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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:32 am Post subject: First day hunting on the new lease |
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Elvis, you aren't the only one putting food on the table. After church and weed eating the lawn yesterday afternoon, I headed out to the new lease to put some corn & soybean in the feeders then do some turkey hunting with an eye out for hogs. The land owner/rancher was there so I met him for the first time. A very friendly guy. He had just brought in some cattle he bought at action Saturday. He took me around the property in his ATV and told me several stories along the way. After he dropped me back at camp, I packed up my turkey decoys and got in my leaf suit and headed out to a spot I wanted to set-up for turkey. It was in a small clearing around some tall trees. I put the decoys out, a hen and a jack (young tom) then settled into/sat the shaded brush about 15 yards away. I started calling for turkeys. Only got some rabbits to come take a look. I wasn't getting any return gobbles in the distance. After about 15 minutes, I heard some loud beating coming from over my right shoulder (almost like a drum) then two big toms landed about 10 yards out from the decoys and strutted in with feathers spread and all puffed up. You can only move when a turkey is not turned your way as they have keen eyesight and will catch any movement. I waited for them to turn their backs on me to draw up and shoulder my shotgun. I had to wait a couple of moments for them to stop attacking the jake and clear far enough away I wouldn't hit the decoys. These were big birds! Heavy enough to take several rests carrying it back to camp. Texted SWMBO I got one and she asked me what we were going to do with it. My response - "Feast". When I got home, I gave up trying to pluck it and skinned it. Not at all like the bone structure of a store-bought turkey. A very tall chest with huge breast muscles/meat - must come from being able to fly. The tom is now in the freezer awaiting the kid to come home next month. Now I need to search for some wild turkey recipes.
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_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Azar Member
Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 275 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:27 am Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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Beautiful bird, Slim! I've only been turkey hunting twice (once as a spectator) but man is it loads of fun. I plan to buy an OTC tag this year if I can ever remember...
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Gil Martin Super Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 1837 Location: Schnecksville, PA
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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Very nice! I like a story with a happy ending. All the best...
Gil
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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strange they aren't over there Vince???? we have them here,we hunt them slightly differently,find where they roosting and creep up on them in the dark and grab what you need......
good work Slim,I believe you will want plenty of cranberry sauce or something similar as a bird that large will be dry if you not extra carefull,the use of larding needle and some pork lard should really make it sing.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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Thanks for the tip, Elvis. I think injecting will have a positive benefit.
Vince, I used a 3" turkey load of lead mix - 4, 5, and 6 shot. I used a full-choke though an extra-full is suggested by most. Yes, it was a head shot. When they stick their head up, its a viable target. It worked great and there was not one lead shot in the main body/meat. I think it will be bow shot also this fall - they have some extra large broadheads for that purpose.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein
Last edited by slimjim on Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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they would've been introduced along with everything else,just seems strange they weren't over there too.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 2:41 am Post subject: Re: First day hunting on the new lease |
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a quick search online says there are feral turkeys in OZ,real funny looking huas they are too!!!!
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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