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05-01-2007 | 09:55 PM

#256

MKMGOBL

Typical Buck

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 818

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From: Contoocook NH USA

RE: Team 4 "Thunder Chickens"

Sorry it took so long for me to get these photos & story up. Took my bird to my taxidermist and we got to talking about past hunts and one we plan on doing this year. My son was so excited about seeing the turkeys that I couldn’t keep him out of the photos.

My ride up to where I hunt is just over an hour. I was up at 1am, left here by 1:40 and was at my spot (after a coffee break) around 2:50 this morning. I sat in the truck until 3:30 planning my strategy for the morning hunt. I actually changed my set up three or four time before I found the tree I liked and was comfortable sitting against.

With the wind blowing like it was I thought maybe IF the bird(s) were roosted there, they would be at on my side of the ridge and down low out of the wind. I knew the birds like to roost in that area in the past but I didn't do any scouting or roosting prior to this mornings hunt. I went in blind. I stood there in the middle of a small clearing with the full moon shining bright for the longest time thinking out that wind and boy did it pay off. I put out a single hen decoy right in the middle of the small field (20yards away) and had the stone wall entrance to my back (10 yards away). I started off the morning action with a few tree yelps and no response. Waited a few minutes and tried it again and got a response this time of a gobble in my back pocket. About 75 yards directly behind the large Maple tree I was sitting against. It was large enough that I could actually turn around and see the field entrance and the tractor road leading to it but not bird. I also didn't make that move until I was sure he was alone and no other birds were roosted around me.

We shared a volley of tree yelps, cuts and gobbles back and forth for about 15 minutes before he decided he had enough. Now for the first time in my turkey hunting life, I saw my first gobbler pitch down and land already in full strut ;D He belted out one more gobble to my toned down yelping and the rest of the way to me was nothing but spitting & drumming. As he strutted to my hen decoy I was about 17 yards away when he turned his fan to me and I bared down my gun stock & sights. I gave a loud putt and when fan went down and his head game up, I thumped him right in the back of his noggin

After filling out my tag, I was walking down to my truck and heard another bird gobbling. I quickly got lower field edge. I made a move on it and was calling for about 20 minutes when it game into gun range. A Jake :

I just let him walk right on by and got out of there.

Sorry for being so long with this

It was one of my best "text book" hunts I've had in years and I've been waiting a while for it. I made all the right decisions this morning with a blind set up (no roosting for scouting for this season), the weather conditions, being the first to sound off and when not to call. My heart was racing so bad this morning on this hunt I actually thought I was going to die right there at that big old Maple tree. I sure would have missed my wife and son but would have been happy moving on while turkey hunting ;D He's also defiantly one my best NE birds! I'll post up the story of the second bird later and I promise, it won't be as long.

Thanks for reading

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