Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Textbook Hunt

I had a textbook hunt this morning minus the textbook ending. I roosted one in a bottom between two ridges yesterday. I got setup on one of the ridges this morning and waited. As day broke I heard him open up on the limb 100yds away. After he gobbled a few times I gave a couple tree yelps and he cut me off. I shut up and listened him gobbling for a little bit. I gave him a flydown cackle then started a little purring. He liked that and after a bit I heard limbs cracking as he flew down. He gobbled about five more times on the ground then went silent. I moved to a different tree to give myself a little bit bigger shooting lane. About three mins later I saw tail feathers about to crest the hill at 30 yards. I tried to purr on my mouth call, but my mouth was so dry I couldn't do it. I'm already thinking about the text message I'm going to send to my buddies when he busts a right. I lost sight of him and turned my barrel to the left. He popped up again at 15 staring right at me. I probably should have just swung on him, but I was so nervous I couldn't think. We have a staring contest for what seems like forever before he walked off into some thick stuff. It sure was an exciting hunt though. Saturday I killed my first bird ever. Today was the first time I've actually called one to me. Anything I could've done different? Think a decoy could've helped?

NO DECOY IN WOODS.....if you can see him (or his tail feathers), it may be best not to call....he already knows where you are from your earlier yelps. Make him find you.

Disclaimer: This is coming from someone who has only killed 2 birds in his life. Just answering with the knowledge I have learned on here.

Good advice, you are wise beyond your kills

Exactly, make him work for it. He knows where that hen should be.

Make him hunt you!! his "radar" in his head knows where you are and if he walks by you dont panic just let him get a ways by swing around and call him right back to you. Theres nothing better than to watch a bird think hes misjudged where the hen is and come easing back into a mouthfull of lead!

The responses already given are correct...I would add, if you could see his fan your gun should have already been pointed at the turkey. If you loose sight at this point (30 yards per your post) your barrel should have been swinging with the sound of his foot steps. When he showed himself you would have been lined up and ready to shoot.

Great experience...learn from it and kill him next time.

X2... when one goes silent after being very cooperative, I start listening like nobody's business. Shuffling in leaves, brushing up against a tree, spitting/drumming... you name it. I'm usually on "ready" just waiting to hear something. If you'll train yourself to follow those sounds with your gun barrel, you'll usually be prepared to shoot.

Give a soft, 3 note yelp while fluidly swinging your barrel toward his head. The turkey noise and associated movement will freeze him long enough to kill him. Works like a charm.....another tip learned from ol gooberhead BrentM!