Finally my first turkey!!

deer-hunter18 · 04-28-2006, 10:11 AM

Well after five years of turkey hunting and never getting a bird i was about ready to just give up and settle with the fact that i am a bad turkey hunter...

This morning i got out there really early because i wanted to hunt out of my Double Bull Matrix, i got out there early so i could sneak in and not be so worried about how much noise i make. After i was set up i climbed in and waited for the first gobble, it didn't take long. About 5:45 i heard a gobble about 100 yards to my left, and i thought to my self not bad, its only 100 yards. Well by 6:00 there was 5 different gobblers gobbling all around me. At about 6:10 there was a hen clucking to me left about 40 yards in the thick stuff that you cant even see into. She left and went quiet shortly after. So i was a little bumed cause i always like to watch turkeys andi thought that she may come out and put on a show! Then then my buddy that was with me said "you hear that" i was like no what? I looked up the fence line and there he was, 60 yards out and running into the decoy but on the wrong side of the fence. After zig zaggin about 10 times up and down the fence line to find a hole he succeded. He litteraly ran to my decoy and i dropped him hard. So i went over to the fence while the bird was expiring just to see where he was able to got through the fence. About 2 feet up on the fence there was a hole about 12"X12" that he somehow jumped up and squeezed through. I couldn't believe how bad he wanted my decoy! Here are a cuple of picture for ya.

deer-hunter18 · 04-28-2006, 10:13 AM

WOW forgot the specs of him

Weight- 22LBS
Spurs - 3/4"
Beard - 10 1/2"

Score= 58 i think. (if i did it right)

One more pic!

MDManiac · 04-28-2006, 10:24 AM

wow Congrats NICE BIRD!!

Goose 11 · 04-28-2006, 10:34 AM

That's a GREAT first Turkey!!!All of us feel like we're the absoluteworst turkey hunter at some point! I've been hunting them since I was at least 10 years old, I'm 32 now and still love the hunt!!! But I got humbles thisyear by an old Tom that just couldn't be fooled! Get out there as soon as possible and take another one!

Congratulations!
Trae

extreme1 · 04-28-2006, 10:34 AM

Congrats to ya

That is one awesome bird and a great story to boot.
I sure know the feeling on your first

5 years---wow---patience really pays off in a big way---beautiful bird.

Are you getting the tail feathers and beard mounted?

deer-hunter18 · 04-28-2006, 10:48 AM

I was going to try doing it myself, but i may just take it to the taxidermist and pay him $100 to do it, that is what he charges. Sounded a little steep but he actually takes all of the feathers out and epoxes them to a piece of foam, and does a great job.

extreme1 · 04-28-2006, 10:54 AM

I am also paying $100 to get mine done.He is a friend of mine and has done numerious deer heads and fish for me.I was wanting to try it myself but he told me the feathers had to be taken apart and completly cleaned up and then put back together.If it isnt done properly then it would be garbage in 6 months he told me.I figured $100 bucks is cheap to display my trophy and at least I know the job will be done right.

Western MA Hunter · 04-28-2006, 11:21 AM

Great Bird!
Persistance pays off. Now the pressure is off... You will start killing more now... It's weird how that works.
That is a beautiful tom... Congrats and thanks for sharing.

turk2di · 04-28-2006, 06:00 PM

Congrats on a dandy bird

nubo · 04-28-2006, 07:04 PM

That's an awsome bird Deer hunter ,congrat's to you on your first .As they say good thing's come to those who wait.

nubo