2008 Turkeys - Skunked! (And what gun for feral dogs?)

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'm kinda bummed here - first year I ever hunted turkeys that I didn't get one. Went and hunted 3.5 weekends. So that's 7 days where I hunted for at least an hour or two, and most of those days many hours. Feel like I wasted my time, even though I had a pretty good time most days.

Only saw birds one of the 4 weekends, and then only saw 2 little jakes (this was the third weekend). I did get a shot at one of the jakes at long range (38 yards), and he flopped awhile, so I thought I had him, then he quit flopping and ran/flew off, crossing a fence over into someone else's private property. Also a first (shooting a turkey and losing it). I thought the distance was about 32 yards or so - didn't realize quite how far it was, but still, I was using 2 oz. 6 shot Winchester Supreme loads, 3" magnums, and they should work out to at least 40 yards, so I guess I just mis-aimed or something. His head/neck wasn't stuck way out either - wasn't really pulled in though - kinda just normal. Maybe my iron sights (fiber optic) got bumped off or something. These two jakes came in *completely* silently, so I wasn't ready for them. I heard leaves rustling, but I thought that it must be an armadillo, since there wasn't even a soft cluck, so I didn't turn in that direction to be ready when they popped up. Had they clucked and had I turned, I would have easily gotten one, because they came right up no more than 7-8 yards from me, to my right, staring right at me, and I had to hold still - couldn't move to face them and get a shot. Then they made a wide arc around my decoys and I was then later able to take the long shot after they had made a large 180 degree circle from my right to my left (in front of me, but I couldn't move until they got behind some trees, and by then they were quite a ways away - over 25 yards and behind cover - when they finally popped out of cover, it was the 35+ yard range). So let this be a lesson to you guys and gals - Easterns will sometimes come in completely silently, so if you hear ANYTHING, immediately turn and face that way before they get to where they can see you. It ain't an armadillo; it's a jake who doesn't want his butt kicked.

The 1st, 2nd, and 4th weekends I saw NO birds. The 3rd and 4th weekends, I heard not a single gobble. The 2nd weekend I only heard one gobble, and that was at 6am when dark when they were on the roost, about 1/2 mile from me. The 1st weekend I heard only 6 gobbles, and 4 of those were on the roost. So I only heard TWO gobbles in 4 weekends after sunup! So I think the numbers are way down for some reason. I found one dead turkey remains which had been killed within 3 months, I'd say. So probably coyotes. Also, when hunting I came across two large feral dogs (or they might be neighbors' pets) - when they saw me make movement, they immediately ran aggressively toward me as if to attack, but then when I took my shotgun off my shoulder, and they saw I was human, they immediately turned tail and ran fast in the opposite direction. So I think the predators are really hurting my turkey numbers. Also, it is evident to me that the season does not correspond well at all with the mating/gobbling season. The FIRST weekend of the state season is pretty much at the tail end of the mating season. The mating season starts a good 3-4 weeks earlier, because I hear them gobbling in March. So I wonder if the wildlife dept does this on purpose, or if the birds' habits have changed over time, or if, like deer, the timing of their mating season is highly dependent upon weather events. If it IS highly dependent upon weather, then this makes no sense - we had a cold/late winter/early spring, not a mild/warm one, so if anything, it seems to me that it should have pushed mating season LATER than normal, not earlier. So I'm confused, as per usual.

BOTTOM LINE: I'm kinda frustrated, because I view turkey hunting as being "fairly easy" to bag one, quite unlike deer hunting, so I expected some breast meat stir-fry to be on the stove. Other bottom line is, It is *definitely* time to thin the coyote numbers, and if I get a chance, take out the feral dogs (unless I can spot a collar on them).

What kind of gun would be a light "backup" gun to the shotgun I'm hunting with, but would be the best choice to shoot a feral dog - I had NO time to switch out my turkey load for a slug or buckshot, when they were charging me. If they had not turned tail, I would have been defending myself with birdshot. What about a T/C Contender with an 8" bbl in .223 with a fixed 4x scope in a belt holster - something like that - something I could deploy quickly and would be accurate at range, but light enough to not weigh me down much? Or maybe just a .357 mag revolver with a 6" bbl - I already have that. Or maybe I should put some buckshot as the very first round in the tube mag of the shotgun, with the turkey round chambered. Then, see a dog, just rack the unfired birdshot round out and fire. I love dogs, but they shouldn't be running loose on my family's land.

I also think I'm gonna go to 4 shot instead of 6 shot. The fact that this turkey flopped tells me one or more pellets hit CNS. Maybe if they had been a bit larger/more penetrative, he'd have stayed down.

 

[buck460XVR]

BOTTOM LINE: I'm kinda frustrated, because I view turkey hunting as being "fairly easy" to bag one, quite unlike deer hunting

I'm just the opposite, I view deer hunting as fairly easy and always look forward to the challenge of Turkey hunting. Guess that's why they call it hunting, cause if it was easy, everyone would do it. Last year in 3 days I had called in 9 adult toms in to me and my hunting partners.......many of these were on public land late in the season. This year hunting the same areas, I had to work like 'ell just to get within 35 yards of one longbeard during my 5 day season. The week before it took only 1 1/2 hours to get one to come in for my son. Damn things, just when you think you got 'em figured out, they prove you wrong. Better luck next time.

What kind of gun would be a light "backup" gun to the shotgun I'm hunting with, but would be the best choice to shoot a feral dog

you might want to check your hunting regulations....here in Wisconsin when I asked a warden friend of mine a similar question he told me during turkey season, I best not be caught in the woods in camouflage and in the possession of turkey calls when carrying any thing other than a shotgun or bow with loads legal for turkey. This included being with a hunting partner. My question was if I could after filling my tag, take my .357 along with me as I called for a friend and shoot any coyotes that may come in to the calling. I was told no....not unless I wanted to be written up if caught.

Coyotes have greatly changed the patterns of turkeys around here also....they tend not to gobble near as much as areas of less coyote density and they tend to get out in the middle of an open area and tend not to want and come back close to the woods/cover until they roost. I shot two coyotes in two days that came into my calls/decoys this year. I have gotten to the point of not making turkey calls untill after daylight because of 'yotes thinkin there's a hen on the ground in the dark calling lost and they come lookin' for a easy meal.....

 

[jimbeam]

My son and I just got back from a turkey hunt in northern Wi and he got his the first morning at 6:00 or so. We gave up on 6 shot 5 or 6 years ago, after losing a few birds and doing a little experimenting with loads. Nothing but 4 shot, much better penetration. I had two gobblers in front of me (about 70 yards) for about 45 minutes, too much open ground but I slid on my belly for about 25 feet and watched them display and feed, but they would come no closer. A lot of fun, I guess that's what it's about. Better luck to you next year.

 

[jimbeam]

Buck460XVR, are you informed by the warden that here in Wi you cannot have a pistol while calling turkeys, but can still possess one while being out and about in the woods? I kinda hate this Wisconsin law enforcement attitude that we are all lawbreakers, they just have to apprehend us.

 

[buck460XVR]

Buck460XVR, are you informed by the warden that here in Wi you cannot have a pistol while calling turkeys, but can still possess one while being out and about in the woods? I kinda hate this Wisconsin law enforcement attitude that we are all lawbreakers, they just have to apprehend us.

the way it was explained to me, as long as you or anyone with you do not have a turkey call and or decoys in your possession you are fine. Since there is no closed season on coyote(except in certain areas during gun deer season) other than the day before gun deer season, it is legal to carry a loaded firearm in the woods at anytime. My friend explained it to me that they assume if you have turkey calls on you, you are in camouflage and you have a gun in your possession.... you are turkey hunting. This was many years ago back when the turkey season in Wisconsin closed at noon everyday and my friend has since retired. The rules may have changed, and other wardens may interpret the rules differently, but I still leave other firearms at home when I'm turkey hunting..........that said, many times over the years during turkey season I have gone plinking/target shooting on private land with my rifles and handguns....I just make dang sure I don't have any turkey calls along.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

My friend explained it to me that they assume if you have turkey calls on you, you are in camouflage and you have a gun in your possession.... you are turkey hunting.

So what? Why can't you be "turkey hunting".....AND also, "coyote hunting" at the same time? What are they afraid you're going to do?

As far as it goes here, I have a CCW license, and a CCW gun is allowed when hunting, so my dog gun could be my CCW.

I'm just the opposite, I view deer hunting as fairly easy and always look forward to the challenge of Turkey hunting.

That's probably true in a lot of places. But where I hunt, the deer are pretty scarce, and have a ton of places to eat and to hide, so they are hard to pattern - tough hunting. Either that or I just suck. But I've always found turkey hunting pretty easy, once you get the permanone on to keep the bugs off.

 

[Art Eatman]

I'd be as happy with a turkey load on a feral dog as any other load. If the dog comes in close enough to use a shotgun at all, a turkey load is gonna ruin his day.

 

[koja48]

Like dogs, don't like feral dogs . . . think coyote calibers . . . shotties or centerfire handguns within range, then .17 Remington & up.

 

[eliphalet]

2008 Turkeys - Skunked!

Hunting can be a fickle affair sometimes. Couple of years ago Dad and I had some doe tags. Opening day we saw 5 bucks, could have shot 4 of them. As we ate lunch sitting in the P/U we watched two nice prime young bucks only a 150 or so yards away, they finally bedded down and we left. Doe's are usually easy but not that day, in fact we went out several times before we found some just like we wanted, so you can never be assured success.

 

[jimbob86]

Hunting can be a fickle affair sometimes

+1. Some of the biggest bucks I have ever seen were after I had filled all my "One Antlered Deer" tags.... just always keep this in mind: "A bad days hunting is better than a good day at work!" Some of the best times I have had have not involved taking an animal..... like the time I was attacked by bobcat in a case of mistaken identity..........

 

[redneck2]

My first three years I covered a LOT of miles with zero to show.

These last four years, I've killed four birds. Ranges were 18, 12, 49, and 68 yards. The shots at 49 and 68 were with an SP-10 (10 gauge), custom Tru-Lock choke, and Remington #5 Hevi-Shot. With the 68 yard one, the bird flipped totally over and was stone cold dead.

You REALLY need to pattern your loads. If you use a factory choke, they can throw off center due to the way the chokes are made. Mine blew the center out of the patterning target at 40 yards. You may well be shooting a foot or more off center at 40 yards and you just hit the bird with the edge of the pattern.

As a side note, I get Predator Extreme magazine. The guys there tested the "Dead Coyote" Hevi-Shot. With #4's, they killed a yote at 60 yards DRT. I get tired of hearing guys whine about how much Hevi-Shot costs. I'm not gonna walk for three days and then screw up a shot over a $2 shell. I'm gonna whack that bird. The 10 gauge and Hevi-Shot is the reason the bird is in my freezer right now. A 3" 12 gauge with Hevi-Shot and a good choke should be close to as good.

 

[coyotehitman]

Just be glad you have the time to go. I have been too busy and missed the season two years in a row now.

You might try #4 shot. That is all I shoot in either 3", or 3.5" if I'm feeling manly that day. And I have rolled coyotes and feral dogs with these loads as well. My gun patterns the 3.5 inchers well to 60 yards or so.

 

[dakotasin]

can't help ya w/ the turkeys, but ferals... oooh, i hates ferals! dogs or cats, either is dispatched immediately, especially after a rather nasty encounter i had a couple years ago.

i have put large feral dogs down w/ pheasant load (low brass 6 shot) in the past, but the range needs to be close. i've used a 1911, but my favoritest dog and cat killer is a 22-250. 'course, nothing wrong w/ the 300 win mag (it disassembles cats like a 22-250 takes prairie dogs apart), 8 mauser, or...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

.300 win mag vs. puddy tat.

 

[skers69]

I have not had any luck with Turkeys in Kansas...I have until the end of the month which is coming on fast. I have been fighting the weather, wind, rain, cold, hot. I guess they call it hunting...not going out and getting something everytime. I enjoy being out in the woods regardless of if I am sucessful or not. I have been skunked with deer and turkey and fishing...if you do it long enough it is bound to happen to everyone.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yeah, every weekend except one it was unusually cold and/or windy. The only calm weekend was the one when I say the turkeys. I don't mind being skunked on a *trip*, I just don't like being skunked on a *season*. Especially not turkeys. Deer I can handle - dems is smart critters.