Eastern Gobbler.....My First.
I have only been hunting seriously for 3 years....I've chased dozens of birds for miles around and round the fields here at Outlaw Hunt Club to no avail. I've been blessed with the generosity of several folks from here coming down and teaching me how to hunt these birds.:cheer: After all the struggle and effort I end up killing my first bird ever in a 15 second rush at the end of the most enjoyable relaxed Turkey hunt I've ever been on.
Mr. Steven Farr and myself headed to a wood point at 4:00 PM in the middle of a 80 acre field that James and I watched 3 Big Gobblers feed into the evening before.
We found a "Bruz sized Tree" as Steven called it

(Huge Oak) about 15 yards off the edge of the field. We set out 2 Hen and a submissive Jake decoy about 15 yards out into the field and settled in. We called occasionally and talked as we scanned the field for the 3 gobblers from the night before.
At about 6:45 we were just shootin the bull quietly and Steven whispered "Gobblers RIGHT THERE!! don't move". They came in fast from our right on the wood line with the full intention of whooping that Jakes tail end.:cheer: There were 4 of them and they were all bunched up as they reached the decoys....I got the front bird lined up and he was about to jump the decoy when Steven whispered "Anytime you're ready"...at that I sent a load of 3.5" Winchester Extended Range #4's his way. Flop he was down...at the shot Steven who was beside me on the same tree swung and shot...birds were running....I thought he hit the second bird but it was still running back to our right...I had pumped the Trigger Stick" and I lined up the running bird high and lead him as he was at about 60 yards now....rolled him.
Steven was up and yelled "Great shot" they were both flopping and I was getting up with numb legs....the second bird jumped up and started running as Steven entered the field...He shot again and the chase was on through the woods. I ran to my bird and placed a size 14 on his neck as I heard Steven running after the other bird.
It turned out that he had missed his shot and I had shot a healthy bird....the bird was running full speed the last time Steven saw him through the swamp so it wasn't a fatal hit...I hate that it happened but at the time I thought I was finishing off his bird.....it all happened in less than 15 seconds or so and I don't sweat it...it just is.
My bird turned out to be 21lbs 4oz with an 11" inch beard and matching 1.125" spurs. I'm still at camp but I'll post better picks when I get home...it was the most rewarding kill I've ever made and my first Turkey....he is heading to a taxidermist tomorrow as soon as I can decide which one to use.
I want to thank everyone who has come down and selflessly hunted with me and put up with my youngins trying to make this happen

...almost happened with James and Gator. Learned how to Rabbit Whistle from Tommy:lolhammer:...Will and I didn't have any luck at all that hot and sick weekend but we still enjoyed the woods :exactly:
Any of y'all are welcome to come back and hunt for yourself....Just give me a call:cheer:
Robert

11 April 2011, 01:57
L. David KeithCongrats Bruz, fun isn't it

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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added
http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#926103994110 days in the Stormberg Mountains
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson
Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."
11 April 2011, 02:06
NortonNice job Bruz! Something about that sound/sight combination that makes turkey hunting a deadly addiction.
Can't wait for my seasons to get underway up here....4/25 & 5/3.