Meryland Birds Are kickin my Butt!!!

**Solocam** · 05-16-2007, 07:38 PM

Well, the Spring season for Turkey hunting is almost over here in Maryland and still BBD!
Started the season out strong when I took my 13 year old baby girl out for youth hunt. We had birds all over us. After the fight I had to get her out of bed at O'dark 30 it really paid off. Well, in a round about way it did! About 11:00 we got a nice old Tom to came in a do his dance with her. Man did have one **** of a rope around his neck..... 40 yards and closing she took her shot and missed.....I know what everone is thinking 40 yards and she shot! A 13 year old would never hit one at that range. Well, she is a dead eye I can tell you that. Takes Ground Hogs out to 400 yards with clean head shots. Well, anyways it was the hunt of a life time for her and me as well. Could not have been prouder! Now to my point I am a Firefighter so I work a 24 on and 48 off. So I get a lot of time to put the miles on in the Hardwoods here in Maryland. As for me my season started out lookin good have gottin on a lot of different birds but just could not get them to that point where I can say your going on the wall and into my belly!!! The biggest problem I am having is the past two to three weeks I have not seen or heard any birds anywhere. Talk to some different hunters around the area and it sounds to be the samething for them. I have tried every trick in the book that I know have heard or even read about. I am wondering if its the area I am in something I am doing or just Maryland is locked up for the season. Any and all info will help. Happy hunting and stay safe.

**BearClaw** · 05-16-2007, 10:15 PM

Same thing here in Western Maryland. Birds are here but where? They won't even gobble coming off the roost. My buddy went out last week and he had birds everywhere but we went back to the same area last Saturday and didn't hear a bird at all! He got the biggest gobbler he ever shot! Go figure but that's why they call it hunting and not 'shooting'! A bad day hunting is still better than a good day at work! Nothing like being in the woods before daybreak, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and hearing the woods come alive! What a great place to be!

psefirestormlite · 05-16-2007, 10:41 PM

If I were you I would just sit up on a spot were you now were one or two are, put a decoy out and call every 15 minutes. Turkeys can be very curious and if you are patient they are bound to check you out. This is how I shot both of my turkeys this year. These next couple days should be great with the temperature being in the 70's. Also Keep in mind this is the time of year that the toms are running around looking for hens and they will go out of there way to look for them.
Good Luck

FYI I'm hunting in frederick and washington county, jefferson county,wv

**BearClaw** · 05-17-2007, 08:19 AM

I've done that awhile back and it brought some hens in several times. The last 3-4 times nothing came in (that I'm aware of!) I'll tri it again in the morning and let you know what happens! Thanks and congrats on your birds!

**Solocam** · 05-17-2007, 08:55 PM

Out and about today with no such luck!!! Guess there is Saturday and Tuesday and maybe Wednesday. Still wouldn't give up huntin them Long Beards for nothing!!!!

**BearClaw** · 05-21-2007, 04:38 PM

Well, I set up Saturday morning and put the decoys in the clearing. Around 7 after calling every 20 minutes since 6 a gobbler fired up. He finally came in around 8, came in full strut towards the decoys and I shot and missed him!!! 30 yards!!!???? He stopped at the edge of the clearing and gave me another shot and guess what? Missed him again!!! He was a big gobbler and the first one I have ever called in! I was thrilled with that part of it but not the outcome! Went out yesterday and patterened the 12 guage and it's shooting fine, unfortunately the shooter (me!) wasn"t! That's why they call it hunting and not shooting! What an incredible experience seeing the gobbler come in!!!!

psefirestormlite · 05-21-2007, 09:09 PM

sometimes the heat of the moment can get to you. It's happened to me several times...

There is always next time

**LifeNRA** · 05-21-2007, 09:25 PM

Aint just Maryland!!!

**BearClaw** · 05-21-2007, 09:25 PM

You're right, but the strange thing is that I was calm during the whole time. I watched him come in, kept the gun on him and didn't get the shakes. I don't know who was more surprised, him for getting shot at or me for missing! It was still incredible and a hunt I will never forget! Maybe tomorrow...we have two days left here in Maryland. I am currently unemployed due to a downsizing from my former company so I will be out both morning. I'll let you know what happens.

**Solocam** · 05-23-2007, 07:09 PM

Well, The season has come to a end! No featherd friend to call my own. I had some fun hunts and some bad hunts. But If I wasn't Turkey hunting I wouldn't have been happy. Till next year I wait to get that shot on Old Tom! Best of luck to all!!

**BearClaw** · 05-23-2007, 10:36 PM

Same here, great hunts but no bird! Learned a lot this year about turkeys. Had more contacts with turkeys than I've ever had so it was a good season! Heard one this morning and I called but he never called back. It was in the same area that I missed that one so I suppose he had had enough of that call! He probably said no way am I answering that call, last time I did I almost got my head taken off! Congrats to all that got a bird this year!