They are starting to gobble at least, but still no cigar!!!

[Ugly Sauce]

Saturday wasn't good weather, but it was the only day my hunting-partner-in-training could go with me, so we went anyhow. In the morning we had one gobbling at us, and could hear others, but of course he wouldn't come all the way in. As we had to hit the dirt as soon as we heard him gobble, there was not time to set up the decoys, but I don't know if that would have made much difference.

Moving to another blind around noon, my Partner let Blanch the decoy know that if she didn't do her job, she was going to get blasted. We stopped for lunch, coffee and hot chocolate here. Set up the dekes and did some calling, but the turks were done for the day, and rain was coming.

He's a good kid, doesn't talk much, and if he gets bored he's not afraid to just make himself comfortable on the forest floor. A city kid he is not.

I let Bessie stay home and rest, and took old Bloody Nose. Ain't he handsome? I've hunted with Bloody Nose all me life, or since I was 16 years old. To say it feels "natural" in my hands would be a major understatement. I've shot enough ducks, pheasant, quail and grouse with Bloody Nose to feed the Chinese army. Pre-1914 Janssen & Sons 12 gauge. As usual, a day in the forest was better than staying home and doing chores, and Bloody Nose says: "thanks for listening".

 

[tightgroup tiger]

How long are the barrels on that thing? I guess if you miss the turkey you could just reach out and club it to death.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

How long are the barrels on that thing? I guess if you miss the turkey you could just reach out and club it to death.

Truth. Those are 30" barrels, my favorite length. Both my Brown Bess and Jeager rifle have 31" barrels, kind of my "sweet spot" for barrel length. Not saying I don't like my carbines and "coach gun", but yes the 30" range works for me.

 

[nick22]

It's awesome seeing the youngster out there enjoying time in the woods, I hope he gets to see a turkey come in strutting.

 

[buck460XVR]

Those are 30" barrels,

The ol' 97 I use for turkeys has a 30" barrel too. I thought after years of using dedicated turkey guns with 18-20" barrels that it would be cumbersome and hard to get swung on turkeys. Turned out it hasn't been a detriment at all and does an excellent job of sending those 2 3/4" loads on target. Problem I have is shine from what's left of the bluing and from where the bluing has worn off. Nice thing about SxS doubles is, that because of the lack of a receiver, those 30" barrels don't seem as long as they would on a pump or semi.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

That is all true. 30" barrels are really not "un-handy". Especially on a single shot, (or double) where the lack of a long receiver eliminates six-seven inches of total length. Also, with most SXS's, and my double especially, the barrels are really thin, especially at the muzzle, so they swing as fast as anything else. It's very muzzle-light, maybe not a good thing on a rifle, but very good on a double. Yes, not cumbersome at all. As far as 2&3/4" loads, from a 30" barrel, they are absolutely adequate, to say the least. I'm still mystified that the common perception is that hot 3" loads are required for turkey. Or not...sells shotguns and ammo I guess. !!!!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I've killed them with a flintlock smoothbore with no choke. You just gotta get close...

 

[jmr40]

Geography.

Our season started April 1 and ends Monday. And the April 1 start date is about 2 weeks later than previous years. The peak gobbling was before the start of our season and has all but stopped for weeks now.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I've killed them with a flintlock smoothbore with no choke. You just gotta get close...

Not much closer. Chokes are highly over-rated.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Geography.

Our season started April 1 and ends Monday. And the April 1 start date is about 2 weeks later than previous years. The peak gobbling was before the start of our season and has all but stopped for weeks now.

Yep. Here in Eastern Washington State, season started April 15th, but they just started gobbling now. Ends March 31st. We had a super-late winter. Next time out soon my chances should improve.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Dang, I would like to get a wild turkey to cook in one of my smokers. I've had some people tell me if they get one they will send it my way, but no one has gotten one yet.
I may have to pick up hunting again when I retire, problem is around here you have to pay someone to hunt on their land and I don't know anyone that has land to hunt on.
May have to make some new friends.

Edit to add, or go back to Pa in turkey season. I know lots of people there.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My neighbor finally got his.