Lost Bird

[Five Seasons]

I wanted to tell this story and I'll tell it in detail because I know some members appreciate a story. For those that don't, you wouldn't read it anyhow. I tell this story because I hope it helps others, I may get a bashing and I deserve it. But I'm thick skinned enough that if at least 1 other member takes something away from it, then it was worth me sharing. Simply put, it happened and not posting it doesn't make it not true.

 

Yesterday was my second day in the woods this season. My first was 5/2 and I lasted only a few hours after being rained out. I decided to take a vacation day and got up early and headed to the spot where they had been roosting and where I had some action in the rain. I was only able to hunt 2 days of the early MS season before we moved so I'm really just getting into the season. It was a beautiful day, but the birds weren't very vocal. I was setup and waiting by 5:30 and ended up sitting till around 8:30. There were a few close gobbles but nobody was playing ball. At this point I was just happy not to be at work and enjoying the warm morning and figured I'd stroll over to the fields from the hardwoods to see if anyone was out and about. On the 1/2 mile walk I would stop and cluck a little with my mouth call. Saw a bunch of deer and was really just enjoying being in the woods and walking. As I neared the field edge I got a double gobble response from the pines. I had a choice. Do I pop a squat and call them in the woods or do I work towards the field? I decided on the latter clucking every so often and occasionally getting a response from what I could tell sounded like 2 jakes.

 

I made it to the edge and sat down in the corner of a rock pile fence that separated 2 fields. I'm in the corner facing south with the hedge row at my back and to my left. Quickly set the fanny pack on the ground, left the decoys in the bag on my back and quickly setup my MAD x-blind. I proceeded to make short mouth calls. The gobbles rang out and I backed off. I had not had time to range the field and I didn't have time to get a decoy out. About 5 minutes into the impromptu sit the 2 vocal jakes enter the field from my left where the woods and rock pile fence are. I'm shooting 3.5" hevi-13 loads ($5 a shell), a pure gold choke ($80) out of an 835 with Bushnell TRS-25 red dot. I'm as ghilie suited out as one could be from head to toe and everything is camo. I later discover they're at 60 yards. I wait, heart pumping, gun level on the x-blind and safety off. Patient I tell myself. They're too far. They start to slowly work toward me. Man I wish I had my hen decoy out at 20 yards I think. Do I call? Call is in my moth, wouldn't require movement... nah. They work closer to what I discover later is 50 yards. I'm patterned in to 40 but I know my setup is capable of 50. I like to think I would not have taken the shot if I knew it was 50.

 

The closest jake makes a move to re-enter the woods. I believe I'm at 35 or 40 yards and place the red dot on his neck and squeeze. You forget the force of those 3.5's haha, but the adrenaline is rushing. He tips over. Hell yes I think. He quickly gets up and enters the woods. My heart sinks, but I jump out of the blind, decoys on my back and pump in another shell. I hurdle the blind and take off into the freshly tilled field like some sort of WWII soldier storming an enemy bunker. I cut into the woods and see the bird is about 20 yards into the pines and it looks hurt but is moving. I start after him hoping he's hurt enough for me to catch him and deliver a head stomp. I hurdle pines and brush like I'm filming the movie The Last of the Mohicans. I lose him. shit. I scan and see movement. I pursuit. I lose him again. By now we're about 100 yards from the shot and into the pines and thick stuff. nothing. I scan. nothing. I start moving. Do I move quietly or do I make a racket? I call. Nothing. Why would he answer dummy? I start frantically circling the area I last saw him. Is he dead? Is he alive? There's no blood, there's no white belly to look for. Shit. I circle a few more times and spend about 30 minutes. I find a trace feather and mark the spot. I go back to get the rest of my stuff and survey the shot. I range it to be 50. dammit Brandon. I'm sick. There are feathers. Not a ton, but enough, I have pictures if it's worth me sharing. I grab my gear and follow the pursuit. There are more feathers. There is no blood. I think I may have winged him. Is that a thing? I spend another hour hoping I jump him, but nothing. I try crow and owl calls. Nothing. Finding a body would be nearly impossible. I head out dismayed and sick. I would have taken a complete miss and blamed my gun or my nerves over this. I've spent 1/2 a day tracking wounded deer. This just isn't the same thing. I feel hopeless.

 

I'm happy to take thoughts and suggestions. I would also like to know if there is anything I should have done for a better recovery. I am a turkey hunting novice but my advice is this. Be patient. If the shot doesn't present itself, don't pull the trigger because it's your "best shot". Wait for the right one. I'm going to check my pattern tonight to be sure, because the shot placement was true I believe, but the bird is dead or injured and that sucks.

[hawkenwoodsman]

Sorry to hear about you awful experience but it was a nice story. I don't turkey hunt but would like to next year and your advice about taking your time will i'm sure help me when i'm out there. Good luck next time

[ants]

The biggest thing is, know your range. 5 yards can make a huge difference in a shotguns pattern. I have gotten pretty good  judging distance, but sometimes I carry a small range finder, and zap a couple distances when I set up,

[whaler]

Sorry about the unfortunate outcome.

Sometimes it can be something small like picking your head off the stock or even a branch in the way you didnt notice that can lead to something like this happening.

It happens and only your mistakes are really going to make you a better hunter in the end.

[turkeyfeathers]

Dang, that sucks. Sorry man. I've lost 2 deer in my life so I know the feeling. That's 2 too many IMO. I still get a sick feeling about both. Both shots I thought right in the boiler room, didn't rush them. Just went bad for some reason.

 

Good read BTW

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Sorry to hear it Belo, It happens. Know anyone with a good bird dog?

[Four Season Whitetail's]

I have rolled a few to have them fly away. Those wings and feathers can really take a load of pellets. If they didnt take him in the noggin with enough force then he will live to gobble another day!

[diplomat019]

Sorry to hear it Belo, It happens. Know anyone with a good bird dog?

You think maybe the bird died and a dog would find it? Im guessing thats what your talking about.

Im downstate and got a gsp. Where u located?

[landtracdeerhunter]

The "not knowing" part is what would tear me up .How long can one search for a wounded animal; if it's even wounded at all. Sometimes the best of shots can yield to the worst outcomes. 

[landtracdeerhunter]

Sorry to hear it Belo, It happens. Know anyone with a good bird dog?

 

I don't think it's legal to use a dog for Spring turkey in New York; even to search.  I don't know where Belo is; maybe. Of coarse, nothing says you can't take the dog for a walk.

[Steuben Jerry]

^{Sorry to hear about it Belo, it happens, and sucks when it does. You mentioned deserving a bashing, I don't think so at all.}

 

^{Thanks for the story. As a casual Turkey hunter, it was helpful to me!}

Edited May 13, 2016 by Steuben Jerry

[Culvercreek hunt club]

You think maybe the bird died and a dog would find it? Im guessing thats what your talking about.

Im downstate and got a gsp. Where u located?

That's what I meant. if the dog take the scent for quite a ways and no bird it's probably good to go. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I don't think it's legal to use a dog for Spring turkey in New York; even to search.  I don't know where Belo is; maybe. Of coarse, nothing says you can't take the dog for a walk.

using a dog to hunt them isn't legal in the spring. I wouldn't have a gun but if I had access to a dog I sure would be going for a walk with it. 

[Five Seasons]

The biggest thing is, know your range. 5 yards can make a huge difference in a shotguns pattern. I have gotten pretty good  judging distance, but sometimes I carry a small range finder, and zap a couple distances when I set up,

 

I know. had one with me. didn't think I had time to pull it out and I probably did, and know that I definitely should have.

[Five Seasons]

I didn't even think about a dog. I'm hunting in Ontario and if anyone wants to look tomorrow I'm game but given the distance he traveled and now all the rain I feel it might be fruitless and am thinking he might be ok anyhow. maybe tomorrow I can finish him off.

[Critter4321]

At least you took your time and looked I have known those that don't!

     

     I can also say from experience I wounded a turkey once we found it in the thickest meanest briar bush I ever seen. Finding one in a pine grove could be pretty close to impossible as they hide and blend better then deer. And like others have said things happen don't rip yourself apart its all part of hunting not every shot is a giving kill sometimes we just get over excited!!

[pistolp71]

Don't think you did anything worthy of a bashing at all. That's hunting. It doesn't always work out perfectly. That rig you are shooting is certainly capable of a 50 yard kill. I'm assuming you patterned it first.

[reeltime]

Belo,  things happen in the moment sometimes they work out sometimes they don't. nothing to be beat up over.  anyone and everyone  can, has, or will misjudge yardage at some point in their hunting career.  

 

in reading your story my only piece of advice for a similar scenario in the future I would suggest that if you get up close to a bird that is obviously still very much alive shoot again, better to pick out more pellets than loose the bird all together.  Turkeys are extremely hard to kill if you do not put pellets in the head or break the spine. 

 

 

give me a call and will see if I can be of any help.

 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I have the perfect idea to make it all better. have ham for Thanksgiving. All will be forgiven

[dbHunterNY]

if it's dead it won't go to waste.  it happens.  there's little to practice for turkey hunting with a gun.  other than calling and and patterning/zero checking the gun.  get back out there.  this time know what 40 yards looks like and then shoot when there's no reservations.  good luck and hope you flop one.

[growalot]

 

I cut into the woods and see the bird is about 20 yards into the pines and it looks hurt but is moving.

 First sorry, second at 20 yrds I will assume no shot presented...hurt but moving...personally I would have hung back quietly but keeping him in sight...he just may have stopped to try and recover and yes stiffened up a bit...birds have Adrenalin too.  I nearly lost a tom one year ...he ran away...It took a long time to find but he flattened himself up against a downed log and died with his wings out flat...I walked by him twice before I realized what that dark spot was. All this said because you asked for suggestions, not a criticism. So you helped to feed a fox family nothing truly lost,lots of experience gained.

[grampy]

No bashing from me either. Simply put, thats hunting! In another thread, the question was asked, "have you missed"? All the experienced hunters commented that if you haven't missed, you haven't shot at a lot of birds. Sure, it doesn't make it any easier to swallow, when it happens. But in my years of hunting, I've learned more from my mistakes, than successes. Best of luck to you Belo, when you get back out there!

[Skillet]

BTDT, Belo. It happens, but I know hearing that doesn't make it any less bitter. Sorry Man.

[diplomat019]

I didn't even think about a dog. I'm hunting in Ontario and if anyone wants to look tomorrow I'm game but given the distance he traveled and now all the rain I feel it might be fruitless and am thinking he might be ok anyhow. maybe tomorrow I can finish him off.

Too far for me otherwise id have offered up my dog. Good luck with the bird

[Five Seasons]

Don't think you did anything worthy of a bashing at all. That's hunting. It doesn't always work out perfectly. That rig you are shooting is certainly capable of a 50 yard kill. I'm assuming you patterned it first.

Yeah but at 40, I admit to not knowing a ton about shot shell ballistics... With a mag load would the shot be low at 10 additional yards? Hevi-13 is steel.