Sorry for the book.

Well I spent last weekend Turkey hunting with my father-in-law at their longtime lease. I was almost certain I'd get my first gobbler over there. He goes every year and shoots 2 or 3 and then calls for some of the other guys. Well we ended up splitting up the whole weekend and I had several close encounters with jakes, hens, and 1 gobbler that came in silent. He got 10 yards behind me when the hen that was 3 yards in front of me spooked and he took off as well and I never got a shot.

So today was opening morning at our hunting lease. About three weeks ago we went coyote hunting by my stand and heard three different gobblers, so we started off there. Curtis was on the south side of the creek and I on the north. We heard one gobbler that sounded like he was 200 yards west of our property and moving away. So we decided to pick up and head to our half section 1 mile to the west. We'd set up on the corner if we didn't see any other birds and hope to intercept him.

We drove around the section and didn't see anything. Curtis mentioned that if we split up we may have a better chance. So I told him he could go sit on the corner and hope to intercept a gobbler leaving the section just to the west of our 1000 acre lease. I honestly thought that was our best chance. I headed north across the plowed cotton field and was headed to some large oak trees. Figured I'd sit at those trees and call towards the property next to us.

I get about 100 yards from the fence line and notce 4 hens and a strutting gobbler in our pasture. I dropped to my knees. In Ozona we'd get them to come in but they'd never cross the fence. So I figured I needed to get closer to the fence, but how. So I belly crawled to about 40 yards from the fence. I picked up my head and couldn't find them. I look to the north and in the plowed field about 100 yards away I see about 8 hens and 1 gobbler. I knew it was pointless, but I called anyway. They just kept moving away. They finally crossed a ridge and I figured now was my time to cross the fence and try to get on the fence line in some cover and try to catch up to them. As soon as I sat up I noticed a hen right at the fence in front of me.

She was looking right at me and started cutting. I figured I was busted. She turned around and started walking away. I pulled my gun in closer, somehow got out my turkey call, and managed 3 yelps. She turned and jumped over the first barbed wire. I laid down and she walked 10 yards away from me and just passed me right up. I then notice 4 more hens at the fence. They cross over and follow the first hen. I look further to the right and there he was about 30-40 yards behind the 4 hens. I couldn't pick up my gun, so I really just leaned my head over with my gun almost sideways.

He got to where the hens crossed, came out of strut and picked up his head. I thought he saw me so I pulled the trigger. I was about 40 yards from the fence and he was 5-10 yards on the other side of the fence. Was pretty exciting, and I was extremely lucky that none of those hens spotted me in the wide open plowed field.

9" beard, 1 1/8" spurs

We tried cutting off the other gobbler and hens heading north, but didn't work out. We tried a couple of other places to put Curtis on a gobbler, but no luck. I'll hang up my gun for the season, unless the other guys manage to each get one at the lease. Only if they each get one, or they just give up, will I try to get another.

In the meantime Billy headed south to some land we normally coyote hunt. He helped out the farmer last weekend and he told Billy he could go back and get him a turkey. Well he got his first turkey ever this morning as well.

Great Opening Weekend.

Very good hunt and always like to hear about the hunt also.Congrats.

Nice. Congrats

Nice story...thanks for sharing. Congratulations!

Good job, congrats.

Congrats!

Great job on the birds the fields pics look great.

Thanks guys.

My co-worker got a shot on one this morning about 50 yards from where I shot this one. He made it to the oak trees across the fence as the gobbler was already in the plowed field headed their way. Well he made it to the fence and strutted for 30 minutes never wanting to cross the fence. The trees were 80-100 yards from the fence. The first chance he got he belly crawled to within 30-40 yards of the fence. It peaks up to see where the gobbler was and it turns out he went to the north, crossed the fence, and then was between him and the oak trees. He ended up waiting patiently for a aukward 30-40 yard shot and then shot right over the top of his head. Only if he would have connected, then I'd be planning my hunt next weekend. But I promised I'd hold off until he and Billy get one on the lease.

good work man, those turkeys sure are fun!

Great storty, great bird, and as Waddell says....."Welcome to the Brotherhood!" Congrats.