Saturday morning I drove by some property that I hunt on and saw a few turkeys in the back of the field. I quickly got myself to the back of the land grabbed my bow and a call and started after them. After a short run through the woods I was about 60 yards from the field edge were I saw the turkeys, I thought I was too late and that they had already made into the woods and I spooked them off. I sat and just listened hoping to hear them so I could figure out my next move. After a few minutes I put out few long soft yelps (just in case they were closer than what I could see in the woods).
Nothing happened so I moved up to the stone wall and peaked out into the field. I didn' t see anything in the field but then just as I was trying to get a better look along the field edge they started walking out of a hedgerow. First one out was a hen then a second hen then two more. I was going to just let them feed on out into the field and then back off the hunt. I was looking to tag a gobbler and didn' t think there would be one with these hens but I was wrong. A nice thick roped gobbler stepped out and was heading right with the hens, away from me He was about 30 yards out and I didn' t want to try a shot on a turkey that far. I wasn' t sure what to do so I just started giving out some long and loud yelps. Boy did that upset someone!
The first hen looked right in my direction and started mouthing off at me and whatever call she made I made but louder. All I did was glance over for the gobbler and when I looked back at the hen she was running full speed right at me. At this point I figured if she gives me the shot I' d taker her, it had turned into a good hunt and I wanted to end it with a good harvest. She came right to the opening in the stone wall and gave me a perfect 10 yards broadside shot. I released my shot and saw nothing but a turkey flapping and feathers flying!
Well, those feathers were flying alright, right up into a tree attached to a turkey She sat in a tree and was clucking like crazy. I didn' t move just hoping she' ll fall right there and I didn' t have to track her but she didn' t and she wasn' t acting like she was hit. I looked at my sight and realized I had it set for 25 yards, I never moved my pin!![:@] The other turkeys scattered and I wasn' t paying much attention to them, I just kept watching the bird I shot at. Next thing I know the other hens were walking back toward the hen in the tree clucking. I looked for the gobbler and found him and a hen heading for the stone wall opening that I just took the shot in. I moved my pin and went to full draw waiting for the gobbler to step in the opening. I could see just his beard then the hen hopped up on the wall about 7 ft to my right. She took off running back into the field making the gobbler nervous and making him head to the field as well. I popped up just enough to clear over the wall a took the shot at about 12 yards! Zoom zoom, right over the gobbler[
] In the heat of the excitement, I moved my sight the wrong way[:@] Turned out I just gave the hen a clipping on the back feathers. I saw them (all 5 turkeys) in the another field across the road later that afternoon.
My heart was thumping from the time I saw them untill I got back to my truck. I wish I could have conected but that' s only a small part of the hunt
morning hunt in NH
