Strange morning!

[MoMike]

Thanks to job, family commitments, and a heck of a lot of rain this year, I had only one morning to hunt Missouri's season. That one morning, I dropped off the side of a hill into a bottom field next to a creek, and set up right in the corner. At daylight, three toms sounded off on the bluff in front of me. With one call to let them know I was there, I kept quiet until I heard them come off the roost. When they hit the ground, I cut loose with a cackle and then some heavy yelping and one of the toms responded with a double gobble.

Calling stopped, shotgun went to my shoulder, and I saw him step into the field about 90 yards across from me. The old tom slowly was making his way across, when.........................

TURKEY! Just out the corner of my left eye, I saw another tom. And this tom was less than 3 feet to my left!

(uhoh!)

This was a decent bird, not any monster, but a decent bird, maybe 17-18 pounds, 7-8" beard, maybe 1" spurs. (At 3 feet, you can estimate pretty good)

I still can't believe that this bird didn't hear my heart thumping.

I was letting this bird move on out in front of me and slowly moving my shotgun over.

Then..............................

ANOTHER TOM!

A jake had followed this older bird in, and spotted me at the same distance of about 3 feet!

PUTT!

(double uhoh)

When the jake putted, the old bird and I locked eyes, and I knew it was now or never. I tried to settle the sights, and pulled the trigger.

CLEAN MISS!

At 12 feet ( 4 paces that I stepped off later), I guess that my pattern was not much bigger than a ping pong ball (not much margin for error)

Final results: Three toms, one shot, no birds. :mad:

[MOGC]

Sorry about your short season Mike. Even that one morning and the events are what make turkey hunting so much fun. Good to hear from you around here, you have been kinda scarce lately.

[Smokey]

Just seeing the turkeys that close makes it a good day for you.

[ncboman]

excellent story. :)

Post some more.

[MoMike]

ncboman, you don't want to get me started. Turkeys have made a turkey out of me too many times as it is. I've swallowed calls, found them roosting in my tree stands, and been pooped on by them.

But I'll still be out there every chance I get! :p

[drvsarchryhnt]

Sorry to hear this. It seems to be so sad,upon hearing your story. This would be not a good time for you, but it doesn't mean that this would be always like this everytime you go out on hunting trips.
Good luck!

[1885]

Great story. I haven't been pooped on yet but its some thing to look forward to.

So I am out in the woods a with 3 toms moving through the brush. I might have a shot, might not.. Already being well feed I wait. Then this other hunter starts calling off to my right. Dang he going to spoil my hunt and he won't stop calling. Half hour latter a hen steps out where the calls came from. They made a monkey out of me all morning and I loved it.

[chris1224]

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