Well after the Dr's. visit yesterday, I decided that since we were between clients, I needed the ingredients for turkey McNuggets. I was going to take Lora out since she ain't ever hunted turkeys, but she was not feeling up to it. I fooled around on the computer till a little after 8 a.m., and figgered if I was gonna get something done, I needed to get my act together.
I gather up my calls, decide I am not going to mess with decoys, gun is already in the vehicle and pullout about 8:15 or so.
.
Get in the gate and parked about 8:30, thje place I am on covers 320 acres and we have been seeing quite a few birds, both longbeards and jakes.
I start working my way thru the pasture periodically calling as I go, but ain't nothing happening. I work my way over to another area and next thing I know I hear a gobble and it sounds close. I set up, call, and a few minutes later get a response. Theses birds had evidently been following me, but not vocalizing.
I switch to a softer call, and then I see these jokers up onm the ridge I had came over. They are strutting back and forth and gobbling, so I hit the call a couple of times, and here they come. I knew they were Jakes, but I did not care.
I was using my Model 60 Marlin in 22 LR. Yes, it is LEGAL, and since I have pay for my own hunting license, I am prone to take legalities over ethics any day.
The first bird came out in the open about 30 yards away and staryted strutting, which promptly got him shot. At the shot, the second bird started to jump on the first bird since it was flopping around, but decided that was not prudent and went to trying to get out of the country. It turned into one of the old shooting gallery deals, where at every shot, the target would make a 180 and head the other direction. every time he goes thru an opening, I am firing off a shot or two.
I don't seem to be having a whole lot of effect until the bird is about 50 yards or so out, and he heads back running left to right, and I clearly hear a hit.
He finally lines out and heads for the top of the ridge they came off of, and at about 70 yards or so, I have on last chance and fire off a shot. In total, after the first shot on the first bird, I shoot at the running bird at least 12 times.
After the last shot, the bird disappears from view, so I don't know if I killed it or not. I gert up and make my way up to where I last saw it, and after looking around for about 5 minutes, I found him piled up about 10 yards from the top of the ridge.
The birds both had 5 to 6 inch long beards, one weighed 20 pounds the other 16.
Even the rocks don't last forever.
Glad your out and about.
