Your quickest hunt!
#2
I had roosted a bird the night before and phoned my uncle about it. It was late in the season and he hadn' t shot a bird yet this spring so I told him I would take him there before the sun came up the next morning. And so I did and there we were, picking the " right" tree to sit under as we listened to him gobble for the first time. I quickly placed the decoy and joined my hunting partner beside the tree. We were set up on a bench that overlooked a deep valley with a pine ridge on the side we were on. There was some mix with white oaks that were let to grow large. I often find birds roosting in these areas. I pulled my slate and did a few clucks and he answered with aggression. Rick whispered over and ordered that I not call. I nodded and we listened for approximately 2 minutes. I asked him if he thought the bird had came down off the roost yet and he shook his head with a no. Just then the bird broke out with a growling gobble 40 yards away and just over the edge of the ridge from us. We quietly laughed and I gave a few more cuts to this lovesick tom. He appeared over the ridge and melted into a strut as soon as he laid eyes on my decoy. Wasting no time, the bird closed the gap and was now in range. Rick mumbled something about the bird dying and then shot. A beautiful long beard with some of the biggest spurs I’ve seen. The hunt was all in about 10 minutes. What a great time it was!
#3
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
From: McCall Idaho USA
I also had a bird going a couple years back just after daylight. Was calling for my son and it all took about 10 mins.
p.s. For those who helped me pick out my new slate call, you were right, it works and sounds great. Thanks again. elknut1
p.s. For those who helped me pick out my new slate call, you were right, it works and sounds great. Thanks again. elknut1
#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 0
From: Calif
I hit one with my truck once!Didn' t even start the hunt,does that count!
Just kiddin,I' ve had a few " quickies" too!
Right around that 5 minute range due to some good scoutin or puttin em to bed the night before!!
Just kiddin,I' ve had a few " quickies" too!
Right around that 5 minute range due to some good scoutin or puttin em to bed the night before!!
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Well, me and my dad drove a few hours to spend a weekend hunting some public land. We got to the cabin we were gonna stay in for the weekend... unloaded our stuff and drove to where we were going to hunt. At this time, it' s about 4:00 o' clock, so we were planning on just roosting a bird. We take our guns just in case and walk down a road for maybe 5 minutes. Then, we hear some leaves crunch maybe 30 yards off the road. So we wait for a couple of minutes to see if we could hear of see anything. Right when we were about to start walking again my dad thought he saw feathers shine in the sun while at the same time we hear the leaves crunch again. So then we decide to sit down next to a large tree maybe 5-10 feet off the road. We get sat down and don' t even have time to get our gloves on and masks all the way on when we see that big read head poke over the horizon maybe 20 yards away, if that. We both have our guns ready, but I' m positioned where I would have to turn to shoot. So I tell my dad to take it... next thing I know we' re standing over his first turkey. It was a jake, but he was so proud of it!! Oh yeah, he killed the turkey at 4:09... 9 minutes after we left the truck.
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
I have had a few hunts that lasted only 5 or 10 minutes into the legal shooting time of 6 a.m. but I believe only a couple of them took place on opening day. The rest were on into the season a few days. I credit being able to do this by going out and listening to them on the roost at dawn before season as soon as I know they are gobbling.
#7
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
From: Kingsford Michigan USA
Last season. got out opening morning with 8 inces of snow. saw a jake out in the field ahead of me called him in in about 10 minutes. then i heard some gobbeling behind me and moved to the other side of the tree within a few minutes i called and shot my beard. all in all it took about 20-30 minutes. I shot him at 7:30 in the morning.
#8
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale Arizona USA
Mine was 12 minutes after first legal light and the dope ran so fast to my mouth call that I almost wasn' t in position to shoot! He was a big lonely tom with a 9 3/4 inch beard. Can' t wait for april.
#9
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Elkin NC USA
my quickest was about 10 minutes. 3 years ago on opening day in VA. i had roosted a gobbler the night before. set up in the pasture right before daylight. called twice and he flew off the limb and strutting into my lap at 20 yards. can' t wait for another opening day like that.


