The Zone

jake tamer · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject: Jimmy's Bird...

I forgot to post this story but this was my first bird of the year:

My neighbor(morgan's dad) hunts with this guy over in Lee County which is about an hour from here. His name is Jimmy. He and his brother have an 1100 acre lease. They are deer hunters but dont turkey hunt. Well my neighbor jeff has been talking to jimmy about turkey hunting. Jimmy gave jeff the keys to the gate on this 1100 acre lease. However we felt that jimmy needed to go the first time, that way he could show us the land and also try and get a bird. Jimmy always sees turkeys during deer season so we knew there were a few birds on the property. Long story short, we get there and do not hear a bird from the roost. So we go to another area to listen, this was about an hour after fly down time. We set up and tangled with 2 hens briefly. About 9 oclock we get in the truck and were going to another area. As we turned on the dirt road(his property is on both sides) we see a solo longbeard cross the road about 100 yards away. He wasnt too spooked he just eased off into the pines. I told jimmy drive past him about 100 yards or so and pull into the next turn in. So we pull in to the left which was the opposite side of the dirt road the bird was on. We decided to not mess with that bird right now, fearing he might be too nervous from the truck. However I felt there might be another bird in that area. We parked and walked down the road the opposite way of the road gobbler we had just seen. We found a nice lil opening in the pines about 150 yards off the dirt road and set up. Jeff and jimmy were about 20 yards in front of me. After a few minutes I yelped and cutt and BOOM, a bird gobbled. However it was the road bird, he was across the dirt road all alone. I waited and called again and he answered me only he was just a lil closer. I told jeff and jimmy to get ready he was coming. Jimmy was going to be the shooter and jeff was coaching him along, by the way jeffs gun was in his lap. I went silent for about 10 minutes. I then yelped softly and he cut me off, he sounded like he was up by the truck, right off the road. Well again I went silent and so did he. After a few minutes I saw his old white head up on the ridge about 80 yards away. Jeff and jimmy have both seen him by now. He hung up for about 10 minutes strutting and drumming. I eased my slate up and just purred a few times and he gobbled again. It wasnt a few minutes later he broke strut and headed down the hill towards us. I saw jimmys gun up but I noticed jeffs was in his lap. This made me wonder. I knew it was a slam dunk from here but you never know!! I eased my gun up and put the crosshairs on his head and just watched him walk right towards jimmy. He got about 25 yards from jimmy,about 45 yards from me, and i could hear jeff telling jimmy to shoot. But he didnt?? I couldnt figure out what was going on. I kept the bird in my crosshairs just in case. About that time the bird raised his head up and I knew jimmy was going to shoot and then I heard the worst sound a turkey hunter wants to hear......CLICK!!! The bird stood straight up and started putting walking away, again I knew jeffs gun wasnt ready so I waited til he cleared a pine and I let him have it!! Jimmy was a lil pissed he didnt load his gun but for his first turkey hunt he was very happy!! He got to see the whole show!! He made a rookie mistake but was happy to see a bird go down!!

Me and Jimmy

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pass the biscuits

flhuntress · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:37 am Post subject:

gobble gobble..nice bird!!

Turkey Beard · Two Year Old Joined: 08 Mar 2012 Posts: 266

Man, I've done that, didn't load up after leaving the truck. Must have been comical to see me ease the pump back, slide it forward, try again, and finally realize that it was empty and THEN try to load...

Great story and a lesson he won't forget!
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1Up Game Calls: "The calls that put 'em on the wall."

Gino · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:14 am Post subject:

I'm glad I never did that!!! Great story. Congrats to everyone.

gino

firedup · Two Year Old Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 443

Great story and hunt. Man, I have never done that before... Rolling Eyes

Or should I really say "I feel his pain" and let it go at that. Shocked

RutnNStrutn · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:38 pm Post subject:

Glad you guys made it happen!!
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All we need to do is call those hens across this field.

Sam Crow · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject:

Funny how things work out - congrats on a nice bird