My First Turkey (A Strange Tale)

[EchoM70]

Hi Everyone,

This year was my first time turkey hunting, I've been every weekend since opening weekend (03/24/12) I've had a few close calls but until this morning I haven't had the opportunity to actually make a shot.

It all started out with a deer walking across a field adjacent to me, seemed like something was definitely spooking it as it cautiously traveled across the field. Then about 10-15min later I had a gobbler coming in strong, I was for sure I was about to get a shot on him. Then out of no where a coyote attacks my hen decoy. (The same coyote did the same thing a couple of weekends ago and I let him go.) Frustrated I shouldered my Mossy 535 with 3.5in turkey loads and peppered him good, he took off and I shot again.

Now I am standing in the edge of the field, I was positioned in the edge of the woods adjacent of the field. As I stand there I notice the turkey I was calling fly out of a tree and into the field, the coyote then ran toward the turkey and spooked him my way. Now I have a gobbler flying directly toward my head. When he got about 25 yards from me he started to veer off to the right and I shouldered the Mossy and shot. Feathers flew everywhere and he dive-bombed to the ground. I ran over and he was completely dead, it was a heart shot. He had spurs that measured 1 inch a 10 inch beard and weighed 27.4 pounds. After I took the fan,beard and legs I gave the bird to my uncle who fortunately was able to salvage most of the bird and had a great turkey dinner this evening. All in all it was a good day. If it wasn't for that coyote I might not have had a turkey this morning and I wouldn't have such a strange tale to share about my first turkey.

Pictures coming soon (Have to get them off my brothers camera.)

 

[allaroundhunter]

How close was the coyote when you shot it?

 

[T Bran]

Sounds like that coyote deserves at least the entrails for his assistance. Wonder what the law is on hunting over coyotes lol.
Congrats on your first turkey good job and great story as well. We will be anxiously awaiting the pics.
T

 

[EchoM70]

I had the hen decoy set-up at roughly 15 yards from where I was sitting, I shot right after he attacked the decoy so he was for sure within 20 yards.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Do you think you hit him? From that range a magnum turkey load should have done enough to kill him.

 

[EchoM70]

I'm honestly not sure, I went back later in the evening to look around the field and woods encompassing it but I didn't see any signs of him. I might have not got him with full load, I'm thinking maybe most of the shot missed?

 

[allaroundhunter]

I'm thinking maybe most of the shot missed?

Either that or all of it did. I'm not trying to say you are a bad shot, you did get the turkey

I am just guessing that the coyote probably would not have come back for round 2 with the bird if he had taken a shot like that in round 1.

Great job getting the bird, and we are anxiously awaiting pics!

 

[EchoM70]

Thanks, It all happened so fast from after he attacked the decoy I can't be certain on anything beside the fact that I wanted him gone from the area for good. He has been terrorizing the turkeys and deer in that area. After turkey season I'm setting up over their for coyotes, so when deer season gets here they won't be so skittish.

I'll have the pics tomorrow.

 

[allaroundhunter]

He has been terrorizing the turkeys and deer in that area. After turkey season I'm setting up over their for coyotes,

Well when you get him show us a pic of the sucker

 

[eastbank]

i had a coyote cross in front of my turkey set up early one morning just at day break and not 10 minutes later i heard a bird gobble right where he exited and called the bird in and killed it. it may have been in a tree when the coyote went by,but i thought the hunt was ruined and was going to move,glad i didn,t. eastbank.

 

[EchoM70]

 

[widowman10]

great story! tales like this make me enjoy the woods and everything that goes on in them

 

[BBQLS1]

Awesome story.

 

[jbkebert]

Sounds like a pretty cool morning.

 

[buck460XVR]

They say you always remember you first time.(well, ok, maybe they were referring to something else other than turkey hunting).

Part of success is being in the right spot at the right time. Sometimes that is intentional, sometimes just pure luck. Over the years I've killed many birds where the hunt did not match the classic lines one thinks about when they think about a turkey hunt. Those too are the ones I remember the most. Congrats on your first bird.