Got One on Easter

[FroMan]

Last Friday morn when I was home for Easter weekend I went turkey hunting with my dad. Well...about 10am he decided to blast a jake that walked up on us. He already killed a gobbler last Monday. I hadn't killed anything, and here dad blasts a turkey out from under me (not the first time that's happened, actually it might be the third time it's happened, he has no shame.) So...I was slightly discouraged. Thanks to my dear loving pop I had yet to shoot a turkey this year.






After heading to church Easter morning I decided to go out and try for turkeys again...since I was home, and had yet to take one this year.

I went out Sunday afternoon near my house and set a few dekes out (jake and hen) and sat up against a tree.

I had no idea where turkeys were at or if I would see them. I just sat there and called every 15 minutes or so. Well...nothing happened all afternoon and around 6:45 I started hearing some gobbles. Well, they came closer and closer til I could see the birds. There was two of them. Both gobbling. About 100 yards away. Well...I was watching one of them look around for the sound of "the hen" and one happened to circle around to my left.

I didn't know this, and as I was calling to the gobbler still in my vision out in front, the gobbler that circled to my left saw movement, decided he didn't like it, and walked away in the other direction after 2 or 3 "putts."

The other gobbler didn't really spook, but just walked away with the other one.

Discouraged...sweaty...mosquito-bitten...and tired...I slowly walked over to where my decoys were positioned about 30 steps away from the tree I was sitting at. I'm right at the decoys when I hear clucking coming from behind me. I squat down...pop off my safety...turn around...and see two jakes walking up on me.

Not a good situation...first off, when they see the decoys...they see me, since I am about a foot away from them.

But...jakes are stupid. They keep walking at me...looking...walking...looking...and end up about 10 feet away from where I was previously sitting.

My mind was ticking..."wait for the gobbler in the morning?" "shoot a jake today?" "a turkey's a turkey's a turkey."

Well...needless to say, he poked his head around a tree...I'd made up my mind, and I smoked him. 3 in #5's right through his head. It was a good jake. 15 pounds, small spurs, a 4 inch beard. He was an early brood last year because half of his fan was gobbler and the other half was jake. His head was blue as can be...like a gobbler's.

Anyways, I was thrilled. Filled a tag. It was also my first successful solo hunt. All the other times I've been with friends. The taste of success.

Here are some pics below, hope you guys enjoyed the story.

[Chuck7]

Congrats my friend. I'm still waiting on # 1. Great story.
Chuck7

[Leafrivermac]

LoL, Fro, you done went and done good.

[Rebel Hog]

Way to go Fro! Congrat's!

[Hotguns]

Now the real story...

As Mr. Froman has suggested, it is true that I his father(at least I THINK I'm his father)did on that date whack a Jake.

It was not however, meant to be forthe young Froman who refused to sit with his Pop at the same tree. Instead he elected to sit 20 yards away...making for a much longer shot in the event that a Turkey happened to walk up on us unannounced.

Of course, it was just a matter of time. As Froman sat against the base of his tree, it was his rather loud snoring that alerted the young tom. I suppose that the snoring was rather curious for that Jake as unlike me, he had never heard it before.

So the Jake, not to be outdone, loudly clucked several times which awoke Froman from a dead sleep. As Froman struggled to get his shotgun in position, the Jake decided to fly off...right behind my back which was a fatal mistake. As some of you know, shooting ata flying turkey is like shooting at a 55 gallon barrel...its almost impossible to miss.

So...there ya have it. Just another mans version...

[LBR]

BUSTED! Congrats Fro and Fro's pop.

Chad

[mqman44]

My buddy, and pro shop owner smoked a big boy Tom right across the street from me today. 37 yard shot with a bow. Congrats to you fro on your bird!

[Hotguns]

Did anybody notice Fro's brand spanking new camoflage ?

I suspected that his turkey hunting misadventures were due to the fact that his old camo was terrible. I mean terrible. Being a broke college student, I knew that he was just using what he had, the trouble with it is that was 5 years old and wore smooth out. The color was so faded that you could spot him a half mile away in the godawfullest thicket you ever saw. That boy stuck out like a cockroach in a fryin pan.

So...I instructed his Mom to get him some new stuff to wear, and since he was gonna be huntin with me, in case I happened to see any of my ole hunting buddies, I didnt want him messing up my image cause his stuff was so ugly.

So, I find it odd that it was like the second time he wore it, that he went to a spot where I tried to get him to go the first day, that he FINALLY killed a turkey. I mean, what are the odds ?Turkey hunting with uglyflage at least 2 million times and no turkey. Then....turkey hunting twice with the new stuff....and BANG he whacks a turkey...and a nice one it was, escpecially for a Jake.

Did the new stuff do it ?

YOU be the judge...

[cameronmclain]

Hahaha- nothing like Dad ragging on you!

I admire yall's ability to hunt together and make memories that will last a lifetime. I wish my dad would go out with me sometime!!!

Congrats on the turkeys! Happy hunting!



(p.s. Fro- in your bottom picture of you standing w/ your turkey, your cheeks are kindof shiny. Is this sweat, or were you so elated with your turkey that you shed a little love-tear? LOL- just kidding- I know it was sweat! )

[Alex The Hawk]

He he he, You gripe like my son , you look like my son and I look like your dad, LOL.
And I done that to him also.
Incredible !