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17 May 2008

Oh, How I Love Those Spring Toms - Another Missouri Spring Turkey Season

Posted by Darrell under: Turkey .

Ok, so you think you are a hunter. Yeah, me too. The problem is, and has been for some time now, that the turkeys in my neck of the woods don’t agree. They routinely make a laughing stock of me.

Missouri’s Spring Turkey Season just recently ended. I spent as much time as I could out chasing those gobblers. But, they continue to mainly just laugh at me. Here are the highlights of this year’s season:

One beautiful spring morning:

We (Zach and myself) arrived at my well placed blind about 20 minutes before sunrise. Turkeys were roosted within 100 yards of our blind. They flew down a a little after daylight and we watched all morning as several big Gobblers strutted their stuff between 50 and 150 yards of our blind. They ignored our decoys and didn’t get too shook up over our calls because they were surrounded by hens. The hens, by the way, had no qualms about walking circles around our blind .

The next beautiful spring morning:

Again, Zach and I, arrived at my blind well before daylight. This time, though, we were more prepared. We had moved our blind closer to where we knew those Toms loved to strut. PLUS my friends Jeff and Thad had set up their own blind just 50 yards from us. If the turkeys were close they wouldn’t have a chance with 2 guns and 2 bows all within 50 yards…..

Well, again, I (we) were wrong. It sounded better than any symphony when those turkeys first started gobbling from their roosts. We could hear six different gobblers - all within 200 yards of our blinds. When they flew down our hearts started pumping. Their were old toms, young jakes, and hens EVERYWHERE! A nice young Jake walked by our blind at less than 20 yards. I tried to convince Zach to shoot it, but he refused. He was locked on a couple big (as in 12″ beards) gobblers about 75 yards off that he was certain would come in.

After 45 minutes of watching these birds, Zach convinced me to shoot a gobbler that had walked in close. “He’s just 33 yards away” Zach told me. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Yep, 33 yards - hurry”. I took the shot and the huge gobbler flew off like nothing had happened. I then ranged the distance myself to find it was actually 51 yards. At least I didn’t hurt him any!

Apparently, right as I was preparing to take my shot, Jeff and Thad were locked on big gobblers of their own. They had both drawn back their bows and were counting backward to take a shot together at seperate birds. “5….4….3…..2 — BOOM!” My shot caused both of their birds to take to the air. Sorry guys! I wouldn’t have shot if I’d have known.

The birds started coming back after a few minutes, although they were a lot more spooked acting. Zach took a 30+ yard shot at a huge gobbler… and missed. Jeff shot a different big gobbler with his bow at about 20 yards. the arrow hit it in the breast bone and (I kid you not) deflected down into the ground. It removed a few arrows and that was it. That bird flew a 1/4 of a mile away.

Another incredible day without a bird to show for it!

On yet another beautiful spring day:

I watched as my friend Dana called a huge Gobbler across a field and to within 20 yards. He dropped it with his 12 gauge like a pro. We spent the rest of the day watching/stalking/calling birds that weren’t interested in coming to us. Although, I can say that I missed an opportunity when we crested a hill and a huge tom was standing not 20 feet away - all fanned out. I immediately dropped to the ground and backed up. “Why didn’t you shoot it?” Dana asked. “That thought never even entered my mind” I had to confess.

All in all, I must have seen over 100 gobblers this season. To be honest, the fact that I didn’t feel both my tags doesn’t really bother me. I had a great time.

Finally, my turkey:

Jeff and I set up his blind in the woods on the edge of field. The field had a trail that came into directly across from us. We had a great morning watching birds walk (and sometimes run) down that trail and into the field. They’d strut, gobble, eat, run, and just flat out enjoy themselves. We, too, were enjoying ourselves. While we didn’t get a good shot a big tom, we both were able to take Jakes from about 25 yards. Jeff shot his just a few minutes after I got mine. Another awesome turkey season!

 

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