I've been turkey hunting for about 22 years now, and this is my first turkey. I shot one with a .30-06 once (while deer hunting), but could never find it after it flew away (know I hit hit though). I've shot at maybe 2 or 3 more, but the underbrush was too thick...and after that I have passed up numerous shots.
I go in the spring, and during the fall, I mostly look for them while deer hunting. I was deer hunting today and was loaded with #1 buckshot. About 10 minutes after I sat down I heard the tell tale LOUD noises of turkey flying through the woods, and about 15 of them lit in the trees around me. The closest one to me was in a tree about 30 yards away and he was about 70 feet up in the tree. About 5 minutes after he lit in the tree I hear dogs well up the creek from me, and then I hear crashing of leaves. About 100 yards away from me a group of at least 20 turkeys were running at full speed through the woods....so now I have seen about 35-40 turkeys in 8 minutes. I started making clucking noises (with my mouth) and the one in the tree closest to me flies out of his tree to within maybe 20 yards of me. 1 shot and he was down. I am sure that was enough, but he flopped a few times, and I like to make the kill quick, so I went ahead and shot again.
When he was way up in the tree...I could have sworn he had a nice 5-7 inch beard (both sexes are legal to shoot in fall). After I got to him though, I saw no beard and concluded it was a hen...until I saw the snood and the tail feathers. Then I found his beard...maybe 2.5-3 inches. His spurs were just bumps at this point. I estimated he weighed about 15-18 pounds. My home scale with is not very accurate said 14lb.....so I am sticking with around 15 pounds.
I go in the spring, and during the fall, I mostly look for them while deer hunting. I was deer hunting today and was loaded with #1 buckshot. About 10 minutes after I sat down I heard the tell tale LOUD noises of turkey flying through the woods, and about 15 of them lit in the trees around me. The closest one to me was in a tree about 30 yards away and he was about 70 feet up in the tree. About 5 minutes after he lit in the tree I hear dogs well up the creek from me, and then I hear crashing of leaves. About 100 yards away from me a group of at least 20 turkeys were running at full speed through the woods....so now I have seen about 35-40 turkeys in 8 minutes. I started making clucking noises (with my mouth) and the one in the tree closest to me flies out of his tree to within maybe 20 yards of me. 1 shot and he was down. I am sure that was enough, but he flopped a few times, and I like to make the kill quick, so I went ahead and shot again.
When he was way up in the tree...I could have sworn he had a nice 5-7 inch beard (both sexes are legal to shoot in fall). After I got to him though, I saw no beard and concluded it was a hen...until I saw the snood and the tail feathers. Then I found his beard...maybe 2.5-3 inches. His spurs were just bumps at this point. I estimated he weighed about 15-18 pounds. My home scale with is not very accurate said 14lb.....so I am sticking with around 15 pounds.
Last edited:
