Turkey Quota

[DocHolladay]

I know this isnt with a bow, but still a great hunt. If it is in the wrong spot, move it please.


Went this afternoon and bagged 5. I will post the pics and see if anyone can guess how it played out by the pics and then tell the story later. Dont mind the blue gloves, I was getting ready to clean them.

[BT]

Thats crazy! ;D
But thats the way to get it done

Your not suggesting 5 for 2 are you?!

[nkybuck]

Four shots and five birds Let's hear the story. Are all of those for xmas dinner?

[DocHolladay]

I may eat 1 for Christmas.... dont know yet.

I will give another hint.... One of those empties is a miss. That leaves 3 of them for 5 turkeys.

[DocHolladay]

I was in the woods and sitting on a flat rock by 3:30. I hit the wingbone call a few times and waited. I hit it again about 10 minutes later. I heard what sounded like scratching to my left(where they usually cross), I look and dont see anything. While looking there, I heard a twig snap to my right and turned to see 3 turkeys walking down the trail. I waited until they made it to the tree and bush that formed a pinch point where that had to line up to make it through. I let them get in a line and once I could see all 3 heads, I squeezed the trigger.... down they go. One that I didnt see makes a break around and to my left and I nail her when she hits an opening. I get up and go gather them up which takes about 10 minutes as I have to find a place to cross the creek to get the last one shot. I bring them back to my rock and pile them up and sit back down.

I hit the call once again and within 10 minutes or less I have 4 more around me, but I have to put the sneak on them as they are in the thick stuff and I keep losing them visually. I get to a good spot to shoot and find one, but she doubles back and I lose her. I move again, this time I get around in front of her and let her walk to me. I shoot and she doesnt even flinch..... shoot again, turkey #5 down. I had a fun and it was one of the easier turkey hunts I have been on. I have a couple buddies wanting to go this afternoon, so I may have more pics later.

[SPIKER]

Wow Doc..that's a great day in the woods.

I'm guessing that you guys get more than the two turkey tags that we get here in NY.

[snoodslapper]

Great job Doc! Way to knock 'em down.

Man, that looks more like a goose/duck barrel on that gun rather than the a typical short turkey barrel. It definitely did the job! I only mention that because it really takes me back to the very first time I hunted turkey and the old gun shop I bought my first "turkey" gun from.

Time for a story, hope it is OK to tell it in your thread.

I was just a kid and didn't have much money, but I wanted to hunt turkey more than anything that year. So, I went down to the local small town tire shop 'cause it also had a small gun shop in the back. (Man, I miss those old, small town shops like that.) He had lots of nice pumps and autos hanging on the wall behind the counter, but I couldn't afford any of them. I asked about used guns and the guy pointed me to a bunch of old rifles and shotguns standing in the corner in an umbrella stand/can. I sorted through them and found a old Marlin model 55 bolt action shotgun. It had a 36 inch barrel and was made for waterfowl; goose in particular. But, it was in really good shape with no rust, the bore was shiny, and it was a fixed full choke. Best of all it was $50. She went home with me.

I took it out to pattern it and found out several things about that gun. It was incredibly light since the bolt action is mechanically very simple and has few parts. That also made it very easy to clean. That made it also kick like a mule!! 2 3/4 number 5 seemed to give me the best pattern out to 40 yards, thank goodness since the 3 inchers in that gun were not as tolerable as they are in modern shotguns.

I took more turkey with that old gun than any other single shotgun I ever owned since. The 36 inch barrel was NOT a good barrel length for moving it through the brush; ha! It didn't matter though, I made due. The old girl got lots of laughs whenever I'd hunt with a group of guys; until I'd come back to the truck with a tom slung over my shoulder and the others did not. She put a sh*t eatin' grin on my face more than once like that.

That long barrel sure reached out there however. I traded it for a pump about 20 years later. It still would not be worth much, but I wish I had kept it.

[ghost]

Congrats on the turkeys and the story.

Ghost

[madoktor1]

Way to go bubba. Yes we can get multiple tags for the fall with three birds, either sex per tag. I have tags for nine birds myself. Guess it's time for a vacation day.

[DocHolladay]

I had 5 tags, good for 15 turkeys. I went this afternoon again with a few friends and we saw turkeys, but didnt get a shot. I am going to give it a go again in the morning, before work. I doubt I will hunt tomorrow, but I will try and do a little filming.