Zen and the art of turkey hunting

[thriller]

if he doesn't you must loop around in front of him and try again.

Hope this helps, turkey hunting is a wonderful and addictive sport. In this part of the world it is a known powerful addiction among hunters.

 

[Pheroze]

Fantastic advice, thanks to all! I was trying to upload a picture of out last successful hunt but can't seem to from this phone. Will do so when I am back at a computer!

 

[G Skinner]

My first bird taken in Ontario in 2006 ...... working on getting my bird for 2015 ..... where have all the years gone ?
Glen

 

[adgunner]

This weekend I am heading out to one of my fields where I have a mix of alfalfa, clover and rye .... hoping to introduce myself to one of the birds!

 

[Pheroze]

Well, my dry spell continues...we got out to the field at 4:45 this morning. My older son set up about 70 yards away, sitting up against a hay bale that was near the edge of the field. My younger son and I set up against a small group of trees in a fence row. By 5:20 the goobling began and wow what a lot of it. We were literally surrounded. I had high hopes as legal shooting time came around. Tried a few yelps at first but not frequently. Sadly, these birds liked the fields next door . Used a cut and though i peaked the interest of one but a couple of hours later i was still alone. We are heading back out this afternoon and again tomorrow so hopefully I will not have to buy chicken on the way home. I feel like I am letting the team down! Lol.

 

[Pheroze]

We were back at the field by 3pm. I set up a blind under a very large pine in a fence row. We place the blind over a large piece of granite and the stone became our chair. It was actually quite comfortable. From the blind we had a view to the left of a fallow field and just ahead was a plowed field. Sinclair went around the far side of a wood and set up near where we had scouted previously. We sat until 6 but the gods were against us. We heard shots on a neighboring field. And then Sinclair had a farmer driving near him. So just bad luck.

 

[Pheroze]

We camped and listened to the coyotes last night, what an incredible sound when they get going! Must remember my rifle next time out This morning we were up at 3 to get to another field we had scouted. There is a large wood and we set up on opposite edges. I put up the blind again to sit with Nuval and Sinc put on his Gilly suit and set up in the bushes.....then the rain came...clearly god does not subscribe to google weather because my phone says cloudy with a 1% chance of rain.. Sinc is probably soaked as I write this. The rain is letting up now so hopefully we will see some randy toms.

 

[Pheroze]

Sure enough Sinclair texted me. Wet and cold he is heading back to the truck - Man down!! Meanwhile, I thought I had got a Tom interested with a cut call but after a bit of interest with a follow up yelps he has dropped communication. On the off chance he is still headed this way I have done a few purrs but nothing too much. Sun has poked its head out and it is heating the blind up. Nice. I have told Nuval, my youngster, that we will pack it in at 9:30 today. A bit early I think but it would seem both boys are thinking about hot food. I don't want to make this a torture session for them.

 

[dobber]

great report so far, and wouldn't worry about the farmer driving by, i hunted a field and shot a bird 15 minutes after he was tilling the field, they aren't too worried about tractors

 

[DCN]

After exchanging several confirming emails yesterday, my "guide" was a complete and total no-show for a guided Turkey Hunt this morning at 4:30 am in Southerm Ontario.

I waited a full 2 hours until 6:30 am and then left. I had to rearrange my entire schedule to make today happen. As a busy husband, father and professional, my time is exceptionally limited and precious.

I don't like having my time wasted anymore than the next person. What a disappointment.* When I leave for Namibia in 12 days, I hope to forget all about it. There are an unfortunate few "wanna-be" PHs out there. Thankfully the vast majority are salt of the earth.

*If someone died in his family last night, my condolences to the family and my sincere apology for being so self-centered.

 

[Pheroze]

DCN that totally sucks. I certainly hope your trip is everything you hope for.

As for us, this weekend's hunt ends with many lessons learned. I must say that I felt like a pebble hitting the pond, with my ripples pushing the turkey away. We set up early so that leaves calling and movement. More practice. The boys say they enjoyed it and really that is the best trophy!

To paraphrase the movies, No turkeys were hurt in the making of this report....