First Day, First Time for Turkey Hunting
This year I decided to try my luck at turkey hunting. I’m going into it with a positive attitude thinking that I know I don’t know what I am totally doing yet but I am willing to learn and if anything at least I can use this time to clear my head and do a little scouting for deer while I am out there.
The plan was to be setup before the chickadee’s start singing well, they were singing when I left the house. I didn’t read the sunrise/sunset table correctly, that and I only had 3 hours of sleep.
It all started this morning with me pulling up in my truck and getting out. As I was grabbing my gear I was getting blown at by a deer across the road. I couldn’t see it but, it was close. I knew I was running out of time (I like to be setup before the first glimpse of light) so I told the deer “not this morning, come back and see me in the fall” and I locked my truck and headed out. I jumped a couple more deer along the way but paid no never mind except for my occasional chuckle.
I finally got to wear I wanted to sit. It was already shooting light and just as I sat down I heard one gobble out in front of me. I quickly grabbed my push button call and tried to get it to come in. The whole time I’m thinking (holy !@#$, my first day out) I tried to keep my composure. I did get it to answer a couple of times but, it would not come in. I think it had a bunch of hens with it. I’m guessing at this point because they are out of sight.
I yelped and purred every now and then but no show. It was 5:45 when I heard it gobble again and then it happened BOOM,BOOM. Then no more gobble, at that point I just GRRRRRR. But, at the same time I was telling myself (that’s cool) there has to be more around. I continued to yelp and purr occasionally and about and hour later I heard a noise to my right and slightly behind me.
I slowly looked over my shoulder and wouldn’t you know it it was a deer. My estimate was it had to be a one year old. I sat there and watched it as it fed behind me as it headed up the small hill to the overgrown old field. The closest it came to me was 50 yards away and it never knew I was there. I’m thinking to myself that this is so cool, not only am I out here trying to hunt turkey but I get to watch deer as well.
The rest of the morning was spent watching and listening and talking to the chipmunk that kept popping out of a pile of leaves about a foot from my feet. It was quite hilarious actually because he would just sit there for a minute and listen to me. I did get to see a hawk come in and land in a tree for a bit before it decided to fly off, probably looking for breakfast.
All in all it was a great morning and very relaxing which is what I needed. You can bet I will be back as soon as I can. The rest of this week unfortunately is no good due to doctor appointments and tickets to the circus, so it will have to be next week but I will be there trying my luck again and enjoying what the outdoors and nature has to offer. I am very happy I decided to turkey hunt and look forward to the next outing.
I do want to give special thanks to Chuck for the shotgun barrel for which if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have a barrel to put on my shotgun to turkey hunt with. And, special thanks to Allen for taking the time to take me to the club (which I hope to be a member of soon) so I could pattern the shotgun. Even though he says thanks are not necessary.
Sounds like a great morning and a great hunt Rick. Good luck when you head back out next week.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Sounds like a good morning. I especially liked you telling the deer to come back and see you in the Fall. It also sounds like there are definitely turkeys in the area, so that’s good news. Here’s hoping we see a post about you getting your first turkey next week.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Arthur, thanks. I will certainly do that and good luck to you as well.
Kristine, It was quite the morning and by saying that to the deer it just made it blow even more at me, LOL.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:37 pm