Larry A. Smail's Blog

I first heard this big turkey at 5:20 as I was almost to the first level of the hill side. He was several hundred yards away or maybe a little more. I continued to the round top field to further listen and plan a strategy to hunt gobblers. Once on top I realized he was rather close and a decision to move in on this gobbler was made.

I sat up my calling position about twelve feet into the woods with the field behind. The gobbler was approximately seventy yards away. He was on the roost and slightly downhill on my immediate left. The woods was mostly open with the exceptions of Multiflora Rose brambles here and there.

I clucked a few times and the tom became quiet for a few minutes before starting off gobbling again. Later I clucked again and he stopped gobbling for a few minutes again.

Around six o’clock he flew off the roost and way down the hill gobbling a few more times before becoming quiet. I got up to move on him and spooked a hen from the roost. I circled around to the opposite side trying to stir him up and the turkey was quiet. I did not know where he had moved to.

While calling a Coyote came in to my right until he winded me. I wish my camera would have been out of my shoulder bag.

I went up and over to the field where I heard a distant tom. I moved to get a better fix and would realize the gobbler was way across the hollow in a field. I could see him strutting. He was about half a mile away as the crow flies.

I returned to the high point to listen. Eventually I let out a loud gobble and received an answer to my right in the other hollow. This turkey was, probably, the one that came in silent the day before. I moved in on him.

i set up in a rather good spot or so I thought. I began clucking to the bird that would only gobble occasionally. Later, I thought I could hear something behind me at times, but I failed to check it out for the gobbler answered some clucks and was farther to my left, but still in front. I realized I needed to relocate and turned to move only to see two hens fly off.

A third turkey was behind thick Multiflora Rose. It was the gobbler who had not seen me and was confused on the hen’s departure. He was putting so I knew he may have seen a hint of movement. I leveled the 870 Remington to the right of the brambles and once I identified the beard the big bird was down.

I hurried to the down bird just as he began flapping and to save feather damage I grabbed at the turkey only to end up with a hand full of tail feathers. There goes a photo opportunity.

I took some photos anyway without displaying the remaining tail feathers.

The big gobbler weighed shy of twenty-four pounds. He sported a ten inch beard and inch and an eighth spurs.

The other gobbler began putting as I reached the down gobbler. He was, apparently, moving towards me, as well.

It was a beautiful morning.