Everything went perfectly at first. I got set up without spooking him and could see him in the tree at 80 yards when it got light. He gobbled several times and they all flew down early. Then Murphy's law took over. He came to 25 yds, but I couldn't shoot without killing a hen. They all managed to somehow walk around me without me being able to see them, and a hen was looking hard for me. There were all sorts of openings where I could have shot him, but he hurried through every one of them and always stopped behind something. He finally got to the last place I could shot, so I raised up as high as I could and shot him as he made the last step to go out of sight. Then they all flew off.
. No sign that I hit him, so maybe he will be ok
Call for a tracking dog!
Unless your dog has wings, he won't be any help.
That turkey was flying above the tree tops the last time I saw him. His body was already over the hill when I shot, and I could only see his head and neck, so I am hopeful that I didn't hurt him. I felt like I had shot behind him when the gun went off. He was walking left to right and my back troubles keep me from swinging the gun well in that direction. I should have just let him go.
I have a lot more excuses I could share, but no turkey.
