Pop goes the Weasel

Got an invite to hunt turkey on some private land for the first time for a turkey hunt. So we headed up Friday to O'brien where my friend has a 20 acre camp. The plan was to hunt his 320 acre lease just south of Perry. Arriving at 6:30 at the camp we had brought 1 of his lease members with us, and he had never even touched a turkey call before. I loaned him a a slate and taught him a couple of notes before taking a walk on the neighbors 40 acres of pines. To my disbelief as I am walking I can hear him scratching on the call when I thinks I hear what sounds like a gobble. A minute later it is confirmed. He gobbles much closer, and a 3rd time real close. Well not ever turkey hunting before the guy just keeps scrathing away, and calls the bird right up into the camp. To him it was like peas, and carrots, but to me it was like you just blew it for the possibility of killing that bird.

Back to the plan Sat. morning we head over to his lease a real pretty piece of land with plenty of deer, and hogs. Unfortunately all the birds I heard were way of on a seperate piece of property that used to be part of his lease, but was purchased by some hicks putting in a mud bog. I still set up, and was able to attract some hens, and had them talking well right in front of me. Things were looking up until a shot across the fence pretty much soiled banana hammock. I tried not to be discouraged, and hunted till 2:00. We decided to head back to camp get some rest, and come back for a try in the morning. On the way through Mayo I had what appeared to be an AllenR sighting standing in front of some mom, and pop restaurant you couldn't miss him. I wanted to stop, comfirm the sighting, but also could not stop wondering about the bird back at the camp.

Back at camp, and the belly full at 6:00 I decided to give it a whirl hunting our camp bird so I head down the pines set up and start the calling I got in a war with a hen trying to out cackle me for about an hour, and never heard the 1st gobble so I headed back to camp I was really in need of some brown corn squeezins. At camp my buddies ask if I heard the gobbling, and I tell them no. Appearantly The hen, and I drew in 2 gobblers through the pines. The novice, but good hearted fellow that I loaned my call to thought he could stalk in the and kill 1. He only ended up being able to watch them both strut though the open pines then flee at a high rate of speed. I was not real happy when I heard the story, but that's a novice for you. What it did do was change our plans for the morning hunt. The lease is 53 miles from camp, and having already called in 3 birds with in a day it was a no brainer to hunt at the camp in the morning.

The next morning after a little turkey hunting instruction on the do nots of turkey hunting to my partners we set off to our set ups. I was able to get in a duel with my cackling hen again, and about 8:30 I heard a real faint gobble. After a few I responded, and the bird gobbled much closer. The 3rd time he gobbled he was real close so I put down the slate, and readied my canon. A couple of minutes I caught a glimpes of him strutting in he would break strut walk closer than strut again. Closer, and closer he came to the point I just flicked off my safety, and steadied my weapon. Only 10 yards needed when I hear some thing approaching from my right I look to see the 2 free running bull dogs that have been vandalizing my buddies camp for months. They come in and stop at 10yds, and decide to stay for a few minutes before running off. I tried to fire the gobbler up again for a while but the gig was up.

I headed back to camp, and 1 of my friends was already back the other was back to in bed. So we were going to head back to there lease to hunt a little, and feed up there feeders. I just coud not get over that bird, and tell Sean I am going to give it 1 last shot. I knew where I last saw the bird, and had only been hunting the edge of the pine block. These pines are really open, but have rolling hills. So I slid my way right down the middle of the block over the first hill, and down the other side 3/4 of the way to the bottom. set up a quick blind. With very little time to spare. I started right away with a load cackle sequence than settled down low for a little snack. Puffing on a stogie I peaked over my blind to my amazement 2 hens came up over the hill, and fed to within 40 yds. So I soft yelp at them, and they start back. It probably was not necessary with in 2 minutes I see what appears to be a tractor trailer tire come rolling over the hill a 150yds away. This sucker looked huge. Puffed up strutting in spitting, and a drummin. The best most incredible show I have ever seen. Something out of a magazine. Any way the bird rolled right in to my right to 40 yds, and ate some #5 3in from my remington. The whole thing took 15 minutes, and was the first official big game kill at my buds property.

The bird, and the pines he died in 150yds from camp.

The happy hunter.

Another shot

He weighed 19.5 needed a better scale
beard 10.5
spurs 7/8 got jipped.
My biggest bird sweet success.