Some Turkey Hunter, I Am

[landtracdeerhunter]

I call myself a turkey hunter, but just have not had the time to get out. So wrapped up in those white tails. Just about sick that the season is flying by and closes this Friday for our region. Anyone want to share a story of their hunt this Fall, at least I can relate to that. Thank you.

[Guides ForHire]

the turkeys are not in number where I have been hunting, little scratching there and here, but haven't had a shot on one yet.

finishing out the snipe and woodcock seasons and if I grab the bow for deer I bet I see plenty of turkeys at 100 yards. lol.

about out of time, I missed the entire fall season in MA, closes tomorrow I think. and VT not far behind it, but its all NY for me this next week.

I have 70 cords of wood to take out of the national forest before dec and I bet you I see birds everyday when its closed. typical.

I rely on fall tags since the spring season ruins my bowfishing.

GOOD LUCK! get out there and get some for me.

[Jennifer]

Don't feel too terrible. I've been out every sat & sunday since it opened here in the SZ and a few weekdays too when the afternoons were nice. Not a yelp, scratching, feather or turkey poop in over 50 hours in the woods so far! This is the first year that we haven't been able to pattern them or even know that they're out there! They are obviously but we have no idea what they're eating. The leaves are all down, here, so they should be scratching, unless they're picking bugs in the fields still, but we don't see them there either. Puzzling! Maybe they are eating apples with the deer.

I know I'll see them running around, singing and dancing in circles all of deer season....

[Fantail]

A few years ago I picked up the Bow - then an NZ lease. Truth be told I haven't hunted Turkeys in the Fall (on purpose) for 2 years now. Just in the Spring.

There, I admited it, guess that's Step 1.

Doesn't mean I'll quit drinking, and my freezer is full

[WNY Bowhunter]

I hear you man. I'm a hardcore turkey hunter too; every fall I get upset that here in Region 8 our season opens during the third week of October and it conflicts with my bowhunting (sucks I'm in a 1-bird area too). Usually, I'll save my fall turkey hunting for the crappy weather days...

So, I was hunting some winery property yesterday afternoon and saw a monster longbeard heading for roost right at 5:00. I knew that he'd be close by this morning and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Got set up at daybreak and discovered that there was a whole flock roosting along this steep ravine. They carried on in the tree and flew down across the gulley. The were picking/scratching there way up towards me but I couldn't see them due to the thick cover I was sitting in. They headed up towards a field and I belly crawled down to where I could get in a better position to shoot. Started calling with my mouthcall and the boss hen got all fired up. I finally irritated her enough that she came on in to kick my butt with the rest of the flock in tow. I was laying prone and only had a small opening to shoot through. I couldn't locate the longbeard from the evening before...it was a now-or-never scenario as the birds were starting to get all clustered up...I opted to take a nice fat jake before it was too late. So, I didn't get the big gobbler I was gunning for, but it was a fun time with all of the suspense and thrill of a spring-time turkey hunt. Now that the turkey tag is punched it's time to endure this crappy weather and get back after the task of putting a nice buck on the ground...

Edited November 8, 2011 by WNY Bowhunter

[SteveNY]

Right place at the right time. Shot this 24 pound gobbler dropping off a chainsaw at a friends house. Pulled up to the front of the house, saw turkey in the woods about 40 yards off, asked him if he minded me shooting one on his property, he said be my guest of course. Snuck into the woods up in front of them and waited a minute for them to move my way, dropped this tom at about 25 yards.

Spent about 12 hours in the woods before that with out seeing or hearing anything.

What I am wearing in this pic is exactly what I was wearing when I snuck into the woods, blaze orange cap and all. I didn't even think about it, lol.

Edited November 8, 2011 by SteveNY

[landtracdeerhunter]

Both, very nice looking birds with great stories, congrats to both, and thanks for sharing.