mylsuhat
Lil-Rokslider
March 15, 2023
Copiah County, MS
It was an opening morning you dream of. 38 degrees, clear skies, and calm.
I parked my truck on a gravel road a half mile from where I wanted to listen, a small food plot on top of a hill with big steep oaks to the north and 15-year-old pines to the south. This area has historically produced lots of turkeys. Great food, roost trees, and nesting habitat.
I get to the plot in grey light, 10 or so minutes before legal shooting time. Stand quietly on the edge for a few minutes to listen to the woods wake up.
Who cooks for you, who cooks for you alllllll……. Gobble gobble
Turkey sounds off about 200 yards into the oaks. I hit the trail and did my best to sneak in. I take a hilltop finger into the oak bottom and sit down. Sounds like at least two birds gobbling on the roost.
A few soft yelps with no response from these birds, but I get a gobble from another bird back behind me, a few ridges over. Decisions decisions. I sat tight and listened. 10 minutes later, I yelp again. The bird behind me gobbles and a hen in front of me yelps. Turkeys in front of me gobble to her. Turkey behind me gobbles too. As she yelps, I can tell that she is taking the boys the other way.
I made the decision that I am going to go after the one behind me. Back out, down the trail, I set up on a tree below the ridge and call. Gobble! Unfortunately, this bird is now headed towards where the others were going. I head back to where I started the morning. Butt to ground, yelp on the slate, put the call back in my vest. As soon as I look up, I see black coming through the brush. He disappears behind a big pine; I shift my weight and point the barrel of my shotgun that direction. He emerges from the tree, I see the short stubby Jake beard. This youngen walks past me within 10 yards, looking for love. He passes and I wait another 20 min without any more birds coming by. I continued to hear birds gobbling in the direction they took off in the morning but that all stopped by 9:30.
I did some more walking and calling all morning without hearing any responses.
Back to the camp ~12:30 for a sandwich and to regroup with my dad, talking about the morning.
2:00 I am back in the woods again. I drove the truck around to the other side and decided to walk slowly and call quietly until I got to where I heard the birds in the morning. Almost immediately, I spook 3 hens. They took off running but not putting.
I cross a small creek and crest the hill following an old firebreak. I let out 3 easy clucks on the slate and could have sword I heard drumming. Same 3 clucks and yep, no doubt about it, there is a bird drumming and he is close! I look around for a spot to sit. Lots of very small pines and gum trees. No good shade but I don’t have time to fine a prime spot. I sit with my back to a cluster of 3 little gum trees with some broken light and shade.
Cluck cluck cluck yelp yelp…. Drum
Drum drum drum
I scratch in the leaves and call with a quick but excited yelp. He hammers back and he is extremely close. In range but I can not see him.
I wait with my barrel pointed to where I think he will emerge. This seems like forever but more than likely only 5 minutes. Then boom, he’s standing there at 20 yards, just to the right of my aim point, looking directly at me. I feel like I am sticking out like flare in the night with the mix of shade and sun. He is cautious but not spooked. I am statue like. He takes a couple steps and is now behind a tree. I adjust slightly and I am ready for him to step out. He goes back to drumming and not moving. Again, feels like forever. Finally, he emerges from the tree, facing away. I put the bead of my shotgun on his neck and pull the trigger.
He goes down hard and does not flop. I ran up, jumping through the briars and limbs to get my hands on him. A gorgeous bird and the happiest hunter in the woods. 30 minute afternoon hunt.
Copiah County, MS
It was an opening morning you dream of. 38 degrees, clear skies, and calm.
I parked my truck on a gravel road a half mile from where I wanted to listen, a small food plot on top of a hill with big steep oaks to the north and 15-year-old pines to the south. This area has historically produced lots of turkeys. Great food, roost trees, and nesting habitat.
I get to the plot in grey light, 10 or so minutes before legal shooting time. Stand quietly on the edge for a few minutes to listen to the woods wake up.
Who cooks for you, who cooks for you alllllll……. Gobble gobble
Turkey sounds off about 200 yards into the oaks. I hit the trail and did my best to sneak in. I take a hilltop finger into the oak bottom and sit down. Sounds like at least two birds gobbling on the roost.
A few soft yelps with no response from these birds, but I get a gobble from another bird back behind me, a few ridges over. Decisions decisions. I sat tight and listened. 10 minutes later, I yelp again. The bird behind me gobbles and a hen in front of me yelps. Turkeys in front of me gobble to her. Turkey behind me gobbles too. As she yelps, I can tell that she is taking the boys the other way.
I made the decision that I am going to go after the one behind me. Back out, down the trail, I set up on a tree below the ridge and call. Gobble! Unfortunately, this bird is now headed towards where the others were going. I head back to where I started the morning. Butt to ground, yelp on the slate, put the call back in my vest. As soon as I look up, I see black coming through the brush. He disappears behind a big pine; I shift my weight and point the barrel of my shotgun that direction. He emerges from the tree, I see the short stubby Jake beard. This youngen walks past me within 10 yards, looking for love. He passes and I wait another 20 min without any more birds coming by. I continued to hear birds gobbling in the direction they took off in the morning but that all stopped by 9:30.
I did some more walking and calling all morning without hearing any responses.
Back to the camp ~12:30 for a sandwich and to regroup with my dad, talking about the morning.
2:00 I am back in the woods again. I drove the truck around to the other side and decided to walk slowly and call quietly until I got to where I heard the birds in the morning. Almost immediately, I spook 3 hens. They took off running but not putting.
I cross a small creek and crest the hill following an old firebreak. I let out 3 easy clucks on the slate and could have sword I heard drumming. Same 3 clucks and yep, no doubt about it, there is a bird drumming and he is close! I look around for a spot to sit. Lots of very small pines and gum trees. No good shade but I don’t have time to fine a prime spot. I sit with my back to a cluster of 3 little gum trees with some broken light and shade.
Cluck cluck cluck yelp yelp…. Drum
Drum drum drum
I scratch in the leaves and call with a quick but excited yelp. He hammers back and he is extremely close. In range but I can not see him.
I wait with my barrel pointed to where I think he will emerge. This seems like forever but more than likely only 5 minutes. Then boom, he’s standing there at 20 yards, just to the right of my aim point, looking directly at me. I feel like I am sticking out like flare in the night with the mix of shade and sun. He is cautious but not spooked. I am statue like. He takes a couple steps and is now behind a tree. I adjust slightly and I am ready for him to step out. He goes back to drumming and not moving. Again, feels like forever. Finally, he emerges from the tree, facing away. I put the bead of my shotgun on his neck and pull the trigger.
He goes down hard and does not flop. I ran up, jumping through the briars and limbs to get my hands on him. A gorgeous bird and the happiest hunter in the woods. 30 minute afternoon hunt.
