Guys,

This morning was my first ever Turkey hunt and I used my Paw Paw's box call. I've heard how exciting it can be to call in a Gobbler and I have to say it was awesome! Even before light this morning, before I had left for my stand I started hearing gobblers gobble! I saw a few hens and gobblers pretty early but the gobblers were chasing hens and weren't receptive to my calling. Throughout the morning I would hear an occasional gobble and they seem to be moving further and further away. Then I heard a gobbler and he seemed like he was on the other side of the lease but I hit the box call and then heard him gobble. I hit the call again and he responded and he seemed to be getting closer. Did this 8-10 times and finally he was in pretty close but he seemed to just stall so I grabbed my phone, downloaded some turkey gobbles last night, and hit that a couple of times. The next thing I knew he had moved away so I grabbed my Paw Paws call again and hit it pretty good....the gobbler responded so I hit it again. This time he seemed to be on a mission! I hit it twice more with the last one being a light one. Then I grabbed my rifle, .17 cal, and got set up. As soon as I had the rifle in the window the gobbler busted out of the brush strutting and looking around. He stopped and was looking straight at my stand with his head still and that's when he got his nap! I can't tell you how excited I was and am to have used my Paw Paws turkey call to get my first Gobbler! My Paw Paw was an outstanding turkey hunter and according to family members at one time he owned the AR record for biggest Gobbler ever taken in AR. Here's a couple of pics.







Congrats

Congrats

Congrats and nice bird! Want to get a bigger thrill, try it on the ground with a shot gun, or bow, it's the "hells Bells" rush

Perhaps a crossbow...when he popped out he was only about 30yds from me so he was definitely close enough for a crossbow or shotgun. The .17 worked great at that distance! I'm not taking long shots with the .17 as some have suggested. I simply don't want to risk messing up the meat.

Not knocking your hunt at all, I have taken them by every means as well. To be clear, the mental difference of having the limited range may be the difference, getting them so close you almost feel the "feather shake" is mind blowing. Like a bud said one time after we called on to around 10' "it was self defense!"