My 1997 Turkey Hunt

It was a cool clear morning and you could see your breath.  We could hear little birds start to chirp as we walked to our setup.  My dad and I set up in a corner of a corn field where we had seen a tom on one morning.  We put out two hens and a jake decoy.  We settled down and waited to call.  I could hear a hen yelping in the distance.  I saw her in the field on the opposite side.  She soon disappeared into the woods.

I got out my MAD Aluminator and gave some soft yelps and clucks.  A gobble echoed through the woods.  It must have been a half mile away over the ridge.  Then a hen flew down right by us—and then another.  They started to call.  I called again and the tom gobbled again.  He sounded in the same place I heard him before.  The hens near us started to yelp and the tom answered them.  I thought we were in the right place and called again. This time the gobble was closer.

He kept sounding off and coming closer. One time he quadruple gobbled.  I knew he was close and we would see him any minute. My heart was heart pumping.  He came down the ridge and crossed a fence on top of a valley in the field about 80 yards away.  The sun was shining right on him as he was in strut.  He kept gobbling and strutting, but was not willing to come any farther.  I was silent, hoping he would come into our decoys and challenge the jake, but he stayed out there.  He started to move to our right and I cut at him.  He was not coming any closer.

Then I heard the hen I had seen earlier in the morning.  She popped out in the field and the tom went running to her.  That pretty much sums up my season.

I am sure any turkey hunter who has hunted a few years has had similar experiences.  Turkey hunting can be frustrating.  It is one of the most challenging types of hunting.  The success rate where I hunt is only 20%( 1 of every 5 people ).  I have had the opportunity to be successful.  No matter how many gadgets or calls you have, the turkey can still get away from you.  Persistence is important to a good turkey hunter.  Spending as much time in the woods as you can, even after bad days or in bad weather, will increase your chances.

Turkey hunting is a lot of fun and like I said before it is hard.  I was not successful this year, but I saw so many turkeys and had some close encounters.  That will definitely make me get back out in the woods next year.  Just remember, if you had a bad season like mine, it is not the kill that makes the hunt but the hunt that makes the kill.  Until next time take care.

If you have any questions, comments, or want to talk email dinger@bowhunting.net.