Had A Great Day On The Island,Never Fired A Shot.
04-05-2004 | 07:48 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,417
Likes: 0
From: chiefland Florida USA
Had A Great Day On The Island,Never Fired A Shot.
went to a place I call the Island,because you have to wade a creek and walk about 3/4 mile to get there.
I haven't been there in two years.I have taken at least one bird there for the past 5 or 6 years except last year.
The wifes arthristist has gotten real bad,so her season is over,I went alone.
at the first twinkle of light I heard a bird drummning close and a hen tree yelp.then I heard a bird blast off about a 1/2 mile away then another.in a couple min. they sounded off again.I was waiting for the close bird to talk.after the other two gobbled a few times,I couldn't wait any longer.so I left and made the walk.that bird gobbled 15 to 20 times while I was on the way.the other would gobble ever 4th or 5th time.
I finally got close and every time I touched my cedar box he would gobble or double gobble.I finally got close enough I though he would come.he came so close I could feel him drummning,just couldn't see him,(in the river swamp some places you can't see 30 yards)the other one left and gobbled as long as I could hear him getting farther and farther.then another one gobbled in the other drirection.
It was like a musical of nature.after about an hr. he just couldn't leave the hens he had with him and they led him away,gobbling as he went.
I just sat and listened,(he went onto property that was out of the hunt area)
Man was that a fun morning,and I never fired a shot.
I do know where I will be 1/2 hr. before first light in the morning.although I will only get a couple hrs. of sleep tonight,(working late,)I will be "On The Island"
I haven't been there in two years.I have taken at least one bird there for the past 5 or 6 years except last year.
The wifes arthristist has gotten real bad,so her season is over,I went alone.
at the first twinkle of light I heard a bird drummning close and a hen tree yelp.then I heard a bird blast off about a 1/2 mile away then another.in a couple min. they sounded off again.I was waiting for the close bird to talk.after the other two gobbled a few times,I couldn't wait any longer.so I left and made the walk.that bird gobbled 15 to 20 times while I was on the way.the other would gobble ever 4th or 5th time.
I finally got close and every time I touched my cedar box he would gobble or double gobble.I finally got close enough I though he would come.he came so close I could feel him drummning,just couldn't see him,(in the river swamp some places you can't see 30 yards)the other one left and gobbled as long as I could hear him getting farther and farther.then another one gobbled in the other drirection.
It was like a musical of nature.after about an hr. he just couldn't leave the hens he had with him and they led him away,gobbling as he went.
I just sat and listened,(he went onto property that was out of the hunt area)
Man was that a fun morning,and I never fired a shot.
I do know where I will be 1/2 hr. before first light in the morning.although I will only get a couple hrs. of sleep tonight,(working late,)I will be "On The Island"
04-08-2004 | 11:56 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
From: E. Washington State
RE: Had A Great Day On The Island,Never Fired A Shot.
Great post! Now you get to go back and do it again. I really hope I can pass on a turkey in the early season this year. It's so hard when they're so tasty!!
04-09-2004 | 05:25 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeland Wisconsin
RE: Had A Great Day On The Island,Never Fired A Shot.
Yes sir, Some of the best times I have had in the Turkey woods, were hunts that ended without a shot being fired. Just being out there and taking in the wonders of nature, Thats what its all about.
Go gettem ! 
