Oregon Gobbler Fun!
- Tree Killer
- 2 point
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:01 am
- Location: Sandy, Oregon
Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Was hoping for a break in the weather, so I headed over the mountain in a blowing snow storm this morning.
I arrived at dark thirty and wandered down to an area I've heard birds gobble on the roost in the past. I wasn't disappointed when I heard the first gobble at 5:20am I quickly moved in and set up within 75 yards of the bird. By 5:30 he was gobbling steady and I waited for more light before I gave him some soft sweet tree yelps. Several minutes later the bird went silent, and I thought to myself "it's way too early for flydown"? At 5:35 I about jumped out of my shorts when a gun blast shattered the pre-dawn silence. After the shot I heard pellets sprinkling down from the heavens. Somebody had snuck in and shot or shot at the bird in the tree! I yelled over and SUGGESTED that they should try and WAIT until the birds flydown before pulling the trigger. I didn't get a reply?
I left and went to another nearby ridge to get away from humanity. Before long I found some fresh sign and my attitude began to adjust.
I continued out the ridge calling into some likely looking turkey nooks. The fresh sign was getting fresher...
At around 7:30 I got a response from not one, but two birds! After setting up and working the birds and getting numerous replies, the birds went silent. I stayed put and continued to call now and then expecting them to come sneaking in quietly. After 15 minutes of the silent treatment I decided to move. I looped out onto a timbered side ridge and got a response from the birds. While I was thinking about whether to sit down there or close the gap, the birds gobbled several more times, getting closer. I sat down!
After maybe 5 minutes the birds had closed in and THUNDERED from across a little draw. I adjusted my muzzle to the zone I expected the birds to walk into. Almost like magic the two Tom's appeared out of nowhere at 23 yards. I was trying to decide which bird was the biggest when the bird on the right spotted the DSD and popped into a strut, decision made! I gave him a sharp cut with a mouth call to get his head back up and it was all over but the picture taking.
The cold had zapped my batteries, so I put them in my pocket to warm them up. I finally had enough juice for several quick pics...
When I got back to the truck I replaced the batteries and set up for more pics...
It was cold, windy, and snowing at times. But nothing like a little gobbling to warm things up on a fine SPRING day!
I arrived at dark thirty and wandered down to an area I've heard birds gobble on the roost in the past. I wasn't disappointed when I heard the first gobble at 5:20am I quickly moved in and set up within 75 yards of the bird. By 5:30 he was gobbling steady and I waited for more light before I gave him some soft sweet tree yelps. Several minutes later the bird went silent, and I thought to myself "it's way too early for flydown"? At 5:35 I about jumped out of my shorts when a gun blast shattered the pre-dawn silence. After the shot I heard pellets sprinkling down from the heavens. Somebody had snuck in and shot or shot at the bird in the tree! I yelled over and SUGGESTED that they should try and WAIT until the birds flydown before pulling the trigger. I didn't get a reply?
I left and went to another nearby ridge to get away from humanity. Before long I found some fresh sign and my attitude began to adjust.
I continued out the ridge calling into some likely looking turkey nooks. The fresh sign was getting fresher...
At around 7:30 I got a response from not one, but two birds! After setting up and working the birds and getting numerous replies, the birds went silent. I stayed put and continued to call now and then expecting them to come sneaking in quietly. After 15 minutes of the silent treatment I decided to move. I looped out onto a timbered side ridge and got a response from the birds. While I was thinking about whether to sit down there or close the gap, the birds gobbled several more times, getting closer. I sat down!
After maybe 5 minutes the birds had closed in and THUNDERED from across a little draw. I adjusted my muzzle to the zone I expected the birds to walk into. Almost like magic the two Tom's appeared out of nowhere at 23 yards. I was trying to decide which bird was the biggest when the bird on the right spotted the DSD and popped into a strut, decision made! I gave him a sharp cut with a mouth call to get his head back up and it was all over but the picture taking.
The cold had zapped my batteries, so I put them in my pocket to warm them up. I finally had enough juice for several quick pics...
When I got back to the truck I replaced the batteries and set up for more pics...
It was cold, windy, and snowing at times. But nothing like a little gobbling to warm things up on a fine SPRING day!
"stickbows, putting the arch back in archery"
"if you rattle, they will come"
"if you rattle, they will come"
- one hunting fool
- Monster
- Posts: 843
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:18 am
- Location: home
Re: Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Great story and thanks for the pictures. Congratulations
Genesis 27:3
Now take your hunting equipment, your quiver and bow, and go out into the open country and hunt some wild game for me.
Now take your hunting equipment, your quiver and bow, and go out into the open country and hunt some wild game for me.
- MuleyMadness
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9997
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2002 9:34 pm
- Location: St. George, UT
- Contact:
Re: Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Awesome story and photos! Looks like a great time and sounded even better, THANKS!
Re: Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Thanks for the story and pictures. Sounds like a good time. Congrats on your Bird.
Deadi
Re: Oregon Gobbler Fun!
awsome! man they are fun to hunt
- Tree Killer
- 2 point
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:01 am
- Location: Sandy, Oregon
Re: Oregon Gobbler Fun!
Thanks for the replies. Turkeys are so much fun to hunt, especially since it takes place in the spring. I guess I like it so much because they're like a 20# bull elk. The gobbling gets your adrenaline pumping like a big bull elk does with his bugling!
"stickbows, putting the arch back in archery"
"if you rattle, they will come"
"if you rattle, they will come"