This is a story that must be told.
For this year's opener I took to a place that I had scouted many times and took some advice from @ilovesprig and @Matagi which panned out. It's my 2nd year hunting turkey, hoping to get my first Tom (or a one-time-only Jake)...so exited that I was set up at my perfect spot at 4am ready to go...I know, I know, "but it's public land" will be my excuse ;-)
Needless to say I am the only one there, or at least I thought. Keep in mind I hunt on the boarders of public and private land, with the hopes of luring Toms across for the kill. It's clearly posted the private land is off limits, and we all respect that...at least, most of us.
At 4:15 am I saw two flashlights waving all around the tree line (on the private land side) searching the oak trees for turkeys. Sure enough, a shot rings out...poachers. I quickly call the Ranger (who told me they were up at 3am as it was the opener). Travis was his name, and he was there in a flash to nab both...it was a man/wife duo...and get this, were wearing BLAZE ORANGE vests as to not get shot by hunters...unbelievable.
Travis thanked me and let me know it was a hefty fine he gave them...and then asked me for hunting license and checked my ammo for lead...your welcome I told him...haha
I had one of the best calling days of my short turkey career. Toms were responding and moving in my direction on and off for hours. That off-season practice paid off on the friction calls...I had a Tom soooo close (about 10yds per the range finder) to crossing the boarder to public but got distracted by a noisy hen to him left. I had called him from quite a distance and he was responsive...I guess that is why we keep coming back for more.
No turkey this time, but there is one in my future...hoping the next post is a selfie with a Tom :-0
For this year's opener I took to a place that I had scouted many times and took some advice from @ilovesprig and @Matagi which panned out. It's my 2nd year hunting turkey, hoping to get my first Tom (or a one-time-only Jake)...so exited that I was set up at my perfect spot at 4am ready to go...I know, I know, "but it's public land" will be my excuse ;-)
Needless to say I am the only one there, or at least I thought. Keep in mind I hunt on the boarders of public and private land, with the hopes of luring Toms across for the kill. It's clearly posted the private land is off limits, and we all respect that...at least, most of us.
At 4:15 am I saw two flashlights waving all around the tree line (on the private land side) searching the oak trees for turkeys. Sure enough, a shot rings out...poachers. I quickly call the Ranger (who told me they were up at 3am as it was the opener). Travis was his name, and he was there in a flash to nab both...it was a man/wife duo...and get this, were wearing BLAZE ORANGE vests as to not get shot by hunters...unbelievable.
Travis thanked me and let me know it was a hefty fine he gave them...and then asked me for hunting license and checked my ammo for lead...your welcome I told him...haha
I had one of the best calling days of my short turkey career. Toms were responding and moving in my direction on and off for hours. That off-season practice paid off on the friction calls...I had a Tom soooo close (about 10yds per the range finder) to crossing the boarder to public but got distracted by a noisy hen to him left. I had called him from quite a distance and he was responsive...I guess that is why we keep coming back for more.
No turkey this time, but there is one in my future...hoping the next post is a selfie with a Tom :-0
