Pretty slow around here so... BLACK HILLS WHITE TIP

[POk3s]

Howdy fellers!

Just returned home from my annual trip to the black hills. Had a great time hunting a lot of my familiar spots, learned more along the way, and found a lot of hard headed birds that would gobble at everything but would flat REFUSE to come to the call.

On my bird, myself and my girlfriend were able to put ourselves in between the boss hen and the gobbler. As soon as I figured out that she was calling to the flock and the gobbler was lagging behind with other hens I knew we had a great chance. We kicked the boss hen off of her high point and I basically become the boss hen, calling sparingly but it worked great. I had 4 hens come to within 30 yards and the gobbler finally showed himself at about 40-50 yards. It was one of my longer shots and I jumped up ready to hop on the bird but he barely flopped. Believe it or not, he's a long spurred turkey for the black hills. This is only the second older bird I've ever killed up there as most 2 year olds have half inch rounded spurs.

This was my girlfriends first hunting trip where she was going to get to try and kill something and I had tried to get her on a gobbler the day before I killed mine, to which we were successful at getting him to about 15 yards. We were unsuccessful at sending a shot down range. She was a bit apprehensive not wanting to shoot a jake (spoiled I know) and didn't feel comfortable so didn't shoot. There were probably 15+ turkeys in this group and it was a lot to handle. I got reminded quick on how a 99.999% successful opportunity for a seasoned turkey hunter is very touch and go with a beginner!

Sunday morning we got on the same group of birds off the roost. A gobbler and two hens branches off and worked our way. They started skirting us at about 50 yards and so we were able to work down a tree line to intercept them. He did perfect and came up to the crest of the hill and stuck his neck out in all his glory. I said "there it is...kill him."...... 5 seconds go by and nothing. He puts his head back down and as she shifts he raises his head again... "okay kill him there." Another few seconds and nothing as he turns to leave. I hit him with the call and he extends his neck one more time. "Honey, it has to be right now!" ...a few seconds goes by and and KABOOM! I just knew that was it but nary a feather flies, the bird ducks and takes off running at Mach 9. I said "well...you missed... but that's okay!" She was pretty bummed as she really wanted to take a bird, but it was a good reminder for her to take target practice seriously and remember all the little things! I felt good that I gave her two great opportunities and the one she missed wasn't a rushed shot, a borderline opportunity, or anything of the sort...just a flat out whiff! Sometimes the turkey wins!

[RutnNStrutn]

Nice story, beautiful bird, and funny last pic!!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

[turkeyfool]

Been here since the 23rd and I've missed 3 lol so don't feel bad. Also seen a lot of the same thing-birds hammering while working in the other direction. All of my opportunities have been between 1015 and 1230

[GobbleNut]

Great story and pics! Beautiful gobbler and pretty much a classic three-year-old Merriam's spur.   

...I've seen those types of misses with new hunters more times than I can count.  Without tons of practice,...and a lot of excitement control at the moment of truth,...newbies shooting beads will do it almost every time.  Gotta get that head down on the stock so they]re looking right down the top of that vent rib or they will shoot over the top of that gobbler's head more often than not.   

[POk3s]

Thanks guys!

Turkeyfool- THREE! Come on man! 
All I can think is that these black hills hens must RUN in if they call at a gobbler. It's almost like those gobblers stand there for a second gobbling and waiting and then just take off. At one point me and my girlfriend snuck into a gobbler's "bubble". He had a few hens around that we spotted before even calling. It felt like the perfect scenario only needing him to come to the edge of his group of hens. Some soft calling and he'd hammer back. Pretty soon we see him heading the other way as his hens were content loafing around in front of us. Very odd....

Gobblenut my gun actually shoots low. Don't ask lol. So I aim right at the top of a gobbler's head. I thought it would work into her favor but it obviously did not. It's just so hard to miss high with this gun that I just knew when he stuck his head up for the third time at 25 yards that it was getting ready to be exploded. I tried to talk to her about her site picture and she said everything felt fine. But we'll never know. Going to get her a 20 gauge and work with her now that I know she actually wants to kill a bird!

[JeffC]

Congrats, great story and pictures.

[Hobbes]

Good looking bird.  Congrats!

[Greg Massey]

Beautiful bird and good story. last picture , maybe next time.

[Yoteduster]

Congrats on a really nice bird

[Crghss]

Nice bird! Where the restaurants and stores open? We canceled our trip because we assumed everything would be closed?

[POk3s]

Thank you guys for all the kind words.

Nice bird! Where the restaurants and stores open? We canceled our trip because we assumed everything would be closed?

A buddy that was up there let me know that a restaurant was open as he called in a dinner order or two on his stay. How many of the restaurants were doing that and what hours they had I have no idea. I packed the truck up with everything I needed and only stopped for fuel.

[joey46]

Nice job! Great story.