Successful Opening Day

[huntn4bucks]

I had a really good hunt this morning. Unlike most of the turkey hunters in the area, I love to chase those gobblers in the mountains...or at least what we call mountains. Anyway, I had quite a hike to get to the spot I wanted to hunt. Once I got there, I stepped off about 20-25 steps from my tree and started placing my decoys (which BTW is the first year that it's ever been legal in Alabama to use decoys). I got the jake decoy set up and started to set up the hen decoy. I didn't so much as get the stake in the hen decoy when a THUNDERING gobble let out just 40-60 yards from me...boy I got in tight. I very slowly and quietly slipped my way back to my tree. By that time, hens started yelping and cutting everywhere...and I mean everywhere. I only had time to put a mouth call in and started a little soft calling myself.

The weather forecast was suppose to be somewhat clear until late in the afternoon. Well all of the sudden, it started sleeting and raining. All my rain gear was in the truck. Anyway, there was no way I was leaving with all the action I was having...I was just going to have to get wet!

At flydown time, several hens flew right over my head and glided off the mountain...dang!!! I started doing a flydown cackle to see if I could keep some of the turkeys from flying off...it worked. Several hens just flew from one tree to another and then to the ground. The whole time gobbles were echoing through the woods. A few minutes later, I heard the gobblers fly down just above me. I was setup between a hen on the ground yelping and the gobblers...this was going to get good quick! Then, all of the sudden I saw two gobblers coming through the trees...they were heading straight for the decoys. I let the first one walk out and decided to take a look at the second one before shooting the first one. The second one had a thicker beard so I took him. He was only about 15 steps from me!

After I shot, the other gobbler pecked the flopping gobbler about three times. There was also a jake with them and he flew up in a tree and started making all kinds of racket. Eventually he flew off. The other gobbler stayed within 15 steps of me for about 20 minutes before he decided to leave. I messed with him for several minutes and he was THUNDER GOBBLING right there in front of me. Too bad we can only take one gobbler a day...but then again...he'll be there for another hunt.

After the gobbler left, I went and retrieved my bird. Oh yeah, it was only 6:17 am when I pulled the trigger. Nice...less than 30 minutes of sitting time! He's not a huge turkey but a great way to start the season. 9 3/4" beard, 7/8" spurs, 20 lbs.



I got a call from my dad about 9:00am and he got one on our property about 40-50 miles from me. 11" beard, 1 1/4" spurs, 18 lbs. Here's a pic of the both of us.



It was a great opener!!!!

[huntinsonovagun]

SOOOO lucky!!!!!!! Congratulations man!! Great pics! I still have a couple weeks....

[maytom]

WTG!!!!

[SRA]

good lookin' bird

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

Awesome... congrats!

[slaw]

you are the envy of all of us way to go guys, thats taking care of business.

[Gus]

Great story, congrats to both of you , nice birds

[Addct2hntng]

Congrats!!!

[HuntnMa]

that is awesome,congrats

[RyanH]

Congrats man! Thats awesome Bird!

[Ohiobucks]

Awesome man! Way to go. Gret looking country there BTW.

[Gator]

Way to go huntn, sounds like an awesome hunt for sure!!!!

[MadHuntinPastor]

That was a great story!! Way to go!! Can't wait to post mine after April 9th.

[kooter]

congrats to the both of you

[turkeygirl]

Woohoo, congrats bucks! i'm so happy for ya! Now I'm jealous,lol, I really want to bag a turkey this spring!