Lance Report post Posted May 1, 2007 Day five ended with Me sitting on a ridge about 150 yards above Ryan. we were after the wise tom that had given us the slip twice before on this ridge. We were both trying to call between wind gusts and ryan had decoys out. I never heard a thing except two shots. Ryan tells the story like this..... After sitting/calling for quite a while he hears a gobble just over the hill about one hundred yards. The bird tops the hill but is not strutting. He circles ryan but doesn't see the decoys. Finally the old wise tom has had enough and turns to head out. At about 50 yards Ryan sends some 5 shot his way. The tom tumbles over backwords and flops his way down the hill towards Ryan. Something on Ryans gun breaks and he cant get another shell in. After about 15 seconds he gets another round in. Ryan looks up at the old tom to see him standing there looking at the decoys Well now he is ten yards closer so he sends another round his way. The tough old bird then just flies off. Putting a sad end to day five. I raz Rayn a little back at camp and give him some BB shot cuz I was out of T shot. Day six...... the day we are to go home. On day six we split up to cover some ground. It was windy again . I proceed on my quad to a vally surounding a tank. I call in two hens to 15 yards from the draw below the tank. A little while latter from the same spot where I have been calling now for about 10 min. I look over my left shoulder and see an unmistakeable shape gosting through the woods The long lanky legs, the half tucked tail, the long stepping trot that comes with stelthy ease carries the animal through the timber at what seems a casual 15-20mph. It is smooth and deliberate and slinking to my down wind side. I see it for only a couple of seconds as it covers a distance of 50 yards Then it's behind me, out of sight somewhere. I figured it would smell me and I would never see it again. I begain calling again but I still checked over my shoulder now and then. It was awesome! Earler in the hunt I had called in coyotes, then a bobcat and now a wolf! I decided to just go for the gusto and go to an area where I new the birds are not call shy. It was a long rough quad ride down a designated quad trail. Still I was there in less than a hour. I walked down a logging road that was coverd with turkey scratch. I sat up the decoys and hung out for a while while trying to call in between the wind gusts. I called in two spike elk that came up to look at the decoys from about 25 yards. The elk would feed and be relaxed as long as the wind was blowing the decoys around. but as soon as the decoys would stop mooving the elk would go on alert and stare at the decoys untill they started mooving again. After a while I got up and walked down the road. The elk didn't quite know what to do with that. But the decoys didn't spook so the elk didn't either. A little ways down the ridge the wind sudenly stoped! I called real loud on the diaphragm call and heard a gobble on top of the next ridge. (Small ridges this time!) I ran down the canyon and up the other side. I called again..... nothing. I headed up the ridge to the next bench and heard a gobble! I sunck in and nelt next to a small oak. I hit the call again and before I was through I saw the tom come running into vew at a full strut! He hit the brakes and gobbled! He was about 200 yards and came running at a full strut the whole way! I called a couple of more times to turn him more in my direction. He gobbled every time and never stoped strutting and kept on running!! He was dragging his wings making that wouderfull thundering noise, still full strut, still running in fast! He looked like a big fat man trying to keep his pants up while at a full run! He crossed my 50 yard mark and was angling off to one side to some thicker cover. Good enough for me I thought! I called, he slamed on the breaks at 44 yards turned toward me and gobbl-BAM! A load of 3" BB shook him like a rug and he lay flat and still on the ground! I couldn't belive it! Moments ago there was nothing but wind and now there was a last hour bird on the ground! I was so excited I stood up and looked around to see if anyone had just seen that! And sure enough there were two elk about 60 yards away with a look on their faces like "Yeah, we saw that " and they were so excited too, that they ran off to tell all their friends!!!! My second bird was a 9 1/4 " beard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Report post Posted May 1, 2007 More pictures. Hope the story wasn't too long. The one bird in the picture with the two, looks smaller because it is just the hide he is all skined out. Thanks Lance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted May 1, 2007 Terrific write-up and it isn't to long. Great deatail. Sounds like some great sightings and fun had by all. The pictures are awesome. And how much would it cost for you to guide me in 2 weeks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
111 Report post Posted May 1, 2007 Great pics and story! Looks like you guys had an Awesome Hunt!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted May 1, 2007 Nice story and congrat on a fine looking turkey Lance. The story made me feel like I was there. What a way to wake up to start the day! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted May 1, 2007 "turned toward me and gobbl-BAM!" THAT's awesome! Fantastic story Lance! Congrats on all the success, what a hunt!! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTT Report post Posted May 1, 2007 Sounds like you put in alot of time & effrort on that hunt...& it shows! Congratulations & GREAT story! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
