My 2010 Toms
May 24, 2010 22:46:07 GMT -5
Post by artjr338wm on May 24, 2010 22:46:07 GMT -5
Well this years turkey season was a reverse of what I have come to expect and to be honest have been spoiled for the last 6-7 years. I am fortunate to have excellent Pvt Prop for turkey hunting. From 2003 till 2009, I have consistantly taken my Tom, mostly 2yr olds, but a few 3yr olds, all on the first day of the season, most with in 1hr or less of opening morning. I have also been lucky enough to have drawn a second first season tag, three of the last six seasons, and filled all three. I have also killed a Tom for the last four years (07.08,09,10) in a row in my home state of Indiana.
Well 2010 was a different story. Because of a comitment I could not get out of, I was only able to hunt for two days of this years IL turkey season. As my partner and I soon found out, my turkey property was still crawling with birds, just the Toms were the hardest to call most uncoperative and absolutely most unpredictable Toms I have ever hunted. The Toms gobbled like crazy on the roost both mornings and in the evenings, but would fly down and go off in every direction but towards me and my partner. Thankfully at 11:00am on my last day I could hunt while I was sneeking and peeking I heard a Tom gobble not far away. I made my way to the field he was strutting in, but it was full of CRP grass and made him extremely hard to spot. I could only see the top of his fan, and only sporadicly.
I had to belly crawl to get to with in 50 or so yards of him then I ran out of cover. I got into position and made a few yelps and clucks. Sure enough he came out into the open cut that gos around the field, but just barely. IMHO because he did not see a hen, he went back into the CRP so quickly I was caught by surprise and before I could get set up to shoot him. At 50yrds I need to to take my time and get on him near perfect to make the shot.
I got my gun in position and called (syn slate) again and instantly shouldered my 870. Sure enough he came back out, but this time he went into display for me for several minuets. I do not shoot Toms unless they are not in full display and his head is extended, so I gave a loud and sharp "CLUCK" with my mouth call and sure enough he instantly went from full display to sticking his head up and looking in my direction. He litteraly never knew what hit him. Black Death strikes again.
For my turkey hunting in IN I hunt public land. Let me start by saying that with out any doubt what so ever I know I am a better turkey hunter becuase I also have for the last seven years hunted turkeys on public land. Public land Toms force you to be far more flexable and adaptive as well as being more knowledgeable about turky habits. Although my partner and I did manage to get near one gobbling on the roost, we was not able to get him to fly down to our calls or decoys. As I never ever hunt without my Leupold Jap made 10x42s I saw him gobbling on the roost, but he was faced away from us and we simply could not get him to turn around on the roost and face our way. Once he flew down we both had a good idea where he was headed so we split up and tried to circle around on him. I heard him gobble less than 100yrds from me up on top of a ridge I was walking paralel to. I called my partner on our radios and asked him his 20 and he was also quite close. I started to belly crawl up to the top of the ridge, but stoped once I could hear the Tom spitting and drumming. I also could hear him dragging his wings through the fallen leaves and also heard more than one hen yelping and clucking, so I got into position as best I could and called my friend once again. He said he could actully see the Tom strutting and a few hens as well, and the Tom was around 50yrds from him and in range, but the cover was to thick for a shot. He also, said he had done no calling as he might still want to move. I told him I would not call and to go ahead and try to move in on him or call.
After his first few yelps. purrs and clucks, the Tom did something neithor of us has ever heard of let alone witnessed. The Tom instantly began to make a series of high pitched clucks, pace around back and forth franticly while clucking, but oddly the hens remained silent, and then after about 60-90 seconds of this the Tom , hens in tow, quickly walked off, did not run, but walked off away from both of us. My partner and I met up, both of us scratching our heads on that one.
After talking about our next move, we desided to split up and see if we could spot one to put a stalk on. I desided to go to the back side of a roost farther away to the east I knew of that I heard 2-4 Toms gobbling in while on the roost this same morning. My partner desided to do the same but at a roost to the NW of us.
Since splitting up, it had become quite windy, perfect for covering the sounds of walking through the woods, but making hearing a far off gobble kinda hard. I knew of a long strait access lane that ran the length of the back side of the roost I was going to check, that also had several decent sized open fields off of it as well, perfect for spotting a Tom and putting a stalk on him. As it turned out the DNR had cut a second road almost next to the old one.
As I was walking through the woods towards the old road the cover became so thick i had to get down and crawl to get to the edge so i could glass the road up and down for Toms, and if i did not spot any, I then would use the road to get to the fields and check them out and the road allowed me to remain unseen doing so.
Just as I was starting to lower my 10x42s I spotted a Tom sticking his head out into the road and cross it into the woods i was in, not 50yrds to the right of me! what was even better yet, he was fallowed by a second Tom and a lone jake. the wind was making so much noise I felt safe scooting on my butt to get into a better position to call and possably shoot. I spotted their heads bobbing as they made their way and i through a few calls at them. I saw at least one Tom stop and look my way, but only for a instant and it was to thick for a shot.
What happend next really knocked my for a loop. All three started to turn and head from my left to my right and back to cross the road they just crossed and back into the woods they just came form!! I waited till I was sure they could not see me and the wind would cover any sounds I made and I crouched and made my way back to the road to try to cut them off as they crossed. I sat down on the edge of the woods and got set up to call thinking my calls would stop them in the open road and give me a nice close easy shot out in the open road. Who was it said "best laid plans of men and mice?" sure enough they crossed the road and I called, but they did not even look my way and by the time it dawned on me they were not stopping, they were all behind a shotgun proof huge blown down tree.
I figured what the he!! I had nothing to loose so i got up and ran to intercept them as they walked out from behind the downed tree. Luck was with me and i saw one Tom emerge from behind the downed tree. I shot at him and most likely missed, shot again and this time rolled him hard, but much to my total surprise he regained his feet and took off flying once again back towards the road he just crossed for a third time, only by wing this time. I waited till he flew through the opening of the road and shot him again, knocking him down a second time. He regained his feet and took off runing. I now had to reload on the run (litteraly) and saw the path he was taking was going to take him accross the same road for a fourth time no less, I stoped when I saw he was about to cross the road and took aim lead him and fired a fourth time and he dropped with out so much as a flutter.
My hunting partner lator said I most likely scared him to death and he died of shotgun blast induced heart failure rahter than actully killing him with a few #4 shot in the head.
I use to tout the fact that of all the turkeys I have killed, I only took more than one shot and that was the first turkey i ever shot at some 17 years ago and missed. My last and latest turkey I shot at as meny times then the previous four combined.
My partner was unsuccessful that day. I went hunting with him three dyas lator as a second set of eyes, ears and calls. Sure enough we got into 3-4 roosted birds and could see them clearly roosted without our binos we were so close. But it was raining like a cow p!ssing on a flat rock, thunder and lightning like crazy and then we were hailed on to boot!! I sat there about 15yrds behind my partner thankfull for my Gore-tex and simply amaized that the Toms we could see stayed on roost and got simply pummled by the hail. I though for sure my buddy was going to tag his Tom and not even fire a shot when the hail crushes the skull of one of the Toms near us that BTW kept gobbling at most of the thunder claps.
But once the hail stopped and it got light out all four of the Toms flew down away from us as did the hens. We then did the sneek and peek untill I spotted a Tom out in a small field about 11:00am. It had since got bright and sunny out and became a beutifull day. My friend had to dbl back down a thick hedge row that parrleld the field and get even with the Tom who was with a hen, belly crawl through the hedge row that was so thick he had to take off his turkey vest to get through it. Once to the edge he spotted the Tom and was able to set up with out being busted, and luckly he was 45-50yrds from the Tom and the Tom was out in the open. He gave a series of soft clucks and yelps, but the Tom did not move closer to him and remained in constant display the entire time. This went on for about 10 or so minuets, with me having a excellent front row seat with my 10x binos. Finaly my friend used my trick and clucked loudly to get the Tom out of display and stick his head up. One load of 10ga 2oz of No#4s lator and my friend was tagging his 7th Indiana Tom.
I do not know what I enjoy more hunting turkeys myself or helping a good friend get his Tom. Both bring enjoyment beyond expression.
Hopefuly with some luck, I will be starting my 8yr old son out turkey hunting in 2011, he certainly thinks he is ready, we will see.
In any event I can hardly wait for the 2011 turkey season.
Best of luck to all and be safe.
Arthur.
Well 2010 was a different story. Because of a comitment I could not get out of, I was only able to hunt for two days of this years IL turkey season. As my partner and I soon found out, my turkey property was still crawling with birds, just the Toms were the hardest to call most uncoperative and absolutely most unpredictable Toms I have ever hunted. The Toms gobbled like crazy on the roost both mornings and in the evenings, but would fly down and go off in every direction but towards me and my partner. Thankfully at 11:00am on my last day I could hunt while I was sneeking and peeking I heard a Tom gobble not far away. I made my way to the field he was strutting in, but it was full of CRP grass and made him extremely hard to spot. I could only see the top of his fan, and only sporadicly.
I had to belly crawl to get to with in 50 or so yards of him then I ran out of cover. I got into position and made a few yelps and clucks. Sure enough he came out into the open cut that gos around the field, but just barely. IMHO because he did not see a hen, he went back into the CRP so quickly I was caught by surprise and before I could get set up to shoot him. At 50yrds I need to to take my time and get on him near perfect to make the shot.
I got my gun in position and called (syn slate) again and instantly shouldered my 870. Sure enough he came back out, but this time he went into display for me for several minuets. I do not shoot Toms unless they are not in full display and his head is extended, so I gave a loud and sharp "CLUCK" with my mouth call and sure enough he instantly went from full display to sticking his head up and looking in my direction. He litteraly never knew what hit him. Black Death strikes again.
For my turkey hunting in IN I hunt public land. Let me start by saying that with out any doubt what so ever I know I am a better turkey hunter becuase I also have for the last seven years hunted turkeys on public land. Public land Toms force you to be far more flexable and adaptive as well as being more knowledgeable about turky habits. Although my partner and I did manage to get near one gobbling on the roost, we was not able to get him to fly down to our calls or decoys. As I never ever hunt without my Leupold Jap made 10x42s I saw him gobbling on the roost, but he was faced away from us and we simply could not get him to turn around on the roost and face our way. Once he flew down we both had a good idea where he was headed so we split up and tried to circle around on him. I heard him gobble less than 100yrds from me up on top of a ridge I was walking paralel to. I called my partner on our radios and asked him his 20 and he was also quite close. I started to belly crawl up to the top of the ridge, but stoped once I could hear the Tom spitting and drumming. I also could hear him dragging his wings through the fallen leaves and also heard more than one hen yelping and clucking, so I got into position as best I could and called my friend once again. He said he could actully see the Tom strutting and a few hens as well, and the Tom was around 50yrds from him and in range, but the cover was to thick for a shot. He also, said he had done no calling as he might still want to move. I told him I would not call and to go ahead and try to move in on him or call.
After his first few yelps. purrs and clucks, the Tom did something neithor of us has ever heard of let alone witnessed. The Tom instantly began to make a series of high pitched clucks, pace around back and forth franticly while clucking, but oddly the hens remained silent, and then after about 60-90 seconds of this the Tom , hens in tow, quickly walked off, did not run, but walked off away from both of us. My partner and I met up, both of us scratching our heads on that one.
After talking about our next move, we desided to split up and see if we could spot one to put a stalk on. I desided to go to the back side of a roost farther away to the east I knew of that I heard 2-4 Toms gobbling in while on the roost this same morning. My partner desided to do the same but at a roost to the NW of us.
Since splitting up, it had become quite windy, perfect for covering the sounds of walking through the woods, but making hearing a far off gobble kinda hard. I knew of a long strait access lane that ran the length of the back side of the roost I was going to check, that also had several decent sized open fields off of it as well, perfect for spotting a Tom and putting a stalk on him. As it turned out the DNR had cut a second road almost next to the old one.
As I was walking through the woods towards the old road the cover became so thick i had to get down and crawl to get to the edge so i could glass the road up and down for Toms, and if i did not spot any, I then would use the road to get to the fields and check them out and the road allowed me to remain unseen doing so.
Just as I was starting to lower my 10x42s I spotted a Tom sticking his head out into the road and cross it into the woods i was in, not 50yrds to the right of me! what was even better yet, he was fallowed by a second Tom and a lone jake. the wind was making so much noise I felt safe scooting on my butt to get into a better position to call and possably shoot. I spotted their heads bobbing as they made their way and i through a few calls at them. I saw at least one Tom stop and look my way, but only for a instant and it was to thick for a shot.
What happend next really knocked my for a loop. All three started to turn and head from my left to my right and back to cross the road they just crossed and back into the woods they just came form!! I waited till I was sure they could not see me and the wind would cover any sounds I made and I crouched and made my way back to the road to try to cut them off as they crossed. I sat down on the edge of the woods and got set up to call thinking my calls would stop them in the open road and give me a nice close easy shot out in the open road. Who was it said "best laid plans of men and mice?" sure enough they crossed the road and I called, but they did not even look my way and by the time it dawned on me they were not stopping, they were all behind a shotgun proof huge blown down tree.
I figured what the he!! I had nothing to loose so i got up and ran to intercept them as they walked out from behind the downed tree. Luck was with me and i saw one Tom emerge from behind the downed tree. I shot at him and most likely missed, shot again and this time rolled him hard, but much to my total surprise he regained his feet and took off flying once again back towards the road he just crossed for a third time, only by wing this time. I waited till he flew through the opening of the road and shot him again, knocking him down a second time. He regained his feet and took off runing. I now had to reload on the run (litteraly) and saw the path he was taking was going to take him accross the same road for a fourth time no less, I stoped when I saw he was about to cross the road and took aim lead him and fired a fourth time and he dropped with out so much as a flutter.
My hunting partner lator said I most likely scared him to death and he died of shotgun blast induced heart failure rahter than actully killing him with a few #4 shot in the head.
I use to tout the fact that of all the turkeys I have killed, I only took more than one shot and that was the first turkey i ever shot at some 17 years ago and missed. My last and latest turkey I shot at as meny times then the previous four combined.
My partner was unsuccessful that day. I went hunting with him three dyas lator as a second set of eyes, ears and calls. Sure enough we got into 3-4 roosted birds and could see them clearly roosted without our binos we were so close. But it was raining like a cow p!ssing on a flat rock, thunder and lightning like crazy and then we were hailed on to boot!! I sat there about 15yrds behind my partner thankfull for my Gore-tex and simply amaized that the Toms we could see stayed on roost and got simply pummled by the hail. I though for sure my buddy was going to tag his Tom and not even fire a shot when the hail crushes the skull of one of the Toms near us that BTW kept gobbling at most of the thunder claps.
But once the hail stopped and it got light out all four of the Toms flew down away from us as did the hens. We then did the sneek and peek untill I spotted a Tom out in a small field about 11:00am. It had since got bright and sunny out and became a beutifull day. My friend had to dbl back down a thick hedge row that parrleld the field and get even with the Tom who was with a hen, belly crawl through the hedge row that was so thick he had to take off his turkey vest to get through it. Once to the edge he spotted the Tom and was able to set up with out being busted, and luckly he was 45-50yrds from the Tom and the Tom was out in the open. He gave a series of soft clucks and yelps, but the Tom did not move closer to him and remained in constant display the entire time. This went on for about 10 or so minuets, with me having a excellent front row seat with my 10x binos. Finaly my friend used my trick and clucked loudly to get the Tom out of display and stick his head up. One load of 10ga 2oz of No#4s lator and my friend was tagging his 7th Indiana Tom.
I do not know what I enjoy more hunting turkeys myself or helping a good friend get his Tom. Both bring enjoyment beyond expression.
Hopefuly with some luck, I will be starting my 8yr old son out turkey hunting in 2011, he certainly thinks he is ready, we will see.
In any event I can hardly wait for the 2011 turkey season.
Best of luck to all and be safe.
Arthur.