Nothing like ending your season by wounding a gobbler. I’m sick sick sick. I walked up on him strutting in a road about 100 yards in front of me. I bailed off in the pines and closed the gap. While I was slipping through the pines he gobbled and I got set up. I called to him and he gobbled, and then gobbled on his own. Within a minute I saw him strut into the pines, set his wings and start walking straight to me. I pulled the trigger and he backflipped. Fan sprawled out and then inexplicably he got his feet under him and managed to get out of my sight. I had a buddy and his son help me look for him and we never even found a feather. I’ve lost 2 over my years turkey hunting but I’ve never been more surprised to see one get up. I wish I could say it was a clean miss but I don’t see how. I don’t know? No blood, no feather, no sign.
Do you need a tracking dog brought out??
Will your dog track a turkey? Sure worth a try if he will. I remember a morning back in the mid 60s when my dad wounded a big gobbler like that. He was using the only gun he had - an A5 with an IC barrel. It was probably not effective beyond 25 yds, so no surprise that the turkey ran off. Anyway, he took his Pointer quail dog back and he found the turkey. I remember being mad that he wouldn't let me skip school and go with him to look for it, but Rye tracked that turkey down and he was able to shoot him again.
Sorry you lost him, Southwood. That's the worst feeling in hunting. I hope there is a chance you can still recover him
