- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,437
- 9,246
Turkey season opens up here in MI mid April and the late season on private land runs through the month of May.
This year was pretty tough, hard winter, predators, and trespassing idiots that practiced their calling on roosted birds before season and interupting their roosting patterns made for the most challenging season I have ever experienced! The birds were not very vocal and didn't respond well to the calls.
Well, persistence paid off this past weekend!
My nephew came down from the UP with the hopes of a repeat from last year when he took his first bird, which made the MI CBM book. His 10 yr old son also joined us so that we could get him a Tom as well.
Here is how it went down-
Friday afternoon, Terry and Jarad arrived at Turkey Camp (my house).
I took them for a quick ride to refresh him on the lay of the land.
I set them up behind my house for the Friday evening hunt.
I decided to go check out another spot as a backup plan. I left my house at 6:45 PM with camo, shotgun, call, and binoculars.
When I arrived, there were two shooter Toms with 6 hens. I quickly figured out a plan and circuled around and got set up. It was a long shot of 52 yds, but my 11-887 12 ga 3 1/2" Super Mag was up to the task and I dumped him with 2 1/4 oz of Hevi Shot #5. I was back home at 7:15 PM with a 9 1/4" beard 1" spurred Tom.
Saturday morning Terry, Jarad and I sat in my Double Bull Blind behind the house. Just a few gobbles but no birds! At 9:20 AM, a Tom let out a gobble about 125 yds away. I reply ed with 6-7 yelps. Moments later, a second gobble let out much closer! Terry was trying to wake up Jared from his nap and I got him set up right as a BIG Tom came in on us. It was fairly thick and the Tom was 30 yds away, half strutting.
Jared couldn't get a sight picture and told his Dad to shoot him. I kept coaching Jared but he just couldn't get on him. After about a minute, the Tom turned to go back. I told Terry, " he is a shooter, take him",
Terry leveled him with 1 shot from a 12 ga 3 1/2" 2 oz #5.
Jared was so excited that his dad had scored!
We are hoping that Jared will be back down to fill his tag yet this season,
JD338
This year was pretty tough, hard winter, predators, and trespassing idiots that practiced their calling on roosted birds before season and interupting their roosting patterns made for the most challenging season I have ever experienced! The birds were not very vocal and didn't respond well to the calls.
Well, persistence paid off this past weekend!
My nephew came down from the UP with the hopes of a repeat from last year when he took his first bird, which made the MI CBM book. His 10 yr old son also joined us so that we could get him a Tom as well.
Here is how it went down-
Friday afternoon, Terry and Jarad arrived at Turkey Camp (my house).
I took them for a quick ride to refresh him on the lay of the land.
I set them up behind my house for the Friday evening hunt.
I decided to go check out another spot as a backup plan. I left my house at 6:45 PM with camo, shotgun, call, and binoculars.
When I arrived, there were two shooter Toms with 6 hens. I quickly figured out a plan and circuled around and got set up. It was a long shot of 52 yds, but my 11-887 12 ga 3 1/2" Super Mag was up to the task and I dumped him with 2 1/4 oz of Hevi Shot #5. I was back home at 7:15 PM with a 9 1/4" beard 1" spurred Tom.
Saturday morning Terry, Jarad and I sat in my Double Bull Blind behind the house. Just a few gobbles but no birds! At 9:20 AM, a Tom let out a gobble about 125 yds away. I reply ed with 6-7 yelps. Moments later, a second gobble let out much closer! Terry was trying to wake up Jared from his nap and I got him set up right as a BIG Tom came in on us. It was fairly thick and the Tom was 30 yds away, half strutting.
Jared couldn't get a sight picture and told his Dad to shoot him. I kept coaching Jared but he just couldn't get on him. After about a minute, the Tom turned to go back. I told Terry, " he is a shooter, take him",
Terry leveled him with 1 shot from a 12 ga 3 1/2" 2 oz #5.
Jared was so excited that his dad had scored!
We are hoping that Jared will be back down to fill his tag yet this season,
JD338
