Bob and I headed over to eastern Oregon Friday morning for our annual Turkey hunting trip. We finally rolled into the hunting area about 9am and hunted all day. We found a couple different gobblers, but neither of them would come close enough for Bob to connect. They were Jakes, so I wasn't too keen on killing one of them anyway. That evening I managed to roost several birds for the next morning. We headed to the motel with hunger and sleep on our minds. Bob developed a big blister on his heel.....sorry buddy. We heated up the monster dish of Enchilada's my wife sent with us and of course ate way too much. After eating and talking about the morning plan it was 10pm and time to hit the rack.
The next morning we were up at 330, drank black coffee, woke up a little more then Bob duct taped his blister and we hit the road. We got hiked in just as the sky was begining to lighten and gobblers began singing all around us. It was a turkey hunters dream morning. We had LOTS of options, so we decided to slip in and get set up where it sounded like just one bird was gobbling. We got in good and tight, a few minutes later he flew down, gobbled his head off and went the other way. Off we went trying to cut around him, but he was on a mission. That country is steep and Bob has one speed. We worked 8 or 10 birds throughout the day and I could not close the deal. The birds were talking, but they would only come in so far and then circle way around and disappear. We gave it heck all day, roosted more birds then headed back to the good ol' motel. It was Bob's night, so he whipped out a couple T-Bones he had marinating and fired up the grill. After 14 hours in the woods eating protein bars and cheese sticks those puppies hit the spot. This morining we arrived at the same time hoping for the same intense gobbling activity. It was well after fly down time and we never heard a bird, so we started hunting. It wasn't long and I had birds responding. We followed them around a little bit with the same results as the day before. Finally, Bob couldnt keep up anymore and through the panting I heard..."just go kill one"..... Like a good soldier I promptly marched double time to the top of the ridge and set up between two gobbling birds. The birds were acting really call shy so I just gave a soft cluck and purr and sat silent for 20 minutes....just when I was thinking he moved off he gobbled fairly close.
I clucked once and sat for another 10 minutes. All of the sudden he gobbled REALLY close.....A couple seconds later I saw a blue and white head, then the full fan come over the rise at about 35 yards. He was in full strut as he crested the bench. He was there for about 2 seconds and when he didn't see the hen he sucked his feathers in, shot his head up and attempted to flee the scene. He might have made it two steps before I peeled his wig back with a hot load of 5's.
Man, those birds were spoooooky!! He is a nice pubic land mountain bird with 9" beard and 3/4" spurs just starting to hook. One more year and he would have been a true Limbhanger..:smile:
I really wish Bob could have put his tag on one, but sometimes it works that way. He was the designated shooter on every set up. I tried my best for him, but it just didn't pan out.
We had a great time and saw lots of wildlife. It was another great weekend outdoors.
Here is Bob getting ready for another set up...
We found this deep in the woods..What is it?.....is it an old wagon chassis?? I have no clue.....it is about 3'x7' or so.
Me and the bird........
Turkey Weekend w/pics
jokester
Now you don't have to worry about anything and can be my guide for the next 4 weeks :grin:
I gotta remember that one.
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