wants to play.
 
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