So being it was closing weekend of my first turkey season and I had yet to get a bird, I really wanted to hit it hard this weekend. That meant grabbing my camping gear and heading in for the long haul.
I drove up saturday to some public land I had been scouting extensively via maps and my gps. Get there, hike the area for a few hours to get the lay of the land, set up camp, and sat down for the last few hours of the hunting day. No show for the toms, but heard a couple reports of gunfire on private land south of my location.
Saturday had me up at 3:45, camp packed up by 4:15, hiked to my spot and sitting with my decoys set up by 4:55 waiting on 5:30. Around 6:30 a couple birds show their faces and I was able to call them into within 25 yds of my setup and 40 yds from me. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate a beard on either so I held off on my shot. However, this is the first time I had even seen a bird in the many times I have been out, let alone being able to work one. Being able to call them in gave me a really big sense of accomplishment. I have caught huge salmon in the Pacific and even bigger marlin in the Sea of Cortez. NOTHING has gotten my heart pounding like having my bead on that bird looking for a beard.
The rest of the day was pretty much spent listening to more reports of gunfire from that private property to the south. Maybe I should go introduce myself and see if they need any fences that need mending
. That's it for me. It has been a learning experience to say the least and you guys, most notabley Ilovesprig and the rest of the NWTF guys and girls, have been an invaluable resource. Now what do I hunt tomorrow?!
I drove up saturday to some public land I had been scouting extensively via maps and my gps. Get there, hike the area for a few hours to get the lay of the land, set up camp, and sat down for the last few hours of the hunting day. No show for the toms, but heard a couple reports of gunfire on private land south of my location.
Saturday had me up at 3:45, camp packed up by 4:15, hiked to my spot and sitting with my decoys set up by 4:55 waiting on 5:30. Around 6:30 a couple birds show their faces and I was able to call them into within 25 yds of my setup and 40 yds from me. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate a beard on either so I held off on my shot. However, this is the first time I had even seen a bird in the many times I have been out, let alone being able to work one. Being able to call them in gave me a really big sense of accomplishment. I have caught huge salmon in the Pacific and even bigger marlin in the Sea of Cortez. NOTHING has gotten my heart pounding like having my bead on that bird looking for a beard.
The rest of the day was pretty much spent listening to more reports of gunfire from that private property to the south. Maybe I should go introduce myself and see if they need any fences that need mending
. That's it for me. It has been a learning experience to say the least and you guys, most notabley Ilovesprig and the rest of the NWTF guys and girls, have been an invaluable resource. Now what do I hunt tomorrow?!
