i felt the need to share my brothers opening morning story. i didnt do any good so i figured id tell this story instead. my younger brother has never shot a turkey before, him and my dad was sittin in a blind together when a jake poped out. my brother decided he would go ahead and shoot him. he came out to 50 yds and hung up. so my brother who is using a 12 GA modified w/ 28" barrel shoots him. the bird flops up in the air and then appeard to hit the ground dead. they got out of their blind to go get him and after layin there lifeless for a goos 30 seconds he jumps up and crosses the neighbors fence. my brother is still sick from that but i told him that alot of guys would have a hard time makin that shot with a full choke & 32" barrel...so i was impressed he even hit him. the best turkey hunters make the most mistakes. because at a certain time they learn from them.

First bird, excited, standing in front of you, ya your gonna get excited and make a mistake somewhere. At least he's got 2 1/2 weeks left. Go get em guys

Step on his neck until he is done flopping. Even if he has a quarter sized hole all the way through his head.

Tough brake tell him to hang in there and go get his first bird

Sometimes a shotgun pellet will only knock out the bird unconscious for a little while. Put the gun's safety back on, put on your blaze orange cap, and walk {don't run} briskly over to the flopping turkey and put your foot on his neck. He will try to spur you, and beat you with his wings at this moment --- so stand clear of his legs and feet. Do not try to grab his legs while he's still flopping, or your arms and hands might get spurred --- which btw --- happened to a hunter several years ago; here in Maryland.

You "might" get lucky doing that with a Jake but I WOULDN'T DARE try that with a grown bird, good way to get your legs shredded by their feet and especially their spurs!!!

the thing was this bird wasnt flopping. he was laying motion less for about 30 seconds. i have always ran up and steped on a birds legs as soon as he hit the ground weather he was flopping or not. but my brother didnt figure he needed to since he laid "dead" so long