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.

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...

Outstanding Slim. We have nothing like your turkeys over here, would be great if we did though.

What size shot do you use on a bugger that big mate? He looks like he would take some heavy hits. I've heard of people head shooting them, but I think that would be a tall order with a shotgun because of the size of their head.

Oh, almost forgot to mention...PARTY AT SLIM'S HOUSE.

Very nice! I like a story with a happy ending. All the best...
Gil

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.

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.

Elvis wrote:

strange they aren't over there Vince????

Interesting that they haven't found their way over here mate...unless they were introduced into NZ and decided to stay.

they would've been introduced along with everything else,just seems strange they weren't over there too.

a quick search online says there are feral turkeys in OZ,real funny looking huas they are too!!!!