Your first turkey

[JALA RUT]

On another site I visit there was a thread about your first turkey harvest which brought about some good turkey stories...thought I would start a similar thread here with the NY turkey season getting closer...

 

My buddy and I were and still are die hard bow hunters...we both live for hunting the whitetail rut and after a few years of bowhunting, more years ago than I like to admit, we decided to try some turkey hunting.  The birds were becoming more prevalent in NY and we would actually see some during deer season.  Well our first year was a bust...in fact we didn't even hear a gobble the whole season.  The following year we seen some birds at a distance and heard some distant gobbles but that was it.  So first two seasons we didn't even work a single bird.  The following year I was determined that I was going to get my first gobbler.  I read more about turkey hunting in magazines and books (Way before the days of computers) that off season than I did the previous two years combined.  I bought a slate call and practiced incessantly with it until I was satisfied with the turkey talk coming from it.  Then, finally the season was approaching - about a week away.  I walked in to scout an area I planned to hunt and found what I thought could be a roost site.  I prepped a tree in the general area that I would use to sit against, clearing the ground of leaves and debris and cleared a quiet path to make my way to the tree in the dark.  When I was done, I figured what the heck, I'll crank out the crow call just to see.  I about crapped myself when a gobbler hammered back.  I quickly snuck out of there.  Opening morning of the turkey season about a week later, sitting by my tree in the dark waiting for daylight, I just kept thinking of that gobble and prayed he was roosting nearby.  As the day dawned and the songbirds were waking up the forest I finally heard some gobbling off in the distance, way off in the distance, but I remained hopeful that they would head my way at some point - afterall, the gobbler that I heard a week ago was in my area later in the day.  As it got lighter I let out some a series of soft yelps and some clucks.  No response.  I repeated the series again with no response and then I decided that I would just call about every 15 - 20 minutes.  So, as impatient as I was, about 10 minutes later I did another series of yelps and clucks.  Again, no response.  Then, as I sat there I caught movement to my left.  My heart jumped out of my chest when I realized it was a turkey, then I saw a short beard sticking out of his chest.  It was a jake and he was coming in quietly looking around for the hen he had been hearing.  As he walked behind a tree about 20 yards away I brought up my gun and leveled it on the other side of the tree waiting for him to step out.  A second or two later his head appeared on the other side of the tree as he stepped out.  I steadied my bead on his neck...BOOM!  He dropped and flopped around.  I jumped to my feet and ran to him.  I stepped on his head and grabbed his feet as he flopped around a few last times.  Then, I hoisted him up and FINALLY had my first turkey!  He was a jake, but I couldn't have been any happier with him!  I was a turkey hunter, hooked for life.      

[G-Man]

My father had just passed and his friend who was a big call maker decided he would take me turkey hunting.. I had a good idea where turkeys were and we headed that direction. He let out a owl hoot on his prototype tin juice can owl hooter and we got an answer from where I thought birds would be.

as we crept in the woods he asked me how far I thought we were from them I told him 100 yards and we should sit.. he said nope and we snuck to within 40 yards and could actually see birds roosted in the trees.. then we sat. He did all the calling. 2 Toms and 13 hens flew down and disappeared just over the edge of the bench. A little calling and they all came up 30 yards from me.. i shot the 1st tom that entered the opening. 18Lbs 8.5 Inch beard. The rest of the birds flew everywhere.

He asked me which way the other tom flew. We went 100 yards in that direction and sat down , after twenty minutes he made a lone yelp and a bird gobbled 70 yards down the hill below us. Another yelp and he gobbled back at fifty. Again at 30 yards when his head popped up onto bench ..bang!! My instructor had his bird a 20 lbs tom with 11in beard.

The way back to the cabin he asked if i knew why we kept hunting.. i said no. When u miss or break up a group as long as werent on alarm. They would want to get back together same as a fall flock. Just wait 20-60 minutes and call soft. He also told me he knew I killed the smaller bird and couldn't have a teen anger show him up as he was well known....lol

[ants]

I was walking/running up a power line cut, trying to get to a spot that I had checked out a week prior,that seemed promising.I had a good 1/4 mile to go yet.  It was already daylight and I was running late. All the sudden I heard a loud gobble off to the left of the power line. I ran back a good 100yrds and ducked into the woods, off to the left of the power line road. I set up and called…..he answered…I called….he answered …I called……..and  nothing. Then I remembered the old timer, who taught me to hunt, telling me that ..once they answer you, they know where you are so shut up.. I shut up and waited…I seemed like a good hour but it was more like 15 minutes or so. I stayed quiet and still and the tom finally walked in, quietly and I hammered him at about 25 yds. He was a nice one and I was so psyched that I could hardly think straight.

[dbHunterNY]

glassed two long beards working across a field.  couple other guys I was with called and called to them.  gobbling but they were on a mission and wouldn't change direction.  they packed it up to head back to the truck as it was 11:30am.  The longbeards disappeared from view heading down into a swamp at the bottom of the valley.  I sprinted down the valley to the other side of the swamp.  setup a hen decoy out in an adjacent field and I sat tucked into a small brush pile at it's edge.  the setup had me next to a barway that connected two fields and the end of the swamp.  I called with a mouth diaphragm and they came in hammering through the swamp.  they both passed behind me just on the other side of the brush pile, spitting and drumming.  came out of the swamp by the barway.  the first one was at five steps in front of me.  the second one behind it wasn't even into the field yet before the first one started putting.  so I let the first one have a 12ga load of Federal 3" #5 heavyweight at around 5 yards. I aimed at the base of the neck because I was afraid I'd miss that close.  the second bird flew off.  the first didn't flop or flinch but went straight to stone dead.  I've since learned that's not the typical encounter when you kill a turkey. lol  it got me hooked though.

 

Edited April 16, 2014 by dbHunterNY

[TeeBugg]

First year, first time ever turkey hunting on my dads land. Had a push pull call since i was green, and some inflatable sceery decoys. I set them up all walking in a line and proceeded to climb into my deer stand. Yes i climbed in my stand because no one had told me to do any different lol. About 20 mins after daylight i used the push call and heard a gobbler off to my left about 80 yards. Ten minutes went by and i hit the call again and he gobbled about 50 yards off to my left. I was confused but stayed still. Next thing i know i hear this weird ticking sound and what sounded like a snake rustling in the leaves....he was spitting and fanning out lol. My last clue was i only put 4 decoys out, i now had 5 and one was moving. Setting them up in the dark i didnt realize i placed them directly behind a few pine trees. He finally stepped out at about 22 yards and i shot. The old h&r 20gauge buckled him. Ended up being an old bird weighing around 21-22 lbs, double beards 10 1/2, 9 7/8 long. One nice spur just over an inch and the other was wore right down. Best part was this bird had actually walked in front of my dad at 60 yards and wouldnt commit. Dad said he was on a mission to find my rookie greenhorn calling lol!

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk

[Lawdwaz]

1981.  Greenwood, NY 23lbs, 10.5" beard and 1.25" spurs (I don't really remember the spur length, I gave them to a cousin) (I'm the one that looks like Hank Williams Jr )

 

 

My good buddy Albert took me.  He had a spot in Greenwood that they had permission to hunt.  After a night of too much partying we headed down at 3am.  Made it to the "spot" around 5:00am. Parked the truck at a spot that was kind of the bottom of a basin, UP in every direction.  Al hooted from the edge of the road and 5 different birds responded and the Game was ON!!  

 

I didn't have a clue as it was my first rodeo.  He pointed to the bird straight west of us and said that was the one we wanted.  OK with me.....!!

 

We climbed for 20 minutes and I was a wreck......that bird gobbled none stop.  The details of the rest of the hunt are a bit fuzzy as the action was fast.  I rolled him with the first shot and had to chase him down as only a 20 year old can do

 

The bird was in the bag before 6am and we were happy campers.  Al did all the calling and I was just the hired gun.  My first turkey!  (I've only killed two fall birds, they don't interest me in that time of year)

 

We had breakfast in Canisteo and had to wait until the Big M (or was it a Sure Fine?) opened to weigh the stud.  We went in and asked the deli dude if we could bring the bird in to be weighed, he said sure!!  We grabbed him from the truck and plopped him on the deli scale and he was 23lbs+

 

Good times and hooked me for life. 

Edited April 17, 2014 by Lawdwaz

[Uncle Nicky]

My first bird was actually 2.

 

I got into the game later in life, even though I'd been a long-time small game & deer hunter. Pretty much self-taught at first, I really had no clue what I was doing. Struck out a lot, both fall & spring hunting, but I was determined. A buddy told me he knew where some birds were roosing that night, so I decided to take him up on his offer & try my luck; this was in the fall, in NY.

 

I got in as close to the tree as I dared, and sure enough, the birds started yapping about 1/2 an hour before light. Once the sun came out, I counted 20+ birds roosted in the tree, in the center of a hayfield. They finally flew down, practically in my lap. I EVER SO SLOWLY raised the shotgun to my shoulder, and blasted the first head that I drew a bead on. After the flock scattered, the smoke cleared, and I gained my composure, I saw 2 birds flopping on the ground, both 1st year jakes.

 

So, in the course of a couple hours, I'd graduated from a wanne-be turkey hunter to a turkey killer and tagged out for the season at the same time. I too have been hooked ever since.

 

[Lawdwaz]

My first bird was actually 2.

 

I got into the game later in life, even though I'd been a long-time small game & deer hunter. Pretty much self-taught at first, I really had no clue what I was doing. Struck out a lot, both fall & spring hunting, but I was determined. A buddy told me he knew where some birds were roosing that night, so I decided to take him up on his offer & try my luck; this was in the fall, in NY.

 

I got in as close to the tree as I dared, and sure enough, the birds started yapping about 1/2 an hour before light. Once the sun came out, I counted 20+ birds roosted in the tree, in the center of a hayfield. They finally flew down, practically in my lap. I EVER SO SLOWLY raised the shotgun to my shoulder, and blasted the first head that I drew a bead on. After the flock scattered, the smoke cleared, and I gained my composure, I saw 2 birds flopping on the ground, both 1st year jakes.

 

So, in the course of a couple hours, I'd graduated from a wanne-be turkey hunter to a turkey killer and tagged out for the season at the same time. I too have been hooked ever since.

 

I know of a few multi-bird kills on jakes!  I haven't done it but sure could have many times.  Not too many times have I had the opportunity on adults but I do remember just last spring on opening day my buddy had three come in.  I was doing the calling and my gun was not in position for a shot as we thought it was just one bird.  Much to our surprise three longbeards showed up.  My buddy had to wait until they split up and then proceeded to miss anyway.  

 

He has killed as many gobblers as Pygmy I bet and still got rattled!!  Freaking awesome!!  (an hour later he killed an adult down the road from these birds) 

[KShadows]

I have yet to actually shoot a turkey but I will never forget the first time I went out.  I was about 15 years old. I woke my grandpa up about 45 minutes earlier than necessary and he laughed at me... I had a diaphragm call but didn't know anything about different types of calls or anything.  We walked out and found a place to sit, and I called a bit.  And a bit more.  And a bit more.  Finally I decided to be quiet for a bit so I leaned back against a tree and the next thing I knew, I was starting to drift off.  Out of nowhere, I heard a gobble!  My head jerked up and without thinking I whipped around to where my grandpa was sitting and said "Was that a turkey??!" and he laughed at me and nodded.  

 

I never got to see the darn thing but I was so excited to know that at least they were there!  My grandpa has since passed away and he will be on my mind when I go out there this spring!

[IAatHeart]

My first year turkey hunting I went out on my own but had read a lot and watched a lot of videos so I at least had a gist of what to do.

 

Well first morning out went to a spot that I had scouted and didn't hear or see any birds so I decided that evening to go hunt another spot a friend had told me about but I hadn't scouted at all. (this was in Iowa where its legal to hunt all day) Well I didn't see any birds that night but I did finally hear my first gobbles and that got me fired up.

 

So I went back out there the next morning and got set up in a field with my old foam decoys and had some gobblers firing off on the roost so I called a bit but when they flew down they completely shut up. So being the rookie turkey hunter I was and being completely exhausted from getting up at 3am the last couple mornings I decided to lay down and figured I would hear one coming if anything was going to come out. Well as I was laying there "resting my eyes" I hear some real soft kind of purring noise so I look up and there is a giant tom strutting about 12 yards away in my decoys. Well as I try to click off the safety he here's it and gets alert so I try to sit up real quick and shoot him but I completely whiff 3 times and he flies off.

 

I then hunt 2 more times out there and the last day of the season I had given up and was down on myself and was walking back to the truck. The trail on the way out makes a 90* turn with a ridge in the way to make it a blind corner and it was windy that day. As I'm coming to that turn I can here something moving around on the other side so I get my gun ready and I round the bend and see a turkey in the trail. I look for a beard and see it so I pull up my gun and as he is trying to run off the trail I shoot him and he just makes it back into the timber and starts flopping so I run up and step on his neck and I got my first turkey!

 

They must grow bigger in Iowa as he was 26lbs with a 9 1/2" beard and 1 1/8" spurs. So not the traditional way to get a turkey but it worked!

 

[MACHINIST]

My first bird came after a few years of turkey hunting here and there.Not really getting seroius just something to do in the spring when I wasnt walleye fishing.4 years ago something hit me and I got really seroius,I had a friend who loved it so he drove me and showed me all he knew also.We were hunting one saturday late in the day and we set down on each side of a hedgerow at 11 to finish the day where we found a dusting area.after a minute or 2 I heard a gobble across the field about 400 yards to the north.He answered every call I made and was running doing it!! When he got to 100 yards my friend(wo is hard of hearing due to being a machinist in his 60's) said OUT LOUD!!!! "Hey I think I just heard one gobble!!!" I said "NO SHAT SHIRLOCK HE RIGHT THERE!!!" After another 10-15 minutes he closed the gap from 100 to 45 or so but he was in a dip in the field and all I could see was his head and the top of his fan.Something alerted his and he putted and stretched his neck out.Bad move!!! My gun roared and he was gone.I thought "WTF I MISSED HIM!!!" I looked to see if I could see him running and nothing.after a little bit I stood to see him in a pile flapping around where the dip was.That was it,I was hooked for life.I cant wait for the youth season to get my nephew out there and the may 1st si I can get behind the gun!!Heres a pic of my first bird