Opening day in New York had me carrying out a bird for the first time in over 6 years.
Long story short, we now own 101 acres of the property that we have been hunting for over 25 years. The population of turkey is nowhere near where it was 15 years or so ago. We might have a couple passing through here and there but we haven't really had the opportunity to get one recently. This spring, we have had a few toms and hens around pretty consistently.
Opening morning I got setup on a logging road between 2 of our fields where the birds have been passing through quite often. I got setup at 5:10 and at 5:15 we had birds gobbling in multiple directions, but nothing real close. 2 of them were on the neighboring property about 300 yards away that we can still hunt, but it's not the part that we own.
One of the birds pretty much gobbled non stop for 2 hours, so it was easy to track his movement. I called some but he was gobbling on his own for most of the time. At one point I could tell he had made his way into the next field over, about 150 yards away. Then he progressively kept getting closer and closer until it sounded like he was at the bottom of the logging road, out of sight, about 75 yards away. Suddenly he went silent. About 5 minutes later he popped up over the rise at 15 yards looking for the hen. He saw me right after I saw him but it was too late. I slowed eased the safety off and got on him as he turned to leave.
It's days like that that remind me why I love doing this so much.
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(https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/494607268_10160477286002434_1506986641811512155_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=tOJ4DMbDm48Q7kNvwHEIstr&_nc_oc=AdkRewUzhE1p2O8v0Gh_2JifjI81dFIUoIf7vR45uHO58_AIrOJL66UhtLCLRYcJSbUkKzvWPnMRYEFpzA6kJdOf&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=NAldqMcyC2dlGu1mc1Y2XQ&oh=00_AfJJSsEb6OWMvD8xSOgM3g5-WR7q_Ly9NR0yJ901W9LXPg&oe=68241BC0)
Congrats ...
Nice write up and a good looking turkey. That's gotta feel good. I'm trying to break a 3 year drought myself.
Nice story my friend and congrats! I live in upstate also and the population is thinner than years back.A real struggle at times so double congrats!
Way to go!
Must feel great to end that drought!! Congrats!! :icon_thumright:
Awesome, Congrats!
Wow, now that's persistence, congratulations 👍
Congrats, after those long dry spells, sure feels good to harvest 1!!
Congrats on a great one.
Nice gobbler and congrats on ending the 6 year wait ...
AWESOME!!!
That's awesome, congratulations
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Congratulations :turkey2:
Awesome hunt!, thanks for sharing and great pics!
JT
Congrats
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Well done, I hope you enjoy your property for years to come.
Congratulations! Gotta love it when a plan comes together. This season makes a 7 year drought for me, I love hunting turkey, can't wait for next year.
Congrats
I'm looking at a 2 year drought myself going into next spring..although I don't count last year due to injury. This spring was a study in frustration. Couldn't get where I wanted due to other hunters, someone moving in on me, wind, rain and well..some days I just didn't hear anything.
Endeavor to persevere.
CONGRATS !!!!! :z-guntootsmiley:
Great stuff, congrats!
Congrats! My buddy just went through a 12 year drought. He finally got one! He said it was like a weight lifted off his shoulder! I'm personally going on a 2 year drought with our season coming to an end and no bird for me. Though I do count the turkey my son shot with me with him as a success but I have yet to pull the trigger. Got close but couldn't close the deal. The pursuit is what makes it so enjoyable. I love getting out and hearing the woods wake up and as long as I hear a gobble it was a successful day in my opinion. Good luck next year!
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