Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Tree Killer
4/25/08 8:29am
Was hoping for a break in the weather, so I headed over the mountain in a blowing snow storm this morning.
I arrived at dark thirty and wandered down to an area I've heard birds gobble on the roost in the past. I wasn't disappointed when I heard the first gobble at 5:20am I quickly moved in and set up within 75 yards of the bird. By 5:30 he was gobbling steady and I waited for more light before I gave him some soft sweet tree yelps. Several minutes later the bird went silent, and I thought to myself "it's way too early for flydown"? At 5:35 I about jumped out of my shorts when a gun blast shattered the pre-dawn silence. After the shot I heard pellets sprinkling down from the heavens. Somebody had snuck in and shot or shot at the bird in the tree! I yelled over and SUGGESTED that they should try and WAIT until the birds flydown before pulling the trigger. I didn't get a reply?
I left and went to another nearby ridge to get away from humanity. Before long I found some fresh sign and my attitude began to adjust.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/bigpoop2.jpg " alt="" />
I continued out the ridge calling into some likely looking turkey nooks. The fresh sign was getting fresher...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/bigpoop1.jpg " alt="" />
At around 7:30 I got a response from not one, but two birds! After setting up and working the birds and getting numerous replies, the birds went silent. I stayed put and continued to call now and then expecting them to come sneaking in quietly. After 15 minutes of the silent treatment I decided to move. I looped out onto a timbered side ridge and got a response from the birds. While I was thinking about whether to sit down there or close the gap, the birds gobbled several more times, getting closer. I sat down!
After maybe 5 minutes the birds had closed in and THUNDERED from across a little draw. I adjusted my muzzle to the zone I expected the birds to walk into. Almost like magic the two Tom's appeared out of nowhere at 23 yards. I was trying to decide which bird was the biggest when the bird on the right spotted the DSD and popped into a strut, decision made! I gave him a sharp cut with a mouth call to get his head back up and it was all over but the picture taking.
The cold had zapped my batteries, so I put them in my pocket to warm them up. I finally had enough juice for several quick pics...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2008boss1.jpg " alt="" />
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2008boss3.jpg " alt="" />
When I got back to the truck I replaced the batteries and set up for more pics...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2008boss4.jpg " alt="" />
It was cold, windy, and snowing at times. But nothing like a little gobbling to warm things up on a fine SPRING day!
I arrived at dark thirty and wandered down to an area I've heard birds gobble on the roost in the past. I wasn't disappointed when I heard the first gobble at 5:20am I quickly moved in and set up within 75 yards of the bird. By 5:30 he was gobbling steady and I waited for more light before I gave him some soft sweet tree yelps. Several minutes later the bird went silent, and I thought to myself "it's way too early for flydown"? At 5:35 I about jumped out of my shorts when a gun blast shattered the pre-dawn silence. After the shot I heard pellets sprinkling down from the heavens. Somebody had snuck in and shot or shot at the bird in the tree! I yelled over and SUGGESTED that they should try and WAIT until the birds flydown before pulling the trigger. I didn't get a reply?
I left and went to another nearby ridge to get away from humanity. Before long I found some fresh sign and my attitude began to adjust.
I continued out the ridge calling into some likely looking turkey nooks. The fresh sign was getting fresher...
At around 7:30 I got a response from not one, but two birds! After setting up and working the birds and getting numerous replies, the birds went silent. I stayed put and continued to call now and then expecting them to come sneaking in quietly. After 15 minutes of the silent treatment I decided to move. I looped out onto a timbered side ridge and got a response from the birds. While I was thinking about whether to sit down there or close the gap, the birds gobbled several more times, getting closer. I sat down!
After maybe 5 minutes the birds had closed in and THUNDERED from across a little draw. I adjusted my muzzle to the zone I expected the birds to walk into. Almost like magic the two Tom's appeared out of nowhere at 23 yards. I was trying to decide which bird was the biggest when the bird on the right spotted the DSD and popped into a strut, decision made! I gave him a sharp cut with a mouth call to get his head back up and it was all over but the picture taking.
The cold had zapped my batteries, so I put them in my pocket to warm them up. I finally had enough juice for several quick pics...
When I got back to the truck I replaced the batteries and set up for more pics...
It was cold, windy, and snowing at times. But nothing like a little gobbling to warm things up on a fine SPRING day!
4,367
one hunting fool
4/25/08 9:11am
Great story and thanks for the pictures. Congratulations
0
Hiker
4/25/08 3:51pm
Thank you for sharing your hunt with us. =D>
0
MuleyMadness
4/25/08 4:22pm
Awesome story and photos! Looks like a great time and sounded even better, THANKS!
0
DeadI
4/25/08 5:11pm
Thanks for the story and pictures. Sounds like a good time. Congrats on your Bird.
0
killerbee
4/28/08 8:31pm
awsome! man they are fun to hunt :thumb
0
Tree Killer
4/29/08 3:40pm
Thanks for the replies. Turkeys are so much fun to hunt, especially since it takes place in the spring. I guess I like it so much because they're like a 20# bull elk. The gobbling gets your adrenaline pumping like a big bull elk does with his bugling!
0