First Hunts

05/09/2006--The first turkey hunt started quite well, as a hen turkey was walking through the yard as we pulled up to the hunting place. It was mid afternoon, and the turkeys had been frequently seen in the area during the daytime, so it seemed like a reasonable thing to do--have a little afternoon hunt in the area.

I was introducing a young man to hunting for the first time. He had started shooting and was doing well, and interested in hunting now too. Turkey season provided the first best opportunity and our first outing was an afternoon.

So, on an early out (of school) we headed to the farm and a date with a turkey. The turkey in the yard was a good first sign. Walking out to an area that I had previously seen turkeys strutting in, we set up the decoy and sat down by some handy trees. Afternoon hunts can be slow and I gave a few quiet yelps from my calls off and on during the next half hour or so. No turkeys appeared. We moved deeper into the woods and repeated the performance. Still no birds.

Our second hunt was a bit better. When we got out of the truck, I did hear a far away gobble off in the distance. It sounded off one more time, then quit. A second tom gobbled off at a tangent and confused the situation. Hmmm, which bird to go after?
The second tom gobbled again and the first remained silent so the second bird it was. As we approached, it gobbled once more, then that was it. I put out the decoy, yelped out my most seductive calls, and no response.

We did get a bit of action though. I suddenly saw two turkeys off in the field. We repositioned ourselves slightly and watched them intently. They gave no reaction to my calls, and after a bit of time, had a good enough look that they appeared to both be hens. I asked at one point if he "was excited" and got a positive response. I think he was shaking a bit but it was hard to tell.

No toms appeared, and no more gobbles, but it was a good morning. Lots of wildlife, turkeys seen and heard, but no shooting. Oh well, nothing to clean either.