whaler

Doesnt sound crazy to me. I usually shoot until they stop flopping around. Not unusual to reload 2 times. All said and done 9 shells.

Got in on the three tough birds i cant seem to kill. Got in close, maybe too close, sat a little later than i hoped, 5:10. Moon brightened everything. They were fired up and they had a hen with them. Right around 5:20 they shut up. Besides the hen talking a little it was crickets. I only gave one tree yelp series on a crystal slate. I looked out in a clearing around 6AM and see a dark blob, great I think, they pitched out silently and i didnt spook them. Turns out it was a sow and 3 cubs. I only got within 70 yards before i realized and boogied out of there. Never encountered one with cubs but I didnt want to find out any resulting encounter. I then moved up a little and the hen and i believe 1 gobbler pitched down and moved off pretty quick. There was a bird (s) hammering about 200 yds away and so i put the sneak on them. Gave some yelps and i see them basically running away. Got on them again about 300 yards away and they did the same thing, gobbled, strutted, then basically bolted. Extremely skittish birds. Maybe the bears had something to do with their behavoir but it was likely me just getting too close and calling. They know my tricks. It was a good season but Im eating NY tag soup. Looking forward to May 1 next season and setting up on these birds again. Hope everyone had an enjoyable season as well.

Got one on state land in CT for the close. Got in at 5 and had one gobbling where i killed one may 4th. Set up within 15 feet of the tree i shot first bird at. get all set and put a jake and feeding hen out quietly. Few mins later heard some light yelps from 30-40 yards. I ended up sitting in the middle of a 7 bird roost, only 3 gobblers. Luckily, after a few yelps my woodhaven crystal, a gobbler pitched down to 30 yards, strutted 3 times along with coming closer. Pulled the trigger at 20 yards. 5:43am I was picking the bird up. Struck 2 hot birds on way out but it was getting warm and its a long hike out uphill. Im done for the season i think. No NY birds this season but 2 CT birds. Happy with what I got. Also, the patternmaster code black turkey choke in my SBEII absolutely annhilated this tom. Had blood dripping all over the back of my pants from carrying him back. The carry sack of my vest was pooled when i got back to truck. Highly recommend the choke, it shoots tight out to 50 yards.

Check under every brush pile, down tree, hole etc. He could have flopped/tried to walk 70 yards and burrowed down into something. If you don't look close you'll never notice. Hoping you find him.

Thats rough. Sorry to hear. Maybe grid search a little? I was out on a bird ive been hunting all season. Started gobbling at 4:55. I couldnt get where i wanted because the woods were crunchy but i was within 70 yds. He flew down the other way and basically did a loop around me. He was out in a field when i left for work. He gobbled probably 100 times. This bird is smart. If i get out sunday im going to ambush him, sit silent. didnt hear any other birds or see anything else on the way out. tomorrow im hitting CT state land for the closer.

Hah, now youre just bragging! i think my favorite part of turkey hunting is the early morning woods waking up. Trying to make a plan and executing it is fun. Ive shot a few birds with the bow and no blind and it is tough work. I think totting the shotgun and doing some walking is all good with me, find some sheds, some morels. Good days in the woods.

Congrats! Thats tough. You have to have everything in order to take a mature tom with a bow and no blind. Impressive for sure.

Ive got three more hunts in me. If i strike out all three then i may be taking a day off next week.

bearded hen. don't shoot it. but its legal to do.

I have a sbeii as well. I used to use an HS strut undertaker. Killed birds, but never really knocked them dead. Shot one on may 5 with it. i got a patternmaster code black turkey a week ago and have only shot once with it and missed a gobbler. I think it shoots lasers and it was tough light when i shot so i chock that up to operator error. The reviews seem great and fit and finish are excellent. ive also heard indian creek are great too. Sumtoy as well.

Thanks yes, it was dark and im sure i just didnt have a good set. He was coming fast, from roost to in my lap 1 minute. Ill look into burris. The benelli is a sbeII with a 28” barrell, its too long especially with the patternmaster code black in it. Its my duck gun which is now basically my turkey gun. Next year im going to get a dedicated 870 turkey gun.

One half hour before sunrise is 5:45am for you? clean, I lifted my head, the bird hardly knew or cared. I need to figure out a better sight in my benelli.

Should add that this is the first time ive seen a hen roosted with them in 5 hunts. Also saw a strutter with a hen on the walk out. I have a feeling the rest of the season will be good, weather forecast looks less wet. getting tired of being sopping wet after my mornings this week.

Missed a big tom. Been hunting these birds for two weeks. Never pulled trigger until today. Three toms roosting with a hen, got in close, they pitched down at 530. I promptly missed at 5:35. Ive killed 1 tom this season and this is my second miss. A little discouraged and honestly I had never missed a bird in 8 seasons hunting them. Its the archer not the bow...

Ill be out too, good luck. Saw two gobblers poking around at 430 after the rain let up.