I have threatened to go fall turkey hunting for a few years now, but I always get too busy and spend free time chasing deer. Since I moved to Washington state and deer season is over for me, I decided to try to get a bird for Thanksgiving. I scouted a flock of 23 last weekend, but they have been nowhere to be found since the late season opened.
Saturday on my way home, I decided to drive down come gravel road to see if I could find any birds and do some door knocking. Boy did I find them! I counted over 140 birds out in a field behind a farmhouse, but no one was home. After doing a little digging, I found out who owned the place and got permission. They actually hate the birds because they are so numerous! I said I would do my part to help them out!
I got there this morning and there were at least 60 birds in their yard!! I busted them back toward the woods as best I could and set up under a big willow. After just a couple minutes, they started calling, then flying back and forth from one side of the draw to the other. I started throwing out assembly calls and kee kee runs and I have never heard so much turkey talk in my life, I wish I would have had my video camera!!
Anyway, part of the flock came through at 80 yards, but would not break closer. There was a really nice bearded hen in the group. Suddenly, I heard wing beats, looked up and say a young hen right above me. She landed about 60 yards out and went to the rest. I could still hear some birds where she came from, so I stayed put. Then another hen flew up, I yelped at her and she landed about 20 yards from me stood there yelping and kee keeing. I was debating on taking her when I heard something back left and I saw 4 birds walking in, 2 young jakes and 2 hens. They stopped about 8 yards from be and began to drink from the little ditch. I eased up the 870 and took the bigger jake and turkeys went everywhere!!
He was not very big, but I plucked him and I plan on deep frying him on Thursday! I think I am hooked on fall hunting! Not the same as spring, but still really fun!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Congrats!
Awesome!!! 140 birds!?! I've got to get out west and chase some of those Merriams!
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Nice job on calling in that jake. Fall is a great time to hunt turkeys and can be just as much fun as hunting in the Spring.
Bill
Quote from: va wingbone on November 26, 2013, 09:29:51 AM
Awesome!!! 140 birds!?! I've got to get out west and chase some of those Merriams!
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These ares actually Rios in SE WA, Merriams up north and easterns a couple hours west.
Oh ok, sounds like Washington is the place to go to work on a slam!
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Congrats!
Congrats! Good story to read on this cold Thanksgiving day
Btw Dad said congrats but you need to shave n clean up...your not helping our image.
:icon_thumright:
Quote from: Gooserbat on November 28, 2013, 08:56:46 PM
Btw Dad said congrats but you need to shave n clean up...your not helping our image.
Hey, now! leave my classy beard alone! I may leave it until April, now! always wanted an all natural face mask!
Congrats....