Just added a new box call to the collection. Made from Cherry and Walnut. So far it's the nicest call I own.

The day started out horrible. I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning but I did. When I got to my hunting spot I realized I had left a lot of my stuff at home. I didn't have any of my mouth or pot calls, Just a couple of box calls. I don't know why, I just seem very unprepared this year.

I get to my pop-up blind at around seven. As I'm walking up I see a lone deer crossing the field in front of me so I wait a bit behind the tree line for her to work her way across. I'm already late to the woods so what's another few minutes? Once she crosses I scan everything for any signs of birds out in the open and proceed to set a couple hen decoys. As I get back to the tent I figure I might as well relive myself so I don't have to get up later and spook any birds. As I doing this I hear a commotion to my left and see a tom walk past me at less than 10 yards. I'm facing away from the tent and my gun is sitting just inside the door. Oddly he doesn't see me or whatever and just wanders off. I have no idea where they came from but they must have seen the decoys and ran right in, only a few seconds had passed since I set the decoys.

At this point I think I'm busted, I blew a nice gobbler I tried calling them back once I got settled but nothing, not even a gobble as a response.

About a half an hour later I see a group of turkey come out of the woods about 100 yards from where I'm set up. One of them is strutting around and gobbling. Wooot! I hit one of the box calls....no response. I hit it again.....no response. I figure what the heck so I pick up the other box call and give it a couple clucks. Boom, the tom starts gobbling like crazy and starts heading towards me. He starts to hang up about 50 yards out when another turkey back in the woods starts clucking. Not to be undone I hit the call every time I hear the other turkey, trying to drown her out. I must have worked because he kept coming towards me

At about 35 yards he stopped and started strutting. The 3 hens with him were in my decoys but he was hanging back. He was a little further out than I would have like but fearful he was going to head back towards the other turkeys in the woods I put the red dot on his head and let it fly. He went down like he had been hit by a truck. I hens ran in circles for a couple sends and then ran off in the direction they had come.

Damn it was a heck of a morning. He was a nice bird. One inch spurs and about a 9 inch beard.

The 835 (sorry it's not my 870,, but I have to give each gun their day in the woods) with 3.5" Winchester supreme #5's really did the job.




I already have him quartered and in the freezer. Half of the breast will be cooked up tonight.


I took some higher res ones with a better camera once I got back home, I'll post some more pics once I can get those of the SD card.

Lessons learned:

• Pee before you get to your hunting spot and/or never leave your gun out of reach, no matter how little chance you feel there is of seeing something.
• Always set the decoys last as they might bring birds in before you are ready
• Keep mixing it up with the calls, just because one doesn't' work does not mean that another on e in the stash will be magic that day.

It's kind of bitter sweet. I turned out to be an awesome day but I only got to hunt less than an hour this year.



And for the record, the new call I posted previously was the magic one this year.

Nice bird and sounds like a great day of hunting to me! I look forward to getting in the woods on May 1.

DHonovich wrote:Nice bird and sounds like a great day of hunting to me! I look forward to getting in the woods on May 1.

Thanks and good luck!!

i had to sit this seaon out this year,but am already getting pumped up for next year.I used my 870 for the longest time taking ducks,geese and more than a few turkeys,but had to retire it because it started jamming all the time. Took it to the best gunsmith i know,and he said i actually wore out the action.Had never heard of that in an 870 before,so i went down the road to another smith i heard off,and he confirmed it.So my well meaning girlfriend got her brother and went to a local gun store where they got me a new Mossberg 500. lol. I was very happy,and told them thank you,but wished they had got me another 870.The 500 is a fine gun,and a great shooter,but i still prefer remingtons.But i will hunt with this one and be happy,because they were thoughfull enough buy it for me.lol

Here is a pic from the 2013 spring turkey season. I doubled on these two with my Remington 11-87.



Here are a couple I took during the fall 2012 season with the same gun.





Didn't get any in 2014 spring season.

Good shooting sgtD !!

I took this tom on April 14 2011.