The Specifics:

Species: Meleagris gallopavo silvestris (Eastern Wild Turkey)
Date of Harvest: 05/10/07
Time of Harvest: 6:40 AM
Temperature: 64°F
County of Harvest: Jefferson County (Indiana)

Gun: 2004 NWTF 3.5" Browning Gold MOBU w/ 24" barrel
Sight: EOTech Model 552 Rev. F Holographic Sight
Choke: Rhino 2” Extended 0.670 Hevi Shot
Load: Nitro Company H51013 (2-1/4oz) 4x5x7 Hevi Shot
Yardage: 25 yards
Call: Head Hunter Anodized Aluminum Bubinga Pot Call / Purpleheart Striker
Decoy: Carry-Lite Pretty Boy (real tailfan) and Pretty Girl

Turkey's Weight: 22 lbs. 8 oz.
Left Spur: 0.905 inches (23mm straight measurement)
Right Spur: 0.945 inches (24mm straight measurement)
Beard Length: 10.1250 inches (another 1-inch thick paintbrush beard :-/ )

NWTF Score is 22.5 + 9.44 + 9.05 + 20.25 = 61.24

The Story:

I started very early on my last hunting day by waking up at 1:30 AM. The goal was to hit the road by 2:00AM and be ready in my turkey vest’s seat by 4:30 AM.

At 4:15 AM, I loaded my person up with the usual calls, shotgun, turkey vest, beef jerky, binoculars, etc. But this time, I brought the over-priced Carry-lite Pretty Boy and Pretty girl decoys. I remember posting something in the past about “needing to see an adult Tom attack a decoy” and I thought that this Thursday morning just might be the day.

I walked quietly to the turned dirt and planted clover of a small field on the back of the 200-acre farm. This particular field was nothing but briars and weeds last year but the neighboring farmer cleared “the back 80” with a small bulldozer and turned the pastures with a large disc gang. The fields had about a 5-10 yards strip of weeds and grasses bordering the area.

I decided to set up in the taller weeds adjacent to a briar and old telephone pole. This spot was at the highest elevated section of the long field and I nestled into the spot along an old fence line. I grabbed the hand pruners and completed my shooting lanes.

Next up, I set up the Pretty Boy Tom and Pretty Girl hen 25 yards out from my location in a “high spot” for good visibility. I was convinced that if this decoy were to stand a chance at working, an adult Tom would need to see it. After staking in the Pretty Boy Tom and positioning the hen deek 2 feet in front of the tom deek, I pulled a large cardboard “envelope” from the decoy bag and removed the real tail fan from my 2003 Tom that I killed in the same area. I placed the tail fan in the decoy and positioned it slightly tilted to one side. I gave the deek a nudge to make sure that it was positioned properly and would “wobble” in any light winds.

Back to the ambush spot. I organized my turkey vest for a 120° shotgun barrel range freedom of movement check. My barrel hit a couple briars so I trimmed them out of the way and all was well. I activated the EOTech holographic weapon sight, checked my shotgun’s chamber for the nitOOz poison, and rechecked the “safe” position of my gun’s safety.

“I’m done. Now sit still,” I thought to myself.

But unfortunately, I forgot to get my calls out. I removed the Widow Maker Black Scratcher scratch box and the Head Hunter anodized aluminum pot and purple heart striker from my vest and positioned them to my side. Next, a quick check of the watch for time. 4:40 AM. Completed setup up 1 hour and 50 minutes before the 6:35AM sunrise.

Silence. Lots of silence until the forest began to wake up at 5:30 AM. At 5.37AM, I heard a gobble on the far side of the farm. I let out some yelps, purrs, and cuts on the Head Hunter pot call. No less than 5 different toms answered but in all directions. Every 10-15 minutes or so, I began to play a “pleading yelp” and the “contentment purrs” on the pot call. Every sequence was answered by toms from anywhere and everywhere.

“This sure is a good morning,” I thought again to myself.

The sun continued to illuminate the sky but sunrise was still another 20 minutes away. I performed a quick visual check of the decoys and everything appeared to be set properly. I began to call again but this time, I combined a sequence of cutts and yelps with varying cadence and volume.

Bang. Hammer gobbles from the drop-off to the creek at the far side of the dirt field. I placed the pot on the ground and readied the Spectre Gunship on my knee. I yelped some more with the purple heart striker and the Tom(s?) answered again. So then, I shut up and laid on the silent treatment at 6:15AM.

At 6:30AM, I observed 5 hens and a jake enter the field from the far corner (nearest the roost). The hens fanned out along the grass/dirt transition areas around the field. The jake, on the other hand, walked slowly to my decoys. He kept looking into the “deep” black eyes of the Tom while he circled the deeks a single time. Next, the jake jerked his body back. Evidently, he did not want to mess with this “Tom” and moved outward to find a hen friend.

“Great. Spend $90 and all I get is a jake magnet!” I muttered to myself.

All of the sudden, I spot 2 completely white Tom heads bobbing up and “periscoping” every 5 yards or so. The Toms were tailing a live hen on the field perimeter. One-handed, I yelped and clucked briefly with the pot call. The white headed duo turned, looked, and ran to Pretty Boy. In all honesty, this was the most amazing action I have personally seen in the wild. These Toms acted just like the toms in the “How to Use Your Pretty Boy” video with Harold Knight and David Hale.

Once at the decoy, the subordinate Tom circled the decoy once and pecked at the eyes of the deek. Then, the subordinate Tom was muscled out of the way by the older Tom. In a flash, the dominant Tom began to flap his wings and jumped up on top of Pretty Boy. Spurs were flailing Pretty Boy as he fell over in the field continuing to be pummeled by the adult Tom. Once the dominant Tom was convinced that he “won” the fight, he turned in my direction in ½ strut. At 25 yards, the Spectre barked the Nitro Hevi Shot and ventilated the Tom’s head. Not a “DRT” (Dead Right There) situation but plenty of death rattle in the mud.

I moved quickly out for any flow-up shot but none was needed. I performed the ceremonial “Tom turkey head stomp” in order to assist his expiration. I grabbed the cell phone and called Shawnibal and told him the long and short of it. Thankful, I loaded up the decoy, deceased Tom, and equipment and headed for the car. Time of death for the Tom was 5 minutes after sunrise at 6:40AM. A quick hunt met by a quick drive to the check station and then work. Truly the most entertaining hunt I have personally ever experienced. I am still "hooked."

The Pictures:

Bookmark: